That's the same Toby Young that Simon Pegg played in that movie with Kirsten Dunst that got awful reviews a few months back, isn't it?

Yes, which I didn't realize until about 30 minutes into the film, at which point everything about him on TC clicked into place.

Anybody watch ABDC tonight? Man, Beat Freaks are just pwning everybody. They're flat amazing.

Sad, but not all that surprised to see Strikers go. I just felt bad for Mike? because he was so heartbroken at having made the error that probably cost them the round. But they probably wouldn't have been at the top in the end anyway. So there's that.

Survivor--Interesting tribal council. Looks like Coach got everyone to vote for Candice.

How skeevy was he with Erin? "Give me a kiss." Really? REALLY?!

Survivor: The whole hidden idol thing is driving me bonkers. I'm assuming the exile island note is referring to the same one as the original one these two losers can't seem to find the clues for. I had high hopes when Sierra brought Brendan in, but, alas.

Regarding tribal: It was clear either Coach or Candace were creating conflict and one was going to go. My theory? Candace fell victim to the Survivor lawyer syndrome: "I'm a lawyer--I can rationally convince these people of my plan". On the other hand, "Coach" (God I hate that), as a coach and symphony conductor, actually has to lead people on a regular basis, and he did just that.

I'm assuming the exile island note is referring to the same one as the original one these two losers can't seem to find the clues for.

I'm not sure - Sierra told whoever it was that the idol she knew about could only be used at the first TC. I didn't remember that from last week though - if that's true, then it must be a different idol. If it's not true and she made it up, then it was probably a clever move since if they'd found it, the two of them wouldn't end up fighting over it since she was the only one of them likely to be at risk.

I'm not sure - Sierra told whoever it was that the idol she knew about could only be used at the first TC. I didn't remember that from last week though - if that's true, then it must be a different idol. If it's not true and she made it up, then it was probably a clever move since if they'd found it, the two of them wouldn't end up fighting over it since she was the only one of them likely to be at risk.

I don't remember the first tribal thing. Why would they still look for it if that were the case?

Because her tribe hadn't been to tribal yet.

Oh, right, duh.

I'm glad she didn't get voted out, I'm sort of rooting for her at this point. I love that she got the camp together, and she has proved to be scrappy in the challenges, despite her size.

Richard Blais has a Top Chef blog up:

Carla hasn’t shucked oysters before? Really? This is an alarming admission, but really speaks to her strength. She’s not concerned with what she doesn’t know. She isn’t running around worrying about how Stefan is the guy to beat. She’s in her own world. It’s a strange place I’m sure, but it really is her greatest attribute. It’s not love, or spirits, or soul, or whatever we are led to believe. It’s keen self-awareness and confidence.

Top Chef:

She has calmed down. She was the whackaloon in the beginning, and a little irritating, but she's chilled out and now is charmingly eccentric.

This. So much this. I think Carla is going to pull this one out. She really seems to have come away from the last few New York challenges with the confidence to do it. From what little I've seen of the last episode, she's not the least bit nervous about it, and that can make all the difference.

I have to wonder how much of Carla's personality evolution is genuine and how much of it is editing. When you have a contestant who was doing poorly in the beginning but who you know will be in the finals, it's no big stretch to give them an arc for the audience to follow.

Heh. Also this. That was probably my biggest eye opener upon working on film and TV - it's the editor's project. Principal photography is just parts manufacturing.

Tangentially related - a friend of a friend saw Watchmen. The only tidbit I've gleaned so far is that all that slo-mo in the trailers? Not in the movie. The sequences are, but they're not in slo-mo. Movie trailer editors just make shit up.