Marcel was such an assclown. Every week I wanted to stab him between the eyes with a pairing knife. UGH!

Since Hung is friends with Marcel, my vote is he will take the villian of the year award.

I like Hung. Yea, he's a dickhole, but I think he's funny. Funny in a 'this guys awesome' kinda way, not me hating him and laughing at him.

Marcel was a tool, but hilarious, especially when he did those awful raps. I wish someone would have battled him. Maybe Dave from Season 1 when they had that cookoff.

I find Micah to be somewhat annoying. I think they just recasted Cliff and decided to call him Tre. Big black guy who talks a lot of game, cooks pretty well most of the time.

I don't know. I hated Marcel at first last year, but the way he got treated by the others was way worse than any of his egotistical but harmless behavior. Of course, that could have been the result of judicious editing, but by the end of S2 I was pretty much in his corner.

Not sure about this year yet, and I didnt see the new ep last night, but I have a feeling Micah is going to be in the final 2.

Also, can we get Bourdain on every episode?

Cermak I'm with you, Anthony Bourdain should be a judge every week. Actually get rid of Tom & Gail and bring in Bourdain and Ted Allen then maybe I'd give a crap about what the judges say.

Where has he been? Is it only for one episode?

Previews for this season and write ups made it sound like he would be a regular. This has been a big dissapointment to me.

I didn't realize the new season started until last night, when they apparently ran the second new episode? I taped Monday's repeat and last night's new one, so I've got some catching up to do. Are they running 2 eps a week, or is this a special because of the new season? Is Monday or Wednesday (or both) going to be the usual time slot?

If I recall from last season, he was on more than once (maybe). I thinnk they threw his name out there as a judge because they knew people would recognize it, but I don't think he has any more of a role than he did last season.

Keith Mars Tom doesn't bother me and Gail I could take or leave. But do we really need some vapid, food illiterate host to guide us through the proceedings?

I don't mind Padma much. She can be pretty annoying, but I am quite intrigued by that giant scar she has on her arm.

In S2 someone brought up the fact that one of the contestants didn't cook anything. And her response was: "So?" I thought that was great.

Edit: Did you know she was married to Salman Rushdie? I have lost all respect for her.

True dat. People probably think her voice is sexy but to me it sounds like she just had her wisdom teeth extracted and has her cheeks packed with gauze.

A foodie I know hates Tom because he's a "nobody"...I don't mind him. He has a couple of successful restaurants, that should count for something. He's not a giant airbag like the Beverly Hills hairdresser assmunch.

Tom just bugs me because he contradicts himself a lot. Padma can be annoying but she's better than the host of the first season and she's better than Gail.

Gail annoys me the same way Nina Garcia does on Project Runway.

I kinda wish they had someone like Tim Gunn (or Todd Oldham I guess) to work with the chefs. Someone who could actually give constructive criticism and had nothing to do with the judging.

If a chef does particularly bad, Tom always brings up things that he noticed while they were working.

Eh, I guess it's a minor complaint, but I just don't like the guy.

I like Tom. But I was glad to see one of the fauxhawks go, especially as it was the Ramen Style Tai Chi one who essentially cheated by braising the lamb the day before the grill challenge.

I know it won, but "seafood sausage" just looked and sounded wrong. I'm sure it was awesome, though.

Is it just me or are there a lot of chefs on the show that are just blending into the woodwork? It's like you only hear about Hung, Joey, Tre, Howie and Micah cuz she's crying. Isn't there some white lady from the Caribbean there? And the 80 foot tall guy? What's up with the girl that looks like Ugly Betty but with lighter hair and no braces?

WHERE'S THE PERSONALITY?

<eta>

Is anyone else watching The Next Food Network Star or is it just me?

She can sound really annoying when she's yelling "Time's up!" at the contestants. Almost like a whiny gym teacher. Then again, given some of the contestants it might be warranted.

I think that has to do with the fact that the food world has always been traditionally very cut throat and more competitive. Tom feels his role is not to help them out but to let them sink or swim on their own merits. He can come off like an asshat sometimes as a result, but I think it makes for a better show.

We were commenting on this, too. More than half of them might as well not even exist. You never see them in one-on-one interviews, and they never show the judges even reacting to their dish.

we talked about this last night as well. weird huh? I believe it was like that the first few episodes of the other seasons as well. just too many people to try and cram everything into a one hour show.


today i am grilling 10lbs of lithuanian sausage and another 10lbs of tasty italian from Kuegels. the whole building smells divine!

aha, i just got caught up on these first 2 eps. seems like they've added some camera interviews with Tom (at least more than in the past). during the bbq challenge he spoke on scene about a handful of the dishes. if you pay attention to the editing it looks like a lot of his criticisms are dubbed into the scene after shooting. many times you'll hear him saying something about a dish, but they don't show him and are splicing in chef facial reactions. hope they do a better job of putting that shit together this season.

chris is the 80 footer, i think given some screen time he'll be somewhat entertaining. then i just read he was a private chef for arianna huffington. bleh
brian will likely be around a while. he's good for tv

i'll echo the too many people senitment. i'm reading through these bios on the show site and wondering who the hell these people were, and where they hid them during the first 2 eps

From Television Without Pity:



LOL.

Awesome to see my two faves Dale and Howie in the spotlight last night.

I just caught up on the first two eps last night and will likely watch the new one tonight.

Although I enjoy both Top Chef and Hell's Kitchen, I get the feeling that pretty much anyone on Top Chef could mop the floor with the Hell's Kitchen people. And the irony is, of course, that the HK winner gets a far greater prize. But I guess that's what you deserve for putting up with Gordon Ramsey's shit.

this article. made my fuckin' day

shocker.

seriously, what was te deal with micah. i saw two episodes and she said she was from south africa, the bahamas, australia and italy at least once. i hated her just for her blatant lying. glad shes gone. also, cj can marry me now, thanks.

Oh, so sorry, he already married me.

oh thats fine. i'll just be the other woman. it's a role i know all too well these days.

my god, what a tall handsome man, though, mirite?

When is this on?

I don't care how non-foodie Padma is, she's still a rocket. Salman's a lucky man, fatwa nothwithstanding...

Wednesday, all night. I think the new episode airs at 10 pst.

It seems like they're cutting this new crop a break because so far they haven't had to make a meal from a vending machine. If I were one of the s1 or 2 peeps, I'd be peeved.

Tall, funny, foxy wiseass who cooks. Yep, that'll do.

There's way more allure to the other woman than the wife, so I may have chosen the wrong role.

I feel like if we knew each other in real life we would fight over the same men a lot.

Well, I guess I was wrong about that! She was annoying, but she talked a good game in the first ep. Then it all unravelled and she suddenly seemed like the least worthy to be there.

I'm always a week behind on this show because I can never stay up that late on a Weds night. You Central Time Zone people don't know how lucky you have it!

goodbye Camille. i'll miss you


wtf was up with that web poll that they did during the show last night?
"Do Joey & Howie hate Camille or want to date her?"

i didn't realize Top Chef turned into Jr High. can't wait til Joey & his whining are sent packing.

Jebus, those pretentious dorks they served dinner to. Merit badges?

This pastry wench is insufferable.

And holy hell, Howie, get a headband or something you sweaty bastard.

is it me or did hung seem like he snorted through an 8 ball or two while cooking during the elimination challenge?

Damn, in all the WSOPC excitement I forgot all about watching this.

Lia, Come back!!

Hahahaha....I actually made a similar comment.

Hung is a hyperactive Marcel without the skills to back it up.

Casey is fucking beautiful with her hair down. Even my wife commented that she was pretty at the exact moment I was thinking less pure thoughts than "pretty."

Every time they show him at a stove, I wince in anticipation of his sweat dropping into his food. Ewwwwwww.

Yeah, on this past episode when they were commenting on how well his flavors went together, I was like, "What, your palette didn't catch the hint of Howie Sweat he added to his braised pork?"

Hung's a cocky little Napoleon.

I think I'm behind. How many people are left? Last one I saw was the "upscale BBQ" in FLA.

You definitely missed this week, and maybe last week as well. I can't remember.

they are gonna be at rock bottom on the 29th doing auditions for next season. maybe musicgurl should go.

Yeah...and where is Musicgurl these days?

I've been missing chunks of this and Hell's Kitchen and haven't seen an entire Big Brother episode yet this season. My TV watching is fucked up.

fuck me. I can cook, but I can't do the shit those people can. I don't even want to consider embarrassing myself.

What was with the mid-season bitch session? And was it really necessary to bring up the fact that Tom is admired in the "bear" community?

I thought his uncomfortable laughter at this was one of the highlights.