Just imagine working with Howie and Joey. For people who dont watch Top Chef , these
are two ticking time bombs, belligerent types who fly off the handle and bash everyone they work with. One was eliminated already. I love the way everyone was saying they were glad they didnt have to be on his team in the recent episode.

Bravos been trying to come up with more provocative series after their Project Runway and Top Chef hits. I checked out The Parker which has been fairly dull. It was interesting to see that decorator guy from the Top Designer show, pop up at the resort to see how insane he seems in real life. I guess hes a interior designer or something. He tells the staff at The Parker they need a fluffer --- someone to go around fluffing things up at the resort.

The other new series ---Flipping Out is pretty funny. its about this neurotic, eccentric gay Hollywood real estate investor who flips million dollar houses with a motley staff helping him. One guy is called the garbage guy who cleans up his houses. I think they were going to hire an exorcist to clean the spirits out of one house.

I saw a blurb that BB bought MovieLink which they had some business connection with in the past. I think its the only way for BB to somehow survive unless they have some ingenious secret plan. Everyone points out BB is losing tons of money though they are stealing customers away from NF and growing faster with their promos going on now. People point out though that they cant keep it up forever unless they figure out how to reduce costs drastically or raise prices without losing the customers they gained. One way is to phase out the stores and go totally with downloaded movies gradually that hopefully will reduce costs for them. So far they say downloaded movies are kind of a small area and theres competition from cable firms.

I've been a fan of Top Chef since the first season, and I gotta say, I don't think Howie's actually a bad guy. He just doesn't handle stress well. At the beginning of the season, he was actually a really good, hardworking guy. Now the stress is getting to him, and he's just letting it control him.

Joey, I don't think he was ever that bad. He had a few issues here and there, but for the most part, he's a good guy too.

Quote from TheyCallMeGeorg : I've been a fan of Top Chef since the first season, and I gotta say, I don't think Howie's actually a bad guy. He just doesn't handle stress well. At the beginning of the season, he was actually a really good, hardworking guy. Now the stress is getting to him, and he's just letting it control him. Joey, I don't think he was ever that bad. He had a few issues here and there, but for the most part, he's a good guy too.

They both are really becoming villains. I noticed various articles on the show and a lot of people despise them. Bourdain one of the judges made some nasty comments about the Joey guy.

This is typical:

Entertainment Weekly
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,2...45,00.html

Something happened to me this week, and I didn't even realize it till I sat down to watch Top Chef last night. Over the course of the past seven days, my entire being turned against Howie. Damnedest thing: I thought I liked the cannonball-domed sweathog okay, but then last night I pressed play on the DVR, and within just a couple of seconds — timed to the moment we first saw his turtle's head pop into the frame and his lips start yapping — it washed over me that, no, actually I really, really hate this guy.


I kind of had ambivalent feelings because they both showed a human side after their blowups but they were both defintely different from the others ---- really vicious when under pressure. They both did show moments when they backed down or were good sports but they seem too unstable.

I've been watching the show and I think Howie is a total jerk. He's a restaurant owner and has that egomaniac-it's my way or the highway-I am taking the lead-attitude. But, when things go wrong, it's everyone else's fault. He's death for whoever he teams with. However, for rating's sake, he's probably going to be around until close to the end.

On the last episode, I thought Sara N. got the short end of the stick. They even stated that Howie's Cuban sandwich sucked. I mean, come on.....he just bought cold cuts, cheese, bread and heated it up to make a "hot" sandwich! On the other team, the seafood guy (who ALWAYS use seafood in his dishes) just "made" raw oysters on a half shell with some watermelon on top!

But, I knew Sara N. was going next. She didn't possess the "pazzazz" that is required for reality TV shows. She just cooks and doesn't add much to the drama. I guarantee you that if she acted like a prima donna and/or was a total slut/b$tch from the get-go, she would be around for a long time.

In that same mind set, that is the reason why Hung is still around. His dishes as of late have been pretty lackluster. BUT, he's quite a character! He's totally arrogant and perfect for reality TV!

Quote from z2g : I've been watching the show and I think Howie is a total jerk. He's a restaurant owner and has that egomaniac-it's my way or the highway-I am taking the lead-attitude. But, when things go wrong, it's everyone else's fault. He's death for whoever he teams with. However, for rating's sake, he's probably going to be around until close to the end. On the last episode, I thought Sara N. got the short end of the stick. They even stated that Howie's Cuban sandwich sucked. I mean, come on.....he just bought cold cuts, cheese, bread and heated it up to make a "hot" sandwich! On the other team, the seafood guy (who ALWAYS use seafood in his dishes) just "made" raw oysters on a half shell with some watermelon on top! But, I knew Sara N. was going next. She didn't possess the "pazzazz" that is required for reality TV shows. She just cooks and doesn't add much to the drama. I guarantee you that if she acted like a prima donna and/or was a total slut/b$tch from the get-go, she would be around for a long time. In that same mind set, that is the reason why Hung is still around. His dishes as of late have been pretty lackluster. BUT, he's quite a character! He's totally arrogant and perfect for reality TV!

I was rooting for the avg joe kind of types like the females who were struggling coming from nowhere or at first the Joeys, Howies and the southern guy who was eliminated in the first round. I mean Howie seems like he would be a butcher in the bronx or some 1920s gangster. He didnt seem quite that bad at first. I thought Hung would be the villain but the other guys are so obnoxious he comes off fairly mild next to them.

I thought for sure Howie would be eliminated at first but I agree with you, when it came down to doing it I thought the same thing ---- they arent going to eliminate him because he provides so much tension, drama for the series. The rest of the guys left are fairly easy going even Hung despite his arrogance so there might not be that much energy, drama left after hes gone. However its so clear that the others loathe him so much and think whoever gets paired with him is going to sink that I thought it was a bit too much tension. This season doesnt have the obvious goodguy that you can pick as a winner like the other seasons --- maybe Tre? He seems pretty easygoing and a decent cook. Im always surprised at who is picked as the most popular cook in all the seasons ---maybe because Im not female or gay, most guys seem pretty much the same to me either easygoing or obnoxious.

I mean ---- I never really thought of that Sam guy as popular with females until they started bringing it up. Thought he was pretty average blending with the rest of them. That ET article claims CJ was picked as most popular ---- isnt he that super tall guy?

Quote from radford : I was rooting for the avg joe kind of types like the females who were struggling coming from nowhere or at first the Joeys, Howies and the southern guy who was eliminated in the first round. I mean Howie seems like he would be butcher in the bronx or some 1920s gangster. He didnt seem quite that bad at first. I thought Hung would be the villain but the other guys are so obnoxious he comes off fairly mild next to them. I thought for sure Howie would be eliminated at first but I agree with you, when it came down to doing it I thought the same thing ---- they arent going to eliminate him because he provides so much tension, drama for the series. The rest of the guys left are fairly easy going even Hung despite his arrogance so there might not be that much energy, drama left after hes gone. However its so clear that the others loathe him so much and think whoever gets paired with him is going to sink that I thought it was a bit too much tension. This season doesnt have the obvious goodguy that you can pick as a winner like the other seasons --- maybe Tre? He seems pretty easygoing and a decent cook. Im always surprised at who is picked as the most popular cook in all the seasons ---maybe because Im not female or gay, most guys seem pretty much the same to me --- just easygoing or obnoxious. I mean ---- I never really thought of that Sam guy as popular with females until they started bringing it up. Thought he was pretty average blending with the rest of them. That ET article claims CJ was picked as most popular ---- isnt he that super tall guy?

I think CJ, Casey, and Tre are very good chefs. They are pretty consistent. Hung is good but he tries too hard to be unconventional and different. But overall, I don't really have anyone as the clearcut winner or favorite at this point.

Quote from z2g : I think CJ, Casey, and Tre are very good chefs. They are pretty consistent. Hung is good but he tries too hard to be unconventional and different. But overall, I don't really have anyone as the clearcut winner or favorite at this point.

I went to check the blogs at Top Chef --- I think all the judges are all losing interest in blogging constantly once a week, they seem sporadic and they are trying to fill the blogs with guest bloggers. Anthony Bourdain is filling in. He and a former winner of Top Chef really bashed Rocco, the guest judge sort of accusing him of selling out. It surprised me since he was a judge on the show and he also filled in for another blogger, so he could respond to the hilarious insults.

Bourdain

This wasn't so much a contest as it was a cautionary tale. For surely, in culinary schools of the future, students, in Media Training 101, shall be shown faded videos of the tragic, Icarus-like trajectory of chef Rocco DiSpirito.


Village Voice interviewing Rocco

Did you see the full-length interview with Joey, where he calls you a douche bag? Oh, is that what he called me? I was thinking he must have worked for me to know I'm a douche-bag. Right?


NY Magazine

Ozersky: It’s true, he did. But what an idiotic challenge. This one should go down in the Product Placement Hall of Shame.

Platt: True. And what a surprise to see the elfin Rocco furiously peddling those bags of frozen pasta during the commercial breaks!

Ozersky: They should have him peddling Botox. He’s two injections away from turning into Jocelyn Wildenstein.


The internet has the most vicious comments about celebs:
Check these out. It also makes you scared to ever have plastic surgery.
http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.co...03958.html

Check out these other comments Tara Reid
http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.co....html#7386

Why is Tara Reid's stomach so scary? Here are the rumors circulating online
1. The skin on her stomach was burned during a botched liposuction and after healing, now has a saggy, Freddy Krugeresque texture.

Jackie Stallone
http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.co....html#7401
David Gest
http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.co...00263.html

You have forgotten that Howie has won the elimination challanges twice. Sure he is a hot head and egotystical, but most chefs are, Sara had no passion, and was SLOW. I think if Howie can be in the finals. I LOVE Bourdaine and when Howie owned him I thought it was great...Rocco looks BAD, and WTF he is peddling FROZEN meals!

Quote from z2g : I've been watching the show and I think Howie is a total jerk. He's a restaurant owner and has that egomaniac-it's my way or the highway-I am taking the lead-attitude. But, when things go wrong, it's everyone else's fault. He's death for whoever he teams with. However, for rating's sake, he's probably going to be around until close to the end. On the last episode, I thought Sara N. got the short end of the stick. They even stated that Howie's Cuban sandwich sucked. I mean, come on.....he just bought cold cuts, cheese, bread and heated it up to make a "hot" sandwich! On the other team, the seafood guy (who ALWAYS use seafood in his dishes) just "made" raw oysters on a half shell with some watermelon on top! But, I knew Sara N. was going next. She didn't possess the "pazzazz" that is required for reality TV shows. She just cooks and doesn't add much to the drama. I guarantee you that if she acted like a prima donna and/or was a total slut/b$tch from the get-go, she would be around for a long time. In that same mind set, that is the reason why Hung is still around. His dishes as of late have been pretty lackluster. BUT, he's quite a character! He's totally arrogant and perfect for reality TV!

I don't think that it's really fair to accuse the judges of keeping the "edgy" people on the show. They all (although Tom and Gail in particular) have a reputation that they want to keep. Tom has said on numerous occasions that the producers in the show have absolutely no influence over who stays and who goes (the only exception being when they decided to only kick Cliff from season 2, instead of everybody involved, after the head-shaving incident).

If you watched the interview special 2 weeks ago, you'd remember Tom saying that he's surprised by the editing of the shows sometimes, as they actually deliberate at judge's table for hours, and they only pick the "highlights" and compress it down to 5 minutes. There's a lot more reasoning behind why they eliminate each person than the show has time to display. Unless you're there, unless you personally taste all of their dishes, and get the FULL picture of what goes on in the kitchen, then you don't really have a right to say who should stay and who should go.