Two things, and also top chef
Oct. 4th, 2007 09:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jlhFirst, what the shit with the 80ยบ in October? NOT ON.
Second, I had a timing-y thing totally work out today so that was very pleasing.
So the Top Chef finale was last night and as I'd been saying, I would have been happy with whomever won, and I think based on their performance in the final challenge, Hung absolutely won, though Dale gave him a serious run for his money, which was nice to see. What was sad to see was Casey's collapse, which reminded me of Kara Saun in season 1 of Project Runway. Sometimes contestants respond well (to use a Tim Gunn phrase) to the restrictions of a challenge, but when set loose don't have interesting things to say, or don't know how to structure and control what they have to say. I think that's what happened to Casey. Dale had been taking chances during the entire competition and the last challenge was no exception. It was heartwarming to see Colicchio give him such high praise.
But I do take exception to the idea that "competitive" means "not making friends." I don't know, maybe because I was in the band and chorus rather than on the field hockey team but I'm not sure why those two categories need to be mutually exclusive. That certainly didn't work for Howie, nor for Tiffani in season 1. I've known, and know now, many seriously talented people and they are by no means all arrogant. Confident, absolutely, but there's a difference. Dale was very confident. I just am not sure you need to be a prick in order to get ahead. To be fair, as Ted Allen said in his blog, a lot of that is the way that Bravo chooses to edit and cast their reality shows; only VH1 rivals Bravo for their love of the bitchy quote, the sassy arrogant "villain" and being that villain definitely gets you more screen time. But so does being the funny straight shooter; see CJ or Nick in PR 2 or Harold for that matter.
The funny thing about reading the blogs of the judges is that they clearly want the viewers to react to it as a cooking competition, but when all is said and done it's a television show. Unlike PR, where we can see the clothing and have our own preferences, we can't taste the food on TC, so all the viewers have to go on is personality. I'm not sure the constant berating from the bloggers is really necessary. Then again, I'm sure they're reacting to the Bravo boards, which are a pit of hell under the best of circs.
All this said, sure, I'll be watching season 4. I mean, yay Chicago!
Second, I had a timing-y thing totally work out today so that was very pleasing.
So the Top Chef finale was last night and as I'd been saying, I would have been happy with whomever won, and I think based on their performance in the final challenge, Hung absolutely won, though Dale gave him a serious run for his money, which was nice to see. What was sad to see was Casey's collapse, which reminded me of Kara Saun in season 1 of Project Runway. Sometimes contestants respond well (to use a Tim Gunn phrase) to the restrictions of a challenge, but when set loose don't have interesting things to say, or don't know how to structure and control what they have to say. I think that's what happened to Casey. Dale had been taking chances during the entire competition and the last challenge was no exception. It was heartwarming to see Colicchio give him such high praise.
But I do take exception to the idea that "competitive" means "not making friends." I don't know, maybe because I was in the band and chorus rather than on the field hockey team but I'm not sure why those two categories need to be mutually exclusive. That certainly didn't work for Howie, nor for Tiffani in season 1. I've known, and know now, many seriously talented people and they are by no means all arrogant. Confident, absolutely, but there's a difference. Dale was very confident. I just am not sure you need to be a prick in order to get ahead. To be fair, as Ted Allen said in his blog, a lot of that is the way that Bravo chooses to edit and cast their reality shows; only VH1 rivals Bravo for their love of the bitchy quote, the sassy arrogant "villain" and being that villain definitely gets you more screen time. But so does being the funny straight shooter; see CJ or Nick in PR 2 or Harold for that matter.
The funny thing about reading the blogs of the judges is that they clearly want the viewers to react to it as a cooking competition, but when all is said and done it's a television show. Unlike PR, where we can see the clothing and have our own preferences, we can't taste the food on TC, so all the viewers have to go on is personality. I'm not sure the constant berating from the bloggers is really necessary. Then again, I'm sure they're reacting to the Bravo boards, which are a pit of hell under the best of circs.
All this said, sure, I'll be watching season 4. I mean, yay Chicago!
