MasterChef replaces contestant but keeps it under wraps
MasterChef's fighter pilot flies off, but TEN keeps promoting the fact it has a pilot in the cast.
- Published by David Knox
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The first production change to MasterChef 2011 has seen one of the Top 24 drop-out of the series after making it through the Top 50 and replaced with another contestant.
On last night’s show, WA fighter pilot, Paul Lombardi (pictured, top), was called for service by the defence force and withdrew from the series.
He was replaced by 26 year old CNC Machinist, Alex Glasson (pictured, bottom), also from WA who had been cut the night before.
Glasson had stayed alive through a number of eliminations last week.
Matt Moran said, “Alex has shown grit, determination and a great attitude towards his dream of working in the food industry. His willingness to stay positive and have a great work ethic is pivotal to becoming Australia’s next MasterChef. You can teach someone to cook, but you can’t necessarily teach someone to have a great attitude about cooking – an attribute that Alex has in spade loads.”
Despite Lombardi dropping out of the series, filmed weeks ago, TEN continued to promote the fact it had a fighter pilot in the series, including this line to media as recently as Sunday:
The group includes a fighter pilot, a 20 year old nursing student, a professional life guard from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, a full time mum of three and a 61 year old teacher, who is the oldest contestant ever to make it into the Top 24.
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20 Responses
I’m seriously, that Alex guy doesn’t deserve to be in there. He’s such a downy. If you saw the episode on the pier thing where he gave to pieces of shit (meatballs) on a mash… and the meatballs were undercooked.
“Rubbish”, you might be in the air force, but you sound like you’re not an fp. A fighter pilot’s skills are a bit more niche.
Technically they weren’t lying…
@ Peter: Please elaborate on your comment. Seems like you’re ‘in the know’
Maybe the ADF reconsidered Paul’s participation because it seems trivial when we have people serving overseas in active zones.
I know Alex would make it. He got so much airtime during the top 50. However I can’t see him lasting, all of this food looks very grey and bland
@ rubbish – oooh, that’s interesting! i believed the reasoning they provided.. i wonder what happened!
i really wish people would not bang on about things they have no idea about! this goes for most things that appear here!
such a shame, i was looking forward to seeing paul in the competition, and so glad to see alex gone because he was constantly getting thrown into the bottom (and to have alex constantly mention it himself!!).
it was expected though, they showed him heavily in clips before he was edged out.
I missed the first few minutes of MC last night because i was watching prisoner when i turned it on i thought that i was going mad because he was back during the ad break i ran it back and found out i so wish they had brought back John rather than him
So annoyed Alex is back. He was just getting too much air time. I want to get to know the other contestants, not just the guy who is always in the bottom 3
Alll about personality not cooking ability, this is now becoming so evident in Series Three, hopefull they will lift their game, the three judges now becoming parodies of themselves, new blood is needed C10, otherwise ….
Fighter Pilots are cool.
Nick or John would’ve been a better substitute!
..”called for service”……….. rubbish. I’m in the Air Force and that’s crap ! He would have already had permission long ago. Some other reason for him not continuing.
Ah, that all makes sense now. I was wondering why Alex was featured so heavily in the promos if he didn’t make it into the top 24.
If they did yank him out that was a bit silly, the ADF needs all the good publicity it can get.
I feel sorry for Paul. This incident could deter other members of the ADF from applying for a place in future series of MasterChef, because during any time of the competition the contestant may be called for duty and he or she will have to give up the spot he or she has worked so hard for.
Yeah – Methinks the ADF had second thoughts
pfft get over it