Top Chef

Seriously? I don't think anyone has had a chance against Sosa the whole time. Brooklyn guy is and Elvin from the Cosby Show are the closest competition... and then Tif and the white chick are probably relatively even. For better or worse, the final four are probably the ones I would have predicted from episode 1.. except maybe Kenny, but his skills always overshadowed his questionable palate.

Originally Posted by ChicagoRon

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Seriously? I don't think anyone has had a chance against Sosa the whole time. Brooklyn guy is and Elvin from the Cosby Show are the closest competition... and then Tif and the white chick are probably relatively even. For better or worse, the final four are probably the ones I would have predicted from episode 1.. except maybe Kenny, but his skills always overshadowed his questionable palate.

Isn't there usually some chance for people to win their way back onto the show?

Originally Posted by SField

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Isn't there usually some chance for people to win their way back onto the show?

No. They sometimes (usually) bring back old losers to be the contestants' sous chefs during the finale, but no matter how good someone helps their chef or how well they cook, once they are sent packing they can't get back in the running.

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

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No. They sometimes (usually) bring back old losers to be the contestants' sous chefs during the finale, but no matter how good someone helps their chef or how well they cook, once they are sent packing they can't get back in the running.

No. In season 5 they brought back the three most recently eliminated contestants in the episode before the finals and they were given an opportunity to return to the competition. For their Quickfire Challenge, they had one hour to create a dish featuring crawfish. The winner joined the four finalists in the Elimination Challenge, but had to win that challenge to reach the final round. He didn't.

Originally Posted by MarquisMagic

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No. In season 5 they brought back the three most recently eliminated contestants in the episode before the finals and they were given an opportunity to return to the competition. For their Quickfire Challenge, they had one hour to create a dish featuring crawfish. The winner joined the four finalists in the Elimination Challenge, but had to win that challenge to reach the final round. He didn't.

Yeah, only time they did that.

I agree, this season is really weak. I still watch but the magic is fading for me.

Originally Posted by ChicagoRon

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Seriously? I don't think anyone has had a chance against Sosa the whole time. Brooklyn guy is and Elvin from the Cosby Show are the closest competition... and then Tif and the white chick are probably relatively even. For better or worse, the final four are probably the ones I would have predicted from episode 1.. except maybe Kenny, but his skills always overshadowed his questionable palate.

Tiffany was coming on strong. Before she was eliminated, she either won or was in the top three in the most recent six eps. Sosa on the other hand had ups and downs.

I have a suspicion they put an unusually positive Bourdain in there last week to prop up the viewers' perception of the contestants going into the finale.

Originally Posted by StephenHero

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I have a suspicion they put an unusually positive Bourdain in there last week to prop up the viewers' perception of the contestants going into the finale.

That sucked that Bourdain didn't even rip on anybody.

Originally Posted by runner-guy

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That sucked that Bourdain didn't even rip on anybody.

Are you surprised? He spends 99% of his air time fallating every chef/cook he meets.

When Bourdain guested on Season 4, he was brutal. I think that was the last time he was on. He actually filled in for Colicchio and Dale was eliminated over Lisa, which caused serious fan consternation and which Colicchio later admitted in his blog was probably the wrong decision.

Originally Posted by Manton

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When Bourdain guested on Season 4, he was brutal. I think that was the last time he was on. He actually filled in for Colicchio and Dale was eliminated over Lisa, which caused serious fan consternation and which Colicchio later admitted in his blog was probably the wrong decision.
Was Lisa the red head who could only cook vietnamese? The Dale guy was definitely stronger than most there...

Originally Posted by SField

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Was Lisa the red head who could only cook vietnamese? The Dale guy was definitely stronger than most there...

Yeah, she was rather "butch" and always had a sour face and bad attitude.

Dale should have stuck around much longer.

This season had some eliminations that hurt the show, though they were probably the right call for the particular challenges; Arnold, Kenny, and Tiffany all left before they should have.

SO who would you have ousted over Tif?

Kevin. His reasoning for his dish saved him.

I should say that I have read a lot of disappointment from 'lay' people all over the internet about some seasons of Top Chef.

To be honest, I understand where some people are coming from, but quite frankly, for most of the people complaining, a lot of these contestants could provide the best or almost the best meal they've ever had in their life. Food snobs who only know big names don't realize who is actually doing the work - it's the people on this show. A lot of them have very impressive work histories and it is sometimes a little funny to see people deride many of the contestants as nobodies. I agree that some years the talent pool is stronger, but even some of the people who don't fare so well in the challenges and lack big personalities could make some really terrific food.