I def. wanted Lisa to win. Not because I liked her as a person the best, but because she was offering something not seen on Food Network.

We have the 'down south' cooking shows. We have the funny people cooking. But we dont have a chic female cooking and incorporating fashion and feel into the plate.

Oh well, I live in Dallas so I may go to Lisas restaurant soon!

I would have to agree with Ndhebert.

I wanted Lisa to win because her show really would have been nice to watch. I would see food that look so wonderful but arent too hard to cook.

I liked Adams concept of internet cooking, so would have be okay with that but he really bothered me when I watched him. It almost seemed fake

I like Aaron but I think he is pretty much the same as Guy and the Neelys. Although I told my husband I 100% had a feeling food network would fit him cause they already have an audience for what he is marketing.

I wanted Lisa to win. I watch FoodTv all the time and I would watch her show, but no interest in Aaron's.

I'm kinda torn on this NFNS finale. Because part of me really wanted Aaron to win. Maybe I'm a little biased because I'm a Jersey girl. However, Camden is a rough neighborhood and I think people like Aaron can give that neighborhood hope. Plus, his food appealed to me the most.

However, I agree with NdHebert. I really think the food network is lacking a 'chic female' cooking show.

All I know for sure is that I didn't want Adam to win.

I think the most surprising thing was how good Aaron's pilot turned out. When they were showing him taping it he seemed very uncertain about how it came out. Maybe we just didn't see the final take until everyone saw it. Or maybe the editing person is a genius.

I just kept thinking that Lisa's focus was somewhat like Amy's -- last year's winner -- and after just a few episode we haven't seen anything of Amy. So maybe the network worried nobody would tune in to Beautiful Basics.

I was bummed that Aaron won. Throughout the competition I always thought he was disappointing and doubt I will watch his show. The only time I liked him was when he was with that crazy girl scout.

A few episodes back, I figured it would be down to Aaron and Lisa. I was rooting for Lisa because, like almost everyone above me said, I would've liked to see a chic woman presenting easy to make but beautifully presented food. I loved Lisa's style, energy and humor.

The judges always loved Aaron's cooking and personality, and I have no doubt about each, but sometimes he just seems so clueless on the camera! "A deer caught in the headlights!" That comment made me laugh. And I have to agree, Aaron is a little too much like Guy and the Neelys. I'm not sure I want another "BIG" personality on top of the already over-the-top cast at the Food Network.

As for Adam, I'm not sure how he even made it so far. He is NOT funny, but rather goofball. He's like that guy at parties who's like trying to get everyone to look at him and laugh at his jokes, but you're just kind of laughing at him and asking, "Does he think he's funny?" I'm also not convinced he can cook. Most of his dishes were panned by the judges. The lobster mac and cheese, and the smoked buffet (sure, the guy can smoke, and he had a CIA grad as his sous) notwithstanding. Adam's also not original: his pilot pitch sounded like Throwdown with Bobby Flay and came off like the upcoming Ask Aida, and he's on previous occasions "borrowed" from Alton Brown (using corn to smoke) and the Food Network Challenge (lobster mac and cheese). And one last thing, why would I look to a guy, who constantly reminds me his restaurant went out of business, for cooking advice?

I actually thought that Adam was going to win. I too feel that both Lisa and Aaron's concepts have been done before ((Gourmet Next Door, Guy's Big Bite, Neelys). I thought that Adam's idea was clever by interacting with people at home via the internet (even though the chicken lady in his pilot was ridiculously fake!) AND I do think that he was funny! Overall, I think that Aaron had the best food, but the judges constantly told him that his personality needed to shine through more. I think that Lisa just sucked overall, so Adam to me was the best choice.

I had reservations about any of the three being Food Network Stars.

Ok... am I the only one surprised that the viewers didn't get to vote? I was wracking my head on where my vote would go and then they came back with the winner... (who I knew would be Aaron after his sob-story about his son running away... no offense meant, I feel for the guy if he's missing his son, but the judges, I believe, often let these things color their opinions).

I was hoping for Aaron to win, but since they have Ask Aida coming on (convenient timing on that, isn't it? since I imagine this show was filmed a few weeks earlier at least) that wouldn't happen. Lisa seems (to me) to be another Amy... you know the "winner" from season 3. What did happen to her? 6 shows and she was cancelled? 'Cause it was a horrible show.... Heck Nathan (I think he was 2nd or 3rd in season 2) had a show on for longer than that I believe on the Discovery Health channel! (Guy, you TOTALLY deserved to win because you ROCK!)

Anyway, good luck Aaron. Make the other two (and all of us) proud.

After that eating disorder joke, I can't believe he's the Next Food Network star. I lost all respect for him on that episode and frankly I will never watch his show.

I feel like none of these shows last very long anyway, so it wouldn't really matter which of the 3 finalists won. I was happy for Aaron, but we'll see how many episodes of his show air and what the ratings show.

I think Guy has been the only one w/any success so far after all these FNS shows, and personally, I don't really like him either!

I really wanted Lisa to win too! Her recipe is the only one I would actually make. FYI, Amy did not want to be renewed and has relocated her family to France. Aaron and Adam seem like great guys but I feel like I could have learned something new from Lisa.

Lisa was the only one I would watch. But Aaron seems like a nice guy, so I'm happy for him. I thought Adam would win, because it goes a long with their trend of picking totally annoying people for their shows.

Agwei: Amy went to France? That's way cooler than Food Network! How did you find that out? Did you enjoy her show?

RocknBabe: That eating disorder joke.... It was so offensive I had completely blocked it. Hopefully, he'll do better with the network guiding him...

Does anyone think the new Iron Chef may get a cooking show in addition to Dinner Impossible?

i wanted aaron or lisa to win. i wanted lisa more but that's ok. i still would watch aaron!

I LOVE the new Iron Chef... his giggle cracks me up every time. Def hope he gets more face time than Aaron, I can't stand him. I would've liked Lisa to win, and I thought her show was the best by far, but I rarely like the people FNS picks anyway.

I wanted Aaron to win. I'm so excited he won. I wouldn't have been sad to see Lisa win it either, though, but I wanted him to win more. If Adam had won I would have lost all respect for that show.
Lisa's exit interview was very very gracious. And I thought it was great that she said that Aaron was the one person she was ok loosing to because he really deserves it, and him and his family need it more than she does. I think she it totally right.

As Bob Tuschman wrote on his blog though...we may still get to see a show with her as well, so that would definitely be great. Just PLEASE keep Adam off that Network...

I was not surprised at all - you could tell the judges have been rooting for Aaron for the last 6 episodes. That being said - I actually thought Lisa performed the best and deserved it the most, even though she rubbed me the wrong way. Hers would be have been the only show i would have ended up watching.

kaxxina- I also was surprised that we didn't get to vote.

Okay, so I only watched last night's show so I don't know the whole background. What I have to say though is that for someone who DOESN'T know about any of the contestants is: if I saw Lisa's show not knowing anything about her or how she got on Food Network, I would never watch. She seemed gruff, impersonal, and it felt like she was treating the viewers like children. The young guy was personable and I thought came off the best in his pilot, but then I saw a commercial for a show just like what he was doing with some chick that is starting up soon so I knew he wouldn't win. The guy who did win seemed a little off to me too, and I sort of doubt how successful his show will be in the long run.

How could you be surprised by the outcome when the FN screwed up and put the answer on their website before the show aired?

I thought Lisa had it wrapped up but Aaron is so sweet that even though I'm surprised, I'm glad for him. It seems to me that Lisa's food would be more my style as Aaron's is all about the meat and pretty heavy. I guess some people still eat that way but not me. Adam didn't have a chance. And he's not at all funny.

I read about the slip up, danitoobin. Did they list Aaron as the winner? The more I'm thinking about this season and their "editing" on the show - (as in, "let's make this look how we want it to, so it matches our decision") - I kept thinking about their Vegas commercials. The judges fell all over themselves saying what a great job Aaron did. Adam had to do a choreographed walked with showgirls and Lisa was rigged to ropes and pulleys. What did Aaron do? Um, blew on and threw dice while standing still. Come on!! It's just a joke, this whole season. Reality is what they want to show us now. *sigh*

I wasn't surprised, but I was definitely upset at the outcome of this season. I loved Kelsey, Shane, and Lisa. I would have watched any of their shows - they all called to the young and hip vibe that my friends and I are after. My bf - not a Food Network fan until very recently - was really rooting for Lisa until the finale. He was convinced she would win, because she had the cooking chops and finesse that would sell to our demographic. But no, instead we have another down-home, finger-licking good flavor show. Aaron is a good guy, but he doesn't inspire me to get in the kitchen, and I wouldn't serve the kind of food he makes at a dinner party. I was hoping they would finally get someone to fill that niche. It totally seemed rigged.

Anyone as long as it wasn't snobby pretentious Squinty. That woman bugged me beyond BELIEF!

I would have rather seen Aaron win though. Adam is OK but Aaron has the heart and personality. Adam is just to herky jerky and nervous looking. It's another food network show I won't watch. I LOVE Guy Fieri's show. It's fun and relates to the average person. Lisa's though, well, take last nights dish. No WAY would my kids have eaten that!

As a home cook, I want ways to make the foods my kids LOVE (meat, potatoes, pasta etc) healthier, but still have them be simple to make. Lisa NO WAY could do that. Adam can a bit, in fact I'm making HIS dish for dinner tonight. I've never had plantains, but that looked soooooo yummy! However, Aarons Chicken, now THAT was a fun dish! I always have trouble getting chicken to come out moist enough for my kids, and that was just DRIPPING the juice.

i thought aaron was the worst of the three and i was really pissed off at the outcome of the show...i wouldve been happy with either adam or lisa and i think they both wouldve brought something to the food network that is unique and also fun to watch. i'll see if I watch next season due to this disappointing outcome.

I thought either Lisa or Aaron would win...I'm not sure if I really liked Lisa's personality much. She seemed really highstrung and nervous and I'm not sure she would handle the stress of TV well. She CAN cook though. I think I would've watched her show just to learn some good techniques. Seriously, even though Food Network is supposed to show everyday people how to cook, I wouldn't mind learning a thing or two about some serious technique and trying some really upscale foods. There are already a ton of shows on FN that show variations on things like burgers, for crying out loud.

as I was watching the finale, like most of you- surprised at how well the promos came out for each contestant- there was a commercial for a new food network show. "ask ava" or something like that, that pretty much takes Adam's idea of interacting with the home audience. you email her and she responds on her show. I agreed that his was the most unique nitch. as sad as I was though that aaron won, I am glad for him. he is a family guy, needs a break, good for him.

kaxxina - Here is the link for the info on Amy: http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/next_food_network_star/...
She really couldn't develop the thick skin that stars need to be on TV. The negative comments on the blogs were too much for her to handle. I can't say I blame her.
As for Aaron winning ... I guess I should have seen that coming because they refused to eliminate him even though he did poorly at the buffet. I really think the judges had made up their minds in Vegas.

I'm actually really happy that Lisa didn't win. The girl couldn't look at a camera without sqinting and she was a stuck up, superficial, snotty nosed b#$@^! I'm glad they sent her and her little Pucci shoes walking!

I totally agree with iieee_grrl I couldn't stand Lisa!!! I guess I am the only one who really liked Adam. Restaurants fail all the time and it doesn't mean that the food is bad at all! So many restaurants stay open with horrible food. I loved his beer can chicken, one of my favorite things to make and I learned something new from his pilot. I like Aaron too and am not upset, but I don't like everyone coming down on Adam so he is not as funny as the JUDGES made him out to be, he is a likable and knowledgeable guy. give him a break.

I think Lisa has the best culinary skill out of the 3. The thing I did not like about her is that I would not be able to watch her. She's boring and too prim and proper. She looks like she's straight out of the 50s with her poufy skirts and bobbed hair. Can't stand that. Aaron seemed the most genuine and likable. I really was routing for him! I'm so glad he won. Poor Adam. They ripped off his idea for the show pilot. While watching the finale, I saw a promo for a show exactly pitching Adam's idea...except with a cute girl and no Adam. How blatant!

I'm with you ieee, you spoke my sentiments exactly, only much quicker. LMAO

Just what the network needs another idiot! Terrible choice and he's too similar to other shows

I'm not a supporter of any of the final three but I don't think Lisa should have won. She was a little too much about style and not enough about the food in my opinion. If I wanted to watch a show about someone who has a particular style/fashion sense, I would turn to the Style Network not the Food Network.

yes - i was REALLY surprised by the outcome. to be honest, i can't ever understand what Aaron is saying so i'm not likely to watch his show. besides that - i think that he's really too similar to the neely's (or however you spell their name) and it's the same demo that they are going after. i don't know - i guess the producers either know what they are doing or they are taking a leap or they really saw no future for the others. all in all it was a mess i think. i'm sure that if the viewers had the chance to vote on the winner like we have in past years, the outcome would have been different.

Does anyone else want Shane and Kelsey to have a show where they work together? I think it would be awesome for the beginning chef and they're both approachable because of how young they are.... Opinions?

I went into the finale rooting for either Lisa or Aaron, but I thought Lisa talked down to the viewers in her pilot. Some of what she said was really condescending and I think people would get sick of watching her after a few episodes. I thought Adam's idea about using the internet, while interesting, was too unpredictable. Also, the final outcome felt very canned - like the questions the girl was asking him were scripted. It just felt corny. And the recipe he made really wasn't all that special. Plus, the dude is just annoying. I really liked Aaron's pilot, he has good energy and his food look delicious! I'm looking forward to checking out Big Daddy's Kitchen.

I just watched the finale today and didn't watch the whole season...however, if Food Network is looking to reach a younger audience, it shouldn't have picked Aaron. I think the other two would've brought in young yuppies or just young singletons.

I CANT BELIEVE ADAM DIDN'T WIN !

WTF!?!??!

We don't need another "Down home with the Neeleys". THEY ARE NOT THAT FUN TO WATCH. I only watched their show 3 times.

Food Network as lost all respect. Adam was the best contestant by far. As for Lisa...not everyone could relate to her.

ADAM SHOULD HAVE WON!!!

Wtf???? I am still asking myself why i even watch food network anymore?????