'Top Chef': Everybody loves Stephanie
At least there was one surprise during the seasonal "Top Chef" reunion special: Stephanie won the $10,000 bonus prize for being voted the fans' favorite cheftestant.
She certainly was the nicest, but I thought for sure Andrew had it in the bag.
Other than that, Bravo senior vice president/on-air emcee Andy Cohen delivered yet another near-uneventful overview of the season that was. I can't understand why his network colleagues think Andy makes for a good host. The man has never heard of a follow-up question. And just take a look at the lone comment on his blog (as of 10:30 a.m. PDT):
Says commenter Lisa: "I wanted to say that I think the reunion shows, like last night's reunion show, would be more enjoyable as a viewer with only the TC (or show in question) cast. I don't believe an outside host is needed. Also, while it's cute Tom wore a vest. Focusing on things like that (mind you it's only 10-15 seconds) takes away a smidge of time that could be used for reunion discussion."
I'd add that if they're going to do all those montage packages -- I did laugh at Dale and Richard's nipple talk during the Bromance one -- at least use footage that we haven't seen before. Or limit yourselves to two per reunion special.
There were, of course, a few highlights:
-- Ted Allen on Spike and Mark's hot tub connection: "Man soup. Nice."
-- Saying the word "phallic" on TV has really come back to haunt Jennifer. "But seeing Padma's face when I said it was, I dunno, priceless."
-- Tom thinks maybe sending Dale home -- he did not judge that night -- was perhaps a mistake: "Based on what I saw, Lisa blew two dishes. Dale blew one." (And yes, Lisa, he still thinks your groom's cake was ugly.) But Dale said he understood the decision: "In that episode, I failed. That dish failed. It was bad."
-- Mark won't be going back to New Zealand because he just got married (and according to this interview, Andrew was in attendance.)
-- Meanwhile, Zoi and Jennifer may be splitsville -- but they're not confirming or denying it. Whatever the case, the pair thought it was a real disadvantage to compete together during the same season. "It was even hard to figure out ... I almost feel like we almost tried to not support each other to be fair."
-- Lisa, on what she thought her real chances of winning were: "I was really happy. Definitely thought I had a fighting chance."
-- Tom still gives the contestants nightmares.
That's a wrap on this season, folks. Up next: "Top Chef Junior." Yes, really.
-- Denise Martin
