Chef Teddy Folkman watches himself in an episode of The Next Food Network Star.

Teddy Folkman, D.C.’s latest representative on the reality food television circuit, was sent home from The Next Food Network Star in last night’s episode. It was the fourth episode of the season—he outlasted three of the ten fellow contestants, but didn’t make it to cook in Rachel Ray’s studio in episode 5. The ouster wasn’t a product of poor cooking, though we weren’t too thrilled with much of his offerings from his relaunched Capitol Lounge menu. In fact, his haute DLT sandwich (duck, lettuce, and tomato) won praises from the show’s judges in last night’s elimination challenge.

But unlike shows such as Top Chef, screen presence is just as, if not more important, than what comes out of the kitchen. From week to week judges noted, and Folkman often agreed, that he was awkward and unnatural in front of the rolling cameras. The moules frites wiz can be a gregarious presence as he walks around Granville Moore’s, but he struggled in the show at the art of being himself. Presenting his DLT to the judges and a roomful of armed service men and women he was cooking for, Folkman stammered and resorted to reading notes off of his hand. While two competitors served what were effectively bowls of glue and mush and a third was on the chopping block for serving raw meat (when it wasn’t supposed to be) in two previous challenges, it was the judgment that Folkman couldn’t be endearing enough on TV that sent him home early.