Couch Potato: Poor taste from chefs
By Casey Gillis on Mar. 27, 2008
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Is it just me, or is the latest crop of “Top Chef” contestants the show’s most foul-mouthed group yet?
They’re all dropping f-bombs left and right. In the pilot alone, I lost track of how many times the chefs’ colorful language had to be bleeped.
The worst offender, by far, is Andrew, a 30-year-old New York City sous chef, who immediately stood out to me. Not because of his culinary skills, but that potty mouth! But the guy provides some pretty good comic relief, so I’m not complaining.
The show started off with so many contestants - 16 - that few of them have really stood out. So far, I’ve got a little crush developing on Dale, a 29-year-old Chicago chef whose sarcastic commentary is amusing.
The arrogant, annoying Richard Blais has already proved to be irksome. A molecular gastronomist, he’s like the second coming of season two’s Marcel. And that’s not a good thing.
“Survivor” and “America’s Next Top Model” have also found a home on my DVR this spring.
On “Survivor,” Cirie has annoyed me this season with her whining about Ozzy’s arrogance. Um, have you seen him in a challenge? He dominates and deserves to be cocky. Ozzy is the man.
I loved Cirie on her first season, but her push to oust the sweet Yau-Man, which succeeded, left a bad taste in my mouth.
Ami is just as bad. How many times is this girl going to talk about making a strategic move without following through? She and the other girls complained that Ozzy was the tribe leader, who decides when they eat, what they eat, etc.
Well, ladies, the last time I checked, you have the majority. If Ami, Cirie and Amanda had stuck with Tracey, they could’ve gotten rid of Ozzy last week. But what did they do? They did what Ozzy said and voted Tracey off the island.
That was their chance to change the game, but I’m glad they didn’t do it. Like I said, Ozzy is the man. (And Erik’s man-crush on him cracks me up).
While the castaways have yet to get seriously cutthroat on the island, things have gotten catty on another island: Manhattan, as the “Top Model” contestants have taken the city by storm.
There have already been a number of clashes, most caused by the hateful Fatima and I-can’t-stop-talking-in-the-first-person Dominique.
“I believe in Dominique,” she said during last week’s episode. “Dominique is going to make it, and Dominique is going to win this competition.”
Later, her delusions continued: “I’m not Tyra Banks. Yet. Soon and up-and-coming.”
You wish, honey.
Dominique is way cockier than she should be, considering the judges have rarely liked her photos. And new judge Paulina Porizkova even told her she looked like a transvestite version of Robin Wright Penn. I fell out of my seat laughing.
But I’m not going to be like Fatima and hate on everybody. Plus-size poser Whitney is a favorite, as well as the awkward Lauren. I’ve really enjoyed seeing her make progress. Now, if she’d only perfect that runway walk, she’d really give the other girls a run for their money.
So, dear tubers, who’s got you rooting for them on reality TV these days? Shoot me an e-mail at , and tell me all about it.
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