Bravo show

[kuan]

Last week was pretty bad but we can all learn from it. There's little detail on the show about how the dishes are prepared but this week I'll make a few comments. No bashing, just comments. Everyone else please share.

[skilletlicker]

Panini, Kuan, gonefishin,

Nice to "see" y'all.

[gonefishin]

Third episode; cookin' for the kids

I'm beginning to get a little worried here. I'm really not asking for much...just a little entertainment. I also don't think () I'm as critical as some others here may be. I'm just looking for a little entertainment.

I thought the first episode started out fine...a nice introduction to the show and participants. It looked to focus quite a bit on the attitudes more than anything else. But perhaps this is just to get you introduced to the participating cooks and chefs. Which I'm perfectly fine with...you have to draw people in someone...and you have to make it popular to a wide range of viewers.

The second episode really threw me a bit. I didn't see much value to the whole thing. Is Howard Stern have some participation in this show as well? I don't know...I just thought there would have been so many better ways to watch their talents unfold.

By the time the third episode was half over...I began to wonder if we would see any of their talents come to light. I understand that serving your customer can be a compromising situation. I also thought that the whole idea of the catering to the kids could have been a cute little idea...to watch their faces...to see the reactions...on and on.

But to have this episode follow the one before I'm beginning to wonder if this series is going to be filled with a bunch of NON-events. I'll be watching next week...but I'm not sure about the week after that

dan

[Nice95gle]

Tonight's show was really awful. I can't stand it anymore; it’s a total insult to the art. Tiffani was right when she refuse to compromise the quality of her food for this "challenge". But I do wonder if she was not immune from elimination if she would have been so vociferous.

This show is like the desperate housewives of cooking. But unfortunately like someone said in an earlier post, it’s like watching a bad accident… you just can’t look away.

[kuan]

Well there's nothing to comment on here. The octopus challenge was interesting although I would have given Tiffani's presentation a big fat ZERO. You don't put food on a plate then put a serving vessel with food in it on the same plate! You want all your food in the serving dish, not out! That's like dumping food on the table.

[txfoodie]

Finally, some people who watch this show! I knew I could count on ChefTalk. I agree with y'all, it's been disappointing. I don't mind (most of) the contestants, they're a diverse bunch with varying degrees of talent/experience (I'm certainly no expert, mind you) and I understand that the creators need different personalities who will potentially clash to create drama/controversy... but the challenges have been l-a-m-e. Observations 3 weeks in:

Hostess Katie Lee Joel: Not to be unkind, but she is terrible. No personality, very unnatural in front of the camera. How did she get this job anyway? (Other than being Mrs. Billy?) Honey, you are no Heidi Klum.

Judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons: like them; both are competent (understatement for James Beard honoree Colicchio) in culinary knowledge. Gail seems like she could be a little b*tchy--which is okay.

I won't do a rundown of the contestants except this: Stephen's (the sommelier) gotsta go. Is he serious? He is so ridiculously pompous, it's comical. (The producers probably luuuuuuv him.)

Oh--the French Culinary Inst. Asian chick is Lee Anne.

Anyway, I'm willing to give it another go next week. What about y'all?

[mudbug]

For all those wondering about Mrs. Joel, please read her bio here:

http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/Bios/Katie.shtml

And I agree with kuan, no need for bashing. It's always to stand in your own shoes and criticize someone else - and we wonder why people walk around with self esteem problems.

The goal of any television program is to make money for the network by getting viewers to watch. It may be entertaining to some and not to others as with any show. But if it entertains a non-foodie and provides them with a bit of a different perspective on the culinary field and creates an interest in food that goes beyone McDonalds, then it can't be that bad.

[txfoodie]

Originally Posted by mudbug

For all those wondering about Mrs. Joel, please read her bio here:

http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/Bios/Katie.shtml

And I agree with kuan, no need for bashing. It's always easy to stand in your own shoes and criticize someone else - and we wonder why people walk around with self esteem problems.

The goal of any television program is to make money for the network by getting viewers to watch. It may be entertaining to some and not to others as with any show.

mudbug, I feel that I must defend myself! I didn't consider anything I said to be "bashing". I specifically prefaced my comment (kuan asked for comments) regarding Katie Lee Joel by saying "not to be unkind", but I honestly think she is not right for that role. I have read her bio and I wasn't really impressed with her background, which, admittedly, is much more than I can say for myself--but I'm not hosting a culinary competition. (I'll concede, the Heidi Klum comment was a bit snarky.)

And certainly, I realize what the ultimate goal of a television program is. Obviously, I find it entertaining if I've watched it for 3 weeks and am willing to watch more, and have specifically sought out other food enthusiasts to discuss it! Should I not have said that the challenges were lame (an opinion that was voiced by others)?

I sincerely apologize if I crossed any lines, but I am truly surprised by this reaction.

[mudbug]

Originally Posted by txfoodie

I sincerely apologize if I crossed any lines, but I am truly surprised by this reaction.

Not a problem. Sometimes intentions are lost with lack of facial expression and tone of voice.

[travisbickle]

Originally Posted by panini

I just had to stick my head in here.
Is this the show that is produced by Billy Joels new little wife with nothing to do, so hubby got/bought her a show because she likes to cook?

Is Billy Joel hetersexual? Or do you mean, "wife"?

Frankly, I'm concerned. Not that crappy television programing may be contributing to the over-all ignorance of our society, h*ll, that's been going on since TV has been around. I'm concerned that about the sensation of watching something like this that brings out the cynic in me. I witnessed a horrible 13 car pile up on the freeway today around 3:30 in the afternoon. I saw it begin in my rearview mirror and was able to pull over and watch the next forty seconds of high speed horror that took place. I did the responsible thing and called 911 while I watched a pick up truck go airborne and then I found myself lingering after all the debris had stopped moving and traffic stood still. I saw a few things that really rattled me as I stood not 15 yards from the worst of it. I don't know if anyone died as of yet, but it looked awful and I hope everyone made it through. What disturbed me is that I couldn't tear my self away. I was on my way to an important meeting, but I fely compelled to observe and I don't know for what reason. Today's experience was horrifying and yet at the same time, perfectly represents my feeling about watching shows like the Bravo chef show and that other cat puke show on FoodTV. Is it hard wired into our human nature to be morbidly curious? So I guess you'll find me at the scene of the accident yet again tomorrow night feeling relieved that that I'm not involved in this "pile up" and I can sit back with a nice plate of pasta and meatballs and watch the carnage from a far. God be with those people I saw today.

[travisbickle]

Originally Posted by skilletlicker

I've learned that I create the most offense when I'm trying hardest to be diplomatic, so I'll ask straight out. Are you getting paid to promote this show?

Yo Skilletlicker...Sh*t, I wish I was getting paid. You just made me think a thought...maybe I should contact Bravo and cash in on the refuse they call "entertainment". Any kind of "press" is good press, especially for them. Admittedly, I have a bit of a negative perspective on this kind of programming because it lumps professional cooks and chefs in with "next top models", "next top designer", and who knows...."next top skilletlicker". (Just funnin' ya there) I think if the network trolls are going to make reality-type shows like this, then let's show the blood-n-guts. It's like how ancient Roman gladiator battles got started. Nobody was killed when it first started, but the people became bored with that and wanted to se more blood. I want to see REAL kitchens and REAL chefs with all of the REAL dialolouge. Come on Bravo, give up the gold! And FoodTV...let's see some late night programming that truly represents our profession and stop making us look like a bunch of pansies!

[kuan]

Anyone watch last night's show? I would have won the quickfire challenge. Longan, durian, tamarind, ghee? Those would have been easy for me.

And about serving rare tuna in a Latino neighborhood? Hrm...

[txfoodie]

I watched it, kuan! This was my favorite episode thus far. I loved the quickfire challenge. I'd like to know what all 20 were. I guess the "mo budda" guy should be a ghee master!

Yeah, the tuna was very ill-conceived. But the challenge was great, not so gimmicky as the previous ones. I also enjoyed seeing the participants outside of the competition mode--the junk food taste challenge was funny.

[cajun_angel21]

I have watched the show and it's not so great. They barely focus on the food. It's more about who that one guy is going to degrade this week. And they make these people look like jerks for not interacting with the people, but this is a show called Top Chef, not microwave dinners and fishsticks. I'd be a little ticked myself. (If I was a chef that is) BUt it's the first season, so I'm not loosing hope on this show. If it lasts on the air I'm sure they'll work out the kinks and stop trying to be like all of the other Apprentice knock offs.

[txfoodie]

I'm with you cajun_angel. I thought Project Runway (which Top Chef is modeled after) was much better the second season. In the meantime, we're barely halfway through so hopefully upcoming challenges will be more like this week's.