December 6, 2007
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OK before I get into Runway and other stuff, let me remind you that tonight it's our first-ever "Top Chef Holiday Special" featuring chefs from 3 seasons. (Betty, CJ, Marcel, Tiffani, Tre, Sandee, Stephen, and Josie) competing for 20 Grand that goes right in the winner's pocket. It is a fun show, 90 minutes followed by my favorite episode of "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style" with a fascinating makeover subject.
Remember at the begining of the season when Tim said in the press that he thought fans were going to be pissed at the judges a lot this year? Well, I am sitting in a cab now writing this anticipating picketers in front of 30 Rock in support of Chris March, burning effigies of La Garcia and Co. I wonder if you guys agree with the verdict, but are pissed that Chris went because you love him so much? Or if you actually disagree with the verdict. Sometimes I THINK something's going to be controversial and I am off the mark.
I am really interested to hear your opinions on this because it was a decision the judges were quite dug in about. It was amazing having Donna Karan on the panel, and she got very involved in the deliberation and was very precise in her interpretation of the challenge rules. It was quite a long, vocal deliberation.
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Comments
Mike B. wrote:
It sucks, if nothing else Chris seemed to be the narrator for the first group of episdes, and it was good narration.
posted on December 6, 2007 at 11:45 AM
wannabe wrote:
Hey Andy:
I do disagree with the decision. First, the judges attack Chris because his collection "lacks cohesion." In fact, his collection was every bit as cohesive as the winning collection -- both relied pretty much solely on fabric and color as the unifying theme. You can't tell me Rami's dress looks like it belongs with Jillian's crew.
Second, Chris is stuck using shoulder pads. Of all the "trends" it was the only one that was a dimension rather than a fabric or style. He used them and got trashed.
Third, Ricky's collection just looked awful. The satin was a poor choice of material, and all 3 outfits looked like they'd been slept in. None of them looked remotely wearable, which is how I would define "relevant." I understand that the judges gave Ricky a pass because of Victorya's undermining behavior, but let's face it -- none of those dresses were good, and Ricky's was really poorly executed. Victorya was the other party in the argument, but at least hers was well-done.
Whatever the aesthetic judgments regarding Chris' collection, all 3 were well-executed and all 3 are actually wearable, ie "relevant."
The judging was totally ass, and the show is in danger of jumping the shark.
posted on December 6, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Sarah wrote:
I like Chris, I like Ricky. I think Chris's collection was pretty bad, save for Sweet P. I thought Ricky's collection was not modern and looked very amateurish. It looked like something someone from 1940 thought people in 1984 would be wearing on their spaceships. Not good. I thought Ricky deserved to go for the shoddy construction on the shoddy outfits. Incidentally, I'm wearing "Dirt" in my hair today, am I stuck in the '90's?
posted on December 6, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Julia wrote:
Oh my, can't believe the holiday top chefs show ended up with this way. I really think it is a terrible idea to have those chefs to take their food back when they were told they were out. TERRIBLE! That was insane. But it was fun to see CJ and Tre back.
posted on December 6, 2007 at 12:13 PM
lisa wrote:
I didn't think the PR elimination was controversial at all. Chris' shoulderpad jacket was the worst garment on the runway (by far) and his team's "collection" was not cohesive.
posted on December 6, 2007 at 12:32 PM
EMMA P wrote:
Andy,
I am COMPLETELY steamed Chris was auf'ed! That hot mess Ricky pulled from his keister should have been wiped from the face of the earth. And the dress, too! Chris' dress was gorgeous! I actually liked the jacket, though to give a more current edge, I would have made cap sleeves. What else are you going to do w/ shoulder pads, use them as pasties? Tim Gunn, bless his prescient heart, was right. I'm digging in for PR4, the pissed off season.
posted on December 6, 2007 at 12:45 PM
liza wrote:
is that the famed nutritional psychologist, Dr. Amanda Baten?
posted on December 6, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Sebrina wrote:
I was a little disappointed that Chris was let go. I really liked him and thought he has been very consistant since the start of the show. Even though I like Ricky (and his story about his humble beginnings) he came up short last week as well as on this challenge. I think he should of left.
By the way Andy, I sooooo miss Tim's blog on PR. I know he is probably busy with his show, but is there a chance he will blog again for PR. I want him back!!!!! His blog was the main one l looked forward to reading the next day after watch an episode.
Please tell him that we miss him.
Thanks
posted on December 6, 2007 at 1:11 PM
John wrote:
"The Comeback" is one of my favorite shows EVER. "I don't need to SEE that!"
I think my dismay with the PR decision is more based on how much I like Chris, but I did think his dress was gorgeous. Maybe not-so-much the jacket, but the whole package of Chris' 3 looks far overpowered Ricky's. Sad, but such is life (and fashion!).
I'm off to read Jay's recap on elle.com if it's up yet. Have you checked it out? The man is hilariouis!
posted on December 6, 2007 at 2:01 PM
Eva wrote:
I was so sure that Ricky would be auf'd last night. I never try to guess, but after watching for so long, I felt confident that I was right since the construction and finishing was so, so poor on that team's garments. I thought judges couldn't stand bad sewing. Sigh. I will go back to never thinking I know anything about how it all works!
posted on December 6, 2007 at 2:41 PM
Lilithcat wrote:
I do disagree. I thought Chris' garment was beautiful. (I know I'm in the minority here, though.) And those satin thingies from Ricky's group - gag me with a spoon!
But my real gripe is with the nature of these group challenges. In effect, there are two separate competitions going on. One is a design competition, in which all the designers are competing. But there is a second one, a "group leader" competition, in which only a few participate. It's not fair. (Particularly as the loser of that competition is guaranteed an "auf-ing" if their team loses, even if his or her own design is excellent, but has no equivalent benefit.)
posted on December 6, 2007 at 4:49 PM
Lon wrote:
Sorry to run counter to Project Runway comments, but I was hoping Chef Tom, or one of the others, would write about the Christmas Special of Top Chef.
Given the quality of the guest chefs/judges, and the quality of the food, I think it needs some commentary.
Congratulations to Tiffani. So close twice before and finally a winner.
posted on December 6, 2007 at 5:19 PM
Tundrababe wrote:
What was up with Top Chef playing last night after the second showing of Runway? How does that make tonight the premiere?
I totally disagreed with the challenge more than anything, it didn't make any sense. How can you make anything look decent using neon and shoulder pads, and why would you even want to? The winning collection didn't even incorporate all the elements (that was not a poodle skirt!). Christian's collection was better, I thought, but it wasn't even considered as a contender. Ricky's garment wasn't even well made, and his team couldn't get along, but somehow Chris got kicked off because they didn't like the shoulder pads in his jacket? Come on. That dress underneath wasn't that bad. His team got along. The stuff was finished. If anyone should have been kicked off it should have been Ricky or Stephen. It sucks that the team leader is always punished, it's like the kiss of death. Chris had consistently showed better clothes than Ricky, who chose lousy fabrics to the detriment of his teammates. I think people are also upset that Ricky keeps getting a free pass for execution problems, which normally gets you thrown off as soon as Nina sees it. I could go on and on, but I think that maybe the judges were smoking crack that night. Usually they make the right decision but I think tonight they were just wrong.
posted on December 6, 2007 at 5:40 PM
Alex wrote:
It would be fantastic to have Anthony Bourdain blog about Project Runway. I would love to get his take on THAT show!
posted on December 6, 2007 at 7:54 PM
Big Daddy wrote:
I think Ricky should have gone.
I disagree with the judges and didn't think Chris' collection was that bad.
Ricky has a problem with his finishing on his garments.
posted on December 6, 2007 at 8:03 PM
Lori B wrote:
Hi Andy,
Love your fav things. Please do a part two.
I am sad Chris is gone. He was thoughtful and talented. His mistake was voting for himself to go. Ricky's spat with Victorya fired up his survival instinct, so he stays to play another day.
A bit of WD-40 or bar soap might help that sticky window.
Very cool, but PLEASE be careful!
LB
posted on December 7, 2007 at 12:02 AM
FanFare wrote:
Dear Andy,
I'm glad you asked.
RE: PR's latest castoff - Yes, Chris' ensemble was unattractive. However, it looked well sewn. Ricky's dress was a mess. I thought Elisa's contribution did not really look cohesive to the others of that team. The larger issue is this: Ricky has been given a pass each time he has seen the chopping block. This was Chris' first time down the plank. Why wasn't he given a 2nd chance (wheereas Ricky has been given 3 chances)?
It smacks of unfairness, no matter which iconic designer was added to the judges' chairs.
RE: TC Holiday Special
I rather liked the mood and offerings (overall) of the cooks in this festive contest. Tiffani's win seemed justified - although Tre could easily have been chosen as well. It demonstrated that both S-1 and S-3 chefs were a cut above the S-2 cooks. That said, I cannot fathom why the less successful cooks (of any season) were included in this show. Sandee, Josie and Battle Axe Betty had no business being there, at all.
posted on December 7, 2007 at 10:11 AM
lance wrote:
Dirt is 90's? If I remember correctly, Antin was featuring that stuff until at least 2005.
posted on December 11, 2007 at 5:36 PM