gleam wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:

gleam wrote:I think the shoot for this season was approximately 3 weeks. The final episode or two will probably be delayed and shot close to air, just like last season in Hawaii.

Not if Tre's quote from this week's episode was correct. He said that it was "going on five weeks now" and that it was starting to wear on people. They started with 16, correct? So that'd be nearly five weeks at the midway point? Maybe we're a little past the midway point because of the do-over week. But you're still talking about a nearly two month shoot.

Guess so, huh.

Except that all the blogs evidence that the do-over was conducted the very next day. So even if they give them a day or two between tasks, I don't see a 2 months shoot as a possibility. Way too expensive.

I'm not so sure... it's been a while since I was hanging out with TV production folks and my memory may be rusty, but two months of solid shooting for a full 16-17 episode season (depending on whether or not we get a double elimination) strikes me as pretty damn cheap, actually.

And in any case, both Tre's comment and the math agree, I believe. Don't most weeks shows cover two days? A quickfire one day and an elimination the next? I know sometimes they do same day, but I thought that was unusual. So if you're talking 16 episodes, that's 32 working days for the chefs, and if you only allow one day in between for the production crew to set up for the next challenge, you're at 47 days already. And I have to believe some weeks require a couple days' setup. It seems clear from Lee Anne's blog that she's involved in both setup and shooting. I can't believe they're doing both in the same day.

Did anyone notice that during the challenge Tre said he could make bread pudding in his sleep, but when he was brought up in front of the judges though he said he had never made it before?

I really thought he would make it to the finals!

chicagogrrl wrote:Did anyone notice that during the challenge Tre said he could make bread pudding in his sleep, but when he was brought up in front of the judges though he said he had never made it before?

I really thought he would make it to the finals!

Padma: Talk to us about the bread pudding.
Tre: My minimal knowledge of bread pudding, or pastries at that, was-- it's the best effort if I could give at it.

Ahhh, the wonders of TiVo

(Forgive the anal-retentive exactitude in the quotes... I used to transcribe raw footage for editors.)

And in any case, even if he felt that he could make it in his sleep and claimed that he'd flat-out never made it before, I'd argue that the two aren't mutually exclusive. Perhaps in Tre's case, as it turned out, but not in general

Dmnkly wrote:I'm not so sure... it's been a while since I was hanging out with TV production folks and my memory may be rusty, but two months of solid shooting for a full 16-17 episode season (depending on whether or not we get a double elimination) strikes me as pretty damn cheap, actually.

If it's a two month shoot, then they better get going shooting in Chicago if they want to avoid the winter!

aschie30 wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:I'm not so sure... it's been a while since I was hanging out with TV production folks and my memory may be rusty, but two months of solid shooting for a full 16-17 episode season (depending on whether or not we get a double elimination) strikes me as pretty damn cheap, actually.

If it's a two month shoot, then they better get going shooting in Chicago if they want to avoid the winter!

I know someone who went to the audition at Rock Bottom and they were told that shooting would begin this Fall (can't remember the exact months, sorry), then take a break for the winter months and begin shooting again in March.

chicagogrrl wrote:

aschie30 wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:I'm not so sure... it's been a while since I was hanging out with TV production folks and my memory may be rusty, but two months of solid shooting for a full 16-17 episode season (depending on whether or not we get a double elimination) strikes me as pretty damn cheap, actually.

If it's a two month shoot, then they better get going shooting in Chicago if they want to avoid the winter!

I know someone who went to the audition at Rock Bottom and they were told that shooting would begin this Fall (can't remember the exact months, sorry), then take a break for the winter months and begin shooting again in March.

Sooooooooo, nobody's told them yet that March is still winter here?

Hung was in fine form when he declared that he knew he was going to lose the quickfire because "he had a close-minded judge" who asked "what the f*ck was that?" when he saw Hung's plate.

Is anyone else getting the sense that the contestants are getting tired of these stupid challenges where the main thrust of the challenge is a crunch for time and a tiny budget? Dana Cowin: Why were so many of these hors d'oeuvres on bread or pastry? 'Cause that's what they generally are!!!!! I had to laugh when Hung went off on a diatribe about how basically every hors d'oeuvre known to man has been around for hundreds of years. I'm sure the contestants are equally tired of having to [insert Padma inflection] "make food for a party for ve-ry sophisticated and fashionable people." Top Chef is succeeding in making Miami appear to be the most vainly insipid place on Earth.

Next week looks equally bleak where it seems that the challenge centers around the contestants having to cook in an unfamiliar environment. BFD.

I'm excited about next week just because it appears Tony Bourdain will be a judge again.

I have to admit that I thought this competiion would be down to Hung and Howie and Howie seemed to fall apart. His food looked more like pet food and all I kept thinking during that ridiculous party on the boat was, "who the f*** cares what these vapid people think ?" However, if I see another tuna tartare I may have to stop watching.

I think that Sara has become a frontrunner with Hung, although. I think Hung will come out on top. I, too, am looking forward to Bourdain next week-he breathes life into everything with his irreverence IMHO.

I wasn't really a fan of this weeks episode. I'm tired of team challenges, or maybe I am just tired of the competitors they have this season. At the beginning of the year I thought this group really looked good, now I think it's the worst group yet. I don't think any of them seem like they could have competed against the previous winners.

brandon_w wrote:I wasn't really a fan of this weeks episode. I'm tired of team challenges, or maybe I am just tired of the competitors they have this season. At the beginning of the year I thought this group really looked good, now I think it's the worst group yet. I don't think any of them seem like they could have competed against the previous winners.

I suspect once the more freeform individual challenges return (which should be right about now, I believe ), the early promise is going to make a reappearance.

Dmnkly wrote:I suspect once the more freeform individual challenges return (which should be right about now, I believe ), the early promise is going to make a reappearance.

I hope you are right.

Also this bit from Bourdain's blog has me excited for next week, even if it doesn't live up to his hype:

"I should point out, by the way, that I'm guest judging again next week. Which means I know what happens. And while I am precluded from discussing future broadcasts by a confidentiality agreement rivalling the NSA's in the severity of its penalties for unauthorized disclosure, I can reveal this: There will be a SlaughterFest of Horror, an Orgy of Bloodletting, Partial Nudity, Flammable Liquids, Unspeakable Misuse of Power Tools and Small Woodland Creatures, and the Plaintive Wailing of the Doomed. It will make Altamont look like Lilith Fair."

brandon_w wrote:. . . At the beginning of the year I thought this group really looked good, now I think it's the worst group yet. I don't think any of them seem like they could have competed against the previous winners.

I disagree. I think any competent chef -- including a few from season 2 -- could easily outcook and outlead Ilan, who was a complete tool.

=R=

Yes, but what does Bourdain know? Ever since I found out he's a Glasgow Rangers fan, I lost all respect for him.

For me, i'm sick of the judges bitching about the lack of creativity. I mean come on...give these guys real lead time and real money and see what they come up with. That comment about the canapes being on bread -- what did she want them on? Rock Salt? I think this week proved that they could do a team challenge well and then should just let it go. Time to let them all do their own damn cooking. Time to stop inserting the name of every product that sponsors them at every oppportunity (Padma: Take your groceries out of your <insert> and come on board!). i normally support the sponsor thing but come on, folks...it's just sooo FAKE. I also thought that Padma's stern comment to Howie about it being the "judges decision" on who leaves was just so unnatural.

It was well past time for the icky Howie to make his exit. And it cracked me up how he was trying to rehabilitate his image and reputation on leaving.

I'm glad Bourdain is coming back simply because he makes me laugh. There's not a lot of laughter in Top Chef country these days.

earthlydesire wrote:I also thought that Padma's stern comment to Howie about it being the "judges decision" on who leaves was just so unnatural.

I think this is a direct response to last season when Mia withdrew from the competition rather than allow the judges to vote Elia off.

The judges hadn't voted yet, but Mia apparently didn't want to take the chance.

I imagine that they discussed this with the producers and decided that they wouldn't let a contestant martyr themselves this way. Bravo obviously wanted the decision of who leaves the show to remain with the judges.

DML wrote:Yes, but what does Bourdain know? Ever since I found out he's a Glasgow Rangers fan, I lost all respect for him.

Rangers! Not Bourdain! Now who will be my coolest guy on earth?

I thought last nights episode was pretty good. There was the usual product placement, Bravo must not spend a dime on making this show.

I liked this weeks challenge, the constraints were a bit odd, but they do need something to make it a challenge. Finally they are done working in teams and the chefs can stand on their own with what they do, no more passing the buck and blaming others. Tom and Bourdain were really letting them have it last night when they thought the food was no good.

It looks like Casey is going to be the one to beat now that she has two wins in a row.

Malarkey has got to go. Can that guy cook anything? First, he only makes seafood. Second, he only makes cold seafood. This week was the first time he put fire to anything in an elimination challenge in a long time, and the seafood portion was the worst part of it. (I mean, anyone can cook a NY strip, so no points there.)

CJ's dish sounded barf-worthy. Who wants mint oil something or other and fish on a plane? I mean, I get that people are in close quarters, and fresh breath would be nice, but isn't it preferable to have a meal that goes down easily?

brandon_w wrote:I thought last nights episode was pretty good. There was the usual product placement, Bravo must not spend a dime on making this show.

I actually considered drinking everytime there was a product placement, but I just don't think I can handle that much booze. There would have to be rules, like hitting beer when they just do a camera shot on the product and a more serious drink when Padma or a contestant says the name of the product.

If you want to see something interesting, take a look at the boat episode.
The RAV 4s got more lingering shots than any of the food.

The Rav4 is the Top Chef car for sure. It's the only thing to drive to the Fresh Market.

If you were to try and do shots for every product placement, it would be a short night. The Continental collage would have had me on the floor vomiting before the first meals were sent out.

Anyone else read something into the reaction for winning the quick fire?

"Wow. Your cookbook. Thanks."

DML wrote:Anyone else read something into the reaction for winning the quick fire?

"Wow. Your cookbook. Thanks."

That was a product placement, too. I'm sure Hung left it behind in Miami and he'll wonder later why Padma is arguing in favor of his elimination. "She's a closed-minded judge."

Hung is back to being Public A-hole #1. I can't believe the carnage he leaves when he's grabbing his ingredients. I don't care whether or not he helps anyone in the kitchen, but would Guy Savoy be okay with him breaking a bottle of truffle oil, leaving a crawfish on the ground, and squashing tomatoes on the ground? He should be called out for that kind of stuff.

and the other Cheftestants must be rather pissed at Casey: win a quickfire, get a MacBook Pro. Win a elimination challenge, get 2 business class tickets to anywhere Continental flies.

At least Hung won't have taxes to worry about.

I want to make breakfast for Padma!!

=R=

(j/k, if my wife is reading this)

For a split second I though CJ was going to pull her into bed with him!

tem wrote:win a quickfire, get a MacBook Pro. Win a elimination challenge, get 2 business class tickets to anywhere Continental flies.

actually, the MacBook Pro was for winning the elimination challenge. Brian won the quickfire last week. But I agree, I'd be pissed if I were a cheftestant and had only won a crappy book.

The Lovely Donna wrote:For a split second I though CJ was going to pull her into bed with him!

Oh, a girl can dream!

DML wrote:I actually considered drinking everytime there was a product placement, but I just don't think I can handle that much booze.

I could... hic...