I love Top Chef (well, the regular version... this oddball Masters edition seems to be just summer filler until the real show starts again). I especially enjoy the hosting stylings of Padma Lakshmi, and not just because of her looks. She has a presence, seems to know her food, and displays an intelligence that fits well in the cerebral nature of the show. But the word "funny" has never come to mind when I've seen her work. Which is why I'm scratching my head at the news that NBC is developing a sitcom for Lakshmi. You heard me. As in most cases in the world of TV, the premise can be boiled down into one oh-so-confidence-infusing sentence, according to Variety: "Building on her Top Chef credentials, the show will star Lakshmi as a woman working in the culinary world." One possible title? Single Serving.
Oofah. The show's got "two week mid-season stinker" written all over it, doesn't it?
[via TV Week]















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-20-2009 @ 11:56PM
Ernie said...
Seriously?! Padma has to be the largest negative on Top Chef. She brings nothing to the show. She reminds me of the convention hall models. All pretty, but all fluff at the same time.
Maybe by giving her own sitcom, she'll have to leave the show and they can find someone else to host the show. Gail Simmons would be great.
Also, bring back Anthony Bourdain.
On a side note, I like the interactions between the chefs on Top Chef Masters and the show itself, with the exception of the host on that show too.
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7-21-2009 @ 12:39AM
Picviewer said...
Ughhh watching grass grow is about as exciting as listening to her speak at any length. I'm sorry to say but after watching a few seasons now of TC thats' my conclusion. First one or two but not it just grates with no substance. Sad to say she's just eye candy. Something about bravo going for hostesses with annoying voices, first Heidi and then her. And the one for TC masters woof. Just call it what is is, Top Chef presents our Chopped fill-in season.
Emerils' show was sooooo huge too for NBC yeah lets try that again.
Single Serving? How about Single Airing.
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7-21-2009 @ 4:55AM
RobynM said...
Ernie's mention of Anthony Bourdain reminded me - the sitcom based on Kitchen Confidential tanked pretty fast too. While not great, it wasn't entirely the show's fault - Fox bumped it for baseball coverage 2-3 episodes in and it never recovered.
Still, if I want to watch a culinary-based sitcom, I'll pull out my box set of Chef!
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7-22-2009 @ 9:43AM
Ernie said...
Kitchen Confidential was great. It was a really funny show, and I was pretty bummed that Fox canceled it.
7-21-2009 @ 7:27AM
Peter said...
I really loved the book too. My book True Love Is Not Common; www.eloquentbooks.com/TrueLoveIsNotCommon.html, has similar main characters. I grew up reading this author since high school. Hope one day my book will reach many people as this author. While writing this book, I did a lot of research on the subject, and love with people around us.
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7-21-2009 @ 9:13AM
Nate said...
I enjoy watching Top Chef also, but for me Padma is the worst thing about the show. She has a smug attitude and her voice is droning and irritating to me. When she tells the contestants that their time is up for their challenges, she seems to take some kind of sadistic, power drunk pleasure out of yelling "Hands up, utensils down", or whatever it is she says. Her comments about the food generally reminds me of a snobbish, pretentious foodie and sometimes Chef Toms' reactions to her comments make me wonder if she has any idea at all what she is talking about. All in all, I think that she thinks much to highly of herself, considering her limited accomplishments and talents, and that the contestants have little respect for her or her comments and observations, but grit their teeth and put up with her because she is a judge and they have little choice but to go along to get along. I have no interest in watching a sit com or any other show she stars in.
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7-21-2009 @ 11:39AM
jffm said...
Eh, she's obviously easy on the eyes, and she's done a little bit of acting before. It probably has about as much chance as any of the other dozens of 'throw it against the wall and see if it sticks' pilots that will get a shot.
She works well enough for me on Top Chef. It's just a reality cooking show after all, not a Ken Burns doco or Washington Week in Review. People get invested in these things and start reading into it all kinds of illusory drama. "...sadistic, power drunk pleasure..."? Please.
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