Top Chef season 5 ended with a thud. The blog sphere seems outraged with the outcome, thinking the third best chef took the honors. Hosea was never a top performing through out the season, but he made the fewest mistakes in the final elimination challenge and won, by default.
Stefan, the favorite going in came in close second. Carla came in third.
My only comment: why do contestants do something incredibly stupid in the finale? Carla took advice from her sous chef, Casey, and went down in flames when she didn't cook her own style. What interests me is why Carla would have listened to Casey who notoriously chocked in the finale in season 4. This was not the time to lose your self-confidence.
I wonder if Stefan had watched previous seasons? Every time a chef decided to freeze a protein or used a frozen protein the results were not good. Yet he chose to do just that. Also it seems that having several options for a course never works out that well. Stefan decided to have a plate of various desserts. All of which might have be delightful, but when thrown together seemed out of date in presentation and selection. One great dessert, which Stefan certainly had the ability to pull off, might have won him the title.
I'm looking forward to the reunion show to hear some explanations of what went on. As I mentioned earlier, unscripted competition reality shows rise and fall based on their casting. Top Chef certainly is at the top of the food chain for what they do. I think they just got a bad crop this season. That's the luck of the draw. They can cook as evidenced by the results of the masked ball challenge.
One last thing. There has been general disdain for caterers in this competition. But the two "favorites" of the final three were caterers.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Amazing Race - Oops Wrong Turn
Episode 2 of The Amazing Race was a repetition of the first episode: A very dramatic fear of heights roadblock coupled with a hilarious detour. I won't recount either other than to say again TAR gets credit for outstanding camera work within a beautiful setting. Who wouldn't want to fly off that hill and glide down from 6,000 feet over a stunning valley?
Unfortunately for our eliminated team, one team member took the wrong way down the hill and got lost - costing them the leg and the race. That's too bad because this team deserved to see the world a bit longer. But sentimentality doesn't win this reality competition. So Phil gave them "you're the last team to arrive. I'm sorry, you have been eliminated."
The detour featured two choices which were a bit deceiving. The one that at first seemed more difficult - an obstacle course race on a motorized device - turned out to be rather easy. The other was a classic TAR detour. Find one object among many. I hate this challenge it always seems to upend the race with good teams getting very unlucky. However this time I couldn't help laughing as the way to find the correct cake with the cherry filling was to throw it in the face of your teammate. Very funny.
It's nice to see a reality competition show that doesn't take itself too seriously even when the prize is a cool million dollars. It's also nice to see that CBS hasn't cheapened it up like NBC. You go on a CBS reality show and win and you get paid off very nicely.
Unfortunately for our eliminated team, one team member took the wrong way down the hill and got lost - costing them the leg and the race. That's too bad because this team deserved to see the world a bit longer. But sentimentality doesn't win this reality competition. So Phil gave them "you're the last team to arrive. I'm sorry, you have been eliminated."
The detour featured two choices which were a bit deceiving. The one that at first seemed more difficult - an obstacle course race on a motorized device - turned out to be rather easy. The other was a classic TAR detour. Find one object among many. I hate this challenge it always seems to upend the race with good teams getting very unlucky. However this time I couldn't help laughing as the way to find the correct cake with the cherry filling was to throw it in the face of your teammate. Very funny.
It's nice to see a reality competition show that doesn't take itself too seriously even when the prize is a cool million dollars. It's also nice to see that CBS hasn't cheapened it up like NBC. You go on a CBS reality show and win and you get paid off very nicely.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Kitchen Hell - Fry Me a River
There is so much to say about Hell's Kitchen I don't know where to start. So I will give some random thoughts and spread comments over several blogs over a few weeks as the season progresses. There's a minor connection to this show and myself. The winner of season 1 of Hell's Kitchen briefly lived in Sierra Vista, AZ after the show aired when he burned out in Los Angeles and decided to take it easy in a small town where his parents currently live. He became the chef at the country club in our small community. I wanted to meet him and ask some of the questions below - but never got the chance. Darn.
- Is Gordon Ramsey really the foul-mouthed, obnoxious man who throws things in the kitchen, that you see in this series?
- Why are contestants selected that obviously don't have line experience?
- Why cook beef wellington, a dish that I have yet to see at any fine restaurant and would think that Ramsey does not serve at any of his restaurants?
- Most dinner services in Hell's Kitchen take at least an hour to get out the entrees, is that really acceptable?
- At what point does Ramsey's abuse cross the line into something unacceptable even for reality television?
- Why do so many chefs smoke? I would think it would ruin your palate.
Next time: the challenges - they seemed designed to humiliate rather than find a winner.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Survivor: Exile Island Buddies?
The second episode of Survivor really didn't have the much going for it. Exile island came into play, not my favorite twist, and since it's been in many previous seasons it's hard to call it a twist at all. One would expect the cast to expect it.
There was a twist to the twist. This season, as in the past, the winning tribe at a challenge picks someone from the losing tribe to go. However after that pick, the losing tribe picks someone from the winning tribe to go as well. Well that's interesting. Could make for some interesting strategy sessions.
A final twist to the twist is that when the two exiled survivors get to exile island (it didn't seem to be an island this season - rather a spot along a river) they must choose from two urns, one of which has a clue to the hidden immunity idol. One is empty. We will have to see how this plays out - if the two exiles decide to work together to find what seems to be two idols back at their camp. If both found idols that would make a very formidable team later in the game.
The rest of the episode was very standard, although no separate reward challenge. The elimination challenges are getting very physical, a trend I'm not crazy about. That definitely encourages elimination of the less athletic and physical early on.
A last thought: After someone was voted out at tribal council, Jeff Probst again commented on how they were blindsided. Nonsense! Just because someone wasn't expecting to go home doesn't mean they were blindsided. At this point in the game alliances are not that strong to consider actual betrayal. Probst should stop trying to amp up the results. We all know a good blindside when we see it.
There was a twist to the twist. This season, as in the past, the winning tribe at a challenge picks someone from the losing tribe to go. However after that pick, the losing tribe picks someone from the winning tribe to go as well. Well that's interesting. Could make for some interesting strategy sessions.
A final twist to the twist is that when the two exiled survivors get to exile island (it didn't seem to be an island this season - rather a spot along a river) they must choose from two urns, one of which has a clue to the hidden immunity idol. One is empty. We will have to see how this plays out - if the two exiles decide to work together to find what seems to be two idols back at their camp. If both found idols that would make a very formidable team later in the game.
The rest of the episode was very standard, although no separate reward challenge. The elimination challenges are getting very physical, a trend I'm not crazy about. That definitely encourages elimination of the less athletic and physical early on.
A last thought: After someone was voted out at tribal council, Jeff Probst again commented on how they were blindsided. Nonsense! Just because someone wasn't expecting to go home doesn't mean they were blindsided. At this point in the game alliances are not that strong to consider actual betrayal. Probst should stop trying to amp up the results. We all know a good blindside when we see it.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Top Chef - Twist Me One More Time
If you love reality television, you have to love twists. The trick is to get a twist that makes sense and does not come completely out of left field. Top Chef pulled off one of the classics, bringing back eliminated contestants for one final shot.
The last three eliminated chefs were brought back for a quick fire challenge, the winner would move on to the elimination round against the four finalists. Wow, nicely done. The show's producers have done this at least once before in their other show, Project Runway. In that show, as I remember it, several eliminated designers who had previously won were brought back for one more elimination challenge. In both shows the resurrected cast members had to WIN the elimination challenge to move forward.
Survivor may have started this trend long before with the ghost tribe in Survivor Pearl Islands. At that time it was controversial because in Survivor cast members vote to eliminate others, not expecting them back. Remaining cast members and fans were rather upset about that twist.
But Top Chef made it work. We had five chefs competing for three spots in the finale. Jeff, who had won the quick fire, came close to winning the elimination challenge but was eliminated with fan favorite - and certainly the most charming chef, Fabio. Villain Stefan squeaked by and showed why he is the villain with a cocky attitude and a sub-par performance.
Carla continues her strong stretch run. I don't see her winning the whole thing, but it will be fun to watch next week.
A final comment, if the FoodNetwork or Bravo doesn't snatch up Fabio for something they are fools! He might not be the best chef, but neither is Paula Dean. This guy is camera friendly.
The last three eliminated chefs were brought back for a quick fire challenge, the winner would move on to the elimination round against the four finalists. Wow, nicely done. The show's producers have done this at least once before in their other show, Project Runway. In that show, as I remember it, several eliminated designers who had previously won were brought back for one more elimination challenge. In both shows the resurrected cast members had to WIN the elimination challenge to move forward.
Survivor may have started this trend long before with the ghost tribe in Survivor Pearl Islands. At that time it was controversial because in Survivor cast members vote to eliminate others, not expecting them back. Remaining cast members and fans were rather upset about that twist.
But Top Chef made it work. We had five chefs competing for three spots in the finale. Jeff, who had won the quick fire, came close to winning the elimination challenge but was eliminated with fan favorite - and certainly the most charming chef, Fabio. Villain Stefan squeaked by and showed why he is the villain with a cocky attitude and a sub-par performance.
Carla continues her strong stretch run. I don't see her winning the whole thing, but it will be fun to watch next week.
A final comment, if the FoodNetwork or Bravo doesn't snatch up Fabio for something they are fools! He might not be the best chef, but neither is Paula Dean. This guy is camera friendly.
American Idol - bye, bye Tatiana
Hey, I thought American Idol was cutting the results shows down to 1/2 hour. Apparently not at least for now. So we got way too much filler including the cringe-inducing group number and a duet by season 7 finalists. That was one weird number. I liked Michael Johns previously but somehow he and Carly Smithson together turned into some bizarre over done lounge act.
AI keeps up the humiliating results formula. How awful to be eliminated and then sit there for another 45 minutes trying to smile. It looks like America got it almost right. The female pick was clearly the best. Danny looks like the front runner right now based on his ability and back story. The other guy was put through cause he's a nice guy. That's OK. I might have picked someone else - but no gripes so far.
Oh, one last thought - thank God they got rid of Tatiana, another week of her would be the equivalent of water-boarding.
AI keeps up the humiliating results formula. How awful to be eliminated and then sit there for another 45 minutes trying to smile. It looks like America got it almost right. The female pick was clearly the best. Danny looks like the front runner right now based on his ability and back story. The other guy was put through cause he's a nice guy. That's OK. I might have picked someone else - but no gripes so far.
Oh, one last thought - thank God they got rid of Tatiana, another week of her would be the equivalent of water-boarding.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
American Idol - Three Weeks of Hell
American Idol has moved into the live performance rounds with the top 36. From what I saw and heard tonight it will be a very long three weeks until we get down to the top 12. What a dreary, long, and at times wince inducing two hours that should have been done in 90 minutes at most.
One change that would certainly help is getting rid of parents, love ones, friends, etc. who have to smile bravely to the camera and Ryan Seacrest after Simon Cowell had taken a hatchet to their hope for fame and fortune. The DVR comes in handy here so you can fast forward past the awkward moments. Unfortunately if you decide to listen to the singing most of it was terrible.
One, perhaps two singers were memorable and perhaps two more were passable. That makes you wonder if the audition process really works. Perhaps it's nerves that trips up performers that might be better than they showed tonight.
1 out of 12 is 8.5% success rate. Nothing more needs to be said.
One change that would certainly help is getting rid of parents, love ones, friends, etc. who have to smile bravely to the camera and Ryan Seacrest after Simon Cowell had taken a hatchet to their hope for fame and fortune. The DVR comes in handy here so you can fast forward past the awkward moments. Unfortunately if you decide to listen to the singing most of it was terrible.
One, perhaps two singers were memorable and perhaps two more were passable. That makes you wonder if the audition process really works. Perhaps it's nerves that trips up performers that might be better than they showed tonight.
1 out of 12 is 8.5% success rate. Nothing more needs to be said.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Amazing Race - Cheese Wiz
I'm delighted that The Amazing Race (from now on referred to as TAR) is back for another edition on Sunday nights. It is probably the best produced of the competition reality shows and that's why it continues to win Emmys. This season can see some cosmetic tweaks to make the show a bit more exciting. Unfortunately, Direct TV decided last night to periodically scramble both the picture and sound so viewing wasn't optimal.
There are new graphics, new title sequence and some streamlining of the actual race. No long driving sequences getting from the start to the first airport. Also it seems as reported elsewhere that we will not be seeing much action in the airports. It does get a bit boring watching everyone get airline tickets.
Viewers are also getting more of the travelogue aspect of this unique show. We saw quite a bit of the beautiful scenery in Switzerland last night. Leg 1 was a typical TAR leg incorporating two trademarks of the show.
First up was the fear of heights roadblock. The first challenge of the race. And they put it right out there with a bungee jump off a dam that looked truly terrifying to me. What I enjoyed about this task was the great camera work, seeing the jump from numerous angles that gave you a real feeling for the heights involved. Very, very good start.
Then on to a task that was TAR at it's silliest and best. It sounded simple, and looked, well not that hard. Go up a hill and carry down 200 pounds of cheese in 50 pound rounds. Apparently a steep, wet hill, high altittude, and very flimsy wood carriers made for a hilarious if not stressful physical challenge. I loved watching these large cheese wheels careen down the hill at ever faster speeds, crashing into anything in their way.
One issue that this task brings up is that we are not made aware of exactly what the rules are for a particular task. It seemed the task was to go up the hill and using the wooden carriers, carry down the cheese. That's not how it went. With some teams sliding down the hill with their cheese to others carrying it or chasing after runaway cheese! It would have been nice to know what they were allowed to do.
The 11 teams seem like a good cross section of humanity and no one stands out as a pyscho competitive nut - yet. One team got eliminated which is always heart breaking so early in the race. I have a favorite - but I'm waiting at least one more leg to commit.
A good start to a class act for reality competition. To get maximum enjoyment out of TAR, watch it with others and laugh, comment, and root for a team - it makes it all much better.
There are new graphics, new title sequence and some streamlining of the actual race. No long driving sequences getting from the start to the first airport. Also it seems as reported elsewhere that we will not be seeing much action in the airports. It does get a bit boring watching everyone get airline tickets.
Viewers are also getting more of the travelogue aspect of this unique show. We saw quite a bit of the beautiful scenery in Switzerland last night. Leg 1 was a typical TAR leg incorporating two trademarks of the show.
First up was the fear of heights roadblock. The first challenge of the race. And they put it right out there with a bungee jump off a dam that looked truly terrifying to me. What I enjoyed about this task was the great camera work, seeing the jump from numerous angles that gave you a real feeling for the heights involved. Very, very good start.
Then on to a task that was TAR at it's silliest and best. It sounded simple, and looked, well not that hard. Go up a hill and carry down 200 pounds of cheese in 50 pound rounds. Apparently a steep, wet hill, high altittude, and very flimsy wood carriers made for a hilarious if not stressful physical challenge. I loved watching these large cheese wheels careen down the hill at ever faster speeds, crashing into anything in their way.
One issue that this task brings up is that we are not made aware of exactly what the rules are for a particular task. It seemed the task was to go up the hill and using the wooden carriers, carry down the cheese. That's not how it went. With some teams sliding down the hill with their cheese to others carrying it or chasing after runaway cheese! It would have been nice to know what they were allowed to do.
The 11 teams seem like a good cross section of humanity and no one stands out as a pyscho competitive nut - yet. One team got eliminated which is always heart breaking so early in the race. I have a favorite - but I'm waiting at least one more leg to commit.
A good start to a class act for reality competition. To get maximum enjoyment out of TAR, watch it with others and laugh, comment, and root for a team - it makes it all much better.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Top Chef - Final Four - Yawn
I love Top Chef. I really do, and I know nothing about food. In fact I'm a very picky unsophisticated eater. Most of what they make on that show I wouldn't touch, even in a Survivor food challenge. But among what I call the job competition shows, Top Chef stands out way above the rest. It is the one show that seems to have had some impact on the industry it showcases. Well I guess you would have to add American Idol to that list, but that's another story.
Unfortunately a truism of reality shows is that the show is only as good as the cast. Sometimes the people competing turn out to be duds. Season 5 of Top Chef features a cast that, on paper, should have been great. But a combination of challenges that didn't seem to work with a cast that never really stepped it up, we are now down to the finals with four chefs that haven't left much of an impression.
This season we didn't even get a lot of drama or a real villain. You can't call Stefan a villain, the guy's a sweet heart. Egotistical - yeah - but why shouldn't he be? Think back to previous seasons Stephan doesn't even rate in the top 5 of nasty ***holes.
I don't have a favorite now the Jamie is gone. That's a bad sign, but I will pick Carla just because it's so perverse to do so. Let's hope we get some good cooking at the finals.
Unfortunately a truism of reality shows is that the show is only as good as the cast. Sometimes the people competing turn out to be duds. Season 5 of Top Chef features a cast that, on paper, should have been great. But a combination of challenges that didn't seem to work with a cast that never really stepped it up, we are now down to the finals with four chefs that haven't left much of an impression.
This season we didn't even get a lot of drama or a real villain. You can't call Stefan a villain, the guy's a sweet heart. Egotistical - yeah - but why shouldn't he be? Think back to previous seasons Stephan doesn't even rate in the top 5 of nasty ***holes.
I don't have a favorite now the Jamie is gone. That's a bad sign, but I will pick Carla just because it's so perverse to do so. Let's hope we get some good cooking at the finals.
Survivor: Off to a good start
The 18th edition of Survivor is off and running. First, let's talk about names and I don't mean the names of the cast members. As the series has aged names have become more obscure and more difficult to pronounce. Explain "Tocantins" to me? Much worse are the tribe names Jalapao & Timbira (I had to go to a recap site Reality News Online to get spelling). Tribe members should not have to take lessons to learn how to pronounce their tribe's name. What happened to names like Survivor Africa, or Survivor Pear Islands? I see next year's edition Survivor Baluchistan, that will make a great t-shirt.
On to the first episode. I am a fan of twists and trying to keep the show fresh, which after so many seasons is getting to be a big chore. Usually the twists don't work - I'm still not a fan of exile island. But I will give the producers props for the first twist right out of the start. What looked like a brutal and rather cruel vote-off eliminating one player from each tribe before the game even started-turned out to be a brilliant study in group prejudice.
I was sure that the oldest or weakest would get the cut and sure enough the one clearly older woman got picked as well as someone (a younger women) who looked sick. This was all done without anyone even knowing each other's names. I have big issues with casting only one or perhaps two players in the 50s. Just think back to season one, would Rudy even get a chance now?
I'm guessing that the current cast had not seen season 17 where Bob, the oldest survivor ever to win, proved that age isn't a disadvantage in the game.
But the twist proved much more interesting when Probst clarified the remark that the two voted-off tribe members would not be making the journey. What he meant (ha!) was that they would not be making the 4 hour trek to each tribe's location instead they would be helicoptered in to the site. Score one for the producers. Now each tribe had to deal with a member who clearly felt screwed.
A final study in psychology occurred when each of the voted-off survivors had an immediate choice when they landed at their new home: search for a hidden immunity idol or work on building shelter for their tribe who were hours away. Here I think the show got very lucky - one survivor opted to search (rather ineffectively I thought) for the idol while the other decided to work hard to build shelter to impress those that had already signed her death warrant.
The rest of episode one was pretty standard. An immunity challenge that had three parts - none of which I found interesting. Then the scheming starts in the losing tribe and someone gets voted off. No big surprises here.
Not a bad start for the season. But I find myself wanting to skip a lot of silly bitching and just letting them vote.
On to the first episode. I am a fan of twists and trying to keep the show fresh, which after so many seasons is getting to be a big chore. Usually the twists don't work - I'm still not a fan of exile island. But I will give the producers props for the first twist right out of the start. What looked like a brutal and rather cruel vote-off eliminating one player from each tribe before the game even started-turned out to be a brilliant study in group prejudice.
I was sure that the oldest or weakest would get the cut and sure enough the one clearly older woman got picked as well as someone (a younger women) who looked sick. This was all done without anyone even knowing each other's names. I have big issues with casting only one or perhaps two players in the 50s. Just think back to season one, would Rudy even get a chance now?
I'm guessing that the current cast had not seen season 17 where Bob, the oldest survivor ever to win, proved that age isn't a disadvantage in the game.
But the twist proved much more interesting when Probst clarified the remark that the two voted-off tribe members would not be making the journey. What he meant (ha!) was that they would not be making the 4 hour trek to each tribe's location instead they would be helicoptered in to the site. Score one for the producers. Now each tribe had to deal with a member who clearly felt screwed.
A final study in psychology occurred when each of the voted-off survivors had an immediate choice when they landed at their new home: search for a hidden immunity idol or work on building shelter for their tribe who were hours away. Here I think the show got very lucky - one survivor opted to search (rather ineffectively I thought) for the idol while the other decided to work hard to build shelter to impress those that had already signed her death warrant.
The rest of episode one was pretty standard. An immunity challenge that had three parts - none of which I found interesting. Then the scheming starts in the losing tribe and someone gets voted off. No big surprises here.
Not a bad start for the season. But I find myself wanting to skip a lot of silly bitching and just letting them vote.
I'm Back!
After a long absence, I have decided to take another shot at blogging. Since both Survivor and The Amazing Race are starting up this week, it seemed like a good time to get back in the swing of things.
A few things to set the tone:
A few things to set the tone:
- This is a not a recap site. There are plenty of them, if you don't have a DVR (I got one last August, it's the best invention since - well the VCR) then go to the recap sites, I will not waste your time with endless recaps.
- I'm rather snarky about my comments. I like un-scripted (reality) television, but come on, some of it is so stupid that it makes your teeth ache. When I like something I will tell you, and when I don't - that will be much more interesting reading.
- I don't cover everything. Well who does? Shows that interest me tend to be "quality" shows. I use the term quality loosely here. I watch regularly Survivor, Top Chef, Project Runway (if it ever airs again!), The Amazing Race, and a few others that might show up soon. I watch on occasion when it moves me - The Apprentice (more on that later), American Idol (if that counts), any or all of the Housewives on Bravo, and my all time favorite bottom-of-the-barrel guilty pleasure favorite Big Brother.
- I'm lazy. I blog when I feel like it. Don't expect a posting immediately after an episode. I will try to be time-relevant. Hopefully getting something up before the next episode of a show. My goal is not to be first - instead to be significantly better than most, if not all.
I would like to hear from you because this gets real boring if no one reads or comments.
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