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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 10:00 am
They misled us in a couple ways on the previews: one, which i had guessed in advance, was showing Padma in a big "unbelievable" reaction shot--supposedly in reaction to fan favorite, but I figured it was something else, and it was. The other I mentioned above, and am still wondering if I missed something. If not, it really annoys me. In the previews, they definitely showed a shot of Dale saying "I'm not going to talk about that"--did anyone see that IN the show itself, and what Dale was responding to?
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Boberg
Member
10-04-2002
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 10:54 am
Texannie there was a short focus on that when they brought Richard into the show via satelite. The camera kept going back and forth between Richard and Steph as he talked about choking and not being at his best. I strongly disliked the way they handled it and it did seem to imply that Stephanie won by default and not on her own merits....which I strongly disagree with....No matter what, Stephanie won, she didn't choke when under pressure...a true Top Chef!
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 11:13 am
Beth - I've got it tivo'd, so I'll take a gander at it this afternoon. I'm in the middle of strawberry jam (and hulling like a mad woman!), but I'll check as soon as I'm done. 
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 11:16 am
I didn't get the impression that Steph won by default. Or that the producers were trying to imply that. She clearly won on her own merits. Richard merely admitted what everyone knew... his menu wasn't all that great while hers was better in most every aspect. The only "shock and awe" was him admitting it to the judges. I think that was based purely on the fact that most contestants do stand by their dishes, even if they are crap. Most never admit to any mistakes. Richard standing there and quite bold-facedly stating he choked was a surprise due to his honesty, not due to the fact. (And the judges even said that.)
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 11:29 am
It's interesting that Richard had been doing so well, and then "choked" in the final challenge: Casey did exactly the same thing last year (if she hadn't, we could have had a woman winner last year).
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 12:15 pm
And Teachmichigan, I would appreciate you're checking for me...if not included, maybe I will write them.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 12:17 pm
Here's what I got: 1. Zoi said "She didn't want to talk about it" anymore as far as the details of her private life with Lisa. 2. Ryan said, "I'm not talking" after the clip of his extensive talking and the question, "Did you realize how much you over-share about your cooking?" 3. Dale was talking about swearing and he did say he was going let his mom think what she was going to think (he was "made" to swear for tv. Those are the only things I can find that even come close. I thought maybe he'd said something during the 'bromance' section (with Dale and Richard and the ni*pple thing) but Dale wasn't even shown at the end of that set of clips. One of the things I did notice was how calm Andrew was. He's never sat that still and that quiet for so long! 
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 12:36 pm
Hmm, thanks Teach! I think I will write (or email)--that's just "false advertising" as far as I'm concerned; they showed the Dale clip over and over--and never "answered" what it was about! Re your #1 above...Zoi and JENNIFER, right? Yes, Andrew was LOOKING good too, not quite so ragged and I really enjoyed him last night. His one comment about ADD (it was something "Dungeons and Dragons") was so funny, and I think he was delighted to be on the season's tee-shirt. It was interesting to hear about his friendship with Lisa, something we never really got to see on the show.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 2:35 pm
To clarify, Zoi said she didn't want to talk about her private life with Jen any more after being asked about the Internet rumors saying that they were no longer together.
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 2:54 pm
I don't remember them showing Dale saying that over and over -- I remember it as Zoi saying that phrase in the teases.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 5:36 pm
I didn't see the promo, so I have no idea who said what, but Yup - ya'll are right. Zoi was talking about Jennifer! (Seeing Lisa be her "charming" self in the reunion must've affected my brain. )
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 6:00 pm
just watched the reunion and i think Tom saying that this was 'richards competition to lose' was pretty biased.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Friday, June 20, 2008 - 5:38 am
I did too Texannie. It seemed to me like they werent giving Stephanie credit at all. Looks like that glass ceiling is strong in the world of chefdom. I also did like Tom reprimanding all of them for their limited vocabulary during interviews. He and Padma looked pretty disgusted by their on camera interviews. I also dont think this was the best collection of chefs ever in a Top Chef season.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Friday, June 20, 2008 - 8:27 am
I loved that too, Maris!!! i like how the chefs tried to fluff it off as the heat of the kitchen but Tom called them out about using the bad language in their interviews.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Friday, June 20, 2008 - 12:31 pm
I think (not sure without checking) that Tom said "The general consensus was that it was Richard's to lose." That could be referring to the TV audience, the other players, just about anyone, not just the judges. I think Richard had more "tricks" as a chefs, but I didn't feel like Tom was taking anything away from Stephanie's win. They had both won an equal number of challenges up to the finale, so they were on even footing that way. Richard just had more of a rep for being creative - something that usually is a huge deal w/the finale. Steph was no slouch in that area either, but they more often commented on her combo of flavors - the "feel the love" kind of cooking rather than the "wow" kind of cooking. Of course, her finale pistachios were the second kind, so she won it fair and square. 
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Friday, June 20, 2008 - 1:21 pm
I see what you are saying Teach, but his comment coupled with the judges blogs really seemed to take away from Stephanie.
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Friday, June 20, 2008 - 7:32 pm
Just a couple quick notes: Amazing how many of this group have already opened or are in process of opening restaurants. Antonio started a new restaurant just before Puerto Rico final four, Richard has just opened a new restaurant called "Home" (in Atlanta????), and Stephanie even before the win was searching for a new site in Chicago for her next restaurant. They did a rerun of the Top Chef reunion today, and I caught the rerun. Andrew's funny comment re being asked about ADD was "That's strange, because I haven't played Advanced Dungeon and Dragons in years"!
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Friday, June 20, 2008 - 9:17 pm
Which blogs? When I read Chef Tom's he focused more on why he hopes Steph is an example to women who think they have to choose between being top chef or mom. The others I read (I think I got them all) talked about their disappointment in Richard (because he had been so good up to that point); did one/some of them specifically say that Richard had it won until he choked? (It's been a crazy busy week, so if I missed something I'd like to go back and re-read. )
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Friday, June 20, 2008 - 9:24 pm
Teach said: "Chef Tom's focused on why he hopes Steph is an example to women who think they have to choose between being top chef or mom."--Is Steph a mom??? If so, I hadn't a clue!
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Saturday, June 21, 2008 - 6:19 am
Teach, i don't remember if the word 'choked' was actually used in any of the blogs, but don't you think spending time focusing on who DIDN'T win is taking away from the person who actually won the contest? Ted spent most of his blog talking about it. I think it even began 'i don't mean to take away from Stephanie BUT....'
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Boberg
Member
10-04-2002
| Saturday, June 21, 2008 - 6:57 am
Even without the blogs (which I haven't read), on the reunion show Tom said he disagreed when Dale was evicted with that decision....IMPLYING that Lisa should have went home then instead of Dale...MEANING Lisa should not have been in F3. And then it was Tom again who said "Most people agreed it was your contest to lose" Tom said this to Richard.....that is when the camera was going back and forth from Richard to Stephanie. In a backhanded way, TOM chose to belittle both womens achievements. Whether you agree that Lisa or Stephanie should have made it as far as they did or not....They made it and succeeded past Dale (Lisa) and past Richard (Stephanie) and to me, Tom tried to take both of their achievements down a notch and make it seem "by default or error" they got where they got.
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Shelb724
Member
10-20-2002
| Sunday, June 22, 2008 - 10:26 am
I don't know if this has been brought up before--i just watched the finale again (i love how Bravo keeps replaying, there's so much to watch and it really helps). I don't know how Stephanie won. I really liked her as a person, she's definitely not abrasive. But it almost sounded like Lisa should have won (Richard definitely blew it), but she's a lot more abrasive than Stephanie. In fact the head chef (who's name completely escapes me right now) said that you have to watch your mouth on there and it did get pretty graphic. plus the fact that they were due for a woman top chef. i'm sure that had something to do with it.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Sunday, June 22, 2008 - 11:26 am
Stephanie's last dish, the meat with the pistachio nuts won it for her. they were absolutely blown away by it.
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Sunday, June 22, 2008 - 7:58 pm
Texannie, I totally agree....remember Ted said it wasn't just which dish was better, but HOW MUCH better--and that was the one dish at the table that everyone was saying the word "love" about (Ted commented on that). Stephanie's lamb dish is also the one featured on the website. Re other matters: I saw an ad for a Top Chef tour, so went to http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/4/thetour/index.php to check it out--but I can't seem to click on any links, plus Boston is sold out :-(((( Anyone else have trouble clicking on the links?
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Danzdol
Member
04-21-2001
| Monday, June 23, 2008 - 12:06 pm
not sure I understand the concept of the tour...
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