Top Chef - S9E13 Postmortem

Re: Pee-wee... ummmm... a little from column A and a little from column C?

Mixed emotions on this episode all around... on the guest, on the challenges, on the elimination... everything.

I'm late to the party, and you guys have it pretty well-covered below. More Monday. And LCK in a few hours.

Discuss!

Comments

[Gary]

I know we're supposed to leave the LCK discussion for later....BUT COME ON!!!

[Redpoint]

The EC wasn't as horrible as it old have been.

(and the Bravo site won't play LCK for me!)

[Redpoint]

(could, not old! Damn iPad)

[arthur gonick]

Grayson got eliminated because her breasts were too big? Hmmmmm....

[Amanda P.]

I'm with Gary.

[Cousin Sam]

aaarrghhh! what a jip!

[Independent George]

Sarah's egg salad? THAT is what I wanted to see from Chris & Grayson last week.

The EC wasn't as horrible as it old have been.

No, but it was still pretty painful.

You're down to five chefs. Just let them cook and forget the rest of the nonsense, dammit.

I love Pee Wee, but that was pretty awful. I thought the schtick actively detracted from the food commentary; I had a lot of trouble figuring out how each dish played out from the comments.

[garik16]

EC was painful.
LCK...goddamn it.

Seriously, total fail.

[chrish]

Agree that EC setup was bad but could have been worse. What if Grayson had dropped her dish?

Did it seem like the restaurants where they cooked were pre-picked and that they had some info on where to go? First, many of them went to the same ones (which could have been because of proximity but still seems suspicious). Second, the ease with which they got into the restaurants was a little surprising. If there had been footage of them being turned away or having to really fast talk their way in, that would surely have been shown.

[anne]

Yeah, the ruse that they were just walking into the restaurants blind was a little annoying, because it wasn't at all realistic. So then we know the game we're being told is being played is not the one actually being played, and you feel duped. I'd rather be told that there are five restaurants, they all have advantages and disadvantages, you can buy food from them, but you don't know what they have...now, go. I don't want it to be so obvious I'm being manipulated.

[anne]

I'm also annoyed by the fact that the preview strongly suggested that Sarah was struggling on her bike, since that never happened in the episode. It was an obvious and petty way to portend drama.."Oh, let's make it seem like the bigger girl struggled on the bike!"

[anne]

Also, yeah on the shtick. Not funny. And I couldn't tell what was going on. Why did Lindsay win? Why did Greyson lose?

Okay, I'm done. Sorry.

[Duffy]

Of course the restaurants were per-selected and set up. Picture what this looked like in reality, with cameramen, sound men, grips, producers, assistant producers, cables running everywhere, trucks for all the production equipment and stuff, etc. No way this could be set up on the spot. My guess is that the maps were marked with the five restaurants that had been selected.

Also, I really feel dumb for not seeing the hook coming at the end of LCK. Of course the Elves were going to pull something on us, and we all should have seen it coming.

[Scott]

Elimination was okay. i think the episode did a bad job because i was 100% certain either lindsay or ed was going to go home since only they got "that's nasty" reactions from Tom. But in the end, I think grayson went home because squash and tomatoes just didn't work for tom and I should know better than to doubt something Tom hates.

[Anon Man]

Worst elimination challenge ever. Ever.

LCK.... I hate you elves.

[paula]

What an awful episode. As bad as I feared. It's like they wanted to do something similar to the (very charming) Sesame Street episode--but this time, they let the freakin' puppet judge the EC.

I wish I could unsee this. Why, oh why, couldn't Paul Reubens have kept this character in retirement?

I second the idea that roasted butternut squash (a staple at my house) and fresh tomatoes sounds horrible together.

[Wgarton]

I've watched every season of Top Chef- that was my least favorite episode yet.

Look, I understand that we're not the main audience- not everyone is here just to see great food, they want tension. But really, was there any drama there? The closest we got to drama was whether Lindsay could find a kitchen to cook in, and we all saw how that changed things.

[KinderJ]

I actually liked the look of some of the food. There were some interesting and well conceived dishes in there and given the blood-stopping idiocy of the challenge that's no small feat. Havent seen LCK so I cannot comment on that, but it seems the rage dial on this thread is firmly pegged at 11. Ominous.

You know what late season challenge I liked? That "cook your last meal" challenge that Fabio won with roast chicken. Lets get more of that shall we? Because this "Biking around to crash surprisingly mellow restaurant kitchens" thing was just bad. And I never did like Pee Wee. Man lived in a nightmare house. Everything talked. The furnishings never stopped moving. Always watching and judging you, whispering terrible things in the night.

[Redpoint]

Annoying how they continually tell us who is on the top and bottom by the opening scenes. they just can't help themselves.

[lou]

I watched the Andy show because...Carla! Tom Colicchio also was a guest and said the edits were deceptive. Grayson's chicken was totally dry because she took the skin off. Why didn't the elves make that clear?

I thought Peewee was pretty funny. but that biking to the Alamo schtick was a little ridiculous. I mean, come on, we know the restaurants were pre-selected. Why pretend?

[OmicronPersei8]

Ugh. Ridiculous challenge and judge. Not to disrespect anyone's childhood memories, but as a non-American who didn't grow up watching Pee-Wee Herman, I cringed every time he was on screen.

Really wish they'd just stick to chefs as guest judges at this stage of the competition. I can understand the occasional celebrity judge but is Pee-Wee Herman likely to boost their ratings at all anyway?

[gilmore]

Shark jumped.

[OmicronPersei8]

The good news (from Gail's blog, emphasis added):

Next episode is a tear-jerker. I will say this: it is the most emotional challenge, to date. We’ve done really emotional challenges before -- cooking for families, the armed forces. We’ve certainly done things that have tugged at our heart-strings. This is the Ellis Island episode of this season. What I mean is that the Ellis Island episode from last season, I think was the best episode of all time of Top Chef (we should have won an Emmy for it, but whatever...). This episode is similar in that it is so emotionally inspiring and the challenge causes our chefs to create what I believe is the best food they have made all season long – which is exactly how it should be in the episode before the finale.

[TxGriff]

Re: The LCK format (I know this isn't technically the correct thread, but no spoilers)- I don't think it's unfair. The goal isn't to win the most challenges, but rather to be the last remaining chef. The implication is that the earlier you are eliminated, the harder you will have to fight to get back in the competition. I understand that there's always the possibility that someone was unfairly eliminated early (like Nyesha), but that's a separate issue. If a chef makes it to the last round before the finale, I don't have an issue with that chef only winning one round in the LCK, as opposed to the idea that someone who was eliminated several rounds earlier getting a free pass back on the competition simply because they had the chance to garner more wins in LCK. If you base it on the number of wins alone, why even bring back the last remaining chef at all, unless the previous competitor happened to only win one round of LCK? That's my take on it, at least.

About the EC: I was surprised by both the winner and loser, but I blame the editing. Agreed with others that the setup was cringe-worthy, but overall I think the food looked pretty good. I did laugh when Tom pointed out that Grayson did not make her dish "healthy" by removing the skin, then stuffing her chicken with cheese, egg yolk and bacon.

[Mary]

This is my first season watching Top Chef. From the comments, it seems I may not have picked the best season to start watching. Oh well. Anyhoo...from last night's episode, I couldn't figure out what elevated Lindsay's dish above everyone else's. Is it because Tom has found memories of stuffed zucchini?

I realize the focus here is on the food, but I was glad to see that Padma wasn't wearing a 7-year old's romper this week.

LCK...agree with others. Sigh.

[TxGriff]

By the way, very informative interview with Gail on the Top Chef board. She explains why Lindsay won and Grayson lost. Plus, sounds like we should have high hopes for next episode:

http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/season-9/blogs/gail-simmons/if-it-grows-together-it-goes-together

[Bill G]

Lindsay won because Pee Wee likes food served on boats.

[TxGriff]

Hmm...I thought there was a comment on here about LCK format being unfair, was I reading that elsewhere? Or seeing things? Again, no more posting before my morning coffee.

Looks like OmicronPersei8 and I both read the same Gale blog. Paul doesn't seem like a particularly emotional guy, so the fact that he's crying in the previews has me a bit worried.

[Independent George]

How did I miss that we have a commenter named OmicronPersei8?!!

Now I want some popplers.

[Independent George]

The one positive to Pee Wee, it's that it makes me truly appreciate just astonishing awesome awesomeness of the Muppets.

[Pepperjack]

Let me just say, I don't care who wins, as long as they are from Omercron Persei IX...

[Independent George]

It is true what they say - women are from Omicron Persei 7, men are from Omicron Persei 9.

[TxGriff]

I'm apparently out of the loop...I have no idea what an omicron persei 7, 8 or 9 is. Some distant galaxy where chefs battle intergalactic-ally (is that even a word)?

[ally]

I love that Sarah made an "egg salad" and Paul made a "chicken salad" in a creative way that never would have occurred to either Chris or Grayson last week.

[paula]

No way could they have make those "salads" for 200 people in 110 degree heat, though.

[Pepperjack]

Griff, there is a little animated TV show by the name of Futurama. It's full of big green aliens that hail from Omercron Persei 8.

Coincidentally it features a Neptunian version of Emeril Lagasse who 'kicks things up a noitch, bam' when he uses a spice weasel...

[gilmore]

TxGriff-Tom's comment was his response to "A Meatball???"

Mary - they edit out so much to leave us guessing. That is why the Bravo Blogs can be so informative.

How about Ed cooking breakfast for a guest at the B&B.

[ally]

"No way could they have make those "salads" for 200 people in 110 degree heat, though."

Um, check out Paul's recipe for last week vs this week. This week's recipe is no more complicated/time consuming than last, seems even less so.

For Sarah, yes, the egg wouldn't have been possible, but adding chicken instead would have.

Just sayin.

[paula]

What? Look up recipes on the Bravo site before I make comments here? That would be a first. ;)

I do take your point about the level of creativity and imagination, though. Sarah's dish, especially, really looked great.

Did anyone see the tweet from Gail during one of the show's promos, saying "This is by far the most competitive group of chefs we've ever had"? (Or something like that.) That was just such an out-and-out lie, I couldn't believe it.

[Wallfish]

Redpoint, if you're having trouble with the Bravo site to watch LCK, try Hulu. I wait until it's on there. The streaming and picture quality is better.

[anne]

Paula--it all depends on the meaning of "competitive." Heather was so competitive she was willing to casually demean the cuisine of an entire continent repeatedly on national television!

[rab01]

"That was just such an out-and-out lie"

Actually, I think this is/was a fabulous bunch of chefs. They just got completely and totally hosed by the challenge-monkeys. I doubt that even the Volts would have shown that much during these types of challenges.

[paula]

I'm not saying it's a bad bunch of chefs. But I quote Mr. SkilletDoux on Paul's #1 ranking to support my point about how "competitive" this group actually is:

"Blah blah blah blah dominating performance, blah blah blah another level blah blah how does he do that? Blah blah wire to wire blah blah unless he really blows it, blah blah blah $50,000 blah blah really remarkable blah blah."

[Lon]

I certainly agree the challenges have limited the chefs. Most of them have disgusted me. Just about anytime they have been able to cook individually, instead of teams, the performance has gotten more good comments from the judges than some previous years.

I won't subject you'll to my opinion of PeeWee other than to say I cringed every time he was on the screen. Even then, the concept wasn't that bad, collecting ingredients from various sources. It was just one of those ideas that sound good around the table and turn out to be bummers.

I still have high hopes for the remaining episodes. Cross my fingers.

[Bob]

Agree with others that the episode was irritating. Seems to me that the challenges should be designed to "test" something (creativity, flexibility, working outside your comfort zone, etc.) and I'm not sure they tested ANYTHING in this episode (other than one-handed bike riding.)

Completely agree that they all shop at the exact same market, and then end up having no problem finding a kitchen to cook in? Puhlease! Worst staging since the "state trooper" in that phony road trip challenge.

New drinking game: take a shot every time they flash one of the restaurant signs used. Sloshed by the 30 minute mark. But, check out the dinner menu for Rosario's: http://www.rosariossa.com/ Damn! Next time I'm in San Antonio...

[KinderJ]

Bob- That's basically the format on Next Iron Chef. Not saying that there havent been some dumb challenges on that show, but the principle is there and it usually produces very good results. A couple of seasons ago, just as an example, the chefs were told to make a five course Kaiseki (ultra formal type of Japanese cooking) meal, to be presented in elaborate bento boxes provided by the show. Bear in mind that none of the chefs had any experience with this extremely specialized form of cooking. The results were very impressive, as the contestants were able to show their own tastes and techniques while being true to the requirements of the challenge.

[Minettegirl]

On Andy's show, Tom mentioned that he was happy to see the cheftestant go from the firehouse challenge. Anyone remember who that was?

[Alamos Road]

@Minettegirl: It might have been Andrew from Season 4 in Chicago. They had a challenge to cook for police and fire personnel, and Andrew was eliminated. Lots of histrionics at that elimination - Tom always love that sort of stuff.

[Minettegirl]

Alamos Road: Yeah, he pretends to hate it, but the more he leans back and rolls his eyes the more you know he's getting a kick out of it.

[rab01]

The firehouse challenge might have referenced season 2 - where they cooked at a firehouse and the winner's dish went on like a TGI Friday menu or something.

[KDG]

@Minettegirl: Emily from Season 2 (http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef/bio/emily-sprissler) got kicked off on the TGIF Challenge held at a firehouse. She had a really nasty attitude all season.

[Bart]

I was hoping for more puns from Pee Wee, but alas. Related: I want one of those bikes, lol.

Can't say the outcome of this episode surprised me, but it's a bummer to see Grayson go. The food that was produced, though, looked surprisingly good given the restraints of the challenge. And how hilarious was it that Ed ended up cooking breakfast for the B&B?

Gah, Last Chance Kitchen is frustrating. I'll hold off on further comment until tomorrow's thread, but... GAH!

[Scott]

"Grayson’s a great young chef. I love her. She’s a super fun chef. And she’s a totally sunshiny, bright, wonderful person. She makes me happy. Although we sent her home, she’s going to go far in her career. I just know it."

Is this....

[Kathy from Austin]

After I got over my heart attack on Paul's statement in the previews ("Sorry I didn't finish"--paraphrased) it occurred to me that that based on Gail's foreshadowing that he was *maybe* talking about his story. The damn elves are so sneaky! If Paul was on the bubble, would they really talk about it? Or would they try to mislead?

I call BS on the entire episode. I think Pee Wee Herman is creepy (sorry, Dom). And certainly this close to the finals, where are the chef judges? Sorry, his humor notwithstanding, when my mind runs to chef judges, Pee Wee Herman is outside my radar. Egg salad? Meh.

How cool was Ed, cooking the eggs? And what asshats the owners were. I like me some Ed, for sure.

Lindsey and Sarah not so much.

[Vncntdl]

The producers were lucky that none of the contestants got injured (on bikes, in sweltering heat, trying to transport food). It could have been a disaster. (But, for this reason, the challenge was also a bit too "staged," which is part of the annoyance being expressed here in the comments.) Having said all this, I actually didn't hate the episode as much as others. I mean I cringed at the previews but, perhaps for this reason, found myself enjoying parts of the actual episode more than I thought I would (including Pee Wee – who isn't looking so good, but is still funny). I also thought the food looked pretty nice.

[tigerpiper]

dumb episode. At least with Theron hottie she was a real person saying what food she liked. This was a character. Does Paul Reubens like boat-shaped food? What if he'd said he liked grap, e.g. Oscar the Grouch?
Dumb dumb dumb. Why can't they do a real food based challenge?

[Alamos Road]

Since she was eliminated anyway, I wish Grayson had had the cojones to just spend her $100 on takeout from Rosario's and plate that up. Enchiladas, anyone?

[ally]

I wonder if this is the episode i look back on as the time i gave up on TC. Final 5 riding around on bikes to get food, fake restaurant "surprise, can i cook here?" and Pee Wee Herman not just a guest but at Judges Table.

I no longer have TV, so I've been paying to see episodes. If Paul doesn't win this thing, I might actually give it a miss next time due to total lameness.

[Cindy]

on the preview for the next episode, did anyone catch what paul said? I'm not quite sure..

"Sorry I couldn't finish that, but uh, [...take you]?"

Is that what he said? I watched it like 10 times. Does Paul get to pick someone? Is it going to be 2 by 2, each team picking Bev or Grayson from LCK?

[Sweet Sue]

How could Ed serve undercooked, rubbery chicken and not get sent home?

[OmicronPersei8]

Cindy, I thought it was 'thank you'. From what Gail said in her blog the next episode is this season's 'Ellis Island' so Paul might have been addressing family/someone important to him.