caci

I didn't see the Chicago episode, but I am not getting it. How can you have a tri level house with only a few stairs? Did they want one of those obnoxious high ceilings? What a waste of space!

I wasn't paying attention and only saw the first picture. None of them really enthused me, though, although I could see them being alright in an apartment or smaller house. As far as the flooding, that's something I hadn't thought of and a danger to be sure. Still, I look at what my elderly father has to go through to do the laundry and I think it would be nice to have the washer and dryer upstairs in a room of its own. Maybe that would help with flooding. I don't know. A laundry chute or a dumb waiter sound heavenly also. (Btw, just so noone thinks I'm being really evil and not helping my dad out, he actually loves to do laundry. That gene sure didn't pass down to me! It's just not the easiest task for him with the machines being in the basement.)

After having to lug laundry up and down the basement stairs and then years going to the laundrymat, I appreciate the want of a spacious laundry room. However, the one in the picture didn't really impress me. It actually seemed a bit cramped with the machines being at the end. I also don't see why so many sheves and drawers would be needed. Just give me the washer and dryer, a large sink (that one was too small and unpractical), and some counter space with a shelve or two for detergent. The laundry room wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, but when touring houses, I do find myself looking at the size and location of the room.

Seriously, truely, intensely hated Michelle's dress! Plus, her model looked like she had a fat lip. The fact that the judges liked the look was mildly disturbing. I am glad Dimitry won and liked his outfit, but it wasn't my favorite of the season. Justin seems like a nice guy, but I am not really sorry to see him go. The outfit I liked the best was Sonja's. I couldn't believe it was just safe, but maybe it wasn't avant garde enough.

My UO - I never thought Betty White was all that funny.

You are probably right about that. I don't remember very many of the early seasons plots of the show, but it did seem to go for more topical material with a few different points of view and some very funny lines. Then, it devolved into "I know best and if anyone disagrees, they must be imbeciles." It was semi watchable during ordinary shows, totally unwatchable when they had a "special" topic to ram down the viewers throats. (Sorry, did I mention that I came to really dislike the show?)

It's amazing how many of these episodes I actually remember. My fondest memories, though, are for the ones that put more comedy into the situation (early episodes of MASH, WKRP, Newsradio and such). So many others I felt just were trying too hard to be important that it was hard to take them seriously. Dealing with the real life death of an actor, I understand, but as someone said, too many serious stories came off as self-righteous and wayyyy too heavy handed. (In my own opinion, Designing Women was one of the worst. The first couple of years were ok, but then I got to the point where I wanted to slap everyone of those women. I stopped watching early on.) Those special epsodes had Emmy desire written all over them but weren't always very good. Anyway, I remember the actress who played the mother on Growing Pains complaining that they weren't doing enough hard edged shows. She mentioned that Roseanne was dealing with teen pregnancy and their show was dealing with a lice storyline. I thought two things - one: every sitcom at that point had teen pregnancy stories, To do a lice story was much more original in my book and, in some ways, harder for people to watch. Two: IT'S A SITCOM! Most people watch family sitcoms to mindlessy forget the world for a half hour. Sometimes that's needed more than "very special episodes".

I did see the Greenland one and thought they picked the right place. For the most part, I go for the houses or apartments that more model the country. I mean, if you are going to live in a foreign country, why choose a place too much like home? However, I don't think I could go for the tiny, tiny bathroom with the shower above the toilet. Has anyone ever lived with that? I was watching another repeat with a family that moved from England to Australia. They kept equivilating warmer weather with a better life. I have noticed this before on episodes when people move to a warmer climate. I live in a cold climate, so I get how it can get tiresome. But warm weather is not always going to automatically equate to a great life if there are problems with money, jobs, relationships etc. I just find it tiresome.

Cassandra can go anytime. I may be in the minority, but I like Eve. Usually her kind of character annoys me, but for some reason, she doesn't. I like the guys, but they need episodes focusing on them. At this point, everyone is still a bit vague characterwise. I'm sure that will change going forward. I like this show. It's just fun.

Seriously, what is it going to take to send Sam home? That dress was horrendous! It was a mediocre episode. Nothing really impressed and, except for Sam's dress, nothing was really bad. Maybe that was why everyone was safe this week Hopefully, it will be better next week.

Disappointing, just disappointing. I would have been ok if Erin's baked goods were good or at least halfway decent, but they sounded really unappetizing. Bill should have won for giving an above average decoration (even with the roof falling) and wonderful baked goods. As an aside, it would have been nice if they had some help for this final challenge. I would have loved to have seen what they could have come up with, both in decorating and baking. Even though I was disappointed in the ending, I still liked this show. It was just something nice to watch for the season.

I liked the Christmas episode. It was just fun. The winner, though, looked very familiar. I'm thinking he was in another cooking show, maybe Chopped? Does anyone know?

I actually liked Fabio's dress, but the styling was bad. I can't believe they didn't give Michelle hell for that ugly and ill fitting skirt. It's times like these that I wish for the judges in the original show. I don't think anyone of them would have let that (or Samantha's hideous outfit) pass, but I could be wrong. Gunnar was a favorite of mine, but it was time for him to go. I did, though, have a good laugh at the Russian roulette bit. Zanna did, indeed, look a little shocked and scared.

I have to say that I do like these short term competitions, such as this and Halloween Wars. They aren't too drawn out and the competitors are usually fairly likable. In some ways, they remind me of the sorely missed Food Network Challenge show. If I can't have that back, these shows will do.

I would probably normally dislike Bill's snarky attitude towards Erin. However, she is just so annoying that I get where he is coming from. The thing is, she probably is genuinally a sweetheart, but, good lord, does she need to take it down a notch! Please, Bill or Naylet for the win.

I actually didn't mind the silly pop-ups. It was entertaining. What I didn't like was the annoying "ding" for each pop-up. Too loud and too many.

I finally saw the Scott Conant tong episode and there isn't much to add - it was really stupid. I am going to go one step further, though, and say I didn't much care for the chef he insulted. She said something about processed food and how could she ever cook with it?. Everytime a contestant says something like that, I automatically want them to lose. You are going to compete on a long running show that has used chicken in a can and gummy rats. What kind of food do you think you are going to be cooking with? Just shut up and cook what's in front of you. I like the chefs that embrace the odd foods and usually want them to win.

I recently saw the stripper pole episode. Honestly I wouldn't have cared if they were they most obnoxious couple on the show (they weren't), because I LOVED the fact the caterer wife wanted a closed off kitchen. I just wanted to reach in the tv and hug her!

I like the wix.com commercials. One has the tennis lessons gone wrong and the other is the parrots that keep mocking the owner. I'm not sure why, but I laugh everytime I see them.

Lately, on both this and other cooking competition shows, it seems more and more contestants want to give their money away, whether it's to a charity or a needy sister. This bothers me no end! I get that it is their money to do with what they wish, but it brings the sob story to a whole new obnoxious level. So one contestant wants to take his wife to some expensive restaurant in Paris for a second honeymoon and the other wants to give his money to the homeless. Let's see, which one should the judges pick?

I really liked most of the dresses this episode, but I disagreed with some of the judging. Sonja's dress didn't do much for the model's figure, but I did like the lace. I kept expecting the dress to fall off Helen's model and I, too, liked Benjamin's dress. Dimitry's I really liked. The one thing I didn't like was the reason behind the challenge. If there is one thing that annoys me is symbolism challenges. Most stories come off as fake or pretentious. "This red band symbolizes the hopes and dreams of my life" and so on. Ugh! I wasn't moved by any of their romantic history and, truthfully, could care less about any of it. As I listened all I could think of was high school literature class and trying to bull my way through essay questions. The whole thing was obnoxious. Ketzel, I just read your post and you said just what I was thinking but in a much funnier way. I would have loved to hear one of the contestants say something like that.

I liked this episode. The quick fire challenge was fun with the food looking esp. good. The visit to Cheers didn't take over the whole episode and wasn't over fawning like last week's show. The elimination challenge had, for me, just the right amount of drama. The chefs got along but there was just enough tension for entertainment value. Adimittidly, I like Richard Blaise, but I really didn't hear anything he said on the show that was so horrible to make him so disliked. I know it's a stupid thing, but I didn't like how they got to pick their own teams. i just thought of some of those uncomfortable times in grade school with some people looking at each other. Much better when they pick numbers. In total agreement with the Micheal Schlow like.

I think he said he grew up in the ghettos of Sacramento, not that the city itself was, but I would have to watch it again. I really liked the Superstar finale, too. They all looked like they were having fun. Aarti, for me, is much better in small doses so I was glad she was eliminated first. Still, I have to give it to her for picking the fish products for her meatballs. That was kind of gutsy. I like Fabio and wish he had won, but I had no problem with Eric winning. I'm not big on lollipops, but his lolli - flops (I think that's what he called them) looked pretty good. The winning one must have been terrific. Anyway, great finale!

As I mentioned earlier, I do understand the history and reverence of Fenway. It probably is a beautiful ballpark. I'm fine with people who love it. What I did not love, in regards to the episode, was the constant slobbering over it. For me, it became distracting and annoying. I watch the show for the food competiton, not for a continuous history lesson and love fest. Plus, it annoyed me how EVERYONE was so captivated. I can't believe there wasn't one contestant who thought , "so what, I don't like baseball, couldn't care less." No, on air everyone had to to be admiring. For me, that came off as fake and producer driven. Now, ironically, I was switching between Top Chef and the World Series, so maybe I missed someone's blase response. If someone did respond that way, then I apologize. Again, my issue was not with Fenway, Boston, or its citizens. I would love to go to visit. I just think the show overdid the Fenway act. Unfortunatley, I see more and more of Top Chef using landmarks as Chopped uses sob stories - overblown and overdone. It takes over the food competition itself.

I'm with you. Anyone can win besides Aarti. With my luck, though, she will be the one to win. I also love Fabio. My favorite part was him shouting out, "Yes, I get to keep my tree!" He really got into the whole competition.