Food Network Star, Season 8: Behind the Scenes of Episode 5

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and relive all the highlights of Food Network Star Season 8, Episode 5.

Guy's In the House

The finalists are psyched to see Guy Fieri, who stood in their shoes on Season 2 of Star. He introduces the next challenge: "You're going to host a live special in front of an audience. No second takes, no redos."

Halloween in July

Guy gives each team a theme to run with and Team Alton's is Halloween. Justin is excited about his dish, fried sardine skeletons, but when he's supposed to kick off the presentation, he gets cold feet: "The show starts and no one is saying anything. Dead silence. I'm scared for the first time in this competition. I wasn't myself."

Time Management

Martie is always comfortable telling stories, but despite Alton's warnings, she rambles on and on once again, leaving teammate Emily without much time for her segment.

New POV

Alton encourages Judson to embrace his new healthy POV, drawing from his experience of losing a lot of weight, but Judson is hesitant: "I don't want to go on and on about the weight loss. It brings up bad memories of being overweight." He tries to get past that and explains his lightened-up vegetarian chili to Guy.

Alton's Anxious

Watching his team's live show, Alton knows that it isn't their best performance. The expression on his face says it all.

Game-Day Grub

Team Giada is assigned Game Day, a theme Michele thinks is a gift. "I played sports my whole life. This is a perfect fit for me," says Ippy. They knock it out of the park.

Touchdown for Linkie

Linkie's cute football cookies are a highlight for Giada and the judges. "This is my favorite thing she has served us. I love this cookie," says Susie. Linkie is building up her confidence: "I did good. What a rush!"

Proud Mentor

Giada is thrilled with her team's show and cheers enthusiastically when they finish. "It's funny how a producer can really get the best out of you," says Yvan. "It's like a mom. They know what you need even when you don't."

Cooking With Kids

Team Bobby's special is all about cooking with kids. "I'm a little worried," says Nikki. "Kids can be brutally honest." They decide to give the show a healthy angle, calling it "Mindful Cooking for Kids."

Twins?

Michele and Guy share a laugh over their matching haircuts: "Are you my brother?" Michele jokes. Both the kids and judges love Michele's mom's famous meatball with spaghetti squash instead of pasta. "I thought there was a star on stage," says Bob.

Missed Opportunity

Malcolm, a father of two, is excited about Team Bobby's theme, but gets caught up and fails to mention cooking for his kids in his segment. Still, his idea of letting kids "play with their food" by painting on sauces with brushes goes over well.

Green Smoothie for Grownups

Nikki took a risk and served a green smoothie — not the kids' favorite. But in the stew room, Bobby tells her that Bob "drank the whole thing."

Two Winning Teams

Bob and Susie have a tough time picking one winning team this week, so they decide that Team Bobby and Team Giada are both winners. "That means the bottom team's finalists will compete against each other in the Producers' Challenge," Susie explains.

High-Stakes Loss

Team Alton faces their toughest challenge yet: Competing against one another for a chance to stay in the game. "I don't like this any more than you do," Alton tells his finalists.

Regional Roulette

The finalists of Team Alton must throw a dart at a map of the United States and prepare a dish based on where that dart lands. Some get lucky with good aim; others end up in unfamiliar regions.

Taking Aim

"We're not jocks! We don't know how to play darts," says Justin. He hopes for the best and his dart lands in Nebraska.

Meat and Carbs on Carbs

The "rebel with a culinary cause" names his dish Spaghetti Midwestern. It fits his POV: "I'm going to be rebellious and make the most calorie-laden dish in Star history. I come from New York, where we like small portions."

Pressure's On

Alton's impressed that Emily is using the pressure cooker to make a quick pozole stew inspired by her state, Arizona. "You'd be surprised how many chefs don't know how to use a pressure cooker," he says. Emily seems at ease with the cooking vessel.

Be Authentic

"I'm going to convince Bob and Susie that I'm not a salesman," Judson says. His dart lands in Arkansas, where catfish are plentiful, so he makes catfish encrusted with pecans and broils it instead of deep-frying to fit his healthy new POV.

Fearing the Worst

Martie aims her dart at the South but gets stuck with Pennsylvania, a state she knows nothing about. In her presentation, she struggles to find something meaningful to say. When she finally finishes, she "can't tell if Alton is hugging me goodbye or good job."

Pitching for the Team

Knowing that one member of his team will go home today is heart-wrenching for Alton. "Every one of these people is going to make your brain tie up in knots. You're not going to be able to let one of them go," he tells Bob and Susie.

Two Are Safe

"You guys are all so unique. I honestly wish I could keep everyone," Susie says. After watching the four camera presentations, she and Bob excuse Justin and Emily from the pitch room: They are safe.

Tearful Farewell

It comes down to Judson and Martie, and ultimately, Judson is the one to go. "I'm sad that I never really got the chance to show America how to cook healthy food," he says. "I didn't express my struggles earlier in the competition. I know I'm a star and my journey does not end here."