by Gina Scarpa

 

Last night, on The Next Food Network Star, Paul Young was eliminated after the judges felt that he just wasn't settling into a point of view that worked for the competition. The comedian turned chef wavered back and forth all season between being too funny and too serious, always searching for that balance in order to please the selection committee. Today, Paul talked to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about his experiences on the show and the new restaurant he's opening.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you decide to try out for the show?
A. Paul: I tried out on a complete whim, actually. My brother-in-law emailed me and told me where the audition was and said it was the job I always talked about, having my own Food Network show. The audition was the next day and I just headed down there. He gave me that little push. I did the open call and then I sent in a video.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Paula Deen is such a huge Food Network star. What was it like to meet her and work with her?
A. Paul: It was completely exciting. She's such an electric woman. She's the quintessential American dream and anybody who knows anything about her knows that. You're talking to somebody that's real and who knows what she's talking about and who has been through this process in one way or another.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was it like to be in front of a live audience and how did that compare, pressure wise, to just being in front of the camera?
A. Paul: Actually I preferred it, although I didn't finish that challenge. I'm a lot more used to being in front of people and I'm used to that interaction, laughing and seeing the nodding of the heads. When you're looking at the camera, you're looking into a cold piece of glass. I don't think people realize how hard it is to put yourself on a plate and talk about that in 30 seconds.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Bob Tuschman didn't really seem to believe that Blue Collar Dollar was genuinely your point of view. What's your take on that?
A. Paul: I think it was more the fact that I was changing my point of view so late in the game. I think Bob ultimately realized that it was me and was authentic but I think he looked at me like someone gasping for air. Whatever was going on in his mind, I think he believes it was authentic.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you about team challenges versus individual challenges this season?
A. Paul: There's good and bad to both. When it's individual challenges, it's all on you. If you screw it up, you screw it up. With a team challenge, there are a lot of times where you get a great deal of support. On this last episode, I was with Herb and we had a great time. I truly appreciated that team challenge. I generally do, for lack of a better team, like to work alone but that challenge was awesome.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It seemed like you were always being told that you were either too funny or too serious. Do you agree?
A. Paul: It was a challenge! Do I want to be a cook? Do I want to be a standup comedian? I found myself wanting to write jokes! The time goes by so fast. To be funny in 30 seconds or 45 seconds is really challenging at times. There was definitely that balance. They told me to turn it up or dial it back and that's why when watching the show, you hear people say, "I'm trying to find myself" and I see why now. You're trying to tune into that one part of you.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you stay in touch with any of the other contestants? Did you form real friendships on the show?
A. Paul: Absolutely! I say this, tried and true all the time: I will have friends from the rest of my life because of this shwo. Tom, Brad, Herb, Alexis, Aarti, just about everybody. There wasn't a ton of drama between us on a personal level. I'm so thankful for the experience!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What is next for you?
A. Paul: In the future, I'm actually in the process of opening up a brand new restaurant in Milwaukee called Stubby's Pub and Grub. It's a very tongue in cheek kind of place, with down home American cooking. It's my menu, my food. Some partners had approached me before the show even aired. It worked out perfectly. We're putting a spin on some old American classics and making it great and sticking with that "blue collar dollar" point of view.

 

 

The Next Food Network Star airs Sundays at 9/8c on Food Network.

 

(Image courtesy of Food Network)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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