LennieBriscoe

People, people, people! Am I the only one of Italian heritage herein?! The Wedding Tradition of 5 Almonds: "ITALIAN WEDDINGS--- Five almonds signify five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. These almonds decorate each place setting as favors, tucked into pretty boxes or tulle bags called *bomboniere* that are often personalized with the couple's names and wedding date." http://www.candywarehouse.com/resources/the-wedding-story-of-jordan-almonds/

Anthony's dream: "Flashlight" and "A"= Not only the light shining on "A" for "Ashley"; it's also "(Fl)ASHL(ight)." I like this couple a lot, but agree with others that Anthony needs to lighten up on the pomade! Speaking of hair: I was hoping Danielle would trim her bangs and the length of her locks! In general: A & A: Ashley seems enamored. Maybe she knows she's lucked into a man who, while not being an Adonis, can smooch well, can bend her in a romantic dance move, can cook, wants children, and thinks she's gorgeous. And is also a paisan! :-) Country Mouse Cody and City Mouse Danielle (tm Snarklepuss): IMO, he's too much younger. But maybe they'll operate the gym together and live happily ever after---as long as Cody agrees to make the 60-mile trip back to Chicago every now and then for Danielle's culture fix. Nathan and his Queen Sheila: Hey, baby, what's happening? The Sweetness rolls trippingly off his tongue. And while it might be unfair to judge a man by his family......JEEZ LOUISE! In any case, Nate is too slick, too fast, and too not ready. I'm not convinced that God is his wing-man. Oh, and Sheila? "TMI"---Look it up in your school library. Embrace it. Looking forward to more episodes and more of y'all!

It's TONIGHT!

The entire "Ex-Boyfriend" skit was to set up the punchline. SNL naturally assumed the viewing audience would understand its allusion.

It was an okay show. Spicey needed the press corps. Harry should have been in more sketches! I still cannot stand Michael Che's always-quavering voice. Best line: "You dragged a man off a PLANE!"

Check out the White and Blue Flowers Wedding Cake Jordan made as a culinary student! http://www.pictaram.com/user/jordan_pilarski/1295518140 Scrolling through his Pictograms shows me Jordan is a MUCH better pastry chef than we saw on this show!

Oops! Sorry! I somehow thought it was a Fourth of July contest!

Disparate thoughts as we bid adieu.... ~Boy, this show sure treated $50,000 like it's pocket change, what with its cavalier hurried double-episode finish. ~What was UP with all the raw entries?! ~Daniela's Drip Cake was cool. John's was a mess. ~John throughout showed too-pedestrian taste and vision. Buh-BYE. ~There should not have been any advantage for the Finale. Did I mention the prize was $50,000?! ~July 4th is not "Spring"! ~FIVE HOURS for THOSE results?! ~Adam choked. Metaphorically only, thank goodness. He clearly has the best skills, knowledge, and eye. ~What was up with all the Passion Fruit? I've never even seen it, let alone eaten it! http://www.wikihow.com/Eat-Passionfruit ~Lorraine's teeth are so white and bright, I had to wear shades!

Way duller and more boring than I expected. Many details left out for us, the viewers, to imagine our own "analyses." The two businesses were very different from each other in ways that might have favored one competitor over the other (including the personalities of the owners). I still say Juli is a faker, a poseur who has fulfilled The Peter Principle with this show. IOW, I have no doubt she wanted to win, maybe even wants to work with Marcu$$$, but as I opined earlier, I don't think she gives a rat's backside about these businesses. Plus I think she has a touch of the martinet in her. Or maybe I just hate her hairstyle.

They can't sell. They can't count and accurately label inventory. They can't improve customer traffic patterns. What do you do (tm Adam Ant)? Erin hates any kind of work not done at a desk, preferably alone. Peilin finds multi-tasking not her cuppa. And I think Juli is hiding a profound lack of interest in the businesses and tasks, including those involving kids, behind a decent grasp of details. Oh wait; that's me.

Fausto was Aufed based on tonight and the past. Otherwise, Jordan's RAW dough was cause for elimination. So Jordan is officially on notice. Plus, he needs to stop with the twinkling eyes at the judges! (At me would be just fine, heh.) And Napoleons are not round and not doughnut-shaped.

I thoroughly dislike Erin, not least because his name is my middle name, and I'm a female. He is lazy and uninterested, as well as uninteresting. Also, he is clueless in picking up cues, such as Marcus's asking if all was being taken care of with his business (fire), and it was. If Marcus whiffed at "firing" because he wants to hire Erin, Marcus isn't as smart as I heretofore have thought. As to the kiosk task: Feh to mall kiosks and their importuning vendors! Who buys T-shirts randomly like this, if not on vacation? Or a watch, whose style left much to be desired? And candy?! Was this the "Send Our Band to the Rose Parade" challenge? Oh, that's right; it wasn't about the sales. The test was about teamwork, judgment, research, personality....and sales. Per hour. He's going to hire Blondie.

catrice2, You actually are familiar with people who worry that I'd pretty much worry about THEM.

Weary Traveler, You forget my point about "distraction." Five seconds or ten minutes, whatever time it took in Shirley's brain to FOCUS ON BROOKE AND HER REQUEST was TOO LONG, never mind the actual ACTIVITY TIME Brooke took from Shirley. Shirley was in her OWN mind, focusing on her own ideas, then. "Plan A," "Plan B," or "Plan XYZ"---Doesn't matter. Brooke HAD NO RIGHT to interject herself into Shirley's thought processes at this CRUCIAL MOMENT. And, in fact, one cannot know the actual effect on Shirley, as this interruption ultimately did not "work out" for Shirley. THAT was what I thought was most unfair of Brooke. Brooke was thinking of Brooke, and she made Shirley think of her, too.

DallasGypsy, And wouldn't that just be so FLEEK?! :-P I swear, the "kids" were better bakers! I'd like to have seen Cole's Easter Bunny cake! I'm waiting for the Jesse-Jordan bromance to blossom.

Aidan deserved to win. The judges were highly impressed by his cake's taste and texture. He didn't "promise" mascarpone frosting; moreover, like every other food competition contestant ever, he revised his plan when Plan A went South. He decorated beautifully and intelligently (he made a PRISM!). Also, clearly he was in error in thinking his cakes were burnt, or else Duff and Valerie would have had NO qualms in using that detail to call it for Justice. Speaking of whom: Second-best. Not as nicely decorated as Aidan's. Lame story. And wasn't his cake deemed a bit dry? Finally, Kaniyah showed why her specialty is cupcakes. Cake-decorating is not her strength. The nice "I'll make your whipped cream for you!" kid finished first. I'm cool with it.

FWIW, as a female, I'm pretty sure my dislike of (not "hate" for) Brooke is not "sexist." Also, I can't stand Michael V. :-P Re: Pork belly. This was the Finale. Asking one's opponent for any of her major ingredients is mind-bogglingly brazen to me. Not only is it a display of entitlement by the beseecher; it is also a distraction, mental and physical, to the other Finalist. Kind Shirley went on to lose.

Snarklepuss, IMO, "sour grapes" applies only to the loser with a stake in the outcome, not to people rooting for the loser (I, for one, would rather have been proven a poor prophet, but there you have it). And each dish had various judges. Maybe Brooke got a pass for her flan because hey, MOM is a flan champ! ;-)

Too aggressive appetizer. No-flavor dessert. Angry crossed arms at praise for Shirley. Still----In. Like. Flynn. Raise your hand if you still doubt.

I think her method is brilliant, like the best ending to a Poirot story. February 27, 2017. Mark it. TRMS made history that evening.

Not sure why I was quoted above, but yes, taxes are due on any prize/winnings over a certain value. This is why, e.g., there are taxmen at racetracks.

Two points about the Patron prize on "Top Chef": I received "Parting Gifts" on a major game show. I (and every other contestant) was contractually forbidden from selling any prize with the name of the show in the description. This is not the same as selling a show's items that are made to be items for sale. I do know that it was as nothing to take Kahlua across the border back in 1974.

The booze isn't a tourist purchase; it is a television show prize. Taxed, yes. "Dinged at Customs," no. Sent to her domicile by the show? Maybe. Saleable on e-Bay? Not if the words "Top Chef" are included, e-Bay's other pertinent rules notwithstanding.

I think TFII (The Fix......) because Brooke is TV-able: Attractive but not Padma-level of makeup and dress, calm, Kelsey-like, and skilled. But I like more of a funny Galloping Gourmet or Sandwich King, so I won't care about her future appearances.

Ari Au: Um...I believe when I said Brooke spoke in a "monotone" (and nothing about her articulateness) that would put us in agreement. I don't watch TV for a Zen experience! dleighg: Maybe not "the hardest thing to do," but it requires closer attention (Rare? Medium? Well-done? Burnt?) than leaving food in its raw stage, because of said heat application, no?