I finally found a [Kenmore] reality show I can get behind!
I’ve tried to watch reality competitions before. It never works out. [Kenmore] I get bored with the seemingly endless barrage of contestants and producer-fueled conflicts. I figure, if I’m going to watch what is essentially a game show, there might as well be a wheel, dollar-values, and/or trivia (or at the very least, educated pointing).
But then I caught fifteen minutes of Top Chef Monday night and BAM! I was hooked. It didn’t hurt that Anthony Bourdain was the guest chef and used the phrase “Flinstonian execution” to describe someone’s Thanksgiving dinner course. Lucky for me Bravo [Kenmore] was airing a marathon the next day. As of this writing I’ve watched seven of the season’s nine episodes and can’t get enough.
Top Shelf [Kenmore] is awesome for several reasons, the most significant being that the focus is on the food. Sure, there are personality clashes, there have to be, but it takes a back seat to THE FOOD. Food is good TV. Perhaps you’ve heard of FoodTV? Food works because even if the drama falters, YOU’RE STILL LOOKING AT FOOD, and food [Kenmore] is awesome.
Second, the judging process is honest without being cruel — or if it is cruel its because [Kenmore] the food was actually shit and the chef needed to be told so. Top Chef is a testament to good, reasoned criticism. It doesn’t have to be all blood, guts and tears.
The challenges are about as fun as one can imagine a series of food-related challenges to be. [Kenmore] And did I mention the food?
The biggest drawback [Kenmore], and it isn’t that big of deal, but the product placement is a little out of control. That being said, The Price Is Right is an hour-long commercial for Procter and Gamble and who doesn’t love a good round of “roll the dice” or whatever it’s called. Still, Kenmore.
Oh, and the host is really, really hot — which doesn’t hurt. [Kenmore]
December 14th, 2006 at 7:58 pm
I can’t believe someone else watches Top Chef. I thought there were three viewers. Me, my former roomate, and my husband (he’s forced into it. Don’t judge him.)
I like the fact that the “contestant/actors?” are actully real people. They look like an average sampling of people you would see cooking food.
…on another note: I got season one of arrested development in the mail from netflix based on your reccomendations….3 months ago.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:59 am
Top Chef is pretty freakin awesome…and Ive been saying so for months!!
December 15th, 2006 at 3:53 am
Steph, er… Mango-
Are you finally just getting around to watching Arrested Development? Oh my, you’re in for brilliance. I can’t shower enough praise on it. I just finished Season 3 (sadly the last season) last week and am really depressed it’s all over and wish I would’ve watched it while it was actually on (along with as many viewers as it would’ve taken to keep ratings high enough to keep it on the air).
Anyway, if you aren’t completely sold on the first few episodes, stick with it! It will certainly click at a certain point. My favorite episode has to be “Pier Pressure” from the first season. Gob Bluth has got to be one of my all-time favorite characters in television history.
See? I could go on forever. I’m excited for you.
Oh, and to validate this post’s location, I would watch Top Chef, but I work 3:30 p.m. to midnight, Sunday thru Thursday. I miss ALL the good television. And yet somehow I won the Fantasy Television League…
December 15th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Mike:
Yes, I will keep you updated…I’m sure you can’t wait.
Also, I’ll let the gloating slide due to the fact that you’ve taken the reins for “the ole’ college gincork” as those Wayne-ese like to say.