Top Chef - S6E8 Postmortem

Damn, damn, damn. And I was going to talk about how Kevin was totally going to rock the pig challenge. Ah, well... you don't get credit after the fact. That's what I get for slacking.

And moments after uttering one of the funniest lines in Top Chef history (seriously, the delivery killed me), Ash is toast. He needed to go. I smell a bit of a collective effect figuring into this particular elimination. I thought Laurine was going home for crimes against pork. But as much as I liked him, Ash was due. Overdue, really. But it makes me sad. I thought he was one of the funniest and most personable folks I've ever seen on the show.

On the other end of the spectrum, not that I want to delve too deeply into the Robin vs. Everybody train wreck 'cause, you know, that stuff drives me insane, but this episode sure seemed like a reminder that there's more than one side to every story. It's like Rashomon with scallops. I'm not saying it excuses some of the behavior we've seen, but it certainly makes it a little more understandable.

And, as if our top four couldn't distinguish themselves any further, there they are... one, two, three, four. If they can survive four more times, we'll have an epic finals to end all finals. But if there's anybody who thinks that's how it'll shake out, as much as I'd like to see it, I'll gladly take that bet. Then I can use cash money to dry my tears when one participant in our perfect finals doesn't make it.

Restaurant Wars, baby! RvE (Robin vs. Everybody) comes to a nasty head! With Captain Valium, no less! And rankings. No way I'm dropping the ball on a call like that again.

Comments

[Dan V.]

I would be really sad if Jennifer got the boot for being front of house (because it looks like she is from the preview).

Kevin's the gift that keeps on giving, and I can't wait to see what he does when I tune in every week.

[Dan V.]

Note that I didn't mean that Jennifer would be booted, what I meant is that she is freaking out in the preview and hopefully this is normal Jennifer freaking-out and everything will be fine as it usually is.

[babyarm]

Volts + Robin + Eli(Foh)

vs

Jen + Eli + MikeI + Laurine(Foh)

Edit would indicate Team Jen is struggling. Hard to say who vegas would favor. Safe money on the volts I'd guess.

[paula]

Dear Jen: Please drop the "Oh my god, I, like, totally got an F on that test" crap. DON'T BE THAT GIRL. It's irritating and beneath your talent.

[mena]

So Toby says paella with an L sound but rillettes with a Y sound? Weird.

From the previews I think Eli is pulling a Spike move by doing FoH and leaving the kitchen to implode with the Volts + Robin.

[Krazikarl]

Man, Restaurant Wars makes me nervous. Its sent a lot of worthy competitors home in the past.

Interesting stuff in the blogs this week. Michael V slams Robin pretty good in his interview. And Tom gives us a reminder out of nowhere that anybody can go home at any time in his blog which makes me more nervous than the previews.

[Krazikarl]

Also:

Maybe I missed it, but was there no prize at all for the quickfire? Eli probably should have been allowed the "Wild Card" knife at the very least...

[Esther]

Kevin continues to be amazing. Wasn't he called "smart" by, like, three separate people tonight? And I'm totally drooling over his recipe. A pork-fat-based mayonnaise with mushrooms and hazelnut, spiced pickled cherries, and a luscious-looking terrine? It sounds utterly delicious, and it takes what could be a basic dish to a new level.

I'm happy that the top four are divided up for RW next week, and that Mike I isn't on the same team as Robin. I frankly don't care about her apparently-grating personality, and I'm a little annoyed that the producers have been spending time on Teh Drama instead of actual cooking.

Agreed with Paula about Jen's "OMG I suck!" anxiety being a little much at this point. She seems to feel less confident than she did at the start of the show, and that worries me. (Of course, given that this episode was filmed two days after the last one, she may still be getting over being sick.)

[altoids]

Great episode. Our top 4 dominate again. I didn't like having Palmer as a guest judge - I'm sure he didn't feel as free to give the Volt brothers the win, just to avoid claims of favoritism. Hopefully that wasn't the case.

RW week! From the preview, it looks like Jennifer-Kevin vs. the Volt brothers. Oh well, I was looking for the top 4 to team up and destroy the others.

@paula:

It does really seem that Jennifer can get stressed out easily, doesn't it? She's in panic mode all the time. Like she said, she's a perfectionist.

[anon man]

@babyarm, Assuming Michael I on Team 1, even though we didn't see him, but who knows if there's a twist... If Team Volt loses, I think we know who goes, if the other loses, toss up between the FOH and the unseen 4th. Otherwise, there will be much fervor next week.

I liked the cooking part of the episode. Great stuff. Ash's humor and good nature will be missed. This season, most chefs came in pretty clear on their cooking, but I think Ash will be the one who might learn and grow from it. Let's hope we see him again sometime in the culinary world. The QF was the obligatory sponsor challenge, but in some ways, the least offensive: take the sponsor product and make something that goes with it. Note that most (including the most successful) served the product on the side. No "Cook with Dr. Pepper" this year.

Rankings next week seem easy: the Top 4, the middle 2 and the bottom 2. Easy.

As for Robin, the dislike, especially from Eli and Mike I is pretty hard to watch. Maybe she's unbearable to live with; she's older than the rest and maybe doesn't fit in (Arianne, last year was older, but so was Stefan, so maybe there wasn't the tension), but absent some horrible hygiene or something, I can't imagine that she's THAT bad. Jeez, guys, ease up. Notice no Volt brother comments: these guys are tight lipped. Kevin's comment was more like "some people don't like other people, like Robin; not everyone likes everyone else..." What a polite young man...

That sad, I feel dirty. I laughed hard at the stew room out ake "Did you get to second base?" Tactless, tasteless and tacky, and I ran it back and watched it twice more. I am ashamed. Forgive me.

[TxGriff]

I really don't mean to harp on this, but... what were the two sides of the story? Yes, Robin was being passive-aggressive, but I looked at the situation that she was putting up defense mechanisms because she was aware of how others in the house viewed her. I don't think she came into the competition acting that way. The "passive-aggressiveness" was only towards Eli (and to an extent Mike V. because he was there with Eli), who has been openly antagonist towards Robin from the start (Robin herself has voiced this)- I understand why she is defensive around him. It disappoints me that some people in the house decided they don't have to act like civilized adults because of personal biases. Just my opinion.

So, restaurant wars! Looks like the teams are Brothers V/Eli/Robin versus Jen/Kevin/Laurine/Mike I. Those teams are actually pretty even, I like the sound of the Jen/Kevin team more, although it looks like there are problems in both kitchens. It also seems that Mike V is the EC, although from the way Bryan stepped in during the Mike/Robin fight, I could be wrong.

[Nancy]

From the previews, it looks like Ms. Norris is cooking and Laurine is FOH. Volts + Mama's Boy + Robin = potential cluster**** worse than anything we had the misfortune to witness w/r/t Marcel in S2. Eli must be FOH since Volts and Robin were all shown in chef coats.

This week? No brainer. My husband, who only watches when he's not asleep, was amazed at how early in the challenge I called winner and PYKAG. Kevin and pork were a match made in hog heaven. The tat reveal was priceless (and I generally find tats unattractive).

Don't worry Ash, I wouldn't invite Padma either. Did she botch "PYKAG" or what? How hard is it to string those five words together without awkward pauses, glances (even after she'd announced it was Ash), etc?

[Ooba]

Does anyone think that the comment Kevin made about Mike V trying to manipulate his brother and Bryan being a ticking time bomb who will go off and wreck his own chances - is foreshadowing? I wasn't sure what to think. But then again I did think that the Ashley is a dark horse comment by Padma meant that she would reach the final 4 and that was way off base.

Nervous for the top 4 next week. RW means anything can happen. Yes it does look like Mike V and Jenn are EC.

[Lon]

Since the top four have been established from early on, I think all of us have been anticipating Restaurant Wars with both eagerness and dread. Eagerness because it usually provides some of the most sterling shows; dread because it seems like at least one of the favorites bombs each season.

Let's hope the final four we've picked are really the final four. I'd be really peeved if one of the middle or bottom muddled through to the final four as has happened at times in the past.

[Dionysus]

I agree with everyone in being nervous about next week. I'd love to see the Top 4 all survive RW simply because IF they do, I think they all make it to the Finals. However, between the previews, Tom's blog, and what we know about RW, I suspect we're losing one of them.

SO I guess the question is, who would you be the MOST ok with losing out of the Brothers V, Jen and Kevin?

I'm not really sure myself. I think losing Kevin would hurt the most, but I'd need to think on it and try not to let my crush on Jen influence me.

[òste e còc]

Seeing “chef’s” predictable predisposition to vying for the oh-so tired pork belly does little more than highlight a tiny technical repertoire, especially when Jennifer removed/butchered (negative connotation) the importantly gelatinous skin, in doing so she removed much of the meat as well. Kevin fulfilled the fundamental expectations of using a pig’s extremities: charcuterie, (a terrine in 4 hours no less) which few of the other contestants seem prepared or able to do.

Once these contestants show that they are capable of successfully fabricating worthwhile preparations from the versatile elements and properties of the pig other than the roast, smoke or braise triptych, then perhaps they might get closer to this fashionable realm of chefdom.

One considerable gripe: There was no mention of the pig’s origins or breed and seeing Kevin remove the leg from vacuum sealed plastic would suggest that they were using industrial pork rather than the prized and justifiably trendy heritage breeds generally raised in smaller and more conscientious settings and offer a better taste after limited preparation time (not enough time to properly brine/marinate the industrial stuff).

[Skillet Doux]

Wait... wait... something so... familiar... just stepped into the room...

That particularly gloomy disdain for any cook not operating at the highest pinnacles of the traditional and stuffy, and a full-throated insistence that the word "chef" never be applied to anybody who couldn't seamlessly be transplanted into a brigade in early 20th century France...

...Poivrot Farci, have you decided to grace us with your uniquely astringent charm?!?

:-)

[Shelly]

I didn't see another side to the Robin story. Robin is annoying and passive aggressive. Everyone else is exhibiting pack-like passive aggressive behavior against her. Eli is the only one who actually told her to what he felt. No one else there had the balls. They're all so childish, except for Kevin and maybe Bryan. It's the same thing that's gone on for the past few episodes. I'm getting a bit tired of it.

Is anyone else getting sick of Mike V's insecurity and tantrums? If one of the top 4 goes home next week, I hope he's the one to go.

On a more pleasant note, this week's better food looked so delicious. And I really need to make a point to stop in Atlanta the next time I go through.

I noticed too that Eli didn't get anything for winning the quickfire, not even an advantage. That was really lame. He should at least get something. Ah well. Looking forward to RWs next week with trepidation.

[Chris]

I think it was a mistake to have Palmer judge. Its not so much that he was biased but that he had to avoid the appearance of bias. Mike V or Bryan's dishes' might have been the best but Palmer couldn't say so because he was afraid of looking biased. We'll never know.

I agree with Dionysus - from Tom's blog it sure looks like one of the top 4 goes home next week. I truly hope not as there are so many other (un)deserving choices.

[òste e còc]

^Yep. Nothing in the past two seasons warranted a tickle of the keyboard until Jennifer mutilated the pork belly and Kevin made pâté. Though Kevin looks like a jolly flood victim, he is disciplined, deliberate and a pleasure to watch.

Astringent, absolutely! Disdain...whats lesser than antipathy? But a loyal viewer and reader nonetheless and I read somewhere that "it's a valuable exercise, if for no other reason than to know your enemy."

There used to be a time when part of becoming a chef required making 50 variations of potato. I'd like to see that challenge.

[Independent George]

At this point, I almost feel as if Robin being eliminated would be an act of mercy. It's just so deeply uncomfortable watching things unravel, and I feel so awful for her. Each episode is another week of public humiliation; I just want it to end.

Even if she says she doesn't care what the others think, we know that's not true. It couldn't be true; these are her peers, and she expects to be treated with some measure of respect. And she does deserve to be treated with respect, both as a human being, and as a professional. Think about how lonely it must be in that house; for the month they're filming, the only human contact they have is with each other. What must it feel like when everybody in your world despises you? How awful must it be to not only go through that once, but having to re-live it again on national television?

Thank God all of my failings are private. Whatever her sins, she doesn't deserve this.

[Will Allen]

If one had to wager a sum of importance on who would eventually prevail, going with the smartest person in the kitchen isn't a bad approach. What is impressive about Kevin is that he not only has a formidable intellect in terms of completely, calmly, thinking a problem through in a short amount of time (to be unfair, contrast that quality in the persons of Ash or Robin), he also is damned smart in how he interacts with other people. He is going to be a simply outstanding entrepreneur.

To top it off, he seems to be a genuinely nice person, and other people seem to enjoy his victories. That ain't a bad way to live.

[Po]

It's Laurine who's definitely front of house next week...go figure because her cooking is too unreliable at this point in the game.

[Po]

If this were a boring conventional reality show where they're stuck in the house, Kevin would win by default. What a good sport!

[aaalex]

independent george: i completely agree, but i was actually kind of comforted by bryan voltaggio's interview on the bravo site. the whole interview is thoughtful and a good contrast to his brother's interview. re robin he writes:

Bravotv.com: Everyone is just sooo anti-Robin at this point, but you seem to stay out of it. What was your relationship like with her?

I came here to cook is my position behind my behavior with the other chefs and the challenges. In my kitchen I don't let personal feelings get in the way of my goals and the goals of my team. Why would I change that now? I also believe that all of the chefs on this season deserve to be here. The experience levels are very different amongst the group; some push the envelope and don't succeed, some play it safe and stay under the radar. That's the game and I see a few of the chefs letting that part overwhelm them and it fuels confrontation. My relationship with Robin was good. I do respect her for her strength in overcoming her illness and keeping in under her control. It takes a lot of a person to do that. She should be proud of what she has accomplished so far. I do, however, know we have completely different views when it comes to cuisine, but that only makes our food different, not better or worse.

bryan's answer suggests not only that he's as mature and gentlemanly as kevin but, more importantly, that bryan respects robin's differences.

an another interesting thing about bryan and kevin, though. in his interview, bryan questions why kevin is speculating about the brothers' relationship and, as this comes after last episode's bryan/kevin "confrontation" in the stew room, i kind of wonder if kevin isn't getting under bryan's skin a little. not in an evil way, but still ...

[Independent George]

There used to be a time when part of becoming a chef required making 50 variations of potato. I'd like to see that challenge.

They did. The QF in the Air Force episode. Mark Peel was the judge.

[Dawn]

While I know a chef should be able to cook anything, being a specialist in certain fields or cuisines is inevitable. Thus while I can entertain the idea that Jennifer might lack the technical knowledge of pork butchering, I wouldn't say she's a mere 'cook'. If the challenge was seafood-related, I'm sure her skills will be more apparent (not that it isn't before). Saying that, this challenge was made for Kevin. Seriously, him + pork... there's no way anything less than amazing would be produced.

I'm awfully scared for next week. If Jen gets eliminated before the finals, I would seriously cry a river.

[Independent George]

Thus while I can entertain the idea that Jennifer might lack the technical knowledge of pork butchering, I wouldn't say she's a mere 'cook'.

Seeing as how she placed at the top, I wouldn't read too much into her supposed lack of butchering skills. Besides, do you remember Stephanie with the Brontosaurus chops in S4? Short of absolutely massacring the meat, I'd say that it's what comes after the butchery that counts most. Charlie Palmer calling it the lightest pork belly dish he's ever had counts as pretty high praise in my book.

[mena]

Dawn, now that you brought up Jennifer & seafood I feel a little bit better about next week's challenge. It's Restaurant Wars and the guest judge is Rick Moonen... he's a seafood guy! The competition will likely take place at his restaurant in LV and it is probably going to involve a lot of seafood. It would make sense for Jennifer to be the Exec Chef for that since she's the seafood specialist.

I was worried about her in the previews but now I think that may be more of her constant fretting even when things are fine. (Yeesh, I really hope I'm not setting myself up for a big disappointment! LOL)

That said, if one of the Top 4 were to go next week, I wouldn't mind if it was Michael V. I already had him as the bottom of the Top 4, but this week and the previews for next week sealed it for me. Michael V was the one who started the "I hope the judges send the right one home" conversation and then he had to add calling Robin "Grandma" as an insult. Way to go Michael, showing you can be a douche just like Mike I and Eli.

If that wasn't bad enough, from the previews it looks like Michael is a real thorn in Bryan's side. It's bad enough to be a micro-managing untrusting member on any team - but to do it while on his brother's team makes Michael V look worse to me.

So while he is a great chef, losing Michael V wouldn't upset as much as losing Kevin, Bryan or Jennifer.

[Dawn]

^ Independent George, actually my post was a response to òste e còc's post. My mistake for not prefacing that.

And I agree, the final product is what counts. Though I do appreciate great food prep-ing skills, be it butchering pork or shucking clams, a few 'missteps' shouldn't relegate a great chef like Jennifer to cook status (which I assumed what òste e còc was trying imply).

[Skillet Doux]

"Seeing as how she placed at the top, I wouldn't read too much into her supposed lack of butchering skills. Besides, do you remember Stephanie with the Brontosaurus chops in S4? Short of absolutely massacring the meat, I'd say that it's what comes after the butchery that counts most. Charlie Palmer calling it the lightest pork belly dish he's ever had counts as pretty high praise in my book."

I-George... you make the mistake of presuming that òste e còc feels that Stephanie was worthy of the "chef" title. Or Charlie Palmer. Or nearly every contestant and guest judge to appear throughout the the run of the show, really :-)

(I'm pretty sure he'd get behind Robuchon.)

[Nsam]

Dom, thank you for the comments about Robin. It's entirely possible/probable that Robin is an extremely annoying person who's difficult to get along with, and also that the others are behaving horribly toward her. Those two facts needn't be mutually exclusive.

It's awful to watch, a prime example of how out of hand this kind of thing can get. Like a pack of wolves going at a weakling elk. You get jerks with vicious streaks as the ringleaders (Eli, and possibly Isabella) and an easy, unlikeable target, and ugliness can ensue.

But, my point it, from the evidence presented, Robin does NOT seem like an innocent victim. Eli may be vying with Isabella for the title of biggest jerk in the house, but Robin easily takes the bronze medal with her annoying qualities, no contest.

If she never took People Skills 101 and by this point in her life (in her forties) she still doesn't understand some very obvious basics of getting along with different kinds of people (Eli and Isabella, obv., and also she's not getting along with Laurine, and she rubbed Ron the wrong way, too), then some portion of the blame for the situation is hers. For Eli I wish someday that he'll experience the painful, sharpened other end of this stick. For Robin, I hope she learns some hard but necessary lessons from this.

[Dawn]

mena, that's good to hear. While I'm dreading next week, can't deny that I'm excited at the thought of Team Kevin/Jen vs Team V.Bros. In fact, I'm salivating at the thought. It would be one HELL of an interesting episode, regardless of the outcome.

And I agree, if, and I say that with complete dread, IF we have to lose any of the Fab Four, I'll be the least sad with Michael V.

[Skillet Doux]

Well, my point re: Robin v. Everyone was simply "Who the hell knows?"... which is why I try not to dwell on that aspect of the show too much :-)

[jh]

Although the previews already hint at who's FOH for both teams, I think that Kevin would do an awesome job in that role (he's needed more in the kitchen). In terms of personability, calmness of mind, and ability to communicate well, I think he's actually the best of the bunch. Kevin could not only serve a plate of monkey ass filled with fried bananas with a panache, but he could make it taste great too.

[Dawn]

Dom : "Well, my point re: Robin v. Everyone was simply "Who the hell knows?"

EXACTLY. Plus, it hurts my head (and heart sometimes) when I think about it too much. As much as I wish it could be just about cooking great food, it is a reality show after all.

Dom, seeing as I believe in the power of your Vodoo, you should call Ms. Norris out for something. She performs better when you give her a checklist :)

[Nsam]

Yeah, the Robin drama this episode was dismal, the food looked pretty terrific. And now we have next week to look forward to -- Restaurant Wars! And the preview video on the Bravo site for the Quickfire is fascinating. (I'll try to be considerate here and not go into detail.) I didn't watch the early seasons of TC and so my knowledge isn't complete, but I've never seen this type of challenge before. And I have no idea if this challenge proves anything about the chefs' skill, really, but the concept is extremely entertaining.

[Independent George]

Dom, what the heck are you doing still up? I'm trying to finish a report in the next four hours, and you're really not helping me by replying.

[Bart]

1. Dom, what line are you referring to? The thing that Ash said was so funny...

2. I love, love, love Kevin's boyish enthusiasm and charms. Easily my favorite to watch this season.

3. I noticed for the first time that Eli is just 25 years old. That's pretty damn young; no wonder he's acting pretty immaturely around Robin. Robin isn't making it any easier, sure, but I bet she'd respond well if someone said to her, politely, "Can you please use your 'internal voice' for a bit?"

4. RW should be a good one!

[gilmore]

The top 4 are so strong, Bravo has to reach even harder to make us wonder what will happen next. I am guessing Tom's blog wants to keep the tension up. Hard to imagine one of the top 4 leaving this coming week.

Pork belly has not been kind to good chef's in prior seasons. Jen's got high praise. Maybe she did not "butcher" the meat, but butchered it the way she wanted too.

[gilmore]

Bart - The line Dom referred to was probably when Ash returned to the stew room after being eliminated and saying "I forgot flavor".

[mill]

Keith Floyd had something to say about cooks vs. chefs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXMbB_681Ig

Regarding all the drama. How do you think Tiffani Faison would have treated Robin? I bet she would have told her to shut up the second episode. Trying to avoid confrontation is what has brought it to all this.

So if Kevin or Bryan (since they seem to be regarded as the mature, good ones) would just tell Robin to shut it, Mike I to stop being an ass, and Eli, well his only problem would be his insistence that he is the best cook yet runs from actually cooking (prawns).

[Dan V.]

Kevin, who's the consummate good guy, was as diplomatic as he could be in his interview segment about Robin. You could tell that even he doesn't like her - but he doesn't succumb to the drama. Even the consummate Icemen, the Volts, don't particularly like her.

At least Arianne was winning stuff last year and had a modicum of personality. There's not much redeeming I can see about Robin. She wasn't actively annoying - nothing on this level of backlash.

[Anne]

Which was the funny line, Dom?

I have to say I'm finding the Robin stuff so incredibly unpleasant to watch that I'm rooting for her elimination. It's awful. As far as I can tell, Kevin's the only one who isn't piling on, making him even more wonderful.

[paula]

aaalex: I thought the same thing after reading Bryan's blog (coupled with the snippy exchange in the stew room last week), that Kevin bugs him a little bit. Very interesting.

The top 4 shifts for me after this ep: Kevin, Bryan, then Jen and Michael tied for 4th. I want to see Jen bring back that badassery we saw in the Air Force challenge; her current attitude would earn her a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the head.

[Dave_P]

Wow, what an ep.

Not that my picks were original or creative or anything, but I nailed last week's rankings (along w/a bunch of others). Only surprise was Ash being sent home ahead of cat food. Seriously? Ah well, overdue, indeed. This week's rankings are untouched, except now the bottom two are firm as 7. Laurine (QF mention) over 8. Robin (bottom x2).

I love Jen's nervous energy in the kitchen. Her self-doubting is actually very endearing to me, and I loved the way she was running by Tom as he was exiting the kitchen after his walk through. Still, it was pork and Kevin was not to be denied.

Robin... whatever. She'll be gone soon enough (hopefully, next week?). We're not there, and we don't know the full story, but I'm about 99% sure that she'd drive me bat-sh** crazy too with her behavior, esp in cramped quarters. I like to think I'd take Kevin's path, but who knows what they'd catch on camera. Laurine too--she's developed this aura of gloom around her it seems. I guess she wasn't meant to go last night, since she got so little camera time earlier on (so no "loser's edit"). She's prolly safe next week as FoH though.

RW: bros-V vs. Kevin & Jen. Epic! Eli & Laurine as FoH will likely be non-entities (really, last season was an outlier for FoH). I'm thinking (and hoping) Mike V & Jen will be ECs. I can't see any of the top 4 falling, even in this trap episode, so it's either Robin (75% chance) or Mike I (15%, 5% it's a FoH, 5% it's one of the 4). If Mike I takes leadership of his restaurant, I can see him fall, but I don't think Jen & Kevin will let him. I dunno, w/the actual ppl cooking, I can't see anyone but Robin go home, unless someone really trips up.

Oh, funniest line ever goes to Toby for me. His "shaved armpit vs. hairy armpit," out of context in the trailers going into commercial break almost killed me. Tom too evidently, sitting next to him. :)

--
Dave

[L.S.]

Does anyone have a tally of exactly how many quickfires and elimination challenges each of the top four contestants has won, separated by category (quickfire vs. elimination)?

[babyarm]

Dom usually keeps the tallies on his power rankings, but short of that the wiki of top chef keeps a running tally as well.

The blindfolded relay race next week seems a bit contrived. It's a very long preview video, and I can't seem to gather the reasons why the blindfold is necessary. I mean just put them in the next room...

It would appear they select their RW teams prior to the QF even starting and it isn't clear how this would solve the problem of who is EC for each side.

[Julie]

Independent George said..."Even if she says she doesn't care what the others think, we know that's not true. It couldn't be true; these are her peers, and she expects to be treated with some measure of respect. And she does deserve to be treated with respect, both as a human being, and as a professional. Think about how lonely it must be in that house; for the month they're filming, the only human contact they have is with each other. What must it feel like when everybody in your world despises you? How awful must it be to not only go through that once, but having to re-live it again on national television?

Thank God all of my failings are private. Whatever her sins, she doesn't deserve this."

I totally agree Independent George. I was watching last night with my eyes half-closed. Perhaps it's because I'm a woman of similar age but I find Eli to be juvenile and downright rude. He himself was being passive-aggressive by asking Mike V. to get him scallions from the kitchen when Mike was sitting at the counter and Robin was standing right next to him. Mike V. was doing nothing to support Robin, as a matter of fact, he was egging Eli on. No matter how irritating Robin's chatting is, she doesn't deserve to be treated so poorly by everyone. It seems that a silent (sometimes not so silent) group bullying has begun. Again, as a woman, it bothers me that none of the other female chefs, who call themselves professionals, have taken the time to pull Robin aside and say, "you're driving everyone crazy with the non-stop talking". Maybe if someone had, Robin could try to turn the volume down. During my lifetime, I've heard more times than I can count that women can't work together and these woman aren't doing anything to dispel that myth. It's disappointing in so many ways.

Eli's admission that he still lives at home is equally revealing. He's a "man-child" who doesn't seem to have the ability to empathize. He may have good reason to hate Robin as much as he does, we just don't know. However, that does not excuse him for throwing her cancer in her face. If I were his mother, and sadly I'm old enough to be, I would be deeply embarassed by his behavior on national television. I tell my kids all the time, just because you're is angry, it doesn't give you the right to be hateful and rude. Think before you speak because what you say can come back to haunt you.

[Bart]

Hear, hear Julie.