Team Alton: Down to Four

Producer Alton Brown coaching Contestant Cristie Schoen on giving her Camera Presntation for the Producer's Challenge "Mother's Day" as seen on Food Network's Star, Season 8.

Next Food Network Star Season 8, Episode 1

Producer Alton Brown coaching Contestant Cristie Schoen on giving her Camera Presntation for the Producer's Challenge "Mother's Day" as seen on Food Network's Star, Season 8.

Photo by: Todd Plitt ©2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

Todd Plitt, 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

Team Alton was the first to lose a member with the departure of Cristie Schoen in Sunday's premiere. Cristie, a movie-set caterer, came off as angry when she delivered her pitch for healthy eating (and a bland black-eyed pea and cabbage soup) in the Restaurant: Impossible challenge. She tried to redeem herself in the Producers' Challenge, but Bob and Susie ultimately felt that Josh had more staying power.

"I got confused and you lost me at the end. I don’t see the joy and the excitement that will excite an entire nation to eat healthy," Bob Tuschman told Cristie. She handled her early exit gracefully, but with regrets about her performance: "I’m really disappointed that I did not make it close to the top because I do have such an important message to share. I wasn’t able to communicate that message out."

Ep. 1 Reaction: The First Exit
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Flip through Cristie's Star Scrapbook and more behind-the-scenes photos from Episode One.

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Caption It: Alton Means Business

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