Free Food!

I love me some Top Chef but since I live in Canada, we're a few weeks behind on the new Las Vegas season. Meanwhile I spent this past summer also catching up with Top Chef Masters but alas, I missed Padma.

Now, in the past week, I found a few friends still seemed confused by the idea of Top Chef and thought Gordon Ramsay screams on the show. HE DOES NOT. It has NOTHING to do with Ramsay or Iron Chef. IT'S a CLASSY VERSION of a cooking show contest where top chefs (hence the name) compete in challenges for some of the best world renowned chef's to judge. The fact that the series has shown itself to be classy and legit over the seasons has only made the competition better with better competitors and better judges. It's totally yummy and addictive!

Just check out Top Chef Season 5: New York which will be released on DVD on Tuesday, Oct. 20th 2009. You can pre-order it here. Oh, with Stefan! Hosea! Carla Hoodeehoo! Jeff! Leah! Fabio! Jamie! And So many more! Now I've already seen the whole season but the DVD contains "never-before-aired Stew Room footage, extended interviews, cooking demonstrations and much more — TOP CHEF: NEW YORK will satisfy the appetite of any fan, foodie or cook." Man, it's amazing how right and wrong I was about the chefs before the show aired.

A&E Home Entertainment is letting me give away a Top Chef Season 5: New York DVD Prize Pack!!!

To enter, just tell me what Guest Judge also appeared as a contestant on Top Chef Masters (any one Chef will do)?
Email your answer and info (address) to tapeworthycontest at gmail dot com.

Deadline for entries is Tuesday, Oct. 20th 2009 at 11:59 E.S.T.
If there are more than one correct entries, a random draw will be made to determine the winner. Only winner will be contacted. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Broadway Babies - Ugly Betty, Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock and More

Ugly Betty - Sugar Daddy - Ep. 317

Not that one can overload on Cheyenne Jackson, but I sure saw a lot of him last week. In pure coincidence, I happened to catch up with the episodes of Life on Mars and Lipstick Jungle that guest starred Cheyenne from earlier this season. Then he shows up as a hot new baby daddy that Marc meets on the street. Then they have a playdate! Well, a baby play date (Marc borrows MiniWily) much to Marc's dismay.

And now Cheyenne is going to be on Glee! If there's any series that seems to be built for great network crossover appeal with Ugly Betty, FOX's Glee sounds like it (and I haven't even seen it!). Plus the two shows could share their guest roster of Broadway performers.

Loved that Ugly Betty was dealing with the economy and shaking things up by making the Meade's and Wily financially in trouble (yet still living it up on the town). But really it's cause I loved that it forced Wily onto a bus. A BUS!

Meanwhile, Betty's new Matt is not only cute (still loving his beady Josh Grobanish eyes) but he's RICH RICH RICH. Some girls just get all the luck.

And Steve Schirripa, taking a break from giving Ben, Ricky and Amy a reality check, lovingly guests as a TV Chef competing with Ignacio so that the Suarez's could win enough money for a downpayment to buy their house. (Love that Mo Rocca was the host of the TV cook-off).

Still, seeing Wily and Daniel on a New York City bus was too precious!


Friday Night Lights - New York, New York - Ep. 308

I wonder if Tim Riggins enjoyed Patti LuPone's performance in Gypsy?

Jason's farewell episode took him and Riggins to New York City (though no sightings of Wily on a bus), in a bold move to leave Dillon, Texas and find his way in the world (and to support and be with Erin and his baby). For me, it was a lovely and sad last episode with the always awesome Scott Porter (who blogs about it here, and started off in the original Off-Broadway cast of Altar Boyz). It's also sadly the last we will probably see Herc (Kevin Rankin, also on Lost on the same week! See below), who has been such a great cheerleader to Jason's life since the accident that put him in the wheelchair.

And Tim's goodbye to Jason? Definitely tearworthy.


30 Rock - Goodbye, My Friend - Ep. 313

So after performing for Tim Riggins and Jason Street, Patti LuPone shows up on 30 Rock as Frank's overbearing mother (does Patti play any other kind now?).


Now they just have to get Cheyenne Jackson to show up and team up with Jane Krakowski again (esp. after they were originally meant to do Xanadu on Broadway together).

Meanwhile, Spring Awakening's Phoebe Strole pops up as donut girl, a pregnant girl that Liz follows and befriends in the hope of stealing adopting her baby.

Jenna and Tracy compete for birthday party attention. And Jack makes Frank into himself with Frank leaving the show to become a lawyer, much to Frank's mother's dismay.

Each story was hilarious but there seemed to be a whole lot of story this week that they could have spread them out a bit more. I mean, while using Harry and the Hendersons as a plot point was probably genius, having John Lithgow show up and having a barely memorable moment isn't.

More on Lost, The Office, The Amazing Race, Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Chuck, Top Chef, Dollhouse, Corner Gas:

Lost - LaFleur - Eps. 508

Oh LaFleur! Oh Sawyer! You big ol' lug of a man!

While some complained that it was one of the more emotional and love centric episodes, I liked that they used a Sawyer-centric episode to explain a lot that has happened on the island between all the flash forwards, flashbacks, time jumps, and the Oceanic 6's eventual return. I mean, it was a nice smooth transition from seeing Juliet and Sawyer all domesticated as Dharma folks, and then see Sawyer's reaction on his face upon Kate's return to the island. It was a simple moment, but it said tons.

I thought considering all the time jumping, it seemed like an amazingly smooth episode that flowed really well. I mean, I still want MORE but doesn't every episode of Lost do that? Isn't that the point?


The Office - Blood Drive - Ep. 516

Michael makes a pass at a girl while donating blood. Meanwhile, Creed is still my hero. Not my favorite episode, and apparently it's now March sweeps since NBC held back this Valentine's Day episode but what a way to rub it into us single folks again. Thanks a lot!

At least I don't work at Dundler Mifflin where I would have had to deal with Michael hosting all the singles. On the other hand, couple Pam and Jim went to dinner with couple Phyllis and Bob Vance and accidentally sees them doing the Valentine tango in the restroom. I'm not really sure which would have been worse.


The Amazing Race - It Was Like a Caravan of Idiots - Ep. 1404

Girl Friend: Don't you want Mike and Mel to win?
Me: Yah, but don't you love Luke and Margie too?
Girl: Something about him bugs me.
Me: But he's so CUUUTE. And isn't Margie awesome?
Girl: There's something about him.
Me: He's cute AND he's gay.
Girl: He just seems bitchy.
Me: Duh, that's cause he's gay.
Girl: Oh I guess.

This week, a new twist appears on the show with a Blind U-Turn. U-Turn another team without having to reveal yourself. So Luke uses it against "perfect couple" Amanda and Kris. How deliciously evil. Of course it would have been better if Kris and Amanda wasn't already in last place, but at least it showed that Luke can play just as dirty as the hearing.

BTW, that toboggan slide thing looks SOOO FUN! I love me anything on tracks and rollercoaster like (HUGE FAN) so I've seen the summer bobsled but it's usually concrete. I'm even more seduced by the shiny tracks (seriously, I love trains, monorails, rollercoasters etc).


Desperate Housewives - Crime Doesn't Pay - Ep. 516

Gaby still makes me laugh. Even though she essentially inadvertently killed Carlos' boss (by forcing him to fess up to his infidelities).

Lynette and Tom were hilarious competing for a job Bree had set up and it reminded me that Doug Savant can be really really funny when he's finally given the chance again. I mean, his moping was funny this week (though not in all the episodes that led up to this demise), but when he finally got jealous of Lynette, the true hilarity came out.

Ditto on Susan and Katherine's battle over Mike AND the devotion from the other housewives. Again, Teri Hatcher can be funny and she's been a hoot this whole season and not annoying at all!


Brothers & Sisters - Taking Sides - Eps. 318

I want to hate Ryan in theory because I still think the whole "Rebecca isn't a Walker, OH, there's a NEW illegitimate "R" in the Walker family" story but Luke Grimes sure has got that emo-moppy, greasy hair cute Robert Pattison look-a-like thing down pat. Just please don't make him go out with Rebecca in the future. Please don't go there.

While anything that gathers the Walkers together into the same dining room is always awesome, having all the brothers & sisters together (except Kitty who is dealing with recovering Robert) for Ryan's arrival, but all hiding Tommy's trial, worked out better than I anticipated. Now if only they could do all that without ever showing Holly.

Seriously, I usually love Patricia Wettig but I cannot stand her on this show anymore. I know the whole family hates her character and we must too, but as much as it can drive the family apart, and Justin and Rebecca apart, I'm not sure what the whole point is, other than having an obvious evil nemesis to the Walkers on hand.


The Big Bang Theory - The Terminator Decoupling - Ep. 217

Summer Glau AND Dr. George Smoot guest star! (who and who? I know. One is Joss Whedon Cult fave actress from the little scene Firefly, the other is Nobel Prize winning Physicist, and both have funny names).

(Incidentally, 2 Firefly alums on TV again on one night? Wow! Awesome! I'll have a review of Castle with Nathan Fillion in the next TV post. And yes, he, as always, was awesome!)

Sheldon, Rajesh, Howard and Leonard take an 11 hour train to a conference in San Francisco and Summer Glau shows up, much to Howard and Rajesh's delight! Let the creepy flirtation competition begin!

Meanwhile, Sheldon is Sheldon and Leonard is there to pick up the pieces as Sheldon tries to talk Penny (back at the apartment) through some instructions. Genius! not Sheldon, but the way Penny figures out how to open Sheldon's secret box!


How I Met Your Mother - Sorry, Bro - Ep. 416

Laura Prepon is Karen, Ted's annoying college ex. She's one of THOSE people who proudly announces that she doesn't watch TV. As if it's something to boast about or something. I hate her already.

(Seriously, why do some (douchey) people think NOT watching TV is actually something to be proud of? Um, it doesn't mean you're smarter. It just means you have more free time to be pop culturally irrelevant).

Sadly, apparently after a whole episode of Ted slowly admitting he's gotten back with Karen, and then dumped her again, he's actually back with her for real this time. She had better not be the mother. I didn't love her in the 70's, I didn't love her on October Road, I didn't like her in the 80's/90's, and I'm not going to like her in the 2030's.

On the good news side, another appearance by Scooter! Also known as David Burtka, or NPH's real life love.


Chuck - Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon - Eps. 216

After all that, Chuck ISN'T going to live with Sarah? ARGH.

But Morgan and Anna will? At least SOMEONE else will be taking care of Morgan now.

Cole (Jonathan Cake, yummy!) was back to help out Chuck, Sarah and Casey with their latest mission and basically, Chuck shoots someone, learns to kick people in the knees, and finds out Orion is the dude that made the Intersect and the guy that could help Chuck out.

So he writes it on his secret board of information (aka, the back of his Tron poster. I KNEW that Tron poster had to be good for something. Cause it can't be actually for real right? That movie was WHACKED. And they're making a sequel? Tr2n?)


Top Chef - Reunion - Eps. 515

I think if they took the poll for favorite chef later in the run (it ran quite early through the episodes), I think Carla would have won, because she really peaked in the second half of the series. Before that we just thought she was a kook. Instead, obvious winner Fabio got it, but now that we know he has his own SERIES now, I kinda wish he didn't.

Now when does Carla get her own series?

Oh, and I still kinda love Stefan. And I still find Leah and Hosea a little annoying. And I actually secretly kinda love Jeff even though that's so wrong.


Dollhouse - Ghost - Ep. 101 - Series Premiere, Gray Hour - Ep. 104

Anson Mount? Man, what happened to him? Wasn't he supposed to be the next big thing at some point? Now he's a minor guest star on a cultish TV show no one is really watching.

Another somewhat enjoyable episode that still doesn't convince me to return the following week. Does that even make sense? That's just how I feel.


Corner Gas - Cat River Daze, Super Sensitive, TV Free Dog River, Queasy Rider - Ep. 611-614

Considering they show some of the best bits on the commercials, it's still fricken hilarious. I mean, I think I saw the bit where Hank kisses Emma on the lips by accident about a dozen times and it was still funny on the show. The sensitivity training? Hilarious! The No TV thing Emma tricks everyone into doing? And then the impending show Hank and Wanda end up "putting on"? Genius!

I'm actually going to really miss this show when it ends later this season.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Family Ties - Friday Night Lights, How I Met Your Mother and More

Friday Night Lights - Every Rose Has Its Thorn, It Ain't Easy Being J.D. McCoy, Keeping Up Appearances - Eps. 305 - 307

Okay, I'm way ahead on these eps. and finally just watched the season finale and I'll just say, WOW. I was practically in tears. Also I say finally because I was sort of saving it, and alas, I want MORE (so there had BETTER be season 4, do you hear me NBC/DirecTV?)

Anyways, after Smash's tearful swan song (on the show, not his actual character thankfully), it's now Jason's (above, the stoic and handsome Scott Porter who has given such depth to the straight-laced-good-guy jock role that in lesser hands, would have been a flat performance) turn as he tries to find his place in the world.

On a side note, with Jason soon to be moving on, I'm also going to totally miss Herc (Kevin Rankin, who incidentally, will be on this week's Lost!).

I'm still loving that J.D. (Jeremy Sumpter, above with Moffett) has become the star player and bumping Matt out of the quarterback spotlight, yet he isn't a bad guy, and that his pushy father Joe (a perfectly coiffed D.W. Moffett) is like a slow-burn creepy bully.

Also love Landry's new band. Hilarious! Landry and Devin. Oh poor Landry... lol.

Oh man, I don't want to spoil too much for the rest of the season but I just get teary eyed thinking about it. I love these characters too much.


How I Met Your Mother - The Stinsons - Ep. 415

The gang follows Barney and finds out he has:

a) a mother (Frances Conroy) who likes to share too much about her whory youth. Barney IS his mother's son.

b) a wife named Betty (Betty and Barney?) and a son Bam Bam Tyler

Turns out Barney hired actors to be his "family" for his mother's sake. Loved the whole episode.

Loved that Lily revealed that she hates her mother-in-law. Loved that Ted wanted to be an actor and really connected with "Betty". Loved that they caught Ted and Betty kissing and Ted improved a reaction. (Loved Lily's Cyrano moment of makeup with Marshall's mom on the phone later in the cab ride home).

Of course, the whole thing gives Barney another push towards Robin when he reveals all the lies to his mom. Could "Betty" be Ted's "mother" in question? I doubt it but it was a fun episode nonetheless.


More on Brothers & Sisters, The Big Bang Theory, The Bachelor, Chuck, The Amazing Race, True Beauty, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, Top Chef, Dollhouse:

Brothers & Sisters - Family Legacy: Part 1 & 2 - Eps. 316 - 317

Kitty and Robert have a baby (well, their babymommy does). Then Robert has a heart attack. Spread over 2 hours. Add in some evil Holly doing battle with bad Balthazar Tommy. Shake.

Still, there were moving moments when Holly wasn't sneering or Robert wasn't getting all political again (which is starting to get boring again).

At this point, lets just get it over with and bump Tommy/Balthazar out, bring in Ryan and let the rest of the Walkers emotionally beat down on Ryan. From the previews, looks like it's all coming down next week (!).

Maybe I was just sentimental but the "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as Ryan comes to Walker's door (with Rebecca and wanna-be-a-doc-Justin answering) was a nice touch. Schmaltzy but effective.


The Bachelor - Jason Mesnick - The Women Tell All, Season Finale, After The Final Rose Part 1 - Eps. 1308-1310

DeAnna finally came back. dun dun DUN. But only after a REALLY REALLY long finale/season. Boy they sure milked Jason's pretty mug this year (Not that I blame them).

First, The Women Tell All is usually my favorite. Love these reunion episodes when people must feign happiness and politeness to not seem like the crass, bitchy, vengeful people that they are. LOVE. Sadly, this ep. wasn't as good since really only a couple of them women really showed their claws but generally, everyone seemed really nice, especially Jillian, who now seems set up to be the next Bachelorette. I guess because the REAL drama was still coming in the finale. (Still, while they were truly stretching the 2 hours by looking at the hookups abound with the men of the The Bachelorette and the girls from The Bachelor but YAY for Fred and Noelle! So cute! The others were still kind of painful to watch, especially Jesse-now-sans-DeAnna)

But it wasn't with DeAnna. Wow. That was kinda disappointing. Cause Jason was EXTREMELY gentlemanly when he turned down DeAnna's return for him. I wanted that CRYING seen on the balcony that we kept seeing in the previews. Boy, the editors are geniuses and we are such suckers. Still, Jason's reaction makes me love him even MORE now. Can that even be?

But boy, Jason's ultimate decision to reject Molly, and her surprised reaction, was strangely honest and moving and like DeAnna's rejection of Jason, seemed ultimately REAL, especially for a "reality show". Unlike most other times on reality shows, it really didn't seem like they were playing to the cameras. Probably why Jason's become such a popular bachelor and why ratings were up again. I mean, yah, he's hot and seems intelligent and extremely likable but I think this season has done so well because ultimately, he seems pretty honest to the camera.

That said, I kinda felt Melissa was a bit too perky and would be a bit controlling after the camera's stopped, and her reaction to Jason's break up on the after show, about 10 minutes (on TV) after he proposed, kinda showed how annoying she could be. Granted, I'd be pissed too, but Molly and Jason just seemed to be more on the same level.

As caddish as Jason's move was to dump Melissa to pursue Molly again, I really didn't think he came off looking bad or caddish at all. Considering how awful it was for Melissa, and how bitter she was (and had the right to be), I actually felt bad for Jason.

But call me crazy but I actually think Jason and Molly might actually make it. Love how Molly was trying to hide her smile and look confused when Jason started explaining everything.


The Big Bang Theory - The Cushion Saturation - Ep. 215

They've found something for Sara Gilbert's Leslie to do! And it's to become Howard's lover. LOVER! Howard's getting some! Wait, is Howard getting more than I am? Sad. DId I just share too much? Hehe. Kidding. KIDDING.

(okay, not really).

This show is really on a role isn't it? And totally becoming a weekly fave and guaranteed laugh. Okay, it's silly but it's not even just the particulars of Sheldon anymore (though Jim Parsons still is the breakout star of the show). Now that they've moved on from a potential love story between Penny and Leonard, there's a big breath of relief between these two and I find them much funnier now without that will-they-or-won't-they hanging over them. They even COULD have a will-they-or-won't-they like the recent kiss and it still feels freer than before.


Chuck - Chuck Versus the Suburbs, Chuck Versus the Best Friend, Chuck Versus the Beefcake - Eps. 213 - 215

Loved the suburbs episode. I keep underestimating Jenny McCarthy. I keep thinking I hate her but I really don't.

And LOVE Andy Richter. He seriously needs to control the universe again. (Too bad Chuck stopped him and the rest of the cul-de-sac gang).

And for once, I kinda loved Morgan as he's spying on Anna and Chuck's humiliating him to discreetly save his life. What's with the resurgence of Africa these days? First there's Karl Wolf's new single, and then Jeff and Lester audition for Ellie's wedding with a really really bad slow version.

Of course then Morgan shows us the full Morgan and kind of ruins it all again (for us and Ellie). Chuck (after being pre-tortured (seriously, what a FUNNY torture scene!)) decides to move out of Ellie and Awesome's place and with Morgan (freaking out Ellie) but alas, now Chuck has to move in with Sarah to keep cover. I don't even care what crazy reason forces this new plot twist, if they can recreate that suburban house they had to go undercover in, with posed Sears portrait photos and all, I'm going to love it!


True Beauty - Ep. 108 - Season Finale

Someone won. It wasn't the older straight dude with frosted tips, and it wasn't the other muscular dude who only looked hot in that last photo where he was drenched in water. The last girl standing won. Cause she was beautiful on the inside. yey. now i can move on with my life and rest comfortably that the true beauty did in fact win True Beauty. yey.

Strangely, I still kinda liked the not-gay frosted tips guy in the end of it all.


The Amazing Race - I'm Not Wearing That Girl's Leotard! - Ep. 1403

My recording was really bad so I could hear it all but I couldn't see everything so I missed the full extent of hilarity at seeing everyone do gymnastics but I did hear Victor and Tammy fight like brother and sister. And see Mike and Mel win 1st place for the leg! yay! Sad to see old couple go. They were kind of a cool old couple.


30 Rock - Larry King - Ep. 312

That was a total ridiculous episode (when Tracy Jordan inadverntently causes mass pandemonium on Larry King). And I still laughed like crazy. Unbelievable but hilarious nonetheless.

And yay! Kenneth is Liz's FRIEND!

It was a great 22 minute public service announcement to never lose your cell phone, or at least, cell phones where you've taken "adult" photos of yourself.

And never trust anything on Larry King (unless Kathy Griffin is guest hosting).


Ugly Betty - Things Fall Apart - Ep. 316

I know why I automatically like Matt (other than the fact that this show is really good at bringing in new male paramours and make us fall in love, but then doesn't really know what to do with them after. See Henry, Gio, Jesse, Connor, etc.). The actor (Daniel Eric Gold) has the same adorable beady eyes like Josh Grobin and kinda looks like his brother or something.

Meanwhile, Connor is screwing over Meade and Wily chooses career over love, but not in enough time as Connor gets away with the Meade money leaving Wily, Claire and Daniel with... ??? is there a magazine left?

Nice twist but what a quick way to write Connor off the show. It was a nice soapy dramatic twist in exchange for some developed character development (and after all that time), so I'm not sure if I loved it or thought it was a copout.


Top Chef - Finale Part 2 - Eps. 514

Speaking of copouts, WHAT???

Okay, if Stefan was going to lose, we assumed Carla would be there to pick up the win. Nowhere in the plans was there room for Hosea to actually win this shindig? Ridiculous. I mean, it was nice that he pulled off the final menu so perfectly but does the whole season not count? I know it comes down the theory of how to judge these things (does it come down to the final challenge and ONLY THAT? or should the past influence things?).

So now that Carla didn't win, can we now give her a show of her own? She would be an AWESOME host. I mean, they're giving Fabio his own show (!!!), I think Carla should get one too!


Dollhouse - Ghost - Ep. 101 - Series Premiere, The Target - Ep. 102

So I watched Dollhouse and... hmm... uh...

it's alright, but I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. Which is probably the worst thing you can say about a Joss Whedon project.

Then again, I didn't really discover Buffy until later seasons (and then caught back up) so maybe this show needs to get into its groove first. "They" do claim that it really gets good in episode 6 (and episode 3 this past weekend sucked). And I always say, new TV shows really need to get time to really get into their flow and that we really need more patience.

Still, I want to see more, just because it's Whedon and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Like A Phoenix From The Dead - Ugly Betty, The Amazing Race and More

Maybe I was just in a happy mood this weekend but I was kinda loving Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice from Thursday and I'm glad to see re-emergences from Emma Caulfield, Ben Shenkman, and Jeff on Top Chef.

Ugly Betty - There's No Place Like Mode - Ep. 315

I didn't watch this until Sunday which is probably a first. I just didn't find myself needing to watch it RIGHT away anymore. And yet, as soon as it was on, I was glad I was back in Mode!

Now that the Ignacio/Family storyline has run its course (mostly), we get Betty back at Mode and back in the bitchy fashion world and back with lots of Marc and Amanda! (Well, not enough Amanda but just her 2 second pop-ins were hilarious). Plus it's fashion week (I appreciated the insert of the actual Fashion Week 2009 Tent that they must have filmed last week) and they nicely wrapped ALL the storylines back together with Betty's new job of producing a fashion show, Christina's pregnancy and the birth of Wily and Bradford's spawn (FINALLY) and even a new love potential for Betty, Daniel's new relationship and even Hilda and Elena making up at fashion week.

It still wasn't as zippy as it used to be and could still be filled with more hilarity but I was generally pleased with the whole episode that seemed to streamline all the stories back to the central focus of fashion.

Plus while I'm sure we will all get bored of Betty's new potential boy, sports writer Matt (Daniel Eric Gold, who seems to have an impressive resume), so far I'm loving him (or maybe it's the fact that I realize I dress in the same faux-pas way with an untucked shirt sticking out below my jacket so that it looks like a flapper dress).


More on Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Top Chef, The Amazing Race:

Grey's Anatomy - An Honest Mistake - Ep. 515
Private Practice - Wait and See - Ep. 217

You know, just as I was about to give up on the Shonda Rhimes shows, they manage to pull up their socks just enough to get me suckered back in for now. Not amazing episodes but generally competent and interesting. Plus at least they cast some terrific guest stars. I forgot to mention Ben Shenkman (Angels in America, Breakfast with Scot, Love Monkey) last week as Jennifer Westfeldt's husband. LOVE Ben Shenkman. Just look at the stuff he's been in. Love him.

Faye Dunaway guested as Dr. Campbell who shows up from nowhere as a surgeon who has been with the hospital since forever (how convenient huh?), but there was some nice tension pitting youngun Christina and Faye Dunaway (whose character gets dunaway) with Callie and Owen in between. Generally all the stories had some nice tensions (FINALLY), including Bailey's reference letters vs Richard with George in between, and the battle between Derek and Addison with Meredith in between and Sloane... I'm not even sure what that was about (I guess I zoned out a bit).

And EMMA CAULFIELD on PP!!! Seriously, why does girl not have a show of her own yet? Let alone almost disappearing from the spotlight? Anya deserves better. Plus Eric Palladino, probably the most hated character on ER, but I kinda like him cause he plays the dick really well. Here, he played... well... a dick of a husband who won't recognize and accept his baby's undefined sex. Maybe it was because Emma was there but I generally liked the whole episode. I don't think I've said that in a LONG time!


Top Chef - The Last Supper, Finale Part 1 - Eps. 512, 513

I liked the Last Supper challenge though I would have loved to see ALL the star chefs at the judges table.

While I don't love the idea of cut chef's returning, Jeff and Jamie were good and I thought undeservedly cut, but then if that were the case, they should have brought back Arianne too. It was still nice to see Jeff do so well to be a front runner, but in the end, I'm glad Carla won. Love her!

ALL the Cajun food looked SOOOO yummy. I'm glad that all five chef's did so well, and was amused that Stefan and Fabio actually ranked the lowest in relative terms. It's a nice smack at Stefan who deserves a smaking. And while I'm not a Hosea fan, it's nice to see him do se well. It's nice to see ALL the chef's do well and the judges having a hard time picking who the winner and loser is.


The Amazing Race - Your Target Is Your Partner's Face - Ep. 1402

At this point, I don't think there's a single team that annoys me. Which is kind of shocking since they've always seemed to cast the "evil" team since Team Tara and Weasel in Season 2 (and I guess Team Guido in Season 1 too). I guess it still might be too early and the claws haven't totally come out yet, but even Team Hicks Linda and Steve were adorable (if not adorably pathetic) this week and I felt bad for them but it was nice to see them so into the race and loving their experience.

Even Team Gag Me Their So Pretty Couple Amanda and Kris are kinda sweet (and I guess it was the first eliminated team Preston and Jennifer that were the "annoying" couple team). With little screen time, I'm still impressed with Team Old Couple Brad and Victoria (Victoria seemed to run down that mountain pretty fast) and all the girl groups have generally been alright so far.

I must say, as old style comedy as it is, having people throw pie's in each others faces is still pretty damn funny. Even funnier is that most of the hungry teams enjoyed eating the cake off their faces. Classic!

I'm sad to see the Hicks go, if only to see their faces as they get to explore the world, but I guess they probably wouldn't have lasted that long anyways.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Catch Of The Day - Top Chef, Lost, and More

Top Chef - Le Bernardin - Eps. 511

I. LOVE Carla. So funny and delightful!

All those seafood dishes that Chef Eric Ripert from Le Bernardin looked SOOOOOOOOO GOOD. I'm SOOOO Hungry again.

Loved that the chefs had to recreate their seafood lunch dishes. And only told that AFTER the lunch.

What IS Escobar Escolar (thanks Michelle!)? Looked yummy though.

On a sidenote, I eat eel every once in a while but that quickfire challenge to deskin it and filet it was DISGUSTING. I don't know if I could eal again. (Plus another reminder of its snake-like quality and I HATE snakes)

I love Chef Eric Ripert because whereas a lot of the other guest chef judges have an air of arrogance, Ripert seems generally nice and humble. He also seems like he truly wants to help and teach the other chefs.

At this point, is it really for Stefan to lose and Fabio, Carla and Jamie to try to knock him out? I think of all the people, Carla probably has the biggest chance to do so, though I would say Jamie could do it (though she's had some bad weeks) WHAAAAAAAAAAATTT.

For oversalting the celery? No offence to Leah but Leah should have been cut LAST week let alone this week. What the?

So I guess at this point, it's Carla and the Europeans in the running but again, sometimes a tiny mistake can cost a better chef the game.


More on Privileged, American Idol, Lie To Me, Lost, The Week The Women Went:

Privileged - All About Confessions - Ep. 116

Rose is NOT A V? I'm shocked. And Sage IS? Each sister wants to tell their respective boyfriends and we find out Zach isn't as innocent as he seemed either, while Luis is. Like religiously. Luis goes to church. A LOT. And convinces Sage to go to mass. It's cute, as long as is this doesn't get too 7th Heaven. She does reveal a bit more of her parents since the last time they went to church was for Rose and Sage's parents funeral.

On a brighter note, Charlie is still around! Yay! But not for long. Boo. Since he's going to "UCSD" (aka, the actors unemployment line, which in this case, is SO not fair. When do shows try to split apart THAT much chemistry?) Sparks fly when Megan kidnaps Charlie for one last bestfriend "hangout" and Charlie professes his love. Hollywood builds entire series and movies out of less chemistry between JoAnna Garcia and Michael Cassidy. And he gets cut due to budgetary reasons? Stupid economy.

I mean, Will is great and all but he's no CHARLIE. I'm glad that with Cassidy's exit, the triangle is still all very dramatic and OC fighty.

Rose goes all stalky on Zach's ex-girlfriend but she's being stalked by a lady who turns out to be her... aunt? Daughter of Miles Franklin, the same Miles the aunt? informs Sage is Rose and Sage's grandfather. Plus, Sage confesses that it was her fault her parents died... dun dun dun...

Somehow I figure it's going to be some lame it's-not-really-her-fault reason but I'm still intrigued.


American Idol - Hollywood Week - Eps. 808, 809

I've update some of my handicaps on the Top 36 spoilers but if you want to avoid the spoilers, well, don't click the link and stay here. So far though, the spoilers DO seem correct, as everyone on the list is still in the running.

And considering how much I hate the auditions, I'm loving Hollywood Week. Maybe it's my Big Brother viewing habits but the backstage drama and the group performances, I loved all the bitchiness. I liked that the singers got a bit of a training session before going back under fire with their first acapella performance, who mostly then get cut and sent home right away. Seems like a lot of expense for mostly mediocre golden ticket winners to visit Hollywood for a day only to be sent home to oblivion again. Oh well, for being the #1 show, I guess they could afford to spend a bit and help the economy out a bit.

I'm still not seeing enough of my favorites like Brian Keith Smith and Lil Rounds, while I was reminded of how good Alexander Wagner-Trugman, Anoop Desai and Danny Gokey are but I'm still not totally buying it all. And I really don't like Gokey's best friend. And that's even before I realized that was a cheek ring that totally grossed me out.

I'm REALLY hating Tatiana and that Tohn girl (and bikini girl but at least she's gone). I think the joke is on that Nick clown who I think was caught off guard when the judges were actually seriously going to put him through. He looked as if he was ready to retort for being cut but when they didn't, I think it threw him (and us) off. Was I the only one though that thought Nancy Red Haired Black Girl got the shaft? I mean, she wasn't great and she was all drama-ey but personally I thought she had every right to be.

Anyways, most of my picks still haven't changed after this first Hollywood week so let's see if I change my mind next week. Cause my pool picks are due after Hollywood week so I'll need to decide who I'm putting my money on soon. Who would you guys pick?


Lie To Me - A Perfect Score - Ep. 103

Three episodes in and I'm enjoying it more than I know I should, especially since the exposition is like blazing fluorescent lights highlighting the clues. Like worse than The Mentalist (which I do like too). Still, it's kinda fun for now. It'll probably get old fast, but it's nice to see Tim Roth get some populist work.


Lost - The Little Prince - Ep. 504

I'm loving this darker Sun, now with secret gun and all, all while she's watching Aaron as Kate tries to track down whoever is tracking her down.

Who may be Claire's mom, but not? According to Jack?

And more people are bleeding on the island? Including Miles and Juliet?

Plus Jin is ALIVE! Caught and found by a bunch of French... transients? One who happens to be a young Danielle Rouseau? I have NO idea what the @#$@#$#@$@#@$ is going on but I'm loving all the different threads.

AND JIN'S ALIVE!!! He survived the boat explosion and has been floating unconsciously in the water.

And now Sun is out for revenge on his death. Oh yah! And the threads continue to weave.

On a side note, anybody know if Walt would still be alive? What happened to him again? And so can we assume Michael died or could he have survived the boat explosion too?

OH! and an appearance by Stephanie Niznik from Everwood! YAHOO!!! Though I will always think of her as the nice neighbour.


The Week The Women Went - Ep. 203

The red hat ladies descended upon Tatamagouche and of course, the results were hilarious. Though I'm still surprised the lunches at BOTH the inn and diner turned out looking pretty appetizing.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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The Entertainment Value of Fake Reality - The Week The Women Went, The Real World: Brooklyn, And More

The Amazing Race, Top Chef, Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance are the gold standards of reality TV. American Idol and Survivor are the popular ones. Then there's everything else. And I'm such a hypocrite because while I recommend the ones above, I'll admit, I still watch a lot of others. (Despite my usual rants against bad reality TV and the death of scripted television, yet here I am, one of the culprits of the problem).

For one, I've been watching ABC's What Would You Do, which replaced Eli Stone in the Tuesday 10pm timeslot. I should be boycotting the pseudo-news reality show but the "social experiments" they set up with actors are quite entertaining. Fake and obvious as hell but it still brings some moistness to my eyes when strangers do good and step up to stop the wrongs being recreated. That or I'm having my period every Tuesday at 10pm.

The Week The Women Went is the CBC series (Wednesdays at 8pm) that documents the ... well... the week the women went. The production sends all the women in a small town away (to a resort to be pampered), leaving the menfolk to run the town, the households and take care of the children. It's a contrived set up to help reinforce stereotypes but it's hilarious nonetheless.

Especially when watching the father that always throws up while changing the baby's diapers. Plus it's a CBC show (think BBC or PBS), so they make it as classy as you can on one of these things.

This second season turns the lives of the townspeople of Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia upside down.

My favorites are the guy with the leaky ceiling in the kitchen who finally gets a taste of what his wife has to deal with now that he has to cook in the kitchen.

There's also hottie Micah Stewart (below), the man's man who loves to work and take care of the town more than he does his own children. His poor wife Treva tries to engage him but alas, this is the week he's going to be forced to.

Mark Langille has the same problem and though he's willing to watch the kids, his obsessiveness over cleanliness and organization is kind of hilarious, especially when his kids call him out on it.

I also love Jimmie LeFresne, the "train conductor" who turned the local train and train station into a bed and breakfast. He's essentially a kid who gets to play with his giant train set all his life. Love it! But now that all his workers left (duh, the maids, the cooks, the waitstaff), the boys will have to run the show now.


More on The Bachelor, True Beauty, The Real World: Brooklyn, Top Chef, Project Runway Canada, American Idol:

The Bachelor - Jason Mesnick - Ep. 1304
True Beauty - Ep. 104

So I was wrong about CJ winning the whole damn thing. I mean, Chelsea really should have been in the bottom 2 and on her way out but they REALLY want her in don't they? Considering she creates the most drama on the show. On the other hand, I actually kinda like Billy so I'm glad he wasn't kicked off.

Meanwhile, was this the first time the bachelor didn't give out all the roses? That was fantastic. Nice move Jason! Bold, truthful and highly entertaining for those last few minutes. Now what's next in the script!? (When is DeAnna going to return? Dun dun DUN! Cue soap opera music).


The Real World: Brooklyn - The Outs & Ins of Brooklyn, The BFF-O-Meter Eps. 2102-2103

Yah, Chet just needs to come out. Or shut up. Loved his family's reaction to JD though. On learning that JD is gay: Mormon Mom "Oh that's why he was so nice!".

I still think Ryan's hair is adorable and I'll give him props for going to the gay bar but he needs to STOP WITH THE SINGING. Apparently I'm not the only one. He should, you know, stick to pole dancing!

And Scott needs to keep his shirt off... hola!


Top Chef - Down on the Farm, Restaurant Wars, Super Bowl Chef Showdown - Eps. 508- 510

I kind of want to stab Stefan and kiss him at the same time. Is that wrong?

I loved the farm challenge. There was a freshness to it and it all looked SO good!

Oh, the Top Chef Showdown brought back past season chefs and man, I miss Andrew. He was so cute and quirky.

Although I cannot BELIEVE Stefan, of all chef's, he who had won 5 competitions in a row, lose badly to Andrew from the All Stars team.

I was just about to list who I still love but at this point, I actually like everyone left. Carla makes me laugh. Jamie scares me a little but she really does seem concerned with impressing. Fabio makes me laugh, and Leah and Hosea seem like nice people and I have no real reason to hate them.

I still think Arianne got shafted way back when but oh well. I know most people hate Jeff's douchiness but I find it endearing but alas, I think he got himself chopped by talking too much against the judges cause I think Fabio was close to being cut.

Meanwhile, I'm hungry again...


Project Runway Canada - Fashion Is A Battlefield - Ep. 201 - Season Premiere

OTTAWA? They are in Ottawa this season? There's fashion in Ottawa? I thought it was a bunch of government suits. So the show starts off in the new Canadian War Museum (which I really must go and visit at some point).

Apparently fashion wars are bloody because who would have thought TWO people would flake out of the competition in the FIRST EPISODE? How lame is that? The producers must have been having a fit. Danio drops out due to health problems while Jaclyn has a panic attack (again. in the FIRST challenge) and drops out. For REAL?

So using a camouflage theme, the new designers show their stuff and the people with the irregular names; Adejoke, Baylor and Sunny, seem to have the best stuff. I don't really remember the others, except for Jason's blanket dress, that flips from a dress to a cloak to hide in on the field. For real. What was he thinking? It's too bad because it looked half decent as a dress.

Christie's blue lighting bolt was hideous. Like something that survived from the 80's under a pile of rubble and discovered for the show. I can't believe she's still in.

In the end, Camille's dress, with an unflattering top, just didn't measure up, and Iman said so long to her.

I'm also liking Jessica and Jeff so far, but I don't really remember the others yet right now (not that many were given much screen time with the two flake-outs and all).

But I am happy that Iman is back! She scares me but in a good way!


American Idol - Auditions in Jacksonville and Salt Lake City - Ep. 805, 806

There's still one more new audition episode tonight (on a special Thursday episode) before next week's Hollywood week (oh god finally. I know they already shortened the auditions this season but I never cared for it and am only watching to keep my eye on anybody that I might put my bet on for the pool I'm entering).

And seriously, so far this week, I've really seen no one that I would put my money on yet. Jacksonville was horrific. Salt Lake City was a little better at least.

The Osmond kid with MS (what's with these sob stories this year?) was pretty good. There were a few other singers in Mormon country that seemed cute.


Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

The Secret Viewing Patterns of Vance - The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, The Real World and More

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com:

The Secret Life of The American Teenager - The Secret Wedding of The American Teenager - Ep. 112 - Season 1 Part 2 Premiere

The acting is still sh!tty and the pacing is still very odd but lordy lord lord is this show addictive in its combination of outrageous stories within a sanitized morality play that somehow manages to address real issues honestly without any condescension.

But still. A WEDDING???

That was RIDONKULOUS! I can't WAIT for the smackdown after. There will be a smackdown after right? Ben's father is a former Sopranos and as nice as he was in Season 1, I'm waiting for the smackdown. Can't wait.


The Real World: Brooklyn - Ep. 2101 - Season Premiere

Is it just me (actually, not) or is this new group of Real Worlders actually kinda cool and likable? Even Ryan, the smalltown Iraq vet is endearing in an I'm-ignorant-but-I'm-trying-I'm-really-trying-but-just-don't-call-me-gay-but-I-swear-I'm-cool-with-it kinda way. Sarah, the artsy punk girl who is a sweetheart, and J.D., the dolphin-training gay guy with the tough upbrining, seem super awesome (though the clip of JD smashing the table while yelling at who I think is Sarah makes me super curious about the future). Scott is superhot to look at. That's all that is needed. He doesn't have to do anything else except to keep taking his shirt off!

Katelynn, the post-op transgendered roomate, is course a fascinating mix into it all, especially with Ryan, like a little kid, being totally fascinated by her story.

If anybody annoys me at this point, it's probably Chet, and even then, not really (as compared to some former Real Worlders). At this point, the girls (Sarah, Baya and Devyn) have been overshadowed by the boys (mostly the bromance between Chet and Ryan vs. the LGBT bond between JD and Katelynn (um, I kinda teared up when they hugged in the car after outing themselves)) but so far I'm intrigued. Especially since I totally skipped Hollywood and I don't think I've seen a full season since... ... ... Hawaii? (Oh, I think I caught most of Austin)

More on Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Top Chef, Flashpoint


Desperate Housewives - Connect! Connect! - Ep. 512

Gaby dragging her kids around, Bree being told she's overbearing, Susan locked in the basement with Edie. All great though I felt they could have mined the comedy a bit more in each of the stories. Especially while Lynette continues to deal with Parker and grandma and Dave moves in with Mike to get closer to the enemy.

Still, I was hoping for a bigger showdown between Bree and Andrew though I will never complain about the shots on Todd Grinnell's face.


Brothers & Sisters - Sibling Rivalry - Ep. 312

Loved the somewhat simplified if not totally unheard of spiel the architect gave to his underlings when Nora the Commoner ranted against his superfluous design. I think I myself have a similar rant though I also have another rant in my back pocket for architects who don't know how to "connect" and live in their own egotistical dreamworld.

As someone who has spent many of hours building intricate building models, I still had to laugh when Nora smashed her project to bits. As horrifying as it was.

I liked where the Sarah story started off with, having money troubles in the new company and needing an insurgence of cash, but after she rebuffed Kitty's cheque, I lost track of where it all went once she started talking bank loans and this and that.

And while a political campaign could be an interesting way to split up Kevin and Kitty's dividing lines with Robert in the middle, does it have to be with Robert. AGAIN? Didn't we already go there and wasn't it already boring the first time? I kinda tuned out the second half of the episode and completely ignored Holly and Tommy's arguing over business and Sarah again.


Top Chef - Focus Group - Ep. 507

No love lost to Eugene or the blonde girl with the harsh bangs (who for some reason reminds me of Darryl Hannah from the 80's) but that was a great little challenge set up with half the chefs rating the others.

There doesn't seem to be any clear winners does it? Is it me or does Radhika and Jeff do well on the quickfires and Jamie and Ariane doing well on the main challenge with Stefan being arrogant in everything? And Carla seems really all over the place.


Flashpoint - Eagle Two - Ep. 101

I have to watch because it's a Canadian show on an American network. In a second season. Whoa.

For that alone I have to see how the show does, plus bonus points for playing Toronto as Toronto. Yay!

So it's another procedural. It's not great but it's not completely terrible and at least someone is employing Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars). Plus I've always had a thing for smalltime Canadian actor Sergio Di Zio (second from left).

More After the Jump...

Tasting Cheyenne Jackson

OMG WUZ Dat Cheyenne Jackson on Top Chef? I'd taste some of HIM!

Man, I'm hungry again now. Seriously, I need to stop watching Top Chef this late at night when I ate long ago.

More After the Jump...

Food For Thought

If you have to starve yourself because you're having some bloodwork done in the morning, maybe Top Chef wasn't the best TV show to watch.

Leah's Fried Quail Egg with Tomato and Cheese above. Jamie's Baby BLT Breakfast Sandwich below.

Good lord I'm hungry already and now I'm drooling over the TV food porn. And last week's episode (I'm a week behind because I'm back in Canada and we have it on a few weeks delay so I have to find other ways to watch...ahem) had a breakfast themed quickfire. I LOVE breakfast foods. I LOVE Eggs (even though I think I've discovered I'm allergic to yolks) and can eat them any time of the day in any form. Possibly why I might have high cholesterol. Which is why I'm getting bloodwork done. Oh damnit. It's a vicious cycle isn't it?

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