I finally watched the Top Chef Seattle finale last night and all I can say is – huh? When did the show turn into a cross between Iron Chef, American Idol, and Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? The final two contestants battle it out before a “live” audience in a Kitchen Stadium-like venue, taking breaks between each course to receive judgement on their individual dishes while the audience hoots and hollers (and we are treated to interminably plodding interviews with friends, family members, and past winners). The five judges critique the plates and vote. Cue Who Wants to Be a Millionaire-esque lights and music! Three votes out of a possible five wins the round. Three out of a possible five courses takes the title. Of course, if you happened to be keeping an eye on the time, you’ll have noticed that there was only five minutes left in the show when the contestants went up for the fourth course judgement. Since one contestant was already up 2-1, it was pretty much assured she would walk away with this fourth round and win the contestant. So much for suspense. Alternately, if it would have come down to the fifth and final round, everyone would have screamed “Fix!”. It’s like those Best of Five cook-offs on Hell’s Kitchen that always manage to come down to that fifth and final round. So how to avoid this “damned if you do; damned if you don’t” scenario? Simple. Don’t. Don’t change the formula that has made Top Chef a success for so many years!
Also, speaking of this season’s Top Chef, did anybody else notice that Padma seemed a little…hmmm…how should I put this…what’s a delicate synonym word for bitchy?…Testy? Snappy? Of consistently unpleasant disposition? Did anybody else notice that Padma seemed to demonstrate all of the above this past season?
These past few days have been one extended Stargate reunion. On Saturday, I ran into former SG-1 and Atlantis Playback Artist Julie Oya while out for ramen. Then, on Sunday, I ran into former SG-1/Atlantis/Universe Assistant Director Alex Pappas in the Granville Island Market. Finally, Monday, I went out for drinks with some other former Stargate alums, among them Editor Mike “Banacek” Banas, VFX Supervisor Mark Savela, Exec Producer Robert Cooper, Post Production Supervisor Kerry McDowell, Post Production Supervisor Jennifer Johnson, and Script Coordinator Lawren Bancroft-Wilson. Later this week, it’ll be dinner with Rob, Special Features Producer Ivon Bartok, and Exec. Producer Carl Binder who finally arrives in town to start prep on his new show!
Finally, to those dumping on Cookie Monster for “nitpicking” the flawless masterpiece that was The Dark Knight, I submit the following Honest Trailer:
Thanks to gforce for sending it our way!
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