Top Chef - Season Two

[Jimbo]

Oh, and goodbye Elia! Take your whiny butt home! That was such a pathetic performance at the Judges' Table last night. Marcel cheeeted!

She was an early favorite of mine, but whining is a sure way to lose your favorite status. With all the crap Marcel's put up with, he rarely if ever whined about it.

And... It was pointed out that when Cliff held Marcel down the week before, you could see Elia in the background. And she had a full head of hair at the time! That means that the two of them shaved their heads after the Marcel incident. So, far from feeling remorse for what happened to her "friend," she was still having a grand time afterwards.

 

[Jimbo]

It was SO much better last season. This year's model has been a HUGE disappointment, IMO. When they're casting for next year, they need to have the potential contestants fill out a 25 page psychological questionnaire to avoid a repeat of this season. 75% of these cheftestants had MAJOR issues as human beings.

It could be that they're already doing that, but then casting the people that fail the psych test. They may think that makes good TV.

They also seem to think that a bland host makes for good TV. Last year's Kathy Lee - I think that was her name - had no personality that I could find, and I was glad she got the axe. Then they replace her with Padamila, he talks like she's done a handful of quaaludes before show time.

 

[MosMom]

Hahaha I know. She is as lifeless as the first one. My husband calls them the Top Chef Bimbots.

 

[va32h]

He has to be! Like I tell my son everyday, if someone is UNIVERSALLY disliked it's something they did to make the others feel bad about themselves. It was brought up several times how "superior" he thought he was, when someone puts on airs like that he makes everyone around him feel bad about themselves.

Or it's a case of the majority ganging up on the minority for some good old fashioned scapegoating.

Marcel may be annoying; I don't know the man so I can't really judge. But Marcel is not controlling these people's minds, he's not responsible for their failures as chefs.

And yet they have chosen to heap blame upon him at every occasion. Why? Who really cares if Marcel is annoying. Who among us is so fortunate as to go through life never having to deal with annoying people?

The adult thing to do when one has to work with someone who is annoying is to actually act like an adult and rise above it. Instead of ganging up on Marcel like a pack of schoolyard bullies.

If the other contestants feel bad about themselves, that's their problem. Marcel doesn't have the power to make anyone else feel bad about themselves, unless they give him that power.

I am sick to death of Ilan and his sparkly earring. He's a collossal prick and I hope he loses in a landslide.

 

[RitaZ.]

Or it's a case of the majority ganging up on the minority for some good old fashioned scapegoating.

That's exactly how I saw it.

Marcel didn't strike me as a mean-spirited person. You can't say that about most of the other chefs though. There are people that are likable and others that aren't. What Cliff did to him was totally wrong and I'm glad they kicked his butt off the show.

Sam was my favorite. Mature, confident, cool and collected, and also cute!

 

[Figment22]

It could be that they're already doing that, but then casting the people that fail the psych test. They may think that makes good TV.

They also seem to think that a bland host makes for good TV. Last year's Kathy Lee - I think that was her name - had no personality that I could find, and I was glad she got the axe. Then they replace her with Padamila, he talks like she's done a handful of quaaludes before show time.

You might be right about the casting. I never thought about the fact that they might actually be casting some rejects for potential ratings. Not the way to go, in my book.

Last year's bot was Katie Lee Joel, as in Billy Joel's most recent wife. Padma, of course, is Mrs. Salman Rushdie. At least, Padma had her own cooking show before she was picked for Top Chef. She had a little credibility.
about the quaaludes!

 

[RitaZ.]

Last year's bot was Katie Lee Joel, as in Billy Joel's most recent wife. Padma, of course, is Mrs. Salman Rushdie.

Who is he? Never heard the name.

 

[MosMom]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_Rushdie

Rushdie is best known, however, for the violent criticism that his book The Satanic Verses (1988) provoked in the Muslim community. After death threats and a fatwa by Ayatulla Khomeini, calling for his assassination, he spent years underground, appearing in public only sporadically.

 

[sha_lyn]

Who is he? Never heard the name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_Rushdie

 

[yeartolate]

I guess I shouldn't smirk....

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/top-chef-2-finalist-marcel-vigneron-assaulted-by-show-viewer-4607.php

Eventully he will learn that folks keep aiming at him because he makes a good target.....

 

[RitaZ.]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_Rushdie

Rushdie is best known, however, for the violent criticism that his book The Satanic Verses (1988) provoked in the Muslim community. After death threats and a fatwa by Ayatulla Khomeini, calling for his assassination, he spent years underground, appearing in public only sporadically.

Thanks!

So, he could be her father.

 

[RitaZ.]

I guess I shouldn't smirk....

Eventully he will learn that folks keep aiming at him because he makes a good target.....

Even when a person is arrogant and selfish, it doesn't give anyone the right to assault and cause physical harm to another human being.

 

[letterdavidman]

Neither season of TC can hold a candle to Hell's Kitchen, IMHO.

You had me up until you said that. Don't get me wrong, I do watch HK, but Hell's Kitchen is to cooking shows what American Idol is to talent shows--a big, cartoonish parody (and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, on BBC America, is a much more honest display of Gordon Ramsay's personality and cooking skills).

 

[yeartolate]

Even when a person is arrogant and selfish, it doesn't give anyone the right to assault and cause physical harm to another human being.

Of course it doesn't.

But I still cracked an evil smirk when I read the article.

If your behavior consistently attracts negative attention, you can continue with the behavior if you want, but don't be surprised if the negative attention continues.

 

[Robinrs]

Even when a person is arrogant and selfish, it doesn't give anyone the right to assault and cause physical harm to another human being.

Where I'm from it is an AWESOME reason!! AND a justification....

Thanks for the info on the Bimbots! I could at least stand listening to Padma, last year's "hostess" had a voice like scratching nails on a blackboard!!! A wind up toy!

I totally disagree about the psych tests. These kind of confrontations boost ratings and interest. I personally think the producers push them towards it. Most of these "reality" shows are very UNreal!

 

[Jimbo]

You had me up until you said that. Don't get me wrong, I do watch HK, but Hell's Kitchen is to cooking shows what American Idol is to talent shows--a big, cartoonish parody (and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, on BBC America, is a much more honest display of Gordon Ramsay's personality and cooking skills).

I beg to differ. I like both of the Ramsay shows a LOT more than Top Chef. But here's the thing... while HK is over the top, it does give you an idea as to what it takes to run a restaurant. They're not just asked to dream up a single dish; they put together a repeatable menu and then they have to be able to turn out high quality food for an entire service while under a lot of pressure.

That's pretty much how things go in high end kitchens. In fact I just finished reading "Heat," which was about life working the line in Mario Batali's flagship restaurant, and it didn't sound all that different from HK.

Meanwhile, TC gives the chefs a roll of quarters and tells them to make an amuse bouche.

 

[RitaZ.]

Where I'm from it is an AWESOME reason!! AND a justification....

That's a real shame.

 

[MosMom]

Thanks!

So, he could be her father.

Yeah, old rich guys always get the hot chicks. Although, all those stories about having a bounty on his head and going into hiding might even turn me on!

 

[RitaZ.]

Yeah, old rich guys always get the hot chicks. Although, all those stories about having a bounty on his head and going into hiding might even turn me on!

You know you're too stable for that. You can always fantasize about your husband having a bounty on his head.

 

[MosMom]

You can always fantasize about your husband having a bounty on his head.

There WAS a time not too long ago....