WATCH: Star Salvation Episode 1, a Second Chance at Stardom
For the first time in Star history, one eliminated contestant will have a chance to re-enter the competition in a four-week Web series called Star Salvation, presented by Buitoni. Each Sunday night after every Star episode, Robert Irvine, host of Restaurant: Impossible, will test the finalists in a series of culinary skill challenges that will determine whether they stay or go.
Click the play button above to watch the first episode and find out who will advance to next week's episode of Star Salvation.
From Justin's Perspective
This is the best twist in Food Network Star history. Every viewer who has ever watched this show has thought that his or her favorite eliminated contestant deserves another shot. Now it's happening, and I think that when the contestants' backs are to the door, they will push with all their might. Trust me, when there were 15 contestants last year, I was pretty cocky and sure of my odds. When there were six, I was crying in Alton's arms.
Eddy Chen, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Does Danushka deserve to come back? Danushka deserves to be around as long as she's rolling her eyes and sighing. Maybe I'm just a weirdo, but I can't look away when she is on the screen. It has absolutely nothing to do with her former model career — she's just so drastically different from every other sunshine and rainbow cupcake-making wannabe. Her food seems good, too (except for her raw shrimp, see video above). I think she would be a less zany, but equally edgy, counterpart to Nadia G.
Robert Irvine is perfect for this. He's the master mender of broken culinary dreams. He tough-loves people into success, and that's the kick in the pants I think the hopefuls need.