it kind of annoyed me last night when they asked have you made this before, where? kelsey answered culinary school and they hounded her for it. You asked the dang question, was she suppose to lie?? maybe bad editing i dont know.

I don't think age should matter, if you have talent you have talent. My ten year old has been cooking with me since he was 4. He could very well be an expert by the time he is 20 if that is his passion.

I really don't see how their age matters.

Age doesnt matter, its maturity and how you relate to the camera and in my opinion neither of these people fit that criteria.

Shane? bumbling along
Kelsey? if she says "culinary school" one more time I will reach through my tv and grab her swoopy bangs and pummel her.

I thought Shane & Kelsey worked so great together because they are both young. Doesn't bother me that Kelsey talks about culinary school -- doesn't seem like she talks about it that much, really. It would be great to have either one of them with their own Food Network show so more twenty-somethings can relate to them and be interested in cooking.

i don't watch this show but i agree with cocoangel above- maybe they'd bring in a younger demographic that aren't interested in watching ladies and guys that are in the 30-50 year old range!

Didn't Jamie Oliver start young, too? I haven't seen these two in action, but purely based on age, I don't see why not.

I don't know that age is going to ultimately be that much of a factor. Either they'll be able to pull it off or not. As we've seen... older folks have already shown that they don't have it. Shane and Kelsey will either prove that they've got what it takes or not. And who knows... even if one of them wins... what's to say that they won't end up like Amy from last year, and just be one and done?

Shane has no charisma. I like her though

i agree with lauren.... no charisma and is just kind of dull.

No I don't think they need to have more experience. They just need to know food and be entertaining. That what makes them are star. They must engage the audience with what they are cooking.

I haven't seen the show yet but I wouldn't watch Shane if he had a show as I think he's bland as a box of rocks, but Kelsey is sweet. She can be taught to take it down a notch. Plus it would be good if she brought in a younger audience. Lots of kids today don't know the first thing about cooking and if she can show them a thing or two then more power to her.

Well if they are targeting college age students Food Net is right on target. They could take their show on the road from Isla Vista to Berkeley visiting frat houses and pairing their meals with keg beers.
I really do not think there is a next "star" on this show.

Kelsey is my favorite

What does age have to do with anything? If they got the skills, then they can do nothing but add a new, fresh perspective

New, fresh perspectives get old and stale and annoying fast. See Rachel Ray.

I don't think their age matters. They are both doing very well in the competition and aren't given any slack just because they are younger.

I was relieved they sent Nipa home last week, and I can't say I'm surprised Jenny had to leave, although they could easily have sent Adam home and then send Jenny home next week. I think Adam may well be the next to go...

After that it will start to get really interesting.

Coming from a 50 year old - the age issue is getting older than me (or is it I?). 1st - you're too young, then you're too old, then there's middle age and how about over the hill; I could go on, I heard it all - can we just take people for who they are not when they were born. It's just lame. My mom is 68 and she a fingerprint expert who wears glasses and started the job at 62.

They may be young, but they have more skills and knowledge than some of the older people they are competing against. If they can bring the personality and composure too, then they deserve to win, regardless of age.

Some people are immature all their lives and some people are mature at very young ages. The numbers mean nothing.

Just because they are younger doesn't mean they do not have extensive knowledge and taste for making new dishes. The constants that are older could possible be set in their ways and not willing to experiment with new techniques. Age means nothing, it is talent that means the most.

On a side note, I still cannot believe that is Shane from the nickelodeon show All That. He has really improved his health and I'm glad to see he found a career that suits his new lifestyle.

Seven--I was SO glad they finally got rid of Nipa too!! She was so obnoxious and cocky. I think Kelsey really has a good TV personality and I don't think she's too young. Lots of people start cooking WAY before their teens...some of those Food Network chefs started cooking when they were 8 years old. Bobby Flay had his own restaurant when he was in his early 20's. Some people just have a natural talent for cooking and they get experience at home before going to official culinary school. And at least they DID go to culinary school, unlike, say, Rachel Ray.

Go Kelsey!! I hope she wins. I'm sort of tied between her and Lisa.

They've made it this far so obviously they're not food stupid. I don't think age should hold them back.

i don't really think that age is a factor, and to be honest, the food network seems to want to find younger skewing hosts since their avg age keeps rising. i think that it's a smart thing that they are doing - becuase college kids or young professionals would be more likely to watch a younger person than someone who reminds them of their mom.....

it's the whole 'if he/she can do it then so can i' mentality

I love Shane and I really want him to win - so, no I don't think he's too young. As far as Kelsey goes, I think she's really cute and fun, and she seems like she knows her stuff, but I do agree with the judges that she should try to stop reminding everyone of how yound and inexperienced she is - just because it's kind of unprofessional...

I like Kelsey (and not just because we have the same name :] )and I think she's going to win.

I haven't watched the show, so I can't say anything specific about these two contestants, but there are people working in the finest kitchens that are younger than they are. If you wouldn't refuse to eat something cooked by a twenty-something, why would you have a problem with watching a cooking show hosted by that person?

I am 16 and thouroughly enjoy watching Shane and Kelsey, it doesn't annoy me that she talks about culinary school, it tells me that she is knowledgable and she knows what she's talking about, other stars on the food network have no knowledge at all besides cooking at home. If the Camera likes them, and a younger audience can enjoy watching people near their age on television. I think it will do well for the Food Network to give them a show of their own.