I must admit that my Top Chef coverage has waned in recent weeks. I still watch and love it, but Bravo’s website has been putting up pretty lame media, which means I’ve got nothing really to use for my photocaps (they post production stills, not screen grabs). Plus, as much as I’m enjoying this season and the high caliber of contestants, I’m finding that their personalities just aren’t quite resonating with me. Everyone seems to be… well… a dick. Chefs definitely go through the grinder in the course of their careers; so I’m not surprised that these guys are hardened and cold and badass. But they’re a little TOO into being badasses. Starting with all those horrendous tattoos and ending with a general resistance to smiling and mirth, these guys are all about acting tough. It’s like they think they’re part of a freakin’ motorcycle gang or something. It’s kind of annoying.
Pretty much the only friendly person left is Robin, and the poor woman doesn’t seem to have a clue. I’m actually pulling for her to do something amazing because honestly, everyone is such a dick to her (including the producers, who’ve been happily pointing out all her flaws in recent episodes). It seems like every week someone is either snapping at her (Eli) or patronizing her (Michael) or, as seen in the clip above, doing both. Yes, this video from tonight’s episode shows Michael Voltaggio (one of the favorites to win the whole thing — although, I’m pushing for Jen) fiddling with Robin’s dessert, causing her to flip out in an amusingly shrill way. He in turn barks back condescendingly, and then it just spirals from there.
After the jump, a bonus video of the gang participating in the Quick Fire challenge, which is some sort of blindfolded relay race. Should be fun…
Everytime you do these Bravo videos in your blog I can’t see them. The only thing that shows up is an x and a box. Do other people see them or is it just me?
It’s just you knnmom 🙂
Do you use IE or Mozilla?
I don’t get the videos, either. I’ve tried with the latest version of IE and even good old Netscape.
Confusion ensues.
I get the Red X also .. with IE, Firefox, and Netscape. However, I have been able to see them at bravofan.com, so I think it’s the site not the video. Or maybe you have to have a daily overload of Real Housewives crap to make any other Bravo video work. They excel at that garbage.
Anyway —
There’s one man chef, Kevin, who’s not an egomanical douchenozzle, and I’m pulling for him to win. He’s talented, humble, kind, and just cooks his food and wins challenge after challenge.
I didn’t like Jen at first but I like her more each week even if she is such a sourpuss. In her “confessional” clips she looks like she has no upper teeth, just gums, and it grosses me out and I can’t look at her. She does say some funny shit, though.
I like Robin too, but it’s more a pity-like than genuine like like.
I find it hilariously ironic that the biggest chauvanist asshole of them all has a female first name for his last name: Mike Isabella.
The V-brothers are both condescending fatheads, Eli is a greasball doughboy, and I was getting off weekly to Hector’s accent.
In closing, I love Gail and hate Padma. Bye.