Blindsided

[rootbeer1]

Know what bothers me about Tom Colicchio on Top Chef? The way he wanders into the kitchen and asks questions of the chef contestants like he’s a mentoring Tim Gunn Project Runway figure, and then half an hour later he sits there in judgment of the chefs who foolishly made themselves vulnerable by providing him with any sort of information.

TOM: “So, how’s your appetizer coming?”

CHEFTESTANT: “Well, I was worried that the halibut might be off, but it seems fine. I’m just hoping to get it all done before the clock runs out.”

*half an hour later, at the judging table*

TOM: “Weren’t you concerned that the halibut might be off? And I hear that you have time management issues. That’s it, you’re out of here.”

VAPID SPOKESMODEL: “Please pack your knives and leave. You’re dead to us.”

Comments

[gabecentric.livejournal.com]

i don't know how i feel about this show. i liked the first season because it had more bay area people and took place in san francisco.

hee hee, but in the first episode of this season he makes it very clear in his introduction that he is not a mentor and will ask questions to bring feedback to the judge's table. he's so woofy and stern. i want him to bend me over and spank me with a frosting spoon. =^P

[bearringsd.livejournal.com]

I actually want to see a jewish, hispanic or italian vapid spokesmodel. Then the last line would be:

"Please pack your knives and leave. You're dead to us. After all I done for you and THIS is how you pay us? Such a nice boy! ...and NOW look at you..." on and on and on....

[poohbearjim.livejournal.com]

Do they actually say "You're dead to us?"

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

In so many words.

[rootbeer1.livejournal.com]

Actually, that's what they said on Joe Schmoe, the fake reality show on Spike-TV, which aired a few years ago. When someone was voted out, the host would take the plate with the contestant's picture on it and fling it into the fireplace, breaking it into many shards. Then the host would say, solemnly, "You're dead to us. Please leave."

One time the show brought back a contestant, who had supposedly threatened to sue for a wrongful dismissal. When the plates with the contestants' faces were displayed again, this contestant's plate was shown -- still broken, but "fixed" with clear tape. It was so ridiculous ... we laughed and laughed.

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

I've tried to get interested in the show. Since TV (so far anyway) is a visual medium, the experience with the creations doesn't do as much for me as does on PR (and the design thing on HGTV). The food is often nice to look at but we have to take the judges' word for how the rest of it turned out.

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

I have to agree. There is no real reason for this show to exist.

Contrast this with Iron Chef, which has a similar concept. I think IC, because of the format (faster pace, already established top-rated chefs), makes for better TV, despite the fact that we can't taste the food.

[grandiva1968.livejournal.com]

Well, he did say in the first episode that he wasn't there to mentor them.  That doesn't make him any less of an ass, but…

[hylandr.livejournal.com]

I refuse to watch that show. Not only doesn't it really interest me but what I've seen on the previews, he's probably piss me off enough to hunt him down. He makes Simon Cowell look like Mary Poppins.

[grandiva1968.livejournal.com]

And, in fact that's one thing that to me makes Top Chef less credible than Project Runway.  PR makes a point of keeping Tim away from the judging process and keeping the judges out of the workroom.  There is no cross-pollination allowed, and the judges can only work with the end product they see on the runway with little to no backstory on the process behind each garment.

[rootbeer1.livejournal.com]

If the chef contestants had any idea what was going on, they'd do well to keep their opinions to themselves and not share them with Tom, when he wanders in. Or, they could do something like this.

TOM: "How is your pastry coming along?"

CHEFTESTANT: "Excellently. I'm right on the schedule any trained, knowledgeable chef would be. My ingredients are top-notch and my competence and skills will make this pastry a wonder to behold. Your mouth is already watering. This is going to be so good. Just look at it. And look into my eyes, not around the eyes, look into my eyes. You're under. You think this pastry is terrific and you will judge it the best pastry you have eaten in months. I will win immunity from being dismissed this week. You will not remember what I'm telling you, other than my pastry was tasty and my skills were impressive, and that I should win, win, win. OK, 1, 2, 3, you're back in the room."

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

How very Gareth Blackstock of you =)

(see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chef%21 )

[grandiva1968.livejournal.com]

You are so funny!  I must kiss you.

[bigbeartoronto.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched this show but I certainly admire the format of Project Runway and try to watch it when I can.

I agree, playing both sides of the fence seems unfair.

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

Actually I like his style because it really puts the chefs off their game and if they don't perform, they get a well-deserved tongue lashing, but if they are successful, they get complimented.

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

I seem to watch Top Chef as a methadone equivalent to bring me down from the Project Runway high. It's tough to get excited about food you can't taste. Last evening's show was interesting in that the winner won and the loser lost NOT because of their food but rather a result of their personality traits, positive and negative.

[carytown.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not feeling this season. Food me. Me want more cookie, less talkie.

[foodpoisoningsf.livejournal.com]

I've watched twice. This cross-pollination with Tom Colicchio is just technique of course, to add tension. And no one ever said Reality TV was fair.

Unfortunately his coming off like a bitter creep cancels out any potential hotness. He's even more gratuitously mean than that Simon person. And I have trouble looking at Padma Lakshmi w/o thinking of her sucking Salman Rushdie's dick.

[rootbeer1.livejournal.com]

You are so right about his meanness and creepiness canceling out his hotness. Despite Tom's being better looking than Tim Gunn, I doubt if Tom will be having the devoted fans that Tim has ... bad chef. No T-shirt for you.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

I am so glad I'm not watching this season! Tom and Frank "the Bull" can remain perfect shrink-wrapped fantasy material, unsullied by their boorish actions in real fake reality!

[zbear20.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see Duff Goldman from Ace of Cakes kick Tom Colicchio's ass. That would be the frosting on the cake.

[akil.livejournal.com]

I've only seen Top Chef once, but you just made me laugh hysterically. So true. So very true.