Reality Check: Paramedic 'Baker' couldn't save cake
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"American Idol" contestant Samantha Novacek of Westmoreland County sang during Thursday night's auditions episode while her sister Patricia Bell "planked."
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Perhaps Megan Hart isn't the "Next Great Baker," but she proved she is pretty good. After eight weeks on the TLC reality competition show, Mrs. Hart, a paramedic from Lincoln Place, was eliminated this week.
The bakers were charged with creating heavy metal-themed birthday cakes with the added challenge of engineering pyrotechnics.
But the ladies team -- it was girls versus guys because the field was down to six -- never got a chance to sparkle. Mrs. Hart and teammate Nadine Reibeling had a terrible time getting the guitar cake-topper to stay upright, and it fell during presentation.
Mrs. Hart was not optimistic about the topper from the start. After Ms. Reibeling built a prototype, the former told her it was too heavy, and that the structure of the cake would not hold.
"I feel like I'm being asked to be Jesus the carpenter at this point," she told the cameras.
PG VIDEOAt judging, judge/host Buddy Valastro complained that the flames Mrs. Hart designed for their cake were a disaster. This explained a lot: a day before the show aired, Mrs. Hart's Facebook page featured a photo of a firefighter's hat cake she recently made.
"Keep this picture in mind," she wrote. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I can indeed make FLAMES. Took me literally less than 10 minutes. Just sayin'."
Marissa's Lopez's fireworks display also fell flat. Mr. Valastro singled out Mrs. Hart and Mello Oquendo for the season's first double-elimination.
On the infamous box truck ride, Mrs. Hart said she had no regrets.
"I was just doing my first case this time last year. So, I won."
Starting next month, Mrs. Hart will begin a new baking adventure as head cake artist at Dozen in Lawrenceville.
The much-anticipated return of "American Idol" showed off nice views of Pittsburgh's bridges as well as PNC Park, but there weren't many locals spotlighted Thursday.
Most of the featured contestants were from New York, Baltimore and points beyond, although literally thousands of folks were in the background of the B-Roll shot at Heinz Field. At a news conference with the celebrity judges in September, host Ryan Seacrest and judge Steven Tyler joked about a girl who "planked" during an audition.
The nation caught a glimpse when producers chose to show the audition clip of Samantha Novacek, of tiny Sutersville, Westmoreland County. Samantha did well, earning her trip to Hollywood for the next round, but what really made her stand out was sister Patricia Bell. Ms. Bell flopped onto the floor and made like a plank of wood as her sibling sang. Think "Tebowing," only months earlier in the pop culture trending cycle.
Shane Bruce, 19, was another interesting story. Like family members before him, Mr. Bruce went from high school to the coal mines in Moundsville, W.Va. Although he was clearly nervous and did not sing well enough to earn a trip to California, the judges were encouraging.
For what is believed to be the first time in 11 seasons of "Idol," the show was beaten by another network's regular programming. CBS's "Big Bang Theory" won the 8-8:30 p.m. slot for adults 18-49. Overall, the "Idol" hour scored the most viewers, with 16.2 million.
• On "The Bachelor" (ABC Mondays), the ladies seethed when a new would-be flame for Ben arrived, and this week's eye candy segment got them into bikinis and onto skis.
Shadyside native Samantha Levey received a rose.
• First there was "Dance Moms." Now get ready for "Dance Moms: Miami." Lifetime Television has announced a spinoff to its popular weekly "Thunderdome," which is filmed in a Penn Hills studio.
The Stars Dance Studio and contemporary dance instructors Victor Smalley and Angel Armas will be featured in the new show.
" 'Dance Moms: Miami' captures the same energy, passion and conflict between an equally intriguing cast of instructors, amazing dancers and moms who are 100 percent dedicated to become the best at what they do," said Nancy Dubuc, president and general manager of Lifetime Networks.
First Published January 21, 2012 12:00 am
