TVSquad

(S04E13) "Who would have thought this was going to be the top three?" - Corey

I have to agree with Corey. While I actually thought that Corey might make it to the top three (she was strong many weeks and seemed to have the attitude of someone who makes the final three on reality shows), I wasn't sure about Christina. Sure, she seems to have the cooking skills of any of the other contestants and has won several challenges, I just thought that when it came down to the nitty-gritty, she would screw up one too many times. But she's actually the secret talent of everyone who appeared this season.

And Petrozza? I like him and kinda want him to win, but I thought he would have been gone long ago because while he's competent in the kitchen, he's too nice and unassuming, and the nice people rarely win these shows. And he's a mess too, which Chef Ramsay has pointed out many times. But here we are at Day 13, with Corey, Petrozza, and Christina vying for the title.

This is the week that the families visit. I always wonder why everyone cries so much during these things. I can understand it on Survivor, since the contestants are in the middle of nowhere and going through hardship. But the Hell's Kitchen players are in nice digs in Hollywood and probably won't be away from their loved ones for too long. Once I'd like to see a contestant say something like "oh, shit, you invited my mother?" Petrozza kinda loses it and can't believe that his dad and girlfriend are actually there. He keeps saying "I can't believe it!" Um, OK.

The families have a meal with Chef Ramsay prepares, and then when the loved ones leave they have to recreate it. Christina catches on and tries to figure out what's in the dish. Corey gets the sauce right but the meat wrong, so it's down to Petrozza and Christina, and Christina wins. This wasn't an easy challenge, not knowing what the heck was in the dish beyond the obvious.

Christina gets to go to dinner with her parents and Ramsay, while Ramsay forces Corey and Petrozza to not only clean the bar, but to also chop giant blocks of ice. There must be a ice cube shortage in Los Angeles. Corey pretends the ice is Jen. The ice whines and complains and doesn't communicate well with Corey.

For the service, each person has to run the pass themselves, so Ramsay gives them lessons in yelling/swearing.

Some observations:

- My favorite moment of the night is when JP examines the glasses that Petrozza has cleaned, looking at them closely like the guy who looked really close at the hanging chads during the 2000 election.

- Corey seems to be the only one trash talking the others.

- Ramsay calls Petrozza a "lump," but he means it affectionately. He calls Christina a "cheerleader," which she doesn't like. Corey has to force herself not to laugh.

- There's no way I believe Christina screwed up on purpose to make Petrozza look bad. It would make Christina look incompetent if anything, especially at this stage of the game.

- I have to admit I agree with Corey that Christina has an annoying, high pitched voice when she's running the hot plate. I wouldn't want to hear that all night.

- Favorite quote: "Nice girls don't make great chefs." - Chef Ramsay

Ramsay breaks it down like this: Corey does well on meat, but bad on the pass. Christina was great on the pass, but crap at her station. Petrozza was so-so on the pass.

I actually guessed how this was going to go, right down to Petrozza being the first person in the final (he really does deserve it). And I even guessed that Corey would go home. Christina deserves to be in the final. She's talented and you can picture her growing by leaps and bounds.

Next week: the other chefs return, Petrozza and Christina go to NYC, and Jen scowls.