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.

The "Project Runway" finale was evidently taped today. Writes the Associated Press:

NEW YORK — "Project Runway" taped its sixth-season finale Friday, but something was missing: the finalists. Because of a legal battle, three unknown designers sent their collections down the runway at the tents in Bryant Park on the final day of New York Fashion Week. The designers stayed hidden backstage.

The new season of "Project Runway," which aired on Bravo, has been delayed because of a legal battle involving NBC Universal, which owns Bravo; the Weinstein Co.; and the Lifetime Channel.

That must have been one weird show ...

Wow -- I didn't even know they were shooting.

Wow -- I didn't even know they were shooting.

Yeah, I've seen bits and pieces about the lawsuit on the wire, but they kept the shooting SERIOUSLY mum. I guess the season was supposed to start airing last month.