mlp

For some reason, Mimi didn't bug me as much in LCK as she did during the main show but I still wasn't sorry to see her go. I hope Bailey is next. I wonder why Tom is retaining two chefs to compete against the next one who packs their knives. Isn't it usually one on one or am I remembering that wrongly?

Some of those connections were intuitive but there were a couple I would never have guessed. I didn't know that Crayola had gone the route of kooky color names. I was expecting burnt sienna and raw umber. Showing my age again I guess. I've been wondering about Brian's odd shirt since the beginning so I was happy to learn it has something to do with hockey. I'm still curious about that red tab at the neckline.

I've never really understood all the raving about ramen that I've seen on more than a few shows. However, I have to admit that the only ramen I've ever had is the kind that comes dried in little packages three for a dollar. I imagine I'd have a different opinion if I tried the real thing. Still, it's noodles in broth. How marvelous can that be? I don't dislike her. I just find her effervescence a bit tiresome. She'll calm down as she gets older. Right now, she clearly knows what she's doing and is good at what she does. The other contestants seem to like her.

I didn't get it either. I also didn't understand why Priya didn't set him straight as they were going to be judged together. Maybe she's just too nice. The other thing I didn't get was the portals. I don't know what they look like in Minecraft but they didn't look like much to me. It seems like a portal should connect the two locations or there should be identical portals, one on each side - an exit and entrance so to speak. Most of them just looked like an arch slapped on. I like Priya, Corey and Julian even though his awful haircut is a distraction.

I don't understand what the producers could think it adds to the show. There probably was some shock value the first time but the current cast probably watched the last season so they won't be very surprised. I don't like it and I'll bet the chefs don't either. What's the point?

Yes and that sort of surprised me because all of them have serious credentials. There's a lot on the line - reputation, money - so I guess that shouldn't be surprising. I kept thinking that I knew Shuai Wang from somewhere but I couldn't think where I would have seen him before. Then I realized that he looks a lot like Buddha.

I do too because a hat that serves no useful purpose is an affectation. I have no problem with things like sweat bands and the occasional kerchief seen on Chopped when the purpose is to keep hair back. It's the hats worn as costumes that annoy me. (I mean hats in kitchens only.)

My thoughts exactly. I didn't like Mimi (and her hat) on the main show and I liked Ying. Tom really had no choice when she left off two ingredients but I was sorry to see her go. I hope Sam continues to do well.

Beatrice is rather impressive for being just a teenager. She seems to know what she's doing but her bubbly, exuberant personality is going to make me nuts before this is over. She'll probably win.

The categories were a mixed bag for me tonight. I knew all the TV Chefs but only two of the Real Housewives and that's because I've seen them on other shows. I've never watched any of the Housewives shows and had never even heard of most of them. The rest of the categories were somewhere in between. Brian seems like a nice guy. The other contestants seem happy for him winning all that money by just standing there. He must get along well behind the scenes. The chyron said the balding guy with a grey beard is 39. He looks 59. That has to be a typo. I'm not good at recognizing movie stars but even I knew Tom Hanks. :)

Off to an interesting start. I liked Priya right away and she looks like she may go far. I also liked Kareem but I doubt he'll last much longer. He just doesn't have the knowledge and skills of most of the others. I don't care what life problems Kari has had to overcome and I was put off by her introducing herself the way she did but I have to admit that her winning pie was impressive. I think having the first episode be two hours long is a good idea because it gives them time to introduce all the contestants and show us a little bit of their personalities.

I was happy with the first two matches because I like both Michael Reed and Shota and I thought their dishes looked better than the opposing ones. I wasn't very invested in match 3. Both dishes looked good to me. I didn't care for Kaleena on TC and I've never been a big fan of Chris mostly because I have no interest in offal which he's known for. However, he has a good reputation as a chef and he did win TC Masters so I was leaning his way. I wanted Chris Oh to win the last match because I like him but his dish wasn't "elevated" and didn't even look good to me. Britt deserved her win. She's obviously a very good cook and a creative chef but her ego is turning me off. She seemed pleasant and grateful for praise after her first win but now she's all braggadocio. I don't know if success has gone to her head or what but now she's like listening to Carlos Anthony talk himself up. Not appealing.

Actually, his hair bothers me more than his behavior. The producers probably tell him to pour on the acting but the hair is his own conceit, probably aided and abetted by some stylist backstage who also poofed up Gordon's hair although not to such a dorky level. I've never disliked Blais like many people do but I have to admit that he can be very needy and annoying. I don't think he's a bad guy at heart.

I remember saying, during the first season, that one of the things I really liked about this show was that there was minimal hugging and squealing and such. The duels were the main focus. Each season they get a little farther away from that. I guess the producers think there should be more excitement. I'd prefer an atmosphere more like Jeopardy. I did OK on a couple categories and poorly on the ones that involved TV and popular culture. I didn't know half of the TV moms but I was astounded that the contestant didn't recognize Edith Bunker. Probably showing my age there. I keep hoping someone will pick TV chefs. I watch so many cooking competitions that I figure I should do well in that category.

True. They were both on a Christmas show a few years ago too. (Elf on the Shelf?) It just seems to me like the dynamics would be different between a show with, for example, three judges and Jesse and the kids' show where there's just the two of them.

I would have been happy if either Micah or Piper had won but, in the end, I think Duff and Kardea made the right choice. Micah isn't as neat a decorator as Piper but his flavors won out. This was a good season. I think it's the first time I've liked all of the kids. Most of them did very well for their young ages. I think Kardea did just fine for a first season on an established show. I'm sure she had to be aware of all the pro-Valerie flak on FB so it was probably a bit hard to step into that position. She and Duff seemed to have a good rapport already. I give them both credit for making it work.

I was happy with this round because all four of the people I wanted to win did win. I know Wolfgang Puck's reputation as a chef of course but, every time I've seen him on a show, I've thought "egotistical little twerp." Last night wasn't much different. At least he didn't make any off color comments.

Simon has long been one of my favorite people on FN so I was horrified when I read that he has a glioblastoma. The odds are against him but I'm fervently hoping he can beat them.

I think Beatrice may be a bit too big for her britches. I noticed that the mentors and the contestants were all referring to each other as "Chef" - except Beatrice who was addressing all the mentors by first name. Someone needs to tell her that there's a hierarchy in kitchens and she's nowhere near the top.

I was surprised by the math category because it was all grade school multiplication. Maybe it would be hard for young people who don't memorize the tables and rely on the calculators on their phones. Dunno. Most of the rest of the categories would have done me in. Sports anything? No. Yoga? No. Star Trek? I think I knew two of them. I thought it was a hard week.

I hadn't noticed that before but he does look like he's gained back some of the weight he lost. I'll be rooting for him too because I can't stand Tim Love. I hate it whem the brackets pair two people I like and only one can win. This time it's Fabio and Joe Sasto.

I basically agree although I'm not sure which one has the edge. I'll be happy if either of them wins. Micah seems to have a good grip on basic skills and Piper is good at decorating and presentation. I'm not going to guess because either can have a bad day. I've enjoyed the animal theme.

I didn't know many of the chefs this round so I didn't get very excited about any of the matches. I didn't care for Pyet on Next Level Chef so I was hoping her opponent would win. It was sort of interesting to see Dara all grown up, I have nothing against her but I was happy David moved on. I like Stephanie Boswell but her concept wasn't great and her fish sandwich didn't look all that good so I wasn't surprised when she lost. I can't believe that Maneet agreed to wear that awful dress. It looked like something I wore to the junior prom in 1961.

Well, darn. I liked the handsome pilot and the lawyer and they didn't last long. I couldn't argue with Jimmy's elimination but I wouldn't have minded looking at him a whiile longer. I wondered if Nick was recruited for just one episode. You'd think that all food-oriented home cooks would watch a lot of cooking on TV and that they'd all know to plate crispy skin up and without anything wet on top. Even I know that. Nick doing that seemed odd to me. I like Arnav. After his first remarks, I thought he was going to be a cocky teenager but I was impressed when I saw the rest of his story. I hope he does well.

When Chris was on 24 in 24 he had white hair. I liked it. Now he's back to his natural color but his face is older so he looks different. He's come a long way since he was on TGFTR due to hard work. I've always liked him. I did not like Mika on 24 in 24. I thought she seemed overly impressed with herself. Carlos has toned down his mini-Malarkey shtick. Thank goodness. I wish he'd drop it altogether. He didn't act like that when he was on Wildcard Kitchen and I liked him a lot better. From things I've read, I gather that he's an excellent chef. Dawn is just not cut out to be a competition chef. No shame in that. Did Hunter Fieri get married? I thought he was wearing a wedding ring but couldn't be sure.