katisha

I don't know what made me sadder, Uncle Robbie crying or Jock comforting him... 😢 And Declan remains in favour because he was trying to cheer Robbie up. Can't say I'm that upset that Amy's gone because once you pointed out the giggling, @Snazzy Daisy, it started to really bug me. 😆 I reckon this two-part challenge is deceptive. Some might remember that that's what brought Sashi undone so early on in Fans v Favourites last year. He spent a lot of time fussing over some bread and it meant he neglected the main part of the dish, the curry, which ended up being all out of balance (which is so unlike the way he'd usually cook).

Hope it's OK that I started this new thread, mods!

That's not very fair. She was wearing an unusually noxious outfit quite well. Meow! 🐈😂 Got two episodes to comment on tonight. Just harking back to the challenge one last night, whilst I veer between quite liking Declan and having him wear on my last nerve, I went back to liking him again last night. Challenges have a way of showing the genuinely hard workers because even though I would never choose to cook fish since I dislike how it smells and tastes, I'm positive that having to fillet, prepare and cook that many portions was considerably more difficult than just about anyone else's job on either team, so you can't fault Declan's work ethic. Plus he did it in good spirits - I chuckled at his comments about how he'd prepped so many barramundi that he was "probably gonna turn into a bloody barramundi". Hah! There were some more funny bits in tonight's episode too, like when Jock asked Robbie what his gift appliance was, he paused and then said..."I dunno!" Robbie's really kind of adorable. And speaking of which, Chef McHottie with the immaculately tousled hair can come back any time. I'm not entirely convinced Declan actually beat him (I never am with the guest chef episodes) but to be fair, I can't really imagine how anyone could make blueberries and mushrooms together taste good so he was probably up against it from the start. I haven't read the spoilers yet for this year but after tonight's episode, if I do, I have a feeling Declan's going to be right up there and we're just gonna have to get used to it!

OMG, Larissa! If the whole gantry is telling you NOT to stir the caramel, here's an idea...maybe don't stir it? Also, how does someone who cannot make a simple caramel even end up on this show? I knew she'd be going because it's such a great story arc, "redemption gone wrong", but she so deserved it for being so bloody dumb!

Very tired tonight and kept falling asleep when trying to watch this episode so ended up forwarding to the judging to see who ended up bottom three. I don't know why it is but it seems to me that on this show, anyone who wins any big advantage they offer, like Larissa does, almost seems to get 'punished' for it by not lasting much longer in the competition. I fear that might be Larissa's destiny.

A few random thoughts... * "I feel very blessed to be in your presence," said Declan to Julie Goodwin. 🤮🤮🤮 * I love Robbie but I do wonder how long they're going to let him make seafood curries. * I was only half listening when Antonio announced that he was cooking "fish and bananas", something he'd never cooked before. "No wonder - sounds disgusting," I thought. Then I realised he said "fish empanadas". 😂😂😂 * Speaking of Antonio, did mentioning his grandma help save him? It usually helps!

Not at all! I think he's trying for the "I'm just a dumb tradie who likes to cook for my mates" angle but it's so obvious that he's not that person!

Usual nice quick episode since I always forward through the "challenge the chef" section. Didn't think it was going to end up in an immunity pin and so it proved. Antonio, can you PLEASE teach Dylan how to say "quesadilla" and "tortilla" for the sake of those of us cringing at home? I can't say any of the contestants have really "grabbed" me yet and made me want to see them succeed, but that's probably because in the early part of the competition sometimes they shove certain people down our throats *cough*Cath*cough*, usually because that person doesn't hang around long (well, we can only hope!). So I'm hoping one of the many who are currently fading into the background will get a chance to strut their stuff soon.

I was very afraid the Blue Team's fish was going to be full of bones or something because the editors tried so hard to foreshadow a problem with all that talk about how many fish would need to be pin-boned and they showed Ralph doing a shocking job of filleting one of the fish. But then someone on the Green Team put WAAOOW in charge of counting portions of pork and Blue were never going to lose. I wonder when Larissa will be making her surprise comeback?

Might have known that Larissa's OMG SECRET SOOPER DOOPER MORE POWER THAN EVER BEFORE!!!!! advantage would have to be used the week after she got it. No surprise there as the same thing happens with every immunity pin that gets given out. I was hoping the choux might trip up our friend WAAAOOOWWW, so of course it turns out she's actually good at it! The COVID outbreak happened so early in the show that I hadn't quite got my head around who was off sick and who wasn't so there was a bit of, "Who is that person again?" in tonight's challenge. Emilia is always good value. Not sure if I misheard but did she say she was pregnant again?

Well, that was a weird elimination. I guess at least we know why there were a couple of random contestant absences in the first week - a COVID wave. And I can't say I really missed having to hear "WAAAAAAAAAOOWWW!" with Kath being on the sick list. Got a good laugh tonight when in round 2, contestants and Mel were asking Robbie with a lot of urgency, "Is your fish cooked? IS YOUR FISH COOKED?!" Robbie, somewhat surprised: "Yeah" as in, what are you all panicking about? 😂 Shame for Andrea to be the first booted, but I suppose someone has to be and his dish was definitely the worst of the three in the second round.

Poor Andy was one of the pallbearers 😭 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12078839/Jock-Zonfrillo-funeral-MasterChef-judge-farewelled-Sydney-attendees-sworn-secrecy.html

Yes, that bogan twang is hard to take. WAAAAAAOOOOWWWW!

Too many! But I liked her a bit better after the immunity episode tonight. She stuffed up but at least she owned up to it and didn't make any dumb excuses. I still don't enjoy the "beat the professional chef" challenges - nothing's changed. Fast-forwarded through the lot in the knowledge that it's highly likely any "wins" the contestants happen to have are about as real as a Married At First Sight "wedding ceremony". Bring on the first elimination!

Katisha, who? 👀 My old brain works on time delay. It hasn't quite made the connection yet - I'll let you know!

Another good episode tonight and I do think Jamie Oliver has a lot to do with that. I'm sure there are those who don't like him but I find him immensely charming, down to earth and just a good bloke. Also glad we got to see a bit more of other contestants besides Brent. I like Antonio and think his skills are pretty good too, although he's going to have to stop referencing wanting his grandmother to be proud of him (or the producers need to stop asking him to reference it). Jessica has a nice vibe to her too. Grace is annoying me but not because she's done anything wrong - she reminds me so much of someone and do you think I can call to mind who that might be? Arggh!

Well, I'm glad I watched tonight but didn't start off with the pre-show tribute to Jock on The Project. My DVR caught most of the Jimmy Barnes tribute where he sang 'Loch Lomond' for Jock - that was already heart-wrenching... 😭 Brief thoughts on the episode... I have mixed feelings on Brent being back because rightly or wrongly, he pulled a lot of focus from the actual new contestants. Also, wasn't he a tradie when first on the show? It says he's a "digital content creator" - maybe something to do with men's health projects? I always want to like the "senior citizen" contestants since I'm over 50 myself, but I fear Kath is going to get really annoying really fast! I like Rue and Ralph. It's always easy to see why Jamie Oliver is so popular. He was great value - positive, enthusiastic and he gave really great feedback. I think we may have a new version of the magic nonna - the magic babushka! Last but not least, I may be imagining it because of what we now know about Jock but he did seem to be a little thinner than I remembered :(

The antivaxxer brigade were there providing some of that yesterday. Got very pissed off and said so. Today I have been reading that apparently Jock had bowel cancer a few years ago, came through it okay but then it returned. Having had chemo myself and experienced what it does to your sense of taste, I can only imagine how tough that would be for someone who works with and loves food. But whatever happened, I am gutted and so sad for his family.

Oh, my God. What horrible news. I just found out... trying to find out what happened. 😔

She was awesome. It's been a while since I watched this one but it's stuck in my mind that at one point, when Sam was complaining yet again about how small everything was and how the shower or bathroom must have been designed for a little baby, she snarked, "You ARE a baby!" and I literally LOL'd. 🤣

In a very populated suburb on Brisbane's outskirts called North Lakes, there are kangaroos everywhere. They love to hang out at the local high school on the cricket/footy fields. There's so many of them that it wouldn't surprise me if there has had to be controlled culling at some stage. So, not so common in the inner city but not impossible to see in the 'burbs! I've visited Cloncurry and Mount Isa. I would NEVER want to live there! And this will seem a stupidly vain reason, but I have very fine straight hair which is very prone to static electricity. Mount Isa is a hot but dry place. I reckon I would nearly have to shave my head to survive out there without looking like I'd stuck my finger in a light socket every day. 🤣

Stopping by to add a little local knowledge - not only is it not far from Mount Coolum to Noosa, but it's a pretty and scenic drive so you'd think a motorbike aficionado would actually enjoy the trip! So my guess is, yeah, producer driven. I like Lucas too. I'd be glad to have him show me around a few properties. 🥰 That's a good point and yes, they would have had that (only here, we call them "body corporates". I don't know anyone who owns a unit/townhouse/condo who doesn't pay those in Queensland.

Maxine is good value! I only recently discovered this show and I'm somewhat obsessed with it. I live in Brisbane and in 2020 when I was looking to move to an inner city property, one of the open houses in New Farm was run by none other than Maxine herself! She's pretty glam in real life too.

Just posting again to say that in Australia on Sunday nights, one of the local channels is showing re-runs of really early SVU and ironically, tonight's first episode was Manhunt from S2. Munch and Fin were very much front and centre in this episode and Richard Belzer did some really good work, especially right at the end where he told the rape victim who had escaped the serial killers that she could sleep with her lights out now because they'd caught the perp.

Through reading this thread I've only just caught up with the news about Richard Belzer's passing. Very sad - I loved the actor and the character of John Munch. RIP 😢