TOP CHEF TONIGHT!

[Pryderi]

Who's watching it, and who do you think will go home tonight?

I'm glad Leah's finally gone.

I think Hosea's next.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

1. I think you're right

Despised Leah and still can't comprehend why she lasted that long. Since the fishmeister, Hosea, has yet to actually do seafood competently, I might say the same for him.

Carla has not been my fave all along, but I'm kind of hoping she takes it as she seems to have some legitimate chops. Alternatively, Fabio has grown on me and I wouldn't mind seeing him win.

Stefan just drives me bats. He's not even a lovable asshole, just an arse. IMHO, they blew a couple good opportunities to send him packing (not sure why they insist some people be judged on a single performance, but he gets by because of his overall history. . .)

I'm almost not sure whether to hope they pick a winner that will please me or one I will hate so much that I swear off the show altogether. I really devote far too much time to reality teevee and need to pare down my addictions. :eyes:

[Pryderi]

2. I agree with everything you've said, EXCEPT that Stefan is probably the best chef. If I were to

rank them it'd be:

1. Stefan
2. Fabio
3. Carla
4. Hosea

I wish Jamie were still there.

[Missy Vixen]

4. They kept Stefan because he adds conflict

I laugh at the judging inconsistencies, too. The Hosea/Leah "romance" obviously made sure they'd stick around waaay past when they should have. I was also not happy when Ariane was sent packing.

If the final two are Hosea and Stefan, I don't even care who wins.

[romana]

3. Fingers crossed for Carla

Once Arianna got the boot I've been rooting for Carla all the way. I just think she's kind of whacky, but in a good way. She makes me laugh, and she seems genuine and likeable. I wouldn't cry if Fabio wins it, but Stefan and Hosea need to go. They are both arrogant jerks.

I wasn't sorry to see Leah go last week.

However, I will admit, as much as I don't like him, Stefan is clearly the best chef this season. I have a feeling he's going to win this.

[blue_onyx]

5. I didn't like Leah either but

she got screwed last week. Most other weeks, people who were pretty consistent, got sent home because of one bad dish (ex: Ariane and Jamie). Stefan clearly had the worst dish last week. Someone even said it would be sent back in a restaurant. Suddenly, at "Judge's Table" the judges had all these problems with Leah's dish. Stefan will win and it's almost pointless to watch now.

[Pryderi]

6. hmmmm....true, but Stefan has won more challenges and eliminations than anyone else. Should

he be sent home for one dish?

[blue_onyx]

8. Yes, if that's the standard applied to everyone else

Like I said, other people (like Ariane) were sent home because of one bad dish. If everyone is sent home because of one dish so should Stefan.

[Pryderi]

9. I think the judges take into account the number of times a chef has been on the bottom. Ariane

was there multiple times, Stefan only once.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. Hosea, then Fabio, then Carla, and Stefan wins.

I'm sure the producers decided a month ago that Stefan would be the winner.

Which is too bad, because he's such an arrogant fucking jackass. Damned good cook, though.

But I like Carla better. I want her to win.

[Pryderi]

10. It's "Top Chef", not "Top Personality". :P

[charlie and algernon]

11. wow, so who saw them throwing in a wild card spot?

[bullwinkle428]

12. A brand-new Toyota Camry station wagon!

[NYC_SKP]

24. Whu? Camry wagon, what's that you say?

Are these making a comeback in America, I hope???

[TommyO]

28. It's now the Toyota Venza, definitely Camry based

Not to shabby, IMHO

[NYC_SKP]

29. YUCK! wannabe SUV. Seven inches taller, 600 pounds heavier, same wheelbase.

I prefer the wagon that continued to be built beyond the US markets last year, 1996.

The Venza is a "crossover", taller and with more wind resistance, while the camry wagon was more like a BMW or Audi wagon, IMO.

I had a 1992:



Here's a possible Camry Wagon replacement, the Toyota Avensis, but not for the US...

[charlie and algernon]

13. I love Mardi Gras world!

I saw 2008 come at a party there last new years. I loved walking around the old floats. it's too bad they couldn't do the actual challenge there.

[PVnRT]

14. Jeff is back! w00t!

He should've been there anyway, but this is awsm.

[charlie and algernon]

15. Gail is back!

[PVnRT]

16. ...and no Toby!

[Robeson]

17. We're going to know here shortly!

[PVnRT]

18. Holy shit - Team Euro may be heading home...

I think Tom has finally lost his heterocrush on Stefan.

[bullwinkle428]

19. Multiple hootie-hoos for Carla...hoping she can pull it off!!

[Robeson]

20. Commercial break prediction: Jeff and Fabio are gone.

[charlie and algernon]

21. good call

I think it was Stefan's oodles of wins that kept him in

[bullwinkle428]

22. Total admission that the "lifetime achievement award" idea

remains in place...

[Robeson]

25. It was elementary, my dear bullwinkle428...

...they clearly liked Carla, which spelled doom for Jeff, and they clearly liked liked Fabio's the least. The writing was, as the saying goes, on the wall.

[GoneOffShore]

23. They didn't send Carla home - yech oh yech oh yech.

[davsand]

26. I was kinda rooting for Jeff there.

I thought maybe he could pull it off and Team Euro was gonna get the boot. It was pretty clear that Fabio and Stefan were on the bottom tonight, and it really was kind of a crap shoot over who was gonna win.

Stefan has been having some issues the last couple weeks and I was really hoping he'd get voted off the island even IF he's probably the best chef left. He reminds me a lot of Hung--he's just SO arrogant.

Oh wait--Hung won!



Laura

[Missy Vixen]

27. I'm absolutely sick to death of Stefan

And WORD to whomever said "lifetime wins" count for some people, but not for others.

Unbelievable. My girl Carla is still there, but at this point, I really don't care.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

30. I'm disgusted

Thought Jeff should have won and stuck around and Stefan should have gone. Whilst deliberating, they clearly had the most problems with his food, his lackadaisical, smug attitude. . . and so Fabio went. WTF?

I know reality teevee is manipulated to get the outcome they want and to maximize conflict, but damn. I don't know if they can redeem themselves in one more episode so I'll watch another season of this crap.

[Rabrrrrrr]

32. I think the producers stepped in and told them to keep Stefan

[davsand]

41. I think you are dead right.

It was clear that they were pretty much over Stefan's attitude and ego--and it was evident at Judge's Table that his food was sub-par compared to the rest of the chefs. Fabio probably IS the weaker of Team Euro, but in this particular outing I seriously think that Stefan's food had the most problems*. Unless somebody (like the Producers) stepped in I think they probably would have sent Stefan home.

I think the decision to keep him probably was driven mostly by the strong potential for conflict that Stefan brings. They WANT conflict and drama to keep people tuning in. The one biggest problem with the Producer's strategy is the fact that they undermine any credibility the show might have enjoyed with the die hard "foodie" fans.


Laura



*When I say "problems" in reference to the guys at this level of competition it really carries a whole different meaning than in the earlier rounds when the judges were facing undercooked fish and other potential health threats.

[underpants]

31. Carla clearly pulled out a clutch performance

when two of the judges say that two different dishes were "home run"s you clearly are the best that day

Jeff came really really close I think but she was just better

[LynneSin]

37. Hung also never sat on his laurels at anytime during his season

I was so pissed at Stephan's attitude last night that was "Well either you'll like it or not - no biggie". I know there is a bunch of editing involved but cleary Stephan was resting on the concept that he won all those challenges and that alone would get him in the final 4.

I was crossing my fingers that Jeff would pull it thru and personally I think he was pretty much tied with Carla for the top food last night. Perhaps what did Jeff in was the concept of sending the winningest Top Chef home before the final. I think if it was Fabio with Hosea in the bottom 2 that Jeff might have gotten the overall win over Carla.

Stephan's attitude at Judges Table was inexcusable.

[Rabrrrrrr]

33. Wow - Hosea finally pulled his head out of his ass and did some good cooking!

I'm very sad that Jeff had to go bye bye, though. It was an unfortunate rule that he had to win to stay in the game, especially since his food was so much better than Fabio's and Stefan's.

Team Euro should have gone home last night; and in my opinion, Stefan should have gone, not Fabio.

[PVnRT]

35. Unfortunate rule, but I thought it was fair

You've been given an unprecedented second chance to cook in the final; I don't think it would be fair to those who made it all the way through to have him able to push them out without winning.

Jeff left on a high note, which I'm glad for. He really should not have been sent home for the Super Bowl challenge (should have been Fabio, seriously, how do vegetables cook venison on a plate?)

[blue_onyx]

38. I agree...Stefan should have gone

This was the third time Stefan was in the bottom three (in the last 4 challenges) and yet the judge are giving him a free pass because of his strengthen in earlier challenges. I think Stefan is the chef the producers and judges want to win so I would be surprised if he doesn't win. I'm hope for Carla though.

[SacredCow]

34. I was sick to my stomach during the whole thing....

Emeril is beyond a hack. Delmonico's in NOLA was a good restaurant before he took it over- Now it's utterly mediocre. Having him judging creole cuisine is asinine.

[davsand]

36. Anthony Bourdain referred to Emeril as an "Ewok" in one of his books.

I can't see the man now without thinking about it.

:shrug:


Laura

[LynneSin]

39. Stephan should be kissing Carla's ass for edging out Jeff last night

I honestly believe that if it was Hosea & Fabio in the bottom two that Jeff might have won that competition. And I think Tom really wanted to send Stephan packing last night because of that shitty attitude Stephan had at judges table. I'm guessing the producers, who also have a say in who gets eliminated, didn't want the winningiest Top Chef to go home before the final even if his attitude sucked last night (along with his food). And they only way they could do that was to give the win to Carla since Hosea & Jeff both clearly did a better job than Fabio.

[Eurobabe]

40. I can't stand Stefan

but I think he is going to win. I was surprised Carla made it as far as she did.

[NYC_SKP]

42. i am heart-broken by who was eliminated this time...

my favorite, gone, such a nice person... :cry: