I Have a Few Questions....
by Chef Back Burner
This is the second attempt at this post for me...the first was...as my impartial husband called it a “back handed slap across the face of this entire season of TOP CHEF”. Not good, I know...so instead of trying to write a post editorializing on last night’s episode, I’m going to simply ask some questions...
Who were these guests? Why did they get to eat but didn’t get to have a voice at what some would consider the most important judging table of the season?
The wine was an important part of the meal last night since I’m pretty sure Padma called the a meal a Five course Wine Pairing...What did the chef’s choose and why? I think Marcel’s was the only one mentioned.
Where was everyone else? Sam called it “an awkward moment “ but was no one else around to try to stop it?
Who were these guests? Why did they get to eat but didn’t get to have a voice at what some would consider the most important judging table of the season?
The wine was an important part of the meal last night since I’m pretty sure Padma called the a meal a Five course Wine Pairing...What did the chef’s choose and why? I think Marcel’s was the only one mentioned.
Where was everyone else? Sam called it “an awkward moment “ but was no one else around to try to stop it?
Why, when personalities have been an known issue for the cheftestants, is this the first “Get your head in the game” lecture this group is getting? Isn’t it long overdue?
This leads me to some questions I’ve had over the course of the entire season....
As a simpleton of the culinary world I would like to know more about these people than the one line scripted bio Padma gives us. Why are the cheftestants in awe of them? What are their credentials? (and I don’t want to have to look it up online)
Is Tom’s general disposition this season a bit of a tell as to what is going on behind the scenes? As well as Gail’s absence from several of the episodes?
Is this so we have something to distract us from all the bickering and bad food this season? (If so, BRAVO needs to check their target audience.)
And finally, I have to ask.....
Are these people glad they left early?
Did I miss anything? I apologize if I did but I’ve been just so distracted by the light bouncing off Elia’s head that I just can’t focus on all the problems of the season. Besides, I’m just gearing up for the finale in hopes that...wait...who do I want to win?...hmmm....
posted by Blogging Top Chef @ 9:45 AM
25 comments
25 Comments:
A back-handed slap in the face (verbally administered) is what this show deserves. I'd like to read your first version! Your questions are very thoughtful. But I'm through with the show.
I think Bravo needs to take some responsibility for what happened.
I think they have created such a stressful environment that they should not be surprised that this happened.
Didn't someone report that they did not allow air conidtioning, tv, radio or music because it would get in the way of the sound recording. These people had no way to 'escape' for a while.
Then to show up in their sleeping quarters, follow them into the bathroom, keep them working being sleep deprived, plying them with alcohol...
What do they expect??
From the way all the comments on the various blogs and on Bravo are coming in people seem to watch the show for the food and not for the drama. Bravo can ease up on the stress and still have viewers.
They really need to rethink their production or next time there could be an even worse incident. These people have sharp knives at their hand at all times...
I'm done with Bravo. I was upset by this season's Project Runway, for the same reasons. It wasn't about the clothes, it was about creating nasty drama between contestants. I thought that Top Chef might maintain its intergrity. Wrong. I'm as disgusted with these chefs as I was with Jeffrey on PR. The treatment of Marcel is unacceptable and they have all (hopefully) hurt themselves professionally. Who would hire them after this display of immaturity? I was especially disappointed with Elia. I thought she was above that. Bravo, you've lost a viewer. Marcel, I now hope you win.
>>Is this so we have something to distract us from all the bickering and bad food this season? (If so, BRAVO needs to check their target audience.)<<
I agree. Being a hetrosexual woman I vote for a dishy male co-host. Put him in, let's see, tight jeans, tight t-shirts, wait, no shirt at all! Tall, dark and handsome. Yup. That'll make me happy.
I do like Padma. She's bright and witty, she knows food and she's comfortable in the setting.
But still... if we have to have skin, let's have some male skin to balance it out!
This show is completely ruined now. If anyone but Marcel wins, it'll be unsatisfying because the sad sorry lot of them should've been kicked to the curb right along with Cliff. But if Marcel wins, it'll be a tainted victory since the outcome wouldn't be based on his cooking skills. They should just scrap the whole thing.
Good luck to Marcel though. All things considered, I think he handled himself pretty well and didn't deserve the abuse he got even if he was annoying at times.
As for the rest, excluding the one's who got tossed in the beginning, I hope careers are damaged by this experience. They're a bunch of sickening, sadistic asshats.
The contestants made such disgraceful asses out of themselves in front of Chef Ribert. I felt embarrassed for them as they went into the Judge's Table. They had all realized how important it was to make a good impression, but then they went and made complete asses out of themselves.
I TOTALLY agree with annie & anon 12:21. BRAVO nees to get their heads out of their ass's and retool the show for next season or they will have aother flop on their hands.
Penny
I so agree about Padma. We call her "Boob Woman". She continually tries to show what she doesn't have.:P
I'd like to know, why no reunion show?
Really good question....Add that one to the list...
Ugh.
It's not Top Chef, it's Bottom Chef.
1 last question will go unanswered for me...In the middle of that appalling hour of television, which Bravo employee gave the green light to the "Who hates Marcel the most" viewer poll?
My bad, thought this was a cooking show, think I'll just find the door now...
click
I'd like to know, why no reunion show?
I would say this is rather obvious. I imagine Gail, Tom, and Padma don't care if they ever see this bunch again.
I try to dish gently, but it was hard not to get personal on my blog. This entire bunch is immature, but no matter how maddening someone's behavior is, that is no excuse for violence or physically assaulting someone.
Bad Ton, as they would have said in Jane Austen's day. Poor sports all.
"Badly done!" One of my most favorite Jane quotes...Yes I would say "Badly done" all around.
seems the reason why "no reunion" is because it would end up like a WWF steel cage match! Bravo is probably looking at a potential lawsuit and can't risk anymore conflict! that's my guess?
can you get a interview with any of the past contestants and ask for their opinion?
Have you read Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Boudrain? Then there's that lunatic in England Gordon Ramsey. Then there's that failed sitcom based on Boudrain's book. Put them together and it seems as though there exists an ethos of celebrating bad behavior within the celebrity chef culture. Sure, there are perfectly pleasant celebrity chefs, but then Rachel Ray (I am unfamiiliar with her) is supposed to be too perky and nice and is made fun of...as though being pleaant is a disqualification as a celebrity chef.
Doesn't it seem likely that the celebration of real jerks like Ramsey and Boudrain plays a role by providing bad role models?
"Are these people glad they left?"
I think so Mia even jumped when she got a chance!
I loved TC 1! This year I could stand in my own kitchen and watch my kids fight...no need to turn on the tv!
I really was interested in the cooking too! Bravo needs to get a grip!!!! They had a chance to make really great reality tv and they are blowing it!!!
CJ
I must disagree, ms place...a reunion show would've been PERFECT for this dysfunctional bunch. It would be an opportunity to put certain individuals on the spot and force them to explain themselves and their actions, and, if Bravo had solicited viewers' email questions, it would've been a way for us to "confront" them about their behavior.
1 I am a straight male, and I found the Padma outfit from the beach challenge laughable. When she was in front of the table and her hair was hanging down she looked naked in a vest.
2 I find the "incident" totally something that could happen. It is still very wrong, but if you are mentally psyched for something like the final elimination and you are drinking shaving a guys head makes sudden sense.
3 How much is this actually Bravo created? These people all seem a little on the unstable side. Cliff seems to have a serious temper, Ilan is flipping out trying to slam Marcel, Elia is emotional and a serious lose your mind for a minute type of person and we may feel sorry for Marcel but he is a serious jerk who doesnt play well with others.
4 If you want to have Chefs sit in a room and cook for TC3 you are not going to have a hit on your hands. This show is doing much better than TC1 and is getting mainstream press coverage. Same with last season Runway. Do you want a perfect show to fail or an imperfect show to succeed?
I am not getting the timeline for the Hawaii challenge. It seems they just shaved their heads and now in the preview for the finale they have quite a bit of growth on their heads.....Did they have time to prepare some recipes or something? I don't get it
Pat,
The show was filmed in July and August. The Final was filmed in November. Hope this information helps.
JT
If Sam claims he had too much alcohol, he would be lying. If he is wearing a diabetes pump, they only give that to patients that are Type 1 juvenile diabetics.
If he would be drinking as much, his blood pressure would go all the way down plus damage his liver.
He also didn't cut his hair. In sumnation, he just stood by and laughed while Cliff did the assult.
Elia is the back stabber and the one that is unstable. Too bad Mia left. I have a feeling SHE would never have just sat back and let Cliff do what he did. Ilan? Nope..not TC material. He is a follower.
Marcel seemed to be the most stable; the one with a brain. His goal should be a Professor; teaching young chefs a different way of cooking. I thought he was one Class A person.
BRAVO seems to be turning into a Jerry Springer format on their shows. I don't think fans of PR, TC or the Houseweaves are the same viewers. We watch shows that aspire us, and NOT tune in for their erratic behaviors.
I am not a cook, but Marcel's plates looked very pleasing and pretty. I find him to be interesting and smart. And I certainly admire how he had always handled himself under these horrific circumstances that other's had bestowed upon him. He beats to his own drum. I find that great.
If he doesn't win, I hope he sues the crap out of Cliff and the show - whether it be NBC or BRAVO!
Andy Cohen should be fired!
They knew all along what was happening according to the producer's blog. I believe her name is Shauna?
I will be tuning out next season.
BRAVO disappointed me too much. If I want to see drama, I don't need a TV.
You miss alot it seems. The comment, "I don't want to look it up online", is extremely lazy. I don't really think you should be blogging for this show as you know very little about it.
Thad,
Well I guess that's your opinion. It's not that I don't want to look it up online...I am fortunate enough to have internet access...My saying that was simply a short, sarcastic way of saying not all veiwers have the ability to find out who these people are through other outlets. Sorry if my sarcasm confused you.
As for knowing so little about this show...I think that I know about as much as the next average veiwer. And isn't that the point of a blog...for fans to express opinion about a show that they either enjoy now or have enjoyed in the past? And aren't the majority of us average people watching a show for entertainment purposes? If we all needed to have the inside track on the culinary world or the production, wouldn't that limit the number of people who could watch to like a tenth of the people who are actually watching?
I'm sorry I didn't realize there are rules for participation. If you could send me a copy of the "Internet Rules" with the section on "blogging about a show" highlighted I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
I have to say that it is pretty sad what happened this episode. I was waiting and waiting for someone to yell, "quit it" and wake up to what's going on. It was hard for me to watch.
That being said, people have to stop saying this season has more drama. So not true. I never saw season 1 until just recently, and low and behold, it's FULL of the same dramas. Everyone ganging up on Tiffany because of her arrogant competitivness, Dave with his crying and taking things too personal, and the fiasco reunion episode (no wonder they aren't doing another one this year) where they all just ragged on each other.
This season is tainted with assault, but the personality dynamics are no more dramatic than last season.
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