top chef-related stories
Posted Jun 11th 2009 3:00PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, The Amazing Race, American Idol, Survivor, Big Brother (US), Dancing With The Stars, Celebreality
Considering how prevalent reality television is these days, it's got to be a pretty daunting task to try and put together a comprehensive list of the best and worst of all time. But
Entertainment Weekly thinks they've done just that. They've compiled the
top 20 reality shows of all time, but also the
ten worst reality shows of all time. All in all, they did a pretty damned good job.
I completely agree with the top six, but they lose me with
Jackass at number seven. I have never understood the appeal of filming morons doing stupid things on purpose just to be stupid. But there were some shows missing from the list completely, like
Little People Big World, So You Think You Can Dance and
Beauty and the Geek. Surely those shows are better than
The Hills and
The Real Housewives of Sesame Street, or whatever franchise they're spinning now.
Continue reading EW declares the all-time best and worst of reality television
Posted Jun 2nd 2009 4:27PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming, TV Squad Polls, Reality-Free
Breaking News: Bravo is changing their slogan. For the past several years the tag line has been "Watch What Happens," but
the network is giving an overhaul to its brand and now the new slogan will be "By Bravo." That's going to take some getting used to, if you're the type of person who watches Bravo and has to get used to things.
Here are some other slogan ideas Bravo could have used.
Posted Apr 8th 2009 3:39PM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Programming, Early Looks
Bravo has announced the show
Top Chef Masters will begin Wednesday June 10th. The show is basically the celebrity version of
Top Chef, where "world-renowned" chefs will compete for $100,000. The money will be given to their favorite charity. The format hasn't changed: the quickfire and the elimination challenges remain, but there will be a five-star grading system implemented.
There are 24 chefs, but I will have to trust the producers with their use of the words "world-renowned" since I'm just an average guy. One of the few chefs I know is
Top Chef guest judge
Wylie Dufresne, who is well known for his work on molecular gastronomy. The contestants' bios are available on the
Bravo website.
Continue reading Top Chef Masters premieres this June
Posted Mar 30th 2009 4:24PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Food/Home/DIY, Watercooler Talk, Reality-Free
Does Food Network think that we don't know that other networks do shows about food? The reason I'm asking the question is this: season four
Top Chef finalist Richard Blais was a guest on Ted Allen's
Food Detectives last week talking about how to freeze alcohol with liquid nitrogen to make really cool looking cocktails.
I recognized Richard right away, as did probably most other foodies who watched the show...but you'd never know about
his Top Chef tenure if you listened to Ted's introduction. It was like the other show didn't exist.
Continue reading Food Detectives doesn't acknowledge Top Chef
Posted Mar 27th 2009 11:15AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Food/Home/DIY, Cancellations
It cannot come as a big surprise that NBC's reality series
The Chopping Block has been chopped after three episodes. The show started poorly in the ratings and have sunk lower in the subsequent two broadcasts.
Ratings alone aren't the reason for
The Chopping Block being sent back to the kitchen, or thrown down the garbage disposal, or any other food euphemism you might want to suggest.
The Chopping Block was dumped and deservedly so because it was not a good reality competition show.
Continue reading No surprise...NBC axes The Chopping Block
Posted Mar 16th 2009 11:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Food/Home/DIY, TV Squad Lists
When it comes to cooking competition shows, the two that consistently make the grade are Bravo's
Top Chef and Fox's
Hell's Kitchen. But while the two shows are ostensibly both about aspiring chefs competing for a prime position -- to beat the competition and emerge as number one -- there are really more things about the shows that separate them.
In terms of quality competition, food expertise and cooking skills,
Top Chef is superior to
Hell's Kitchen. They're both fun to watch, and I have followed every season of each of them. But the main thing they have in common is the kitchen. Read my five reasons and see if you don't agree with me that
Top Chef has it all over
Hell's Kitchen.
Continue reading Five reasons why Top Chef tops Hell's Kitchen
Posted Mar 6th 2009 5:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming, OpEd
Got a press release from Bravo the other day that says they've not only given the green light for a third season of
Shear Genius, they also have a new reality show coming up titled
Double Exposure. I'm not even going to tell you what world the show is set in because you can probably pretty much tell from the title.
Do you remember when Bravo wasn't completely infested with reality shows? Sure,
Top Chef is a good show, but the channel is practically all reality shows now, and most of them pretty lame (if not despicable). We've had
Hey Paula, which showed Paula Abdul stumbling through her life. We've seen
The Real Housewives of Orange County turn into some sort of ever-growing franchise. And let's not forget
Tabatha's Salon Makeover,
Manhunt,
Make Me A Supermodel,
Blow Out,
Millionaire Matchmaker,
Showbiz Moms and Dads, and...well, about 40 others.
Continue reading Do you remember when Bravo wasn't horrible?
Posted Mar 4th 2009 4:01PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, NBC has a new Knight Rider.- FOX has a new American Idol at 8, then a new Lie To Me.
- The CW has the two-hour season premiere of America's Next Top Model at 8.
- Cartoon Network has the movie Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective at 8.
- At 9, ABC has a new Lost, followed by a new Life on Mars.
- There's a Top Chef reunion show on Bravo at 9.
- Also at 9: Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters International.
- At 10, FX has a new Damages.
- TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne at 10.
- A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter at 10.
- MTV has a new Real World at 10.
- Travel Channel has a new Man vs. Food at 10.
- At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Important Things with Demetri Martin.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Knight Rider, Lost, Damages, House Of Payne
Posted Feb 26th 2009 3:02PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Food/Home/DIY, OpEd
The fifth edition of
Top Chef came to a conclusion last night. I'd like to say it was one of the all-time best seasons, that I was on the edge of my seat with excitement, that I was really rooting for one competitor more than another... I'd like to say that, but I can't. All in all,
Top Chef New York, which became
Top Chef New Orleans in the last few episodes, was kind of a dud.
Before I talk about the winner and what happened specifically in the finale, I have to ask why
Top Chef failed to really make use of the location this time around? New York is all about food and great restaurants and amazing chefs, but I can't think of one episode that really used the city in a creative way. Where was the Little Italy challenge? What about a trip to Chinatown for wild ingredients? Gail Simmons' bridal shower could have taken place anywhere. The Super Bowl challenge was generic. And when it was time for the finale,
TC went to the Big Easy. Is that any way to honor the Big Apple?
Continue reading Top Chef serves up a new winner
Posted Feb 25th 2009 4:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, NBC has a new Biggest Loser, followed by a new Life.- FOX has a new, two-hour American Idol at 8.
- At 9, ABC has a new Lost, then a new Life on Mars.
- CBS has a new Criminal Minds at 9, followed by a new CSI: NY.
- PBS has a new America's Ballroom Challenge at 9.
- History Channel has a new MonsterQuest at 9.
- Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters International at 9.
- At 10, TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
- Bravo has the season finale of Top Chef at 10.
- FX has a new Damages at 10.
- MTV has a new Real World at 10.
- A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter at 10.
- Also at 10: Food Network has Guy's Big Night.
- At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Important Things with Demetri Martin.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Idol, Life, Ballroom Challenge, Real World, Demetri Martin
Posted Feb 18th 2009 4:01PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, CBS has a new Old Christine, then new episodes of Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, and CSI: NY.- NBC has a new Knight Rider at 8, followed by new episodes of Life and Law and Order.
- FOX has a new American Idol at 8.
- At 9, ABC has a new Lost, followed by a new Life on Mars.
- PBS has a new American Masters at 9.
- History Channel has a new MonsterQuest at 9.
- There's a new Spectacle on Sundance Channel at 9.
- Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters International at 9.
- Fine Living has a new Whatever, Martha at 9.
- At 10, FX has a new Damages.
- TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne at 10.
- A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter at 10.
- MTV has a new Real World at 10.
- Also at 10: Bravo has a new Top Chef.
- At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Important Things with Demetri Martin.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Old Christine, Life On Mars, Top Chef, Damages
Posted Feb 4th 2009 4:05PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, NBC has a new Knight Rider, then new episodes of Life and Law and Order.- FOX has a new American Idol at 8, followed by a new Lie To Me.
- At 9, ABC has a new Lost, then a new Life on Mars.
- CBS has Katie Couric's All Access Grammy Special at 9.
- Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters International at 9.
- G4 has two new episodes of The Chaser's War on Everything at 9.
- There's a new Spectacle on Sundance at 9.
- Showtime has a new Inside The NFL at 9.
- At 10, TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
- FX has a new Damages at 10.
- Bravo has a new Top Chef at 10.
- Travel Channel has a new Man vs. Food at 10.
- Also at 10: MTV has a new Real World.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Lost, Lie To Me, Life, Life On Mars, Letterman, Leno
Posted Jan 30th 2009 5:21PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Sports, Commercials, Super Bowl, Reality-Free
NBC is airing the
Super Bowl this year. Sunday's all-day telecast (several hours of pre-game and probably another four or so for the game itself) will feature a wide variety of guests. Which of these guests are not going to be seen during the broadcast?
Keith Olbermann
Sarah Palin
Tina Fey
Top Chef's Tom Colicchio
Matt Lauer
Al Roker
Bruce Springsteen
Bob Costas
Jay Leno
Conan O'Brien
Continue reading Everyone in the world will be on NBC this Super Bowl Sunday
Posted Jan 29th 2009 5:05PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Food/Home/DIY, Celebrities
I love British chef Gordon Ramsay. I love watching him on TV, whether it's his Fox shows --
Hell's Kitchen or
Kitchen Nightmares -- or the ones that have turned up on BBC America like
Ramsay's Boiling Point and the most recent show,
The F Word. The F stands for food, by the way. Much as I love him, though, I don't think I want him as a teacher.
Well, that's what he's going to be doing next. The Simon Cowell of cooking is plotting something new for the network.
Ramsay's doing a special cooking show for Fox in the Julia Child tradition, teaching how to do what he does. The idea is for Gordon to create a three-course dinner while giving home viewers instructions about how to do it with him.
Continue reading Gordon Ramsay plans another Fox food program
Posted Jan 28th 2009 4:03PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, CBS has a special edition of The CBS Evening News.- NBC has a new Knight Rider at 8.
- FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Lie To Me.
- PBS has a two-hour installment of Make 'Em Laugh at 8.
- At 9, ABC has a new Lost, then a new Life on Mars.
- Food Network has a new Throwdown with Bobby Flay at 9.
- There's a new Ghost Hunters International at 9 on Sci-Fi.
- Fine Living has a new Whatever, Martha at 9.
- Sundance has a new Spectacle at 9.
- At 10, NBC has a new Law and Order.
- TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns at 10.
- FX has a new Damages at 10.
- MTV has a new Real World at 10.
- Also at 10: Bravo has a new Top Chef.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: CBS Evening News, Life On Mars, Top Chef
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