TCAS

[mrv3000]

I don't normally post about Top Chef since it's "cook, judge, repeat" and while I'll usually have one or two favorites a season, I'm not outraged if they don't make it. But...

The whole Jen thing was like a slow motion train wreck. I sort of remember her from before in that I recognize her face and her name, but I couldn't tell you what she was like or what season she was on before. That whole judge's table thing - wow. I don't think anyone has ever flipped their shit quite like that before.

Anthony Bourdain's blog (over on the Top Chef Bravo site) was really entertaining, but what really made me get out the popcorn were the comments on Tom Colicchio's blog. Some people are OUTRAGED at the "mis-judging." Obviously the judges forced Jen off the show as payback!

Here's the thing, though. I would put down money that there was a huge temptation to keep her because of Jen's judge's table tirade. It could have created a ratings uptick if people tuned in again to see what crazy Jen might do. It would have been great for the show if she stayed. So I have little doubt that the wet bacon with chopped hard boiled eggs was worse than the over-reduced sauce or spotty-cooked frittatas. It looked disgusting. Personally I could eat around an uncooked middle of a frittata, or scrape off some sauce, but the thought of a wet slab of bacon makes me gag.

As far as Jamie goes, she got really lucky. They couldn't really judge her on anything, including the wet bacon, but I guess she helped out enough to avoid disqualification, something they really only could have kicked her off for. If you don't think there was a discussion by the producers about it, you're kidding yourself.

Comments

[taibhrigh.livejournal.com]

Jen was not like that in her season (and she admitted that in the back room).

That's not the first time one of the chefs has had a blowup at Judge's Table. I think there's a few a season. She just went out with a bang.

And Jamie got really lucky!

Oh, and I think I like Anthony Bourdain as one of the regular judges this season.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I remember blowups before, but nothing quite like that one. That was...wow. :D

I hope Jamie knows she squeaked by.

[taibhrigh.livejournal.com]

According to Colicchio's blog it was the first time Jamie had ever been told she needed stitches and she sort of panicked.

And, I guess if an EMT is saying that cut through your finger needs stitches your first thought isn't to one or two but like a dozen.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

And maybe she didn't know just how long the emergency room could take.

[taibhrigh.livejournal.com]

That was my guess too. Especially if they took her to a real emergency room versus say a Centra Care.

[surreallis.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. I wasn't overly upset about the decision. And while I do think the show can have some sexist leanings in that it does seem to vote the women off first, or else it clearly doesn't work hard enough to find female contestants who are on par with the men in the first place, I think this seemed logical.

They decided to throw off the chef who made a big dish and did it wrong, rather than the other two who either made only half a dish or no dish at all. In a season that's comprised of chefs who have already proven themselves to these actual judges, that seems fair.

In fact, I actually thought they'd keep Jen for exactly the reason you stated. Because they like to hang on to the ones most likely to cause drama as long as possible. Hence the reason I think we've started getting more male douchebags every season. They're trying to play the drama card. Bleah.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I was so happy when Stephanie won her season. She deserved it. But I think she's been the only woman to win.

But anyway, yeah. I think the producers would be more than happy to have the most drama possible. Hopefully they won't go too much in that direction though, otherwise it'll become a joke.

[fauxkaren.livejournal.com]

Jen does not do well under pressure, I think. She did really well throughout most of her season, but then she started to crash and burn at the end. She was giving off some serious crazy vibes throughout the episode. And yeah, she definitely was not the first person to get into it with the judges at Judge's Table, but I think she was the most spectacular.

Oh man though. That moment at the end where she thought she was off camera and started to swear like a sailor? THAT was creepy because then it made her seem all the more unhinged, just barely keeping it together for the camera.

I love Top Chef. So full of the crazy. I am ADORING the All Stars season so much. It's just so much fun to see my favorites back in the kitchen. I'm really rooting for Angelo, Marcel or Richard to win.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the contestants feel like they have even more at stake this time around and are feeling more pressure. It's their chance to redeem themselves and they probably feel it will reflect either well or poorly on their already-established careers.

[javabreeze.livejournal.com]

It was so odd to see Jen flip out like that. I was shocked because she never did that in her season. It reminded me of Just Desserts when that one chef had a panic attack before the quickfire challenge.

This season I'm liking Richard and Angelo seems less annoying then he was in his season but it's early...

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I've always liked Richard, just because it seems like the guy has skills beyond the norm. I hope he makes it into the finals.

[adriana-is.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, this is my favorite program EVER! I don't remember Jen from her season but I don't think I would have respected the judges for keeping her after that rant. She appeared to be wound too tight for my liking. While I understand that this is a competition she was taking it a little tooooo extreme. And, Jamie...yeah she dodged a bullet.

I love Fabio and Angelo. I'm waiting to see if Angelo goes the distance this time without some illness.

Oh! Bourdain!!! my god, I love that man!!!!!!

(fangirls all over your journal

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

XD

I'm glad Anthony Bourdain is around too. You know he tells it like it is. But I feel like all the judges are like that - no one sugar-coats anything, which is nice.