Refresh

I noticed that the $1 chairs didn't actually match (they were similar but not exact match), the $8 did. I saw the rerun referred to upthread w/ the Brooklyn hipsters who hung lights from the ladder. They were professionals I guess, but I hated all their projects. They didn't really do anything. Compared to the other team of women that maybe tried to transform too much. The ladder was cool by itself and maybe that was the point, keep it in as much original state as possible but then they're just re-sellers and that's not the point of the show. Ugh. Does anyone know - do they film multiple episodes at 1 day's flea market? Seems arbitrary to have only an hour to shop if they don't.

As someone who watches the Bachelor, Jesse is most famous for 2 things on that show. 1) Forgetting the name of one of the women he wanted to give a rose to on the first night. 2) Not proposing to his final pick. I can't hate on #2 but the name forgetting is pretty bad. But I didn't watch Jesse's season (for the era, it was considered stunt-casting which put me off). I find him bland. I think the time constraints of this show can challenge good bakers, but I agree that this batch of bakers is not real strong. I think they're trying to narrow the skill level between the home bakers and the pros to allow more TV moments like "Mr. Garrison" winning the Holiday baking show.

Yes! More Nick, less Shay. I wonder why all the female consultants have to wear black but he gets to wear a blue jacket? I watch this show for the dresses, and I get my love-to-hate out on the brides who spend way too much money or have really tacky taste. But it's harmless and fun. I don't like watching personal work conflict, it stresses me out. I think it's great they finally have a male consultant but why him? He's so attention-y, ugh. I love Pinterest, there's just so much pretty. But I totally agree about the "it's not a thing" occasions getting out of control, and it definitely has enabled that. As well as helping to make the Crafthood Coven of the Wedding Industrial Complex and Birthday Industrial Complex make you feel bad if you didn't make or customize every favor, table centerpiece, cupcake and balloon animal. And I say this as someone who loves to craft, bake and all of that stuff. But it's just sometimes too much. Back to the show... The wedding planner bride was insufferable, but her intern/asst Keira lookes like (or is trying to look) like Adele. I liked her hair and kept imagining her calling Bride on her cell with "Hello from the other SIDE!". During one of Keira's interviews there's a box of napkins labelled "Today is my favorite" Napkins . That about sums it up.

So, turns out (thanks to Instagram) I realize I know Danielle L's sister through work. Her sister is smart, maybe sometimes a bit too perky but I like her a lot. She gets stuff done. For that reason, I don't doubt the legitimacy of the 3 salons anymore. But I do think she's coming off bland.

I literally think Corinne got more air time than Nick this episode. Thats what it felt like at least. I like to bake so I liked the Nickerdoodle cookies. Cute idea. Better if they were snicker doodles (hear that Mary Berry?) since they just looked like sugar cookies to me.

I think the youngest kid is hilarious. I mean he's young so there's not a lot of lines. But the ice cream face, the dancing and the drooling all make me totally giggle.

Loved Sing Street. The Globes do love their musicals (and movies about Hollywood), so thanks to the musical part Sing Street bubbles up and gets exposure.

LOL. Sarah Paulson's orange tongue. eta: what was she drinking/eating?

Winona's dress is Viktor & Rolf? I expected more something. I love Thandie Newton too! She looks amazing and that dress is really cool.

omg, enough will all the plunging necklines! aka missing necklines, or thick suspenders etc. not sure why but a lot of the fashion is giving me 90s. Esp. Michelle Williams.

OMG and holy crap. Thank you for all this information and the posters above you with theirs. Very interesting and scary. I get that this show is focused mostly on the present and recent present, as it should be to push change - it's more gut wrenching to know this kind of thing is still happening now than in the pre-80s when it might come off as folklore even if it's not.

I have a question about Scientology and the transition between L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavage and the level of awfulness/hell under Miscavage's rule. (I've seen Going Clear and i'm up to date with this episode of Leah's investigation. As well I've read a few books on cults here and there. ) So obviously a lot/most of the Scientology policies were put in place under Hubbard (Sea Org, Bridge, SPs etc.) but generally most of the interviewees seem somewhat less negative about their early years with the CoS (I'm thinking of the woman in prev episode that made level VIII) when it was run by Hubbard and most of the issues are with CoS under Miscavage. Who is horrible. Specifically the last 10 years. I believe it's a horrible for-profit cult, but was it less bad while Hubbard was running it? Was it just a smaller group of people? The recruitment wasn't as intense while he was leading? Our times now with internet and the global economy just multiply the greed of the CoS?

I think this is a big one of why Caroline S is being a pill. Reasons more below. None of which I blame her for (I'd be a mess if this was my life) but she's displacing disappointment and fear into just being mean. Other reasons from my armchair: - She's afraid/nervous to go to Dubai (whether because of the new culture, rules or being herself etc.) - even if you're well traveled, moving to a different country is a big deal. - She's worried to go to Dubai because she thinks no one will miss her in London (and she's making this true in some ways) - She's worried to go to Dubai because she'll have to make new friends and it's not easy to make close ones - She's disappointed at the loss/failure of her company - She's unsatisfied at the more typical "housewife" role she has now that she's not working - She's upset at the divorce of Sophie and her brother and she's taking it out on Sophie All together that's a lot. And her personality which is that she's not good at showing weakness or being alone, and there we have it. Lashing out and tantrums.

The first few episodes I doubted Jason had the skills to win, but he just kept getting better and more creative, but not too weird, as the show went on. His cake was the clear winner for me visually. Well deserved. For the most part I really like Cheryls aesthetic, and her bakes sound like they taste great, but she underwhelmed on the final cake. I might have preferred she not add those pink green flowers and kept it super minimal white but with more snow/frosting. Overall a good final 3 though.

She reminds me of the young southern baker who was on last year's Food Network Holiday Baking Competition. Haley her name is. At least I think that's who she reminds me of. I'm curious if they send certain ingredients over. Because while a lot is the same, things like butter, European, are significantly richer than normal "American" butter. Or maybe it's not that weird and there are exact equal ingredients but I know I swapped Euro butter for normal butter last year in a recipe I've made many times, and while it baked ok it was so rich I couldn't really eat it. I like both Nia and Ian separately, like you say. But when they're together it's like two high school drama geeks improvising and topping one another. It's kind of cringey. Example, when Johnny mentioned that woman's bake was blue and white, and Greek - Nia's comment "We have Christmas" was totally funny and natural, didn't seem scripted. I've loved Ian on many a show (Cougartown, Felicity). Maybe it's that they're superfans of the show and can't temper their geeking out? Could be worse but its a bit awkward.

Lol. Who's Barbara? You mean Nancy Fuller? She does look like a Barbara though.

Ha! Right? Found 3 brands online, this national distribution: Stonewall, Mrs Bridges and Mackay. I'm sure there are local purveyors around the country. I've had Tiptrees not pink grapefruit marmalade . i love the imposter challenges.

I'm have a thing for vintage recipes, the good the bad the ugly. There was a book that came out the last year or so called "A Square Meal" by Andrew Coe and Jane Ziegelman that is about Depression era food. Super interesting to see Jason using these types of recipes (though his aren't specifically Depression era). But he's in a stocked kitchen, he doesn't actually need to use beans, he could've used pecans or some other nut. Sort of interesting but it won't win for him, I don't think. Vincenzo's desserts seem just too much, too many flavors. I'll have to believe the judges palettes that butterscotch and grapefruit marmalade went together, because I'm having a hard time imagining that, especially when made with butterscotch chips (which are too sweet and artificial tasting I think). But maybe he's some alchemy wizard.

OMG! Maybe that was a repressed memory, because it's all coming back to me. When I was a kid (1980s) and baked from mixes, I do remember I tried that once after begging my mom to buy it in the grocery. But yes, you bake in the tunnel, and the texture of the tunnel being more pudding-like. Thanks for posting that. Serious flashback.

I like him too, but he is seriously reminding me of South Park's Mr. Garrison. Just... all of it. I know that's horrible, but I feel safe admitting it here. Comparing Halloween to Holiday (people in their slots): I like Duff sooo much better than the wet noodle Damiano. Nancy and Sandra Lee are the same to me, both know it alls, mostly annoying but with good points occassionally. I like Carla better than Lorraine. Bobby vs. the Ventriloquist - eh, same to me, Hosts are generally irritating but necessary. But somehow the Holiday show feels so much better and happier than Halloween, even though the players don't add up. It may just be the contestants. Wreath challenge: If you're used to seeing a wreath of pine needles then I kind of get the no leaf reaction but leaves on a wreath is not a huge conceptual jump, so I was annoyed that guy just didn't follow the rules. I also have never had or made a stuffed bundt. I would have done it the way the loser did, piping it in. Which could have still worked if the cake wasn't warm? Anyone tried? I don't' like the idea of picking dough out or cutting off the bottom. I like an intact cake.

I kind of liked it too. I thought the fringe idea from the neck was really interesting. I think the underdress could've been more designed than two layers of body size panty hose, and that's where it veered hoochie, or maybe if it was a maxi... I dunno. But I could see Carrie Bradshaw wearing it and somehow making it work and look more expensive. i thought Laurance was robbed too. And the judges are bugging me with their logic. Erin can embellish and it's her signature but Laurance likes a strong shoulder and it's getting boring? I don't agree that these two things are that different. Jenni's was cute but not very well executed, puckers everywhere.

It may have been here that I read an almost fact that whoever gets star baker in Bread Week makes it to the finals. Cross-checked and it wasn't true Season 2 (Yasmin) but has been true for every other season. Which is interesting. Tom did SO bad during batter week, and pastry week, and I really liked Val, so i'm sore that he's still around. Sometimes I like the idea of his quirky flavors and other times I wish he would just leave things alone, and follow the briefs. When he fails, he fails because of bad conceptualization - examples being granola danishes (I literally need some milk just writing that), yorkshire pudding with chick pea flour, fennel churros, blech. But other baker failures this season tend to botching execution. Not enough time, over bake etc. It seems like the judges think not finishing is the worst, followed by under or over baking, then appearance. Flavor tends to be a plus when it's good but not that much of a negative if it's bad. Bit of a loophole if you ask me. Basically, I'm just think Tom has really lucked out. And for the record I thought his cake decoration was hideous. The actual piping was consistent, but the effect with the swirls was unappealing to me. Salasi's cake was gorgeous. I really like Candice & Benjamina. I appreciate Candice's artistic sensibilities, and her obsessiveness. She goes big so when she nails it, it's fun to see, though her failures are kind of epic. Benjamina is really steady and good at everything, and her banter with Loved it! Candice did a muted/nude lip this week, I guess because botanical is natural? Kind of funny.

Except for the one or two "old" ones who are cresting 30. Thanks for the clarification about Luke. I'm excited it's Nick (for all the "wrong reasons" and some that are right) - guess BIP was his tryout and he did it. It says something about JoJo's men that Fleiss broke the daisy chain and went back some seasons. Off to the Nick thread...

Of JoJo's rejects I liked Luke the best for the Bachelor but it's been weeks now and I'm not that enthusiastic anymore. I've forgotten about him. I like Nick, he seems smart, honest, cares about women (let me clarify - he seems to be friends with them) ... but yeah, for the franchise he's a little used up. 35 is old for this show. I also think the timing of when they cast the girls would not work to his advantage - with a bunch of young girls who were applying and excited to meet Luke or Chase and they get 35 year old Nick who caused "scandal" for Kaitlin by having sex with her? I just don't see that happening but wishful thinking.

All the legal procedure in this show was nutty. I'm not a lawyer either, I just get called for Jury duty a lot. Let me count the ways I noticed .. Do lawyers lean on the stand like the prosecutor did to Naz during questioning? No. There were barely any objections. There was a table of evidence (bloody lamp, seriously?) unwrapped sitting in the room 24/7. It's just silly. That said, yeah, while I don't think it would ever see a real life lawyer calling a defendant to the stand in Naz circumstance, for storytelling I get it. (and to the above, for storytelling I get it.) Chandra believed Naz after she met him, so did Stone, so did Freddy. There's something about Naz telling his truth that is believable. There's something about him that is innocent. I think they wanted to give that. Exactly. I was in void dire on a trial where from what I could tell by the jury questioning the defendant was blacked out during this alleged criminal act. SO much of the jury questioning was about this idea of not remembering and whether you thought black outs existed. A lot of discussion about not remembering, and most of the jurors were like "well ok, maybe, but that doesn't excuse the behavior" . The other bulk of questioning of jurors was about the defendant not taking the stand and whether or not the jury saw that as a sign of guilt. That's pretty standard for criminal trials, at least in my experience. I assume off camera this happened and it's just not very interesting or necessary to the story. I wish they could've married more realism in the courtroom but they clearly didn't even bother, and it seems very intentional and I'm ultimately ok with that I guess.