My Tivo decided that 18=180 and I had to tape the 12:45 rebroadcast.

But, I thought that Jen rocked as executive chef and they did, in fact, get rid of the clueless chef. I think that Mike was hoping to ride on the coat tails of Michael V.'s dish. I wonder what the judges would have done if he hadn't made that second dish?

And I wonder if Ashley expressed discomfort at cooking for the military but TC chose to not air that because they didn't want her to be the villain? Or because it's so impolitic?

And I wonder if Ashley expressed discomfort at cooking for the military but TC chose to not air that because they didn't want her to be the villain? Or because it's so impolitic?

It's probably not quite as emotional an issue for her. Ash (whom I'm growing fond of) admitted that he was anti-war, but that he found the experience moving. So they were probably not opposed to capturing contrary opinions if they could find them.

I wonder what the judges would have done if he hadn't made that second dish?

I'm guessing if they hadn't been so clear about who was responsible for what that Kevin would have won and someone else would have been the third at Losers' Table. If they'd taken the "we share a brain" line the women did I doubt they'd have handed Michael the win and it would have flipped to the other team.

I find the (possibly spoilery) interview with Ashley Merriman in Seattle's "The Stranger" (one of my favorite papers anywhere) to be very enlightening. Love that the reporter included the disembodied voice of the network PR person hovering over the conversation.

Money quote:

I don't know what I'm allowed to say about the editing. [Pause. The Disembodied Voice remains silent.] I will say that to me it seemed like there wasn't really much else going on in that episode, just the men and women going back and forth... The story was made, for sure. My objection was not about the wedding or the party, it was about the behind-the-scenes production. [The Disembodied Voice: "We're not allowed to talk about production." Pause.] Suffice it to say I was disappointed and frustrated with how it came out. Absolutely.

One more from the "Stranger" interview:

I adore Isabella. He comes across as a complete jackass, [but] Michael Isabella is a very talented chef and a very smart man, and I adore him. Knowing the situation and knowing Michael, I didn't take it as anything other than a joke—and in the end, the joke's on him. To me, that's funny.

Huh. It seems the Magical Elves editing monkeys are on overdrive this season ...

I thought that Jen rocked as executive chef

She was awesome as exec chef! She really rode them all very hard and kept them on task and on schedule, like she was supposed to.

and they did, in fact, get rid of the clueless chef.

As soon as Preeti said that, yet again, she had no problems with her dish, I knew she was outta there. Two weeks in a row she can't find the fault in her dish? That's a taste issue, and something that can't be fixed in future challenges.

She was awesome as exec chef! She really rode them all very hard and kept them on task and on schedule, like she was supposed to.

I was a little worried that she didn't actually make anything, but she had immunity, so. I was a little surprised that she didn't try to steer Preeti and Laurine away from the pasta salad, but hey, it is a competition.

I have to say that I was highly amused, and impressed, by Ash's ability to turn the failed attempt to make sweet potato ice cream into "chilled custard" and get himself into the top three of the quickfire! Very smooth move.

And why do they keep super-sizing and not saying so?

I am told that next week is also super-sized.

I have to say that I was highly amused, and impressed, by Ash's ability to turn the failed attempt to make sweet potato ice cream into "chilled custard" and get himself into the top three of the quickfire! Very smooth move.

I really liked that he both was able to cover AND thought it was hilarious when it worked. An excellent combo.