Food Network Cooking Their Numbers?

Posted May 16th 2008 9:00AM by TMZ Staff

Food Network cooking their numbers? Is the Food Network trying to win over a younger audience by slicing and dicing a contestant's age on "The Next Food Network Star"?

According to his online profile, season four contestant Jeffrey Vaden is 43-years-old. But on the show, he was credited as being a sprightly 39. Foodnetworkaddict.com was the first to have the keen eye. Is this a case of bad editing -- or bad numbers?

According to their profiles, the other contestants on the show, save for one woman, are all in their 20s and 30s. Are two 40-year-olds two too many?

UPDATE: The Food Network just released this statement to TMZ:
"The contestant (Jeffrey Vaden) mistakenly wrote his age as 39 on his initial application, but also provided his correct year of birth and later verified it with the network. The correct age of 43 was used in all network materials but due to a production mistake, the incorrect age was included in the show and the online video. We are correcting the mistake immediately."

Filed under: Department of Debunk, Food Glorious Food

Comments [14]

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1. Come on TMZ, its not as though he is really a woman. Now that would entertainment worth reporting on. Who honestly cares about this guys age.

Posted at 10:36AM on May 16th 2008 by tmz has everything I need

2. I think guys are one of the worst violators for lying about their age. He probably submitted different ages at different points in the process. Genuine people carry their age proudly ~ knowing the with age comes (hopefully) wisdom. But, I automatically count guys as jerks when they lie about their age ~ it is a clear signal they are lying about more!

Posted at 10:39AM on May 16th 2008 by Fess Up HisVainness

3. Boring....NEXT.

Posted at 10:48AM on May 16th 2008 by boring

4. I'm cheering for Lisa Garza. She is the neice of a local family who has owned two Tex-Mex restaurants here in town that are SRO even at 11am in the morning for the past 60 plus years.

Posted at 11:07AM on May 16th 2008 by chicken stripper

5. seriously this is news?? u guys are reachin

Posted at 11:46AM on May 16th 2008 by tdubya

6. OMFG!!!!! This is earth-shaking! Wow TMZ, you are simply the best. A four year discrepency on age on the FOOD NETWORK! Only TMZ can dig up the news everyone actually cares about. Good job guys! Harvey, give this bunch a huge raise!

Posted at 11:49AM on May 16th 2008 by TMZhires13yearolds

7. Who the hell would notice or care about this?

Posted at 11:53AM on May 16th 2008 by Dude

8.

I don't really care how old they say they are. What a total non-sequitur.

Posted at 1:07PM on May 16th 2008 by OCD

9. WHO GIVES A CRAP!!??

Posted at 1:31PM on May 16th 2008 by Ric H

10. Noby cares how old or young a chef is. You judge them by how the food looks, tastes, costs.

Posted at 2:13PM on May 16th 2008 by Lucy Phoenix

11. WHO CARES/........TYPO-SHMYPO. THE FOOD CHANNEL USED TO BE GREAT, BUT IT IS SOOOOOOOOO FREGGIN TIRED NOW AND HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

LET'S SEE: THERE'S OL' SOUTHERN-FRIED FAT BAG-O-WRINKLES, PAULA DEEN & HER HEART ATTACK CUISINE
THERE'S HER 2 SICOPHANT, FAT-ASS SONS STILL HANGIN ON TO MOMMY'S APRON STRINGS
THERE'S PITIFUL EMERIL, WHO MARTHA STEWART HAD TO BAIL OUT
THERE'S BORING BOBBY FLAY AND HIS RIDICULOUSLY STUPID "THROWN DOWNS" (MORE LIKE "THROW UPS")
THERE'S GIADA WHO HAS TO REMOVE THE WOODEN SPOON FROM HER ASS TO STIR THE SAUCE
THERE'S RACHEL RAY WHO LOOKS & ACTS SO MATRONLY, IT'S LIKE WATCHING HER GRANDMOTHER COOK.

NEED I GO ON? IT HAD ITS HEY DAY. THE RIDE IS OVER. TIME FOR SOMETHING FRESH AND NEW.

Posted at 2:31PM on May 16th 2008 by noitall

12. Who cares. There was a time when I was a big fan of the Food Network, but no more! Most of the sweet young things that they have now can't cook their way out of a Ziplock bag. Its not like they're entertaining, either.

Posted at 3:01PM on May 16th 2008 by Mama Says

13. "The contestant (Jeffrey Vaden) mistakenly wrote his age as 39 on his initial application, "

How do you mistakingly write down the wrong age??????? I'm 20... no 37!

Posted at 5:11PM on May 16th 2008 by Platypus

14. stop the presses TMZ you are what is wrong with the world...i still love you tho..seriously all those dorks tha are on tmz TV are just there because there too ugly to be real celebs

Posted at 7:05PM on May 20th 2008 by aussie boy

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