Top Chef!!

[BmillsSkier]

I was praying the fat mean bitch and the skinny mean bitch (Lindsey) would go home and Ed and Bev would have made it to the finals.

Bev can cook, Albeit she may be socially inept.

Ed can fucking cook too, and I'd rather see him in there.

Here's hoping Paul wins.

[Danno]

I think everyone but Lindsey and Sarah's families are rooting for Paul.

[BmillsSkier]

I think everyone but Lindsey and Sarah's families are rooting for Paul.

Book it Danno.

Food truck props to Paul for the win? (or more props if he does?)

[systemoverblow'd]

I was praying the fat mean bitch and the skinny mean bitch (Lindsey) would go home and Ed and Bev would have made it to the finals.

Bev can cook, Albeit she may be socially inept.

Ed can fucking cook too, and I'd rather see him in there.

Here's hoping Paul wins.

The only person I wanted to lose was that fat cunt. Now I have to stare at her face for another week. Fuck that bitch sucks.

[Pegleg]

Daaaaamn, Gretchen Bleiler is fuckin HOT!!!

That is all

But what's up with the stupid hat? I mean, the show clearly has good stylists (no way Padma always looks like that in real life), so who made the decision to cover her head with a giant mushroom cap?

And more importantly, WHY THE FUCK IS THE TOP CHEF SEMI-FINAL BEING JUDGED BY FUCKING SNOWBOARDERS/BIATHELETES/HOCKEY PLAYERS?!!? Judging by their comments, these people know absolutely nothing about food. Earlier in the season, fine, but at this point it's all about hairsplitting decisions, and having guest judges that invariably say "What I liked was how the dish was really delicious" doesn't help. This whole episode, in fact, was kind of a travesty - to have 3/4 of the time devoted to chefs being nauseous in gondolas and falling down while skiing at this point in the contest pretty much concedes that they're no longer interested in the cooking, and they're just trying to get "Biggest Loser" and "America's Top Model" viewers to tune in and raise the ratings.

[systemoverblow'd]

And more importantly, WHY THE FUCK IS THE TOP CHEF SEMI-FINAL BEING JUDGED BY FUCKING SNOWBOARDERS/BIATHELETES/HOCKEY PLAYERS?!!? Judging by their comments, these people know absolutely nothing about food. Earlier in the season, fine, but at this point it's all about hairsplitting decisions, and having guest judges that invariably say "What I liked was how the dish was really delicious" doesn't help. This whole episode, in fact, was kind of a travesty - to have 3/4 of the time devoted to chefs being nauseous in gondolas and falling down while skiing at this point in the contest pretty much concedes that they're no longer interested in the cooking, and they're just trying to get "Biggest Loser" and "America's Top Model" viewers to tune in and raise the ratings.

You do realize that the head judges and producers (and Bravo) pick the winners and losers right? The "celebrity" opinion has jack fuck-all to do with the show. It's a reality show. And there is very little reality to what you see. Trust me, I worked on these type shows. There is so much manipulation in post and even questions they ask in interviews to create the show. The producers will literally coach someone and say "no, I don't want you to say that. Make it look like you really despise her". Sorry to burst your bubble but it is the truth.

It's even in the disclaimer at the end of the show...

[Pegleg]

^^^ This has been discussed ad nauseum here and elsewhere. If you believe Tom Coliccio's and Anthony Bourdain's (separate) descriptions of how it actually works, the judges make the call based on the food and the consultation with the producers is about secondary issues (like how they tell the contestants and such). Of course it's edited to maximize drama, but as I understand it the actual elimination decisions are pretty much solely the province of the judges. Otherwise there are tons of close calls that could have been tilted to let the more popular/dramatic contestants stay on the show longer. Tom's on record as saying that the day a producer tries to change the judges' decision is the day that he quits the show (and from what I've heard from people in the LA food and reality TV world that are acquainted with him, he'd do it - guy's already a rock star and has more money than he knows what to do with, and is very protective of his integrity). Ruth Reichl, who has guest-judged several times, also mentioned in an interview that she was surprised that the producers don't try to sway the outcome of the eliminations, even though it's clear that certain outcomes would help ratings more than others.

As far as the celebrities at judge's table, that's true - they're not necessarily key to the decisions. But when they have a guest judge that actually knows what they're talking about, they do participate at least somewhat, and at this point in the season I'd expect them to be giving the audience more emphasis on explaining their opinions of the food and less on "ooh, a pretty snowboarder!"

[systemoverblow'd]

Like I said. The guest judge means nothing to the outcome like you are so OUTRAGED about. The head judges make the decisions. I never said the producers make the outcome but they definitely talk with the judges. Joe could say "this was bar none the worst". The producer isn't going to say "we need to keep them on the show". I think you are misunderstanding my point. Anyone who has been on a set know that producers are talking to the talent every second giving their opinions and thoughts. Period. ANYONE who doubts that is a moron and has never worked on a reality set. I got 51 reality shows under my belt and many of them I was on set for. I kinda think I know a little more about how it goes.

And when I get home, if you'd like, I can upload videos of exactly how a producer manipulates a person to say what they want them to say.

[Pegleg]

I'd definitely be interested in seeing those videos, though my understanding is that TC is somewhat unique among reality shows in the leeway that they give the judges. Contrary to your point that the producers are constantly providing opinions and thoughts, here's what Ruth Reichl said about the Magic Elves and her stint judging on TCM:

"I was sure that the producers would be watching over our shoulders, trying to nudge us into certain outcomes, and I kind of looked forward to fighting them off. I was positive that they would be willing to sacrifice the truth for the sake of a good story. But I was wrong. The Magical Elves never interfered, never questioned a decision, never even indicated a preference. So even though I was positive that the producers would have liked a woman winner, they never said so."

It seems we agree that the judges do actually make the final call, at least on TC, meaning that who is actually judging is important to the outcome. The question is then, does the guest judge have any input? My impression -and you're right, I don't have proof of this, only what they choose to show us - is that it depends on the guest. Someone with food industry credibility, like a famous critic (such as Reichl or Gail Greene) or chef (like Ripert) sure seems to be participating in their discussion and the other judges appear to be legitimately taking their points into account (esp. on the extended judge's table cuts that they sometimes post at Bravo's website). Whereas, it seemed pretty clear that the guest judges on this episode had nothing to add to the discussion.

My point is just that, since the judges make the calls and it's this late in the contest, I don't understand the decision to have non-food-related semi-celebrities acting as guest judges. I - and a lot of viewers, I think - would rather have folks at the table there who can at least intelligently participate in the discussion with the other judges and perhaps offer a different but informed opinion, rather than a pretty face who is tangentially related to the venue but otherwise has no reason to be there.

(And my OUTRAGE should be taken with a grain of salt here - this is the interwebz, I'm allowed a little hyperbole, right?)

[BmillsSkier]

Pegleg I agree with your earlier comment that this last episode was a tradgedy in that the chefs had to focus on some stupid shit like skiing and shooting and breaking ice to get ingredients.

Do this gimmicky shit earlier in the competition, not at the end when it's supposed to be all about the food. Maybe the finale will get back to just the food. Also, as much as I love the scenery, it's bullshit to have the finals at altitude where cooking dramatically changes. I felt the same way when the finals were in Aspen and Casey couldn't get her venison to cook properly.

[grskier]

Here's to Paul crushing the finally.. I'd hate to see one of those chicks win...

[Danno]

Pegleg I agree with your earlier comment that this last episode was a tradgedy in that the chefs had to focus on some stupid shit like skiing and shooting and breaking ice to get ingredients.

Do this gimmicky shit earlier in the competition, not at the end when it's supposed to be all about the food. Maybe the finale will get back to just the food. Also, as much as I love the scenery, it's bullshit to have the finals at altitude where cooking dramatically changes. I felt the same way when the finals were in Aspen and Casey couldn't get her venison to cook properly.

I don't fully agree. I do think the last challenge was stupid for a finale, and the ice one was so-so, but I had no trouble with the gondola challenge and I think altitude is fine too. This show is not supposed to be "let's sit them all in a kitchen and see who cooks the best dish", the whole concept of Top Chef is who can cook the best stuff in a variety of conditions, with a variety of ingredients, with lots of curveballs thrown. In other words, this isn't Iron Chef or even Chopped, and to be the Top Chef you have to adapt and think on your feet. So altitude or a moving/cold gondola are perfectly good conditions to test that. A true Top Chef should be aware of and capable of dealing with altitude.

That said, the skiing and shooting challenge was silly. And in fact, they had to alter the challenge on the fly because neither chef could ski at all: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...licchio-291913 Some other tidbits in there too.

[iceman]

And more importantly...

Comedy Gold right there.

[Pegleg]

Comedy Gold right there.

Thanks, I'll be here all week. Try the veal!

[BmillsSkier]

I haven't watched the show in a few seasons but two things have me tuning back in when it returns in December.

1) Charleston. One of my favorite places on earth and an absolutely incredible food city. I hope for plentiful amounts of Sean Brock.

2) Chef-testant Casey from the Aspen season is back. What a smokeshow. Mmm-mm. Oh, and I'm sure her food is good too.

[Diamond Joe]

^^ HA! I was looking for this thread to write pretty much the exact same thing.