Flippin' Moron

Jeff Lewis smiles as his drunk client gropes Jenni (at 1:24) and slaps Trace in the face (at :07). That's so creepy.
_{clip from last night's episode (Oct 5th)}

Unbelievable. Jeff protests his client Chuck's use of profanity, yet just sat by while Chuck abused Jeff's own assistants, Jenni & Trace.

And his 'damage control' afterward? Too little, too late, his non-actions spoke louder than words. Will this kill his 'Flipping Out' show?

And Bravo TV showed it all on-air. Classy.

* note to Jenni & Trace:
I hope you two call that scene EVIDENCE...

================

Banana Flip

Well, 'Flipping Out' Jeff -is- bananas.
Makes sense that his new gopher is too.

"Flipping Out" returns on Monday, August 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT,

eta:


Can you believe it?... Jeff's new assistant used
'I have to win at checkers before I get up'
as an excuse for why he was late to work!

Does new boy's unique OCD make Jeff feel normal?...

---

p.s. funny how blogger mangled my vacation posts
Hopefully I'll get them all corrected soon...

Art and the City

... with Bravo and SJParker.

(But hopefully Dr. Suess will reclaim that hat
... butterflies & an acorn cap, seriously?)

Just when you think we're running out of reality... the LA Times art blog reveals: "Bravo and Sarah Jessica Parker are launching an art-themed reality tv series", produced by SJP's co 'Pretty Matches' & the group that did 'Top Chef'.

The show (unnamed as yet) will have 13 contestants competing for a gallery exhibition, a cash prize and a sponsored national museum tour. The artists will create works in the fields of sculpture, painting, photography, industrial design, 'and more'. (Gee, does this format seem familiar?...)

For those brave and artsy types...
the open casting calls:

Los Angeles
10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 11-12
LA}{ART
www.laxart.org

Miami
10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 14
Fredric Snitzer Gallery
www.Snitzer.com

Chicago
10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 16
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Sullivan Galleries, 33 State St.
www.saic.edu


New York
10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 18-19
White Columns
www.whitecolumns.org

Not a lot of time to prepare, eh?
Good Luck!

The Fifth Kathy

Got an email alert (thus proving they work...) :

''The Fifth Season Of Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List premieres Monday, June 8 At 10 PM ET/PT''

I'd totally forgotten, though this was a favorite. (I keep meaning to see if my interest always fades by any show's 40th ep...) So, anyway, that's tomorrow, folks.

---

Meanwhile, who is this guy touring her home?
He reminds me of that bad Bravo host AndyC.
(And believe me, that's really no compliment.)

---

Full confession: I'm a sucker for house tours - no matter how lousy the tour guide, or how unlikable the owner... its just so fascinating to see what they value.

I even bought and read the MTV Cribs -book- . (who else knew that tv trash tome even existed?) Luckily I came to my senses and gave it away so if I die suddently no one will find it in my library...
* Ah well, at least I didn't pay retail.

KG Unseen

Is KG apologizing in advance for 'Footage You Weren't Meant To See'?

Bravo Press Release: 'Uncover hidden hilarity from the first 4 seasons of "My Life On The D-List" with an all-new special featuring never-before-seen moments from the series including: her drive-by to wave hello to her fans waiting in line for her show at Madison Square Garden, Team Griffin playing a game "10 Things We Hate About Tom", and the Team receiving massages from burly guys at the Bear Ball. "Kathy Griffin: The Footage You Weren't Meant To See" premieres Mon, Apr 20 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.'

So tonight we're getting unseen yet 'hilarious' clips? Hm. Cross your fingers it'll be fun bloopers vs. scenes that should've stayed deleted.

p.s. UPDATE: Well, tonight's Bravo listing shows 'Top Gun'
So maybe they couldn't find enough 'hilarity' after all?


While we're on a similar subject - Why don't the dramas on DVD ever include 'bloopers' in their extras?

Laurel Holloman

BTW, She'll be accepting this award tonight... Want to know how I found out so far in advance? Mouse over the image.
_{Image Credit to Getty Images}The 'A-List' Awards air tonight on Bravo, 9 pm
Some of the 2009 Nominees:
(UPDATED, winners in BOLD)

A-List TV for 'freshest, most creative & innovative'
· "Gossip Girl"
· "Mad Men"
· "The Office"
· "30 Rock"
· "True Blood"

A-LIST FEMALE ACTOR - in a scripted tv series whose character portrayal has enthralled and entertained us more than any other.
· Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who"
· Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
· January Jones, "Mad Men"
· Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"
· Chloe Sevigny, "Big Love"

A-LIST MALE ACTOR - same
· David Duchovny, "Californication"
· Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
· Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"
· Julian McMahon, "Nip/Tuck"
· Hugh Laurie, "House"

A-LIST FUNNY Awarded to the cool of comedy.
· Tina Fey
· Ricky Gervais
· Chelsea Handler
· Conan O'Brien
· Amy Poehler

SEXIEST TV MOMENT
the couple that made our windows steam, our TVs fog.
· "Gossip Girl" – Chuck & Blair in the limo
· "The L Word" – Elevator Scene J.Beals, L.Holloman
· "Lost" – Sawyer & Kate on the chopper
· "The Office" – Dwight & Angela
· "True Blood" – Bill & Sookie's Love Scene


A-LIST CELEB-TAURANTEUR - Sandra Bullock's Bess Bistro

A-LIST INNOVATION - new MacBook

A-LIST Style Male: Justin Timberlake
A-LIST Style Female: Gwen Stefani

A-LIST Cover: NY Magazine's Eliot Spitzer cover

So, tacky + campy = Audience of Happy Campers?

Doppelganger KG

We're getting a double dose of K.G. tomorrow.

A new special "Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch," is airing on Wednesday, April 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, right before she hosts Bravo's second annual "The A-List Awards."

So KG fans?... better get your taxes done -today-!

via Bravo, and the Futon Critic

Me & Top Chef, NYC

My New York Top Chef Tour photos!

Friday (3/27) we made a looong drive to NYC to pick up some bulky items near Madison Square Park. Not fun, until I spotted the TC Tour truck! Alas it was too late for any demos, so I just took a few pics.
*click to enlarge any individual pic.
The Truck
Today's Chefs
TC crew cleanup
Life-size cutouts!
wheel of TC prizes
Last TC store items
Set side of truck
thru left window
thru right window
Set, thru door
Bravo disclaimer

This (above) was on a 3 ft board by the door.

All the fans that got inside had to first agree to risk being photographed, or used in promo materials or possibly -dying- to be allowed in.

Makes you wonder just what Nikki was serving...

A+ List

More famous faces added to Bravo's 'A-List':

Justin Timberlake
Sandra Bullock
Padma Lakshmi - - Ana Ortiz
Kenneth Cole (the shoe guy?)
Kendra Wilkinson (?)
Lance Bass - - - Niecy Nash
Lisa Lampanelli (I've seen her live)
Rachel Dratch - - Maria Bamford
Jenni Pulos - - - Todd English
Milla Jovovich - - Gwen Stefani
Neil Patrick Harris
Jenny McCarthy - - Emily Procter
Chelsea Handler - - Kelly Rowland
Laurel Holloman
Tyson Beckford - - Kate Flannery
Bruce Vilanch - - Fred Willard
Jose Andres - - - Cat Cora
Rafael Saadiq (music)

''... are all gearing up to appear on 'The A-List Awards''
- That means tiaras plus elbow & knee pads, right?

'Bravo' for casual awards... yeah they're all still giant 'pat-us-on-the-back' fests, but at least they're fluffy, not stuffy.

FYI: Kathy Griffin, “My Life On The D-List,” will host the ceremony, honoring 'the best in food, fashion, beauty, design and pop culture' on Bravo, Wed. April 15 at 10 PM EST.

Laurel Holloman, A-list!

You can sit in the front rows to see her (and everyone else) at Bravo's A-list award show if you:

Are free on April 5th, 2009*
Can get to The Orpheum in L.A., Calif
Are over 18 years old
Own a formal outfit (list of LA thrift stores)
Agree -not- to bring a camera
Willing to sign up to be a 'seatfiller'

A 'seatfiller' is someone who sits in the seats of celebrities at televised events, while the celebrity is in the loo or out having a smoke. You can be that person if you meet the above requirements and go to LA's SeatFillers.com to sign up (bottom half of page) by April 1st. Good Luck!

* The show airs on the 15th, but they film it April 5th, apparently.

p.s... Can't make it to Los Angeles? Me neither.
But at least we can vote for her elevator scene (often)!

Juicy Chefs

More TC reunion from this week's TVguide.

TVguide (paper version) had unseen bits from the reunion. Good little article - wish it was longer. And, just because I'm the sharing type, here's my scan of the (2/3 page) article for y'all - just click it. ;-)

Loved Stefan's reply when asked if he cared that he lost: "Don't give a rosy rat's ass!" - And he also quotes a website that compared his face to a cross between that guy on 'The Shield' and Brad Pitt(?)

Meanwhile the others joked with Ariane about being on Bravo's future version of Desperate Housewives: New Jersey. And the chefs also kidded Padma for details about her love life, but she clammed up. Speaking of Padma, a favorite moment of Stefan's? - smoking outside with Padma after the finale.
Enjoy.

Chop Shop

aka The Top Chef Reunion Show
Tonight on Bravo, The chefs return! chop-chop!...

j/k - But am looking forward to hearing what S5's crew says about NY & New Orleans. Fan favorite?... I'm placing my bet on Fabio, since he had better menus than Carla right at the time Bravo was pushing for votes.

eta: Congrats to Fabio, but that was slooowww

Tidbits from the TC Reunion:

The Stefan & women montage, followed by his stare at Padma when she walked in, priceless!

Toby asking if Fabio & Stefan 'hold hands' walking in Santa Monica and Fabio replies 'No', that he uses a leash.

The chefs made Glad-toys in the stew room! -LOL- I wish we'd seen that -during- the show. (Did Glad wonder why they had to re-stock so often?)

Don't care for host Andy C. But at least I'm not alone - 'Pepper M' (of TWoP) has something to say about him:
'Shut up, you charmless, unintelligent twatwaffle'- I LOL'd.

Sequestered for 6 weeks? H. must've included the finale time, because no way were they in Brooklyn for 6 weeks!

The 'birthday curse'...
Amazed that didn't leak earlier: 'Happy B-day, pack'm'up!'
Loved Leah dismissing the curse just before it bit her.

Fabio > Toby > TomC

TomC makes me like Toby...

... As for the decision to name Rosenberg the winner, Colicchio says he’s "not positive" if it was completely unanimous.

“It may have been three out of four [judges],” he says. “I don’t remember one hundred percent. I think Toby may have wanted to give it to Stefan if I remember correctly.”

And I hope this comes to pass:

Adds Colicchio, “At the end of the day, I would say Fabio will end up doing more than the winner only because of his personality. That’s where the personality comes in. This season, most people are going to remember Fabio.”

*Hopefully Hootie Hoo too. ;-)

MSNBC link: TC finale interview

Not So Easy

Tonight's the TC finale in the Big Easy! I'll be crossing my fingers for Carla, since I'm tired of Stefan & Hosea, the bald, quirky tools. And the preview showed this (see below) as the proteins for what must be the quickfire... (turns out they were for a surprise 4th course) Will any of these three have an advantage with this? (gator, anyone?)

Then its off to this place, er 'palace':
Not very royal looking; hadn't realized it was a such a dining icon. Was in New Orleans ages ago and never noticed it. But I will be paying attention tonight, honest! (their usual, non-TC menu)


eta: ... I'm sad

Oh Carla, why a sous-vide for the first time in the finale!?!

Q.) Think she might've won with Rich or Marcel as sous chef?

eta2: Answer: ,..'Nope' (thanks minx!)

KG is a Sell Out

_{KG by artist Rob Kelly, for Time Out, NY} She sold out 4 nights at Madison Sq. Garden! - so here are some KG tidbits via Rachael Ray (?!) and Time Out NY.

Rachael Ray & KG played 'Would You Rather'... and:

KG would dine with Lindsey Lohan's vs The Osmonds.
KG would pick Simon (from Am. Idol) vs Ryan or Randy.
KG would pick trapped w Clay Aiken vs Hear Paris H. Sing.
KG would hang out w/Olsen Twins vs 'The Hills' crew.

Well, can't say I disagree with any of her choices.
Tho never actually seen Am.Idol so just a guess there.

The link: KG on Rachael Ray (4 min video)

p.s. Why does everyone think I'm lying whenever I say I've never seen an American Idol show?... Why fib about that? - I haven't, honest!

============================
best bits from TO NY interview

Q.: Are you googling yourself while talking to me?
KG: No, But I do google my name every day, first thing.

Q.: Some people wake up to coffee…
KG: Any celebrity who says they don’t is lying.

Q.: (re Emmys) If there were a fire, that’s what you’d grab?
KG: Yes - my two Emmys and the picture of me on Oprah - it looks like she’s laughing hilariously at something I said.

Q.: And that’s it?
KG: Well, my dogs, of course. And then the two Emmys. And the picture of me on Oprah. My mom’s on her own. She can get herself out. She’d grab her box of wine, which is flammable, so then she’ll just roll down the driveway in flames.

I must be cruel... I lol'd at that mom comment.

* The link: KG in 'Time Out, NY' (full article)

Now Hair This!

Tidbits about Carla from a recent interview:

Q&A Top Chef's Carla Hall... Finding Her Sea Legs
(legs? she must use crabs vs. scallops...)

Viewers will see her tonight with a sleek new hairdo
as the cooking competition moves to New Orleans.
(Previews show Carla's hair is straight now.)

Q. Will we be seeing any photos of you from your modeling days?

Carla: Yeah, you might. (can't wait!)

Q. How hard has it been to read stuff... that wasn't so complimentary?

Carla: My husband would get upset when he read blogs, (uh oh) but I still don't read them. (whew!)

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with some of them. I knew I could cook better. I just needed to find my sea legs. It's like being on "Jeopardy!" and suddenly all the categories are the ones you know.

The Washington Post link - can be slow loading.

Chef(s) To Go

_{'Chef to Go' by Jennifer Garant, available at posterspoint}

GO CHEF GO!... Top Chef is casting Season 6! :

'Bravo’s Emmy-winning series... “Top Chef”, will be returning for a 6th season. Open calls for chefs interested in competing in the high-stakes culinary competition series will be held in cities across the country...':

SAN FRANCISCO - Sun, Feb 8, Ducca Restaurant

SEATTLE - Wed, Feb 11, Canlis Restaurant

ATLANTA - Sun, Feb 22, CRAFT Restaurant

NEW YORK - Sun, March 1, 10AM - 2PM CraftSteak

PHILADELPHIA - Wed, March 4, XIX NINETEEN, Park Hyatt

LOS ANGELES - Sun, March 15, CRAFT Restaurant

CHICAGO casting - email TCCastingChicago@gmail.com

(note: All are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local time)

Full article at NBC, Bay Area

The casting call comes out of NBC San Francisco. Hm.
Does that mean that Season 6 will be Season SanFran?

eta: Hosea's apology for the kiss (!)

Organiza10$ion

'Flipping Out', for Ca$h
Only 25 days left to convince Bravo that you deserve the dough:

'Tell us about your home organizational skills by submitting original text, photos, videos…or all three. If your tips outshine all the others, we’ll give you $10K.'

* summary of the Rules (its a huge page) :
Typed, in English, max 2500 char, & 10 pics, or a video.


Doesn't sound too bad. Just cough up about 300 words fibbing about how organized your shack is, and then use part of the $$ you win to hire a pro to get your home in shape before the cameras arrive. ;-)


P.S. Sponsored by 'Flipping Out' & Ziploc {hint, hint...}

Tossed Chefs

Another fine 'Apres Chef' moment.

Finally got around to watching the last half of Bravo's 'Danny video'. where he chats with the other tossed chefs.

Best bits: just after the 2 minute mark he refers to TomC as a 'stupid bastard', and later when asked for juicy details says that Hosea & Leah are 'all over each other' and its 'f*cking gross!'.
(and both have 'significant others' back home...)

Bravo's 4 min video: ' Danny joins eliminated chefs'.

PC Top Chef

Not 'Politically Correct', but 'Personal Computer'...screenshot of virtual 'me' - just before my first quickfire.
*btw players can click that cleaver to SKIP (chop! chop!) a section...

As you might've guessed, Santa gave me 'TC The Game'. And I just finished my 'test drive'... stopped by a computer error. Windows Virtual Memory wasn't quite ready for the graphics load, which is hilarious since the graphics are minimal at best. Static images slide across the screen, but there's zero actual animation, at least in level one. In fact, every time I chopped (cucumbers, tomatoes, mushrooms, veal) all items were drawn as onions!

Onto the gameplay itself. Be prepared to click your fingers raw - faster chopping = higher score. I survived the first quickfire (and got 2700 points!) for making a 'sweet salad' by sliding images of tomato and cucumber, with a bit of basil, to the cook surface and clicking away. (I also added raspberries and mango which turned into a fruit smear on the plate.) And you know what virtual judge Tom C said about it? ''I didn't expect you to use the Tomato, but it worked.'' Um, Tom?... without that exotic tomato my 'salad' would've consisted solely of cucumbers.

No wonder they don't do salads on Top Chef, The Show.

Follow this link to Baltimore Snacker's TC game post.