What are you talking about???

Just that people used to bat all sorts of TC comments in here and it was a nice free for all until people tried to make it less like "twitter" and observe wierd time zone conventions. Anyway, after the etiquette classes this thread has gone a week between comments sometimes which would have been unheard of int he past. Just an observation.

I just want to have fun with the thread, not hurt any West Coasters feelings (I say while watching at least half a year from the west coast or outside of the US.) I just find it hillarious when we try and throw some sort of PC conventional wisdom over an internet forum

Now back to the Finals. Are they really going to eliminate two and crown a victor in a 47 minute show? I just do not remember that being the format previously.

I"ck"lan and HOsea as TC are nonsense!

Richard Blais Top Sous Chef'ed Hosea to victory. Winner to TC5 probably should have been Jeff, Stefan or Fabio.

As for Ilan, Sam I thought was the clear leader that season. I think that his diabetes just got the best of him. Ilan was weak. I had never root for Marcel until the final when I was rooting for anybody except Ilan.

I've read rumors that Stefan was the actual winner last season, but he refused to sign Bravo's contract, where he would have to make appearances at Bravo events and other things.

Wouldn't that contract have to be signed when you agree to compete before the first episode is filmed. The only reason I say that is that you actually see the runners up and other contestants far more often than the winners on other BRAVO TV envents and even TC.

I find it hard to believe that TC would be held over the barrel by a cheftestant. Stefan looked like he could play hardball but this seems a bit of a stretch.

Finally, I know that everything is in the editing, but it really did appear like Stefan 'lost' the finale. He just was not in top form. He surprised everybody I think.

"Signing the contract" occurs before the season and the shoots actually begin. It's part of the pre-negotiated price of admission. If the contracts look like some similar competitions I've seen, the producers reserve the right to drop your option at any time and for almost any reason, and even in winning only the clearly announced rewards or unconditional. A loser could end up with a weekly show, while a winner might disappear into the wings.

That's why I continue to believe that despite adamant denials in blogs/wherever, there's some weight given to the personality/package-ability/showmanship quotient of contestants. Looking back at the careers of several current "famous hosts" on PBS, Bravo, and the Food Channel, it's pretty obvious that showmanship outweighs culinary skill as a "success factor". If one attempts to compare revealed dexterity (and dexterity is certainly a culinary school evaluation factor), several of the TV celebrities are pretty clumsy in a variety of blade and other manual skills.

On the other hand, I recall myself as one of the best "ship drivers" around as a young naval officer, but knew even then that for all my skills at the conn, I would have not made a successful admiral. On "Top Chef", we've seen some of the better "chefs" fall afoul of simple inability to measure time and visualization issues.

I thought it was quite a statement when Sam was asked who he wanted to sous for in the finale, and he picked Marcel because he could actually learn something from him, whereas Ilan was going to cook the same food he'd done all season.

I would love to know where that "rumor" came from? I think it is complete BS btw. The contestants all know there are shows, tours and promotional events that follow the season.

I've read that at the imdb.com forum.

Well, this is it. Another TC season wrapping up. TC 7 has been announced to start filming in January so we have at least one more season to look forward to and if it goes like this season, it should be interesting. This season had a funny feel to it. I thought that the first four episodes were fairly anemic, but then at some point it just became so aparent that the V Brothers, Kevin and Jennifer were in a class of their own. There has never been a season where the same four contestants won ALL of the elimination challenges between them.

That being said, I think that several of the TC seasons had winners and runners up who could hang with them.

I think that Kevin is the soon to be crowned champion, simply because of the way that he has understood all of the challenges. as has been mentioned before, regardless of who the TC winner is, I think that Kevin will be the largest commercial success after this season. Jennifer was a great cook, but just looked so miserable after about the third episode. Kevin will be Viewers Choice and we will see him on other episodes in the future if not crossing into other shows as well.

Th V Brothers are the most 'skilled' chefs, but their stumbles are more pronounced and their lack of conceptualizing the entire challenge has been the stumbling block for both.

I am still very interested in seeing if they try and make the finalists use sous chefs tonight. I don't see that working with the V brothers. Who would pick Robin?

I think you're right. But seem to be missing an important point. In the finale, there is no challenge...just make your best meal. I think the V Brothers will accel in this format. Rooting for Bryan.

You are correct of course except that even in the finale, there are restraints (Things the cheftestants cannot do) and constraints (Things that the cheftestants must do) that the cheftestants have to deal with. There has yet to be a pure, 'you have a day to cook whatever you want and present it to the judges.' competition.

Sadly, I will miss tonight's airing, but hoping Bryan wins also. While I think Kevin is an outstanding chef and understands the nuances of good food, I do not think he extended himself as much as the V brothers. I thought that one of them had said, Kevin is good at simple good-tasting foods, so it will be up to the judges as to whether that makes a good chef, or someone who can make elaborate dishes, which can either be spectacular or craptacular.

My hope is Bryan, Kevin and Michael in that order. If not that, at least a good knife fight between the Vs! <JK>

Well, the beauty of BRAVO is that you will be able to catch it for the next month, several times a week Unless you have other TC geeks in your family you should be able to avoid hearing who won for a few days. And don't read this thread tonight!