The Hell's Kitchen Chopping Block

Mr./Ms. MS,

To answer your rather smug and condescending posts: Yes, I e-mailed back-and-forth with Jeffery Dewberry a couple of times and spoke to him on the phone twice back in 2005 (my partner actually having met him in person whilst on a trip to the Atlanta area to meet family) and chatted in IM with Aaron a mere 3 weeks ago. They were, in fact, careful in what each had told me as they were under contract (Aaron still is, obviously); therefore, I extrapolated from what they had told me and my partner. (You see, I DO have a shred of common sense, at the very least.) The part about the actor 'customers' on the show was actually told by Dewberry to my partner, not directly to me, but still, he said it. What I quoted Aaron as saying was a direct paraphrase of what he had told me in chat. He did NOT reveal "pertinent (I believe the word you were searching for was "sensitive") information" as he was very careful what he told me due to his being under contract. What he also told me was that he is currently the Executive Chef at a big resort restaurant in L.A. specializing in Chinese-Fusion cuisine, a fact that two other gay guys I know that knew him from their days in that area confirmed for me just the other day. Aaron also informed me that he has been cooking professionally for nearly 20 years, that he grew up cooking and his first job as such was at his own family's restaurant. He also graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Economics. Now, you saw last season of Hell's Kitchen and have a shred of common sense, I presume; therefore, wouldn't this information surprise you? It sure did me! Therefore, I did what any other logically curious individual would do; I inquired about his 'breakdown' on the show and he answered me what I printed above. He also stated that he is a good cook, so you tell me, Mr./Ms. MS, whom are you going to believe: What this extremely-edited SHOW showed to you last year or what the CONTESTANT HIMSELF is saying? Hmmm?

Anywhosky, I never said the ENTIRE SHOW was scripted; rather, I stated that the "drama" IN the show is scripted. (Y'see, it sure helps to pay attention to what you're reading!) I suppose I should have qualified it to say "largely scripted" because I do not know if ALL of the drama presented on the show is scripted; however, I DO know (from the horse's mouth, so to speak) that much of it is: Aaron's 'breakdown' and the arguments with the actor/customers, for example. I did not contradict myself in any way in my post and am certainly NOT a ""troll" attempting to cause controversy" (see, I have one of these screenname thingys just like you have, otherwise known as an ACCOUNT here); rather, I was inspired to post based on my surprise at Ms. Wallace being able to interview the most recent exited contestants from this year's show and for them to speak with such candor so soon after their respective exits from the show. This surprise was based on my recent chat with Aaron and his informing me that he is still under contract to FOX and to the show for a significant period of time since his famous exit from the show. So there you go. :-)

Oh, and by the way, if you still don't believe me, check another fact, why don'tcha: For his performance in the show (and it was that, a performance) Aaron received an Emmy nomination for Best Actor In A Reality Show. So there ya go...again. :-)

Still think I'm a troll trying to stir up controversy? Sheeet, there is so much crap that I could make up about the show that would be far wilder than what I've written here...BUT, it would be a HELL of a lot WILDER than that, and far less believable. Is what I've stated thus far NOT believable? Um, no. Even Heather saw fit to not question its veracity. But if you want to remain a Doubting Thomas, go right ahead. I personally don't care what you do. Maybe YOU are a troll attempting to stir things up here by questioning the sincerity of my post. I find it interesting that you re-appropriated my own "grain of salt" phrasing not once, but twice (once in each of your two smarmy posts). I also find it interesting that you decided to frame both the names "Dewberry" and "Aaron" as such with quotation marks. Perhaps you doubt the veracity of their own names? ("Dewberry," as obvious from my posts, is his last name, "Jeffery" being his first.)

So, believe me now? I don't know, and nor do I care. Now you go and have yourself a nice day. :-)