born 22 August 1970

Dirk Jacob, Berlin, East Germany, sound designer

Frederik Fernbrant, Helsingborg, Sweden, composer

Giada De Laurentiis, Rome, Italy, cooking show host

Gianluca Ramazzotti, Rome, Italy, actor

Jeff Griffith, Everett, Washington, assistant director

Judy Unger, New York, New York, actress

László Nagyidai, Jr., Budapest, Hungary, construction manager

Luz Elena González, Guadalajara, Mexico, actress

Tanja Karpela, Salo, Finland, minister of culture

Tímea Nagy, Budapest, Hungary, Olympic champion fencer

Tyce Diorio, Brooklyn, New York, dancer

Yakan Nabe, Tokyo, Japan, actor

I always felt that Today’s Winner looks the way Natalie Portman would look, were Natalie Portman Italian, and three dimensional. It’s a package: the cleavage, the lockjaw, the first grade teacher’s tone of voice. I can’t deny that she can be somewhat hypnotic in ten to fifteen minute increments: the crucial skill for food television. I guess we’re stuck with her, if the fact that she’s got a display case at the dumpy Target down my street is any indication.