Top Chef Season 5 Coming Up!

Woo-hoo! November 12 at 9pm CST and I cannot wait. Make sure to mark calendars. But I do have some concerns regarding this new season that heads to New York City.

1. There's a new judge. Ted Allen has apparently flown the coop. Tom and Padma are still around as is Gail (and, really, what would a TC be without Gail flirting shamelessly with one particular male chef through the whole season--see Sam from Season 3). They're good. They're okay. But, there's a new guy on the official roster. His name is Toby Young. He wrote some famous book about cooking. I just hope he's not a loser. I was secretly hoping they'd keep that 4th judge's chair open for some fantastic guest judges as they have in the past (Bourdain, Ruhlman, Ripert, even DiSpirito). I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

2. The Cheftestants look very accomplished...and severe. This always concerns me. For marketing purposes, the casting of these shows has gotten skewed by who's willing to be the most obnoxious thing on tv. I hope this is not the case. If we learned anything from last season can it be that Stephanie was the perfectly likeable "girl next door" who happens to wield her knife like a culinary sabre. I hope these people are interesting and talented and not just loud.

3. The challenges. As we've seen in other skill-based reality shows (Project Runway to name one), as the seasons progress the file-o-fax of challenges gets thinner and things can get very bizarre. Top Chef consistently surprises me with the fine balancing of creative challenges that are do-able and that showcase necessary foundational skills. I hope they keep it up. If "cooking with Pop Rocks" is a challenge, I'm going to be annoyed.

4. Keep the drama for your mama. One of the major annoyances I have with the continuation of these types of shows is that latter seasons often opt to focus on "character storylines" instead of the minute-to-minute developments. So, producers find the "interesting" people and interview only them or edit the show to focus on relationships that are taken out of the context of the competition. Top Chef has done a great job of not really doing that and I hope they stay true to form here. The season with Marcel was enough for anyone to handle and they seemed to correct for that last season. I hope they stay in that vein and don't head back to fabricated dramatics.

There it is. Those are my worries couched in between my utter and abject excitement of something great to watch on a weekly basis. I'm counting down the days. Seriously.

Project Runway Kerfuffle Continues

I'm kinda thrilled about the latest Project Runway news which, incidentally, has nothing to do with designers or clothing. According to Reuters, the lawsuit regarding the PR move to Lifetime continues which will delay the production of further seasons. If NBC wins, it sounds like PR will stay on BRAVO.

It just seems right.

And the Weinstein's will lose. And that's always a good day for the little guy.

What shocked me was that the Weinstein's deal with Lifetime was for 5 more seasons. Given the current state of things, what do you suppose that would actually look like?

Again: A Big Hot Mess.

Project Runway: Failing to "Make It Work"

Am I the only one who couldn't seem to care about the most recent season of Project Runway? I don't think I watched more than 10 minutes of it. And I like the show. Just... didn't happen for me this season.

This fine question comes courtesy of Meghan's Blog this morning and I breathed a sigh of relief courtesy of solidarity. I fully agree. PR used to be one of the best shows out there: compelling designers, creative challenges, a sense of wonder in the whole process. In this season, I've watched probably 5 episodes and saw nothing but formulaic boring-ness. Most of the designers this season at one point or another came off as snotty, entitled brats. The judges, who used to be a source of comic relief (I do think Michael Kors can be really hilariously harsh) and design guidance now are just more comic-book, harpy versions of their former selves. And we've been saddled with guest judges who are big names but not necessarily authorities when it comes to fashion (I'm sorry, but Apollo Anton Ohno as fashion icon...c'mon). Heidi who was fairly wooden from the beginning (as any good mannequin should be) now fully believes she's on the same level as Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. Boring. The only compelling person left is Tim Gunn who still cracks me up but who continues to capture his unique contributions to fashion on his own show Tim Gunn's Guide to Style.

I wonder if this is a natural progression when it comes to these "contest based" reality shows. When it was a home-grown, humble production that no one fully understood yet, it was fantastic. But the bigger the draw, the more elitist and, frankly, uninteresting it becomes. I knew the entire show was in trouble when the designers started talking back to Tim. Remember the first season? Tim's word was fashion law. If he said your design was crappy, you'd best listen. He's still always right (it's uncanny, really) but when the contestants on the show are already putting out their own lines prior to appearing on PR, I have to ask what the purpose of the show is. When the contestants don't want to win but just make it to the final 3 so they can show at Bryant Park, how good can the contest really be?

I hate to say it but this smacks of exactly what happens when the Weinsteins get involved. As soon as they were on board to produce, the scale of the show became phenomenal...and it lost it's connection to the audience. If we can't relate to the people competing, why watch? I know I won't. I know someone won...and I don't even care enough to go Google to find out who it was. I'm sure I'll see Kenley on the omnipresent BRAVO re-runs but I don't want to.

PR's moving to Lifetime (and with that production moves from NY to LA) for the next seasons and I don't think it'll survive. The only real viscera that remained for Tim Gunn to work with was the backdrop of New York City and Parsons School of Design. With those gone, the show will inevitably go the way of everything else that moves to Los Angeles: it'll be too superficial and plastic for us to recognize it anymore.

"Where's Andre?" indeed. I think PR needs to spend a little more time looking to get him and his crazy, half-cocked counterparts back. That would be interesting.

A Big Hot Mess.

Oh no.

I had heard about this on tv this morning and I didn't want to believe it was true. But it now seems confirmed that after next season, Project Runway will move from Bravo to (duh duh duh DUUUHHH) LIFETIME. That's right...television for women.

Of the deal, which she and Tim Gunn have already signed on to, Heidi Klum said:

"Fashion is about change, so we're looking forward to saying hello to Lifetime, our new fashionable home for our fashionable series," said Klum in a statement. "We're excited to bring Project Runway to the #1 network for women."

Thanks Heidi. Because obviously fashion is for women...like Michael Kors. Who, for the record, is still in negotiation as is Nina Garcia. This is nerve-wracking.

My dilemma is this: programs on Lifetime suck. I like PR on Bravo...and how did Bravo ever give them up? AND, Lifetime is partially owned by the Disney Corp...if we thought product placement was bad before just hang on to your themed-challenges...I think we've got things in store we never could have imagined.

I can't handle this drama. And there's not even sequins involved.

Project Runway--Onto Bryant Park

Holy mother of god...what a great final "trial runway" show before Bryant Park.

Leading up to this, I was really surprised (and actually kind of delighted) that Sweet P managed to hang in there this far. For the past three weeks, she's been crying, whining, bitching and moaning about running out of time, having construction disasters, and a lack of imagination. Eventually, that's gotta catch up with ya and it finally did for Sweet P tonight. While I enjoyed watching her this far, I was glad to see her go. If she was still in, someone who deserved it more would've been out and that's just not right.

As for the remainders, here's what I think:

Rami: Dear, sweet Rami. If you drape anything...ever again...I will lose all respect for you. Listen man, how many times do you have to hear--from Nina Garcia, nonetheless (the very judge who singlehandedly brought Santino Rice to his knees)--that you keep doing the same thing over and over again. No more excuses. Push your limits for the love of god...it's Bryant Park now.

Jillian: I think Jillian is brilliantly talented...I just cannot handle listening to her say anything. Which may be the mark of a good designer...good designers should be seen and not heard, perhaps. Having said that, every week she's come through with new and innovative designs that always seem attuned to the level of drama, understatedness, or wacky-crazy that the challenge requires. She seems well-rounded: able to do haute couture as well as commercial. Go Jillian go. I'd love to see her take it all.

Christian: Little dude makes me angry with that spiked out asymmetrical haircut and Tinkerbell voice. On the other hand, he seems like the only idiot-savant in the group. So we're not sure whether or not he's made it out of his teens...so what? His designs are probably the most cutting-edge and with that ever-elusive "point of view" that everyone always talks about. He's probably the front runner right now although something about that feels wrong.

Chris: You lucky, large man you. Austin Scarlett (the most famous costumer ever) never made it as far as Chris and if ever an underdog existed, you are it buddy. But I like Chris a lot; he's already been revived once, having been brought back after Jack had to bow out much earlier in the season...wouldn't it be awesome to see him show at Bryant Park? I say yes. The commentary on this last show was right on...he's got the drama to bring something really interesting. I want Chris to at least show.

And, before I make my predictions for the finale, let me just hand it to PR on two fronts. First, the judges this season have been nothing but In-Cred-i-ble. I'm sorry, to stand there and have Roberto Cavalli tell you that you could show in Paris--that's got to be incredible. Michael Kors is always bitchy-fabulous but they really put together a top-notch panel of guest judges this season. I also want to salute them on this creative, thrill-filled ending compromise. When Heidi say to Chris "you're in," I literally lost my breath...I couldn't believe that Rami was out and I momentarily felt conflicted because it didn't seem that he deserved THAT. So the fact that they're still basically competing I think is the best of both worlds...they now have months to show what they're made of. Bravo...well...Bravo; you've done good.

So, who is it in the Finals?

I say, the final 3 will be : Jillian, Christian, and Rami (sorry Chris, you're my emotional favorite but Rami's been scared shitless now and he's gonna bring it).

Winner: Jillian.
I'm gonna call a repeat of Season 3. Going in to Bryant Park, Santino was the star and "genius" while Chloe and Daniel were consistent all season. Chloe's consistency and solidity of vision and temperment paid off. The same will happen here. Christian will implode with the weight of possibilities and all the time. Jillian's gonna pull out all the stops and now she has the time she needs to do what she knows best. Rami will beat Chris to show because his taste and point of view (again...and I hate that phrase) are more cohesive and refined. However, he believes so steadfastly that he's right that, ultimately, he'll present a collection full of drapery and will end up in 3rd.

There it is. Can't wait to see who prevails.

A Runway Rewind

I'll be very honest--I'm amazed and appalled at my own lack of commentary on one of the few shows actually giving us new episodes every week. So let me begin with a rundown of what I've thought of this season so far:

Insight #1: I'm amazed that these are listed as "the best designers" so far. Personally, I don't see it. When I think back to some of the designers of the past seasons--Kara Saun, Jay, Santino, Chloe, Daniel...even Andre ("Where's Aaaahn-dre?")--they weren't fooling around. They were awesome. And while there are clearly some break out superstars in this season, on a whole, there seems to be a wide array of "hot mess" present as well. They may be more accomplished in terms of their own businesses (Rami and others actually have previously put out their own lines of clothes and some have actually dressed celebrities for minor awards shows), I can't say from my amateur standpoint that they're bringing a higher design acumen to the show.

Insight #2: Project Bore-way. After nearly every show, I find myself longing for the days of Santino Rice, Jay McCarroll...hell, even Wendy Pepper. They had personality, they had spunk. We might have hated them, we might have loved them--at least we felt something about them. As much as I love Jillian's designs, listening to her is like scraping my nails across an emery board. Victorya (now booted) was at best puzzling and annoying. And Christian, who appears to be the poster-child for personality this season, screams "I would really rather be Paris Hilton" to me. I don't want to be on Christian's side. I don't want to be on anyone's side. Problem.

Insight #3: Guest judges are getting better. Oh, I remember the days of PR when a Betsey Johnson or Cynthia Rowley (who interestingly is actually an automaton, apparently) was a "special" day. The guest judge for the Season 1 FINALE was Parker Posey, for chrissakes (if you don't watch Christopher Guest movies, you have no idea who this is. Even if you do watch, you have no idea why she's able to judge fashion--I'm still in the dark myself). So, to see the veritable list of designers trot through that fourth chair has been really impressive. You know exactly what Michael Kors and Nina Garcia are going to give ya. But that 4th chair is like the knowledgeable and respected wildcard...and offsets Heidi's growing weirdness.

And now, My Official PR4 Rant: What is with the blatant, shameless product placement this season? While we've always had to contend with "The Tresemme hair salon and the l'Oreal Make Up Room," and then last season we tacked on the "BlueFly Accessories wall" (which, incidentally, used to be something else which I cannot recall at the moment), I've not remembered this incessant bowing to the gods of capitalism. Past challenges were for the US Postal Service or Banana Republic (okay, that last one's iffy). But the Hershey challenge could not have been more tacky, really. While the designs themselves didn't scream Hershey, watching 45 minutes of designers unwrapping Reese' cups and Twizzlers made me long for some chocolaty goodness and I felt manipulated. Then last night's challenge was nothing but idol worship of jeans juggernaut Levi's. At least Levi's is clothing and, therefore, has a logical connection to fashion. But c'mon. All the judges do is lean on the designers to be less mainstream, more imaginative, and then in the same breath say--But how really does this say Levi's? I don't like it. Let's not box in the designers by trying to give us more commercials for brands during a telecast that is already laden with too much commercial time. Because, if you're Rami, how really do you drape denim and twizzlers wrappers?

All I have to say about last night: What the eff. Ricky winning? I'm sorry...did somebody slip Michael Kors a crazy pill while we were blinded by Levi's branding? On the other had, seeya Victorya. Good riddance.

Definitely more to come in the future. Next week: picks for top 3.

A Very Merry Top Chef Christmas

Admittedly, I'm a couple weeks behind on my tv watching, so last night amidst the pathetic television re-run fare (especially given the seemingly never-ending writers' strike), I hunkered down to watch the Top Chef Christmas special. Shot in Chicago and featuring some of my favorite "oldies but nasties" like Marcel, Stephen, Tiffany, and Betty, this Christmas special was a nice shot of a good show that I miss in its off-season. Here's a list of the "naughty" and "nice" of the event:

Nice

• It was great to see all the usuals--although I'll admit it was a weird band of minstrels. Tiffany, Stephen, and Marcel have now done about 4 of these specials and now are starting to appear as TC whores, but I still love them and they make things interesting. They were joined by CJ, Trey, and Sandy from this past season and Betty and Josie from who cares when. It was nice to watch and know what people were gonna bring.
• A slightly new format. Three courses total with 2 chefs eliminated after each course. The real kicker: the Chefs didn't know who was eliminated until they appeared to serve the next course. So all 8 started: Sandy (no surprise) and Stephen (surprise) went first; Josie and Betty next; Marcel and CJ next, leaving...
• Trey and Tiffany as the finalists. If any two chefs have gotten equally screwed on this show, it's these two, so it was nice retribution for both. Having said that, I still think Harold was the rightful winner of season 1 (in which Tiffany came in 2nd). These two had to cook a surprise 4th course in 30 minutes with the leftovers. Ah, glorious Top Chef shenanigan through and through.
• Tiffany won. The first woman to ever win one of these eff-ers. She deserved it and went home $20,000 richer. Meanwhile, Trey took home a pile of autographed cookbooks. Really, just like $20,000 only on glossy paper (not.) Ahh, poor Trey screwed again, but least this time it was 2nd place and not 9th.
  
• The guest judges. I'm not a "foodie" (thank god) so i don't know their names but they're a group of my favorites from season's past. Even though the group of cheftestants (just to be clear, that's Bravo's word) appeared kinda random and not equally talented (c'mon, we all knew Sandy was out first and Josie and Betty would follow close behind), these judges were the cream of the crop. Bravo...Bravo.
• CJ's joke about the nutcracker. In the QuickFire, they played "Nasty Santa" or whatever that game is where other people can take your presents, with each contestant drawing one "secret ingredient" for a challenge that would earn someone a "free pass" for one round of elimination. CJ kept drawing awesome ingredients and people kept taking them until he finally got walnuts which were presented in a Nutcracker to which Tiffany responded, "That's appropriate." Hilarious. For those unaware, CJ had testicular cancer and in his "talking head" moment said something to the effect of, "The last time I had nuts someone took them and kept them. This time, they're mine." Mmmm-mmm--nothing like a good double-entendre nut joke to make my Christmas merry and bright.
  
• Tom Colicchio--he's like "tough guy" of food. I miss him. AND...I think Tom has always pulled for Tiffany to win. He seems to really respect her and I think that's really good to see evident on television. He falls all over her food (and he did in Season 1 as well). Good for you Tom--endorsing the woman who deserves respect and acknowledgment for beatin' the boys fair and square.
  

Naughty

• No Tony Bourdain. Or Rocco Dispiritu. Together. God that would have been awesome.
• Padma and CJ are definitely doing it. And even if they're not, the editors are trying to make us all think they are. We all remember the "Breakfast" episode last season when she wanders in to wake them all up to make her breakfast and she and CJ just completely drool all over each other. C'mon. We know. Honestly, I don't blame Padma one bit.
• Giving Trey cookbooks as 2nd prize. HOW LAME. And he has to play it off all, "Oh this is great." No, it's not great. It's cheap and hokey and self-serving especially when Padma puts hers in there--how she gets lumped in with some of the best chefs in the world I don't know.
• Josie overcooked the turkey. Sandy screwed up mushroom soup. Really? HOW does one actually do this and keep getting invited to these shows? Where are Harold, Sam, Elia...some others of the AWESOME chefs who really could have been interesting to watch. Instead we get stupid Betty who just makes up food (last night it was some crappy and ridiculous "Pork Baklava" or something which just means pork tenderloin wrapped in puff pastry) and calls it great. She's always wrapping something inappropriate in puff pastry. (Do with that entendre as you will, but I'm referring to her season's ridiculous and disgusting looking savory portobello and onion "napoleon." C'mon...A Napoleon is a DESSERT...BETTY! Even my non-foodie self knows that!) And I've had it! Ted Allen totally called her out, but its just not fun to laugh at Betty anymore because she's such a food dolt. (Hands smack the table top) I JUST WANT TO SEE THE TOP CHEFS ON THIS SHOW!
  

All in all, no complaints here. It was just the perfect taste of Top Chef at the mid-way point of its dormancy for the winter. In March it returns for the next season, completely filmed in Chicago, and I'm already counting down the days. It'll be delicious...literally.

It's a Bravo Reality Couple!

I know I'm usually vigilant about keeping things quasi-intellectual over here (or at least *saying* that that's what I do) but I was browsing the reality-show websites today and found out this little tidbit: Dale Levitski, runner-up of Top Chef #whatever fame, and JackMackenroth of Project Runway 4 are a couple!

Dale












Jack


Awww. Supposedly they met unrelated to Bravo (on Myspace) but I think I'm not going to believe it. I'm gonna have to look at the numbers and see how badly Project Runway is doing this season. Especially because they set it up so perfectly with the end of Top Chef--I think on the reunion show, one of the main segments was talking about Dale's single-ness. Obviously, many people were bothered by this but, more importantly, many people knew about it. So, could it be that just weeks after we meet Jack on PR, touted as "the HIV-positive designer," these two winsome bachelor's make a *random* love connection? Oh...come...on.

Those writing about it have been making Jack's HIV+ status a huge talking point. I read about four interviews that in a polite and round-about way asked "how that's all working" (my polite and round-about way). He responded in the same "PSA style" to all of them as if to ensure the masses that Dale's in no danger. No one really seems to be inquiring about his health which, I'm sure, Jack appreciates. ("Hey guys, I'm over here...")

All I know is, thank god these two got together...I was wondering what we were going to do now that Lance Bass (of Backstreet Boy and 'I almost went into space because I paid the Russians $1 million' fame) and Reichen Lehmkuhl (of Amazing Race infamy) are kaput. Just in the nick of time, I'd say. That place the media sets aside for "the gay couple" was getting a little dusty.

Kathy Griffin: Take No Prisoners

Today was a day. When I finally got home, all I wanted to do was find one half hour of television that would give me the mental, spiritual, and physical strength to jam in a couple hours of work before hitting the rack. And there it was--in a full glorious hour: the new Kathy Griffin Special on Bravo.

I have loved Kathy Griffin ever since My Life on the D-List premiered on Bravo a couple seasons ago. Before that, I'd seen her on Suddenly Susan (with Brooke Shields...a mediocre show at best) and thought, "Huh...why does Vicky Lewis look different?" (Vicky Lewis, by-the-by, was the tart-tongued redhead on News Radio with Dave Foley...another mediocre but longer running show that was also Phil Hartman's last--bless his heart). Anyway, watching Kathy in her own life is much more entertaining than anything she could ever offer on a sitcom. Her stand-up--even better. Here's why:

She's been the entertainment industry's whistle blower that I've waited most of my adult life for; the irony of her career built solely on her "outing" of the true idiots in the industry who the "dumb hordes" (of which I'm usually one, so no pretension here) blindly give an immense amount of cultural power (and economic power too) just makes me giddy with joy. Her fame has nothing but tripled with the recognition that she's willing to talk the "truth" about Hollywood. And she's not a shrinking violet--she's taken on Oprah (Yeeessss!), Barbara Walters, Starr Jones, Martha Stewart, Paris Hilton, Paula Abdul with no fear--NO FEAR-- of repercussion. And I can't get enough.

She's the voice crying in the wilderness--the prophet here to tell us what it all looks like "inside." She's truly the organic intellectual that I think Antonio Gramsci was waiting for. She's risen from the masses, gained power through the establishment but has never forsaken her roots (she was raised in Oak Park, Illinois) as one of the "regular people," and now she's using her platform to systematically poke holes in the hegemonic forces of mass media (and entertainment) fame. She stands on that stage, massive red hair extensions swinging, and openly makes fun of Paris Hilton...and Ryan Seacrest...and Dr. Phil...and anybody else who obviously deserves as ass-kicking because they're virtually flaunting all the reasons that legitimately talented individuals who actually have something redemptive to give to the world will beat their heads against a conveniently located wall until the end of time at the injustice of the system. Kathy is the balm to soothe that resultant aching migraine of reality (alright, alright...so the tickets to her show were in the hundreds of dollars when we (Meghan, JP, and I) thought about trying to buy some...but as she says--"Mrs. Kathy's gotta go make the money"). Her unabashed "F-you" to every self-important celebrity gives me joy on so many levels it's almost hard to explain.

And thanks to the magic of Bravo, she's available to watch almost every hour, if you don't mind re-runs...and I don't. I'm coming Kathy...

Project Runway is BACK!!!

There are some shows that, like calendars, help me to mark time while being endlessly entertaining and even admirable. Project Runway is just such a show. I've watched every season of this Bravo gem and it never gets tired. Hosted by Heidi Klum who now has possibly the most famous tv line ever (In fashion you're either een or you're aout...) and backed by judges and Tim Gunn, all of whom have now become endeared members of my television family (I have waited months just to hear Michael Kors talk about the designs--he's just as awesomely lovingly bitchy as Isaac Mizrahi--and Nina Garcia's no slouch either), I couldn't be more thrilled that the new season started Wednesday night.

I was absolutely *delighted* that Meghan did some television "toe-stepping" on PR for this last Wednesday. I concur wholeheartedly with everything she said and appreciated her insight since I only saw the last half-hour. I thought Rami, who won the first challenge with his clingy, drapey, cinched with a shoulder flower dress, was the right choice. I generally want to barf when I see those shoes with it, but otherwise lovely.

Really, I was sad to see Simone go and here's why: My fear with PR is that, as the seasons go, the casting gets more and more freakish. While last season we saw what I thought was a huge jump up in terms of technical ability and design potential, we also had a lot of crazies in the mix that really had no chance of winning. At this point, I'd like to see these tried-and-true reality shows really cast only for design talent and see what comes from that. While Wendy Pepper, Jay McCarroll, Santino, Andre, Jeffrey and Laura were all great *characters* in the end, their idiosyncrasies enhanced what was already there design-wise. What I know is that yesterday, that teal blue stretch fabric with vomitous raggedy train creation was something I could have put together. Frankly, even the stick-thin model looks lumpy and disgusting in it--and she's not a lumpy and disgusting kind of creature from what I can see. (And WHAT'S with the TEAL SUEDE SCRUNCHY STILETTO BOOTS.--so much wrong there) There's no way that woman should have lasted more than this challenge, but poor Simone who I think looked and acted fairly non-crazy gets the boot (only made better by the fact that her boot was not teal, scrunchy, or suede). I concur with Meghan here: the design needs to drive the decision and none of this "personality" crap. From the looks of things, there's plenty of personality already built into this cast.

The last thing that should happen with this show (or Top Chef--another BRAVO creation), which has really distinguished itself from other kinds of "trashy" reality shows (Fear Factor, MTV Road Rules, etc) is that the level of talent and the output of the designers is top notch. Bravo...we know this. Let's assume people tune in because they like to celebrate the innovation and creativity of the designers and not because they're "good for tv." Do you want to PR to become The Real World that now casts only those willing to be blatantly racist/sexist/any other -ist and/or have sex on tv? I think not.

Oh...and Bravo has excellent and numerous blogs from people involved in production, judging, and past participants of the show. Check them out. I'm thinking I'm going to make Nina Garcia's a regular stop for me.

Guess What?!?

I can't WAIT.

My Acceptance of the Top Chef Finale

It's taken awhile for me to come to terms with the way Top Chef season 3 ended up. Hung won. (crickets...quiet...more crickets). By all means, Hung was worthy. He'd been told by the judges outrightly 3 weeks ago that he was the best technical chef there, but that they found his food soulless. They wanted to see more of "Hung" in his cooking. Frankly, I thought his cooking already was a good indicator of "Hung." I guess they gave him more credit--maybe he was different in person. But, in being consistent with the rest of what seemed to be an "iffy" season, I don't think the new live finale format went off without any hitches.

Hitch #1: Casey blew it in the final round making the "final 3" format senseless. Once we watched her completely bite it in Aspen (which was sad, but predictable. I think it would be hard to argue that Casey deserved to be in the finals. Did I like her, yes. But was the run of creativity that got her to the end in part luck, also yes.) it was silly that she had to show up to the final judging table and basically try to save face. Everyone knew she was out--including her. She stuck up for herself, god love her, and bowed out gracefully. However, the final three didn't seem to "pan" out (ha-HA!). Recommendation: Go back to the final 2 scenario. I almost wonder if they tried the "final three" to avoid the fan reaction from last season when fan-fave Sam shockingly got eliminated (b/c he totally sucked it in the last competition round) leaving Ilan and Marcel (neither fan favorites) to go to the lackluster, overly "foamy" finale. It doesn't matter--the 2 best should, by all means, funnel into the final.

Hitch #2: Directly related to Hitch #1--the judging. It annoyed me that Gail was back for the finale when she'd been there all of 3 prior shows. Anthony Bourdain seemed the rightful choice to be there, as he was there equally often as Gail, blogged the show EVERY WEEK (check this out for the finale--hilarious and I'm willing to trust that he knows better than I) , and brings forth the chef perspective instead of the food critic perspective. Ted Allen was already representative of that group and, honestly, the show is not "Top Food Snob." If you're going to harp on technical skills and, ultimately, choose Hung b/c of them, then your judges need to have some credibility in that area. Sorry, Gail, but get out. Recommendation: Stick with a panel of three judges who are there EVERY WEEK and have the one rotating guest judge throughout the season, but for the FINALE go to the three who have seen everything from start to finish.

Hitch #3: Dale had soul that the judges somehow overlooked. Fact is, I loved Dale. I think a lot of fans of the show loved Dale. Dale is lovable and obviously serious and he lives food. Hung tells me that but Dale shows me that. So, when the judges did the dish-for-dish comparison, it sounded to me like Dale was the one. The judges got hung up (ha-HA...and I didn't even mean to here) on that (supposedly) crappy lobster dish, but here's the thing: Dale brought it. He served it. He rocked it. Yeah he made a mistake...but he had the balls to make a BIG mistake. Anthony Bourdain called them "balls the size of casaba melons"--seriously. That would have made me choose him. Hung did not do that, thereby forcing me to assume that Hung has little balls...(ahem) culinarily speaking. Recommendation: For the sake of my fan-ship, please pick Dale next time. Just throw me one...I'm begging. (Although, I think Harold of Season 1 managed to be both a fan-fave and a kick-ass chef).

Hitch #4: With the "final three" format, the eliminated chefs who returned to "help" prepare the final meal were actually a hindrance. Brian got to eat the meal. Um, excuse me, but Brian had just been eliminated for basically presenting a circus on a plate. Is he the best to judge refined culinary style in the final? And Howie? Seriously, I felt bad for Casey; I think Casey felt bad for Casey. She should have gotten extra points for getting Howie's help. When they did the final two, each chef got two of the last four eliminated, thus making up some kind of team. Honestly, that was better for the most part. Recommendation: Stop forcing people to work with the crappy chefs who were already eliminated.

I did really love one part of this finale: I thought it was genius to pair each finale contestant with a major culinary figure (Rocco DiSpirito, Michelle Bernstein, Todd English (who's hot)) That was cool to watch them work as sous chefs for the contestants and to hear their commentary ala Tom Colicchio from the kitchen. If they could talk them into it, these chefs should be the "helpers" for the finale, not eliminated contestants.

So, there it is. My humble opinion. Am I happy with Hung? No. But honestly, I haven't been happy since Harold won in Season 1, so now the bar is really high...but I'm sure looking forward to the next season already.

Tim Gunn is da Man

For those of us who ADORE Stacey and Clinton on TLC's What Not to Wear, the Bravo show Tim Gunn's Guide To Style may have seemed like television plagiarism. On WNTW, rapier-witted Stacey London and cute and compassionate (and very tall) Clinton Kelly, both stylists, spend an hour transforming a fashion dimwit into a new, sleeker fashion self. Touting the fashion adages of "great fit" and "silhouette," Stacey and Clinton have wracked up seasons of wins--I've never watched a show that ended up badly. The ugly duckling always looks like a swan at the end, even if the process has proven obnoxious. To help with the new look, Nick Arrojo recreates the hair (which can be and usually is the most dramatic part of the show) and make-up artist Carmindy, somewhat dimwitted herself, helps to complete the transformation.

Compare this to TGGTS: Tim, former artistic director at Parson's School of Design and a break-out fan favorite on Bravo's Project Runway, and famous supermodel Veronica Webb help transform a fashion misfit into a fashion maven by 1) ransacking the misfit's closet 2) rummaging through the underwear drawer 3) sending them out with rules to follow in picking up a 10-piece "core" of the new wardrobe 4) getting them new hair and make-up and 5) finishing off with an exciting "reveal." I watched one show partially and turned it off, spurning the obvious copying of WNTW, a show for which I have undying love.

BUT

Upon another viewing, I think TGGTS actually offers some unique qualities to fashion reality-tv that are both entertaining and, dare I say, heartwarming. I could go into very serious detail, but it all comes down to the person of Tim Gunn and what a one-of-a-kind eclectic bird he is. I grew to love Tim on Project Runway because he's a perfect mix of critical eye, fashion snob, with a compassionate heart, and a great sense of humor. Tim's a teacher...but one who practices tough love. He is a rare bird--and I think I might mean literally because he does kinda strike me as a bird (shrug...I don't know)

So here's why everyone should give this show a chance:
Tim Gunn is funny pulling out phrases like "it's the slobbification of America" and my personal favorite, in critiquing an oddly patterned dress, "it looks like it came straight out of the vomitorium." The best part is that it appears he's slapping the wrists of the horrible designers of such fashion horrors and not the suckers who just think they're looking good in flared camouflage cargo capris.
Veronica Webb is a great 2nd Unlike WNTW, Veronica is neither a stylist or a designer; she's just a wearer of clothes (albeit a model) but she presents this very mother-like quality that's comforting. She does a lot of shopping with the misfit which clearly comforts them but allows the misfit to build on some guidance and not just have it be a game.
There are lots of famous names. It's clear that Tim Gunn doesn't mess around with up-and-comers. He, with his impeccable taste, teaches the misfit himself, they go shopping with Verionica, he calls in a lot of designer friends to provide beautiful clothes to fit every misfit that has appear and hair is done by none other than Frederic Fekkai. This is varsity WNTW and it's fun.

Bottom line: there is a distinct place for both these shows. Though they follow the same formula, they're distinct and accomplish different things for the mostly women who participate. Check it out. It's worth it.

Top Chef--The End Is Near

Thanks to the fact that Bravo reruns Top Chef episodes hourly, I was able to catch the next episode which is the last from the finale. Frankly, I'm still reeling from the fact that CJ was ceremoniously showed the door a couple weeks ago; with him exited my own personal choice for the winner. CJ not only made beautiful food (which I can only assume smelled and tasted delicious) but he was awfully cute and incredibly tall. As a character on an unscripted, competition-based show, CJ was one of my favorite people by far. Anyway, CJs gone and I'm trying to get over it.

So who's left. Hung who possesses in his being the heart of darkness. Casey who's the pretty home-town Texas girl with no classical training. Dale the Chicago, supposedly "edgy" gay chef (we know because he's reminded us hundreds of times) who contributes...well, I'm not sure. It always seems like he should be better than he is. Brian, the chef who only makes fish and generally makes it mediocre...and who's basically a tool. And Sara who is a cheese chef and not really up to snuff.

Here's the problem with this show as I see it at this point: It's boring and not in any way a run for Top Chef. Every week looks more like, "Who sucked bad enough to go home." This week Sara was the one who bit it (for serving raw chicken to the major deans of the French Culinary Institute). She was not a Top Chef.

But the problem is that none of them really are. From here on out I'll root for Casey; she could be the first female winner of Top Chef. BUT...she clearly is not "a top chef." She's just the most likable left. And I HATE THAT in a show that promises amazing things...like Season 1 delivered in Harold.

"Top Chef" is Lowdown

Top Chef producers and judges, I just have one bone to pick--that's right I have a beef. You people are all chicken. (cramming in as many food idioms as I can): The "Restaurant Wars" episode this season (3) was not good. Here's why:

1. There's no such thing as a "do-over." Yes, both teams equally sucked on the first go around. Dale screwed up on the scented candles, Howie made disgusting risotto. So judge them on that!!! You've only been saying all season, "We have to judge them based on what they've done tonight." Instead, on this one episode, you put that rule aside immediately and gave them another go-around.

2. You gave them a crappy designer and sicced the winner of the QuickFire with Steven from last season. Master sommelier or not, that dude is 100% hindrance. He was that way on his own season. You really think it helped by having him run his yap again... to the point that Dale had to tell him to shut it. It was like baby-sitting a guy with a free-run of the wine cellar.

3. Tre got the boot. This is my biggest annoyance. He was a great chef and to have Howie and Casey standing there while Tre goes home...please. Somebody step in and do something. At the end of the show, there's a disclaimer that reads that contestants are eliminated based on the judges' decisions in consultation with the producers. When you kick a guy off like Tre (Padma, are you listening?) it makes it easy to enact the Conspiracy Theory offensive. Is there a coincidence that Howie, who's made questionable food and been up for elimination many times, also happens to make great television while Tre, who's been solid since day one, happens to be a little less, shall we say, "televisonally appealing." (Buddy Tre is totally boring...that's the problem). Casey who's all homespun and everything (the only chef not formally trained (Tre was the other...hmmm)...as was evidenced in the Chopping Onions Debacle of '07 on Wednesday) gets a huge amount of screen time. Why? Her cooking ability? I think not...she's a cute girl with an unfortunate hair-do (in my humble opinion) from Texas (perhaps also unfortunate)...that's why. C'mon.

4. Executive Chef's get all the blame. Another problem. While I understand leadership skills are important, in this case Tre and Sara Mair took the "heat" for whatever went right or wrong in their kitchen. (And Sara did deserve all the credit she got for dealing with Howie who is an ass...lovable maybe but still a complete, utter ass.) However, the problem with just holding them accountable is that it's allowed slackers like Casey and even CJ (who I love) to 'skate' through to this level. Other "team leaders" who were much more talented (from what I could see) were kicked off much earlier in the competition while their team members almost got a free pass because they weren't in charge. This is how we have Casey, who can't chop onions, still here.

I love this show. It is good tv. But let 'em cook and judge 'em fair. If the whole disaster that was the "first" Restaurant Wars challenge got another chance, then Tre should get one too.

"Top Chef" is Tops

There truly are a lot of reasons to love Bravo's "Top Chef."It's awesome reality television. Here's why the recipe works:

1. Really interesting food challenges. It's been progressive across the seasons; now in it's third season, we're seeing some really cool food prepared beautifully (I'm sure it smells awesome--if only they'd hurry up with that "smell-i-vision" idea) but under impossible time and/or budget constraints. The contestants have to rise to the challenge consistently--and usually they do.

2. Tom Colicchio as the "head judge." This guy is a great mixture of gruff Burgess Meredith in Rocky ("C'mon Roc!) and really refined and respected opinions in the food world. He makes great television because he does not appear elitist--he might be finicky and an utter nightmare to work for (which is strictly hypothetical--I have no idea) but we'd never know it. Other judges from the culinary world appear "bitchy." Not Tom. Not only do I trust what he says but he also rocks the "Mr. Clean" look that just makes him so darn cute. I'd love to sit down and have lunch with Tom.

3. A stable of past contestants involved in the current season. Leanne Wong (Season 1) is the food producer (she devises the menu/rules for the challenges and tests them) and she's really brought the level of cooking up with demanding yet really innovative challenges. Both Harold Dieterle (Season 1 Winner and my overall TC favorite) writes an incredible blog responding to the most recent episode as does fan-favorite Sam Talbot (Season 2 Final Four). While I don't read them, Ilan Hall (Season 2 Winner) and infamous Marcelle (Season 2 Runner-up) also give their two cents in blog form. What's nice about this is not only some continuity to the show (this presence seems to make it more fulfilling in a way that other reality shows are not--have you heard from Colby, the winner of one of the middle "Survivor"s recently?) but they also provide the really interesting behind the scenes details. They've walked in those Crocs--they know the pain of a Quickfire challenge intimately and hearing their takes on things adds yet another dimension to an already good show.

4. Really good guest judges. Out of the four judges on the panel, one is always a guest from the culinary universe. In the past seasons, they've been kinda lame (with some notable exceptions). Season 3 has brought out some really famous chefs. Although some say they've gone more commercial (lately Rocco DeSpirito was hawking his Bertolli frozen dinners), I don't care. It's people I know which makes it all the more fun when they saw awful things about how the chefs mutilated the challenge. Definitely ups the train-wreck factor.

and last but certainly not least: 5) Anthony Bourdain (often guest judge) is now a regular blogger about the show! I couldn't be more thrilled. The regular judges' blogs have been good (especially Tom's and Gail Simmon's) but because of schedule conflicts, Tom's had to "take a leave" from blogging for awhile. Bourdain filled in a couple weeks on Tom's blog but now he's got his own and it's awesome. It's a mini Kitchen Confidential every week and I'm drinking it in. Thank God for Anthony Bourdain.

And more on Top Chef Season 3 to come; it's getting good now and the cuts are starting to get more important...and painful to watch.