I'm still watching, on the first group.

All the contestants have nothing good to say, and Colicchio's face gets darker and darker. The other real judges are stone faced.

I think - I hope - these people are fucking themselves by trying to be strategic and super critical.

For sure, this wasn't the dynamic last season.

I'm so bored by this season of Top Chef, I'm barely watching. There's just no one I really like, and no one who seems as innovative and promising as the V brothers, or in past seasons.

It makes you wonder who the casting people *thought* would make for good TV this time around. After seasons with Fabio and Stefan, or the group last time, or even someone like Steven or Marcel, who could possibly have stood out as really watchable and fun this time?

Yes. I suspect they thought Angelo would be that. Maybe Kenny? But this crew have watched way too much Survivor. They have the ego but not the passion. (What's her name this week - "I'm as good as Michelle Bernstein. We're the same! It's probably personal if she doesn't like my overcooked shit!) And the rest of them - how do we take them down, not how do I outcook that person.

Compare that to the Vs, Kevin, even fucking Isabella. Not the same thing at all.

Oh please, Nigel, you've been trying to get stepping on the show for years? Whatev', then why hasn't it been, and you had Russian freakin' dance??

Also, much as Kent stepping was kind of ridiculous at that point...can you imagine BILLY trying to step?!?! That routine would've been HILARIOUS with the two of them.

And yes, Comfort's hair was awful, Cat's dress is ...almost as crackho costumer as Twitch's pants, and the camerawork in the paso doble was useless.

But....I'm actually liking Lauren. How did THAT happen???

Meara - Misha Chan or TBC?

I guess the two bottom contestants were the right choices, but there were a couple of moments during the cheftestant judging where the judges were giving WTF looks to the negative comments. I'm hoping they clarify that a bit in the blogs.

I call shifty editing on that. There's no way Group A said ALL negative things and Group B was all sunshine and rainbows and justice. I've liked this challenge in past seasons, but this year the drama edits have got me annoyed.

very much annoyed. before I watched the show last night I thought to myself: should I watch the ep? I kind of care more about America's Got Talent at this point - and that isn't a good sign.

AGT is not a good show.

I call shifty editing on that.

That's my guess too.

Colicchio sez:

While they sounded harsh, and while it seemed as though the members of the second group were being strategic in selecting Kenny’s dish for elimination, they were actually generally fair-minded, usually correct, and most certainly correct about Kenny’s dish, which, despite his posturing, was the weakest in his group. And yes, it was weaker than Amanda’s cartilage-laced Chicken Gallantine. Please trust me on that.

Can I have just one of Colocchio's babies? Just one? A little one?