Bastet

I barely remember anything about the first season other than I could not stand the host. I can't even pull up a picture of her in my mind, but I remember she was annoying as all get out. I'm not sure I want to endure a second season of her, but thanks for letting us know they're doing it again.

I hate facial hair, period, beards most of all, and really hate that particular one, so, yeah, I won't complain if I don't have to look at it much longer. But that's cute about the cat name, so I'll just think of that to counteract every "ugh" thought (I generally skip the interviews, so didn't know about the kitty.) I watched with my mom so didn't keep track, but neither of us got FJ. I otherwise had a great game, though; I know I almost ran the entire first round, and did well in DJ other than in novels, in which I don't think I came up with a single one

Wow, that Jet vs. Mustache Joe round! Everyone thought Jet had it in the bag after the judges' comments, and then Joe's feedback was also nothing but high praise. I love a good cheeseburger, so for that to get the tournament's highest score, I really wanted to taste that burger. I was salivating over Jet's dish, too. I can't decide if Tiffani's reaction upon Joe winning was just shock or if she was also a bit pissed. Joe was "her" chef, but he's a bit annoying and maybe she's one of those who wanted this to finally be Jet's year. I don't know, I found the shock from both her and Guy a little irritating; sure, it seemed like Jet had it in the bag since the judges fell all over themselves praising his dish -- but that was before they ate Joe's and did the very same thing. By the time everyone was standing there waiting for the big reveal, it was clear it could have been either name. While I like Jet (and don't particularly care for Mustache Joe), I'm really over the idea that now that all the previous winners are out of the race, it's his to lose this year. If Guy believes he's assembling the best of the best, then he ought to believe that in any given match-up, it could go either way. I wound up being happy Joe won. I was happy with all the results, although I wouldn't have been angry had any of them gone the other way. Kaleena really beat the stuffing out of Shota, outscoring him on every single element for a seven-point win. That was an impressive victory. All four of Britt's winning points came on taste, so clearly they didn't much care about all that parmesan. I thought both her and Michael turned in just okay dishes compared to what they've done in the past, so she better get back to form next time if she's going to keep going (but since she's going against Kaleena next, I'm not sure who I'll root for).

Aw, this is cute (and answers my question as to whether they'd always intended Adam to stick around or if that evolved as the characters/actors worked so well together [the latter]):

You're probably thinking of Kaleena.

Paying means you did it right. You don't want to owe estimated and not do it, but if at the end of the tax year you're writing a reasonably-priced check to the IRS rather than them writing one to you, it means you didn't give them more money during that year than you actually owed; it was yours, not theirs, to do what you wanted/needed for that time.

That's probably the only episode in which I was ever enraged at Susan. Yeah, Mark is her friend, whatever. You don't call another woman a bitch, and you sure as hell don't, after a total clusterfuck of a night, say "she's just covering her ass" when Coburn clearly delineates the astounding "chain of errors in judgment" Mark made -- he missed pre-eclampsia, underestimated the fetal weight, missed a placental abruption (that he never even later caught; it's not until that moment when she physically points to the clot that he sees it), did an "ill-advised" (heh, that seems to be generous) forceps delivery on a baby that's too big, and then an absolute hack job of a C-section.

I'm the oddball who doesn't like his '80s TV movies/miniseries, but I'm a sucker for '70s disaster movies, so that's the role that immediately sprang to my mind.

I think it was earthquake, but, yeah. Although, in fairness, that particular incident with stuff flying everywhere was because Massimo tripped as he approached their station. He didn't seem to be running any faster than most of them do at the time. Between that and the booming voice, he seems like he might be a lot, but thus far they all seem to joke about it in a good natured way.

While I have no problem looking at my unmade bed (with or without sleeping kitty), I would convulse if my wallet was arranged any other way.

No matter how much you think you're prepared for the mental challenge of something - from watching previous versions, reading about them, even talking one-on-one with those who've done it - you can't truly know what it's like until you're doing it. I have no problem believing someone signed up for TC thinking one thing and then found out differently once they got into it.

Massimo also knew his myriad flaws, but what saved him is at least his dish tasted like his assigned ingredient while hers didn't even have that one thing going for it.

Same here. I probably would anyway, but I recently re-watched seasons one through three, so the C.J. vs. Sherri Wexler smackdown was fresh in my mind. I watched with friends, so didn't keep track, but I know I had a great game. In the first round, I was terrible in book, only getting immortal, but I think I ran everything else. I did very well in DJ, too. And FJ was an instaget; I'm not sure where along the way I picked up and retained that North Korea = the hermit nation, but I did, so even though I'd never heard of the other nickname, I was all set.

I was really good at that -- but do not miss it!

It's pathetic how few restaurants, even some pricey ones, do a proper crab cake. Too much filler; it should be right on the brink of falling apart. I pretty much only eat them homemade these days. It had been a while, but we had them at my parents' house Tuesday night and I'm eating the leftover one for lunch right now.