I’m a fan of pretty much anything Bravo puts out (see: The Real Housewives, of which I watch every franchise, even Miami, which no one else seemed to watch, and except for D.C., which I declined to watch not because of the housewives, but because of my deep-seated hatred for Washington D.C.) but I’m totally not feeling this season of Top Chef Masters.
It’s just…Really, really boring. I think the Masters franchise may have tapped out with the first season because I don’t think there are that many chefs who have both the skills and the personality required to be Masters.
See, I’m pretty sure Bravo picks chefs for the regular Top Chef based on a formula of 60% skill and 40% personality. Their chefery isn’t as great as that of a Master, but they are entertaining (see: Spike, my favorite Top Chef ever or Marcel, my arch enemy who’s good for yelling at the TV.)
So, by the time it’s time to start casting for Masters, Bravo has a very limited pool (or vat?) of chefs from which to choose. Their skill level needs to be top notch, but the chances of finding a master chef that’s got a good personality, as well? Nearly impossible.
Hence why this season kinda blows. Hence why I think Top Chef Masters should have begun and ended with the first season. Hence why they brought Hugh back in the second episode of this season.
Doesn’t it seem odd that they brought Hugh back without any explanation? And! Brought him back for good, with none of that you-can-stay-but-only-if-you-win-this-elimination-challenge kind of thing? And and! Haven’t kicked him off yet?
Not that I’m complaining! Without Hugh, I would have stopped watching after episode two. I just find it suspicious.
Suspicion aside, I’m totally rooting for Naomi to win.
I disagree. I HAAAAATED the format of the first season of Masters, but I’m digging this one. It’s a little boring, sure, but it tides me over until the really good stuff (read: normal “Top Chef”). And the charity thing? I dig. And Hugh? I want to punch in the face. And the food? Yum.
I could not agree more and the other night as Garrett and I were slogging through last week’s episode we discussed it, and our discussion about its terrible-ness was more entertaining than the show itself. It’s funny because I like Curtis Stone and I love to hate James Oseland (he is so…lecherous in a way) that you would think it would work, but I agree it is snoozeville. And when they kicked Hugh off I thought to myself — what little entertainment was left, is over. I’m rooting for Naomi too but even she bugs. Wake me when it’s over.
It’s SO boring. But, I will watch every episode as we’re rooting for our hometown gal, Naomi, to win. It is better, though, without Kelly Choi as the host.
I’m not a huge fan of that show either. I tried watching it several times and just couldn’t get into it. I’ll stick to Top Chef!