I thought it was great,Frank, but I'm also the sort of person who could be driven to the Pine Barrens in the dead of night and think "Sopranos shoutout!(sniff) Aw, you guys!"

There may be things wrong with us.

But I do(Halfway, at least, cause I haven't been there myself) understand that All of Boston Doesn't Look Like That. Honest.(I know it's a different part, but that one had a certain Lehane-osity. Kinda missed Dennis, really. He could talk about how he carved some poor, fictional, fucker up and Bourdain can tell us which parts would taste like chicken. *I'd* watch it.) Actually, that one made me more comfortable than when he's talking about the latest trends in calf eyeballs with his buddy who's the sous-chef at L'Enfer Especial or what-have-you.

Sometimes I think they are the culinary equivalent of the guys who write to Dan Savage because they can only come when covered in maple syrup and with a blue lego(and it has to be blue, Dan, any thoughts?) up their asses. And, yet, I still love that damn show.

I told my mother that, because we're so close that I sometimes forget she's not my age and doesn't know who Dan Savage is...she made *such* a face. ETA: Context.

Adrienne was fine until she really went off the deep end a few years back. I don't think you'd like her much now, meara.

Are there any *likable* reality stars?

Depends what you mean by stars, really. I mean Mike Boogie level stars? Sure -- a bunch of contestants from Top Chef, So You Think You Can Dance, Amazing Race, and more are extremely likeable!

In foodie news, my coworker's friend is being taken to Le Bernardin, had never heard of it before, and doesn't like seafood much. Unfair!!

Even though I'm not really a foodie, that does seem like "Um, do I want these tickets right on the hardwood?"

I know it's a different part, but that one had a certain Lehane-osity.

You know that Lehane has started turning up as one of the poker buddies on Castle, right?

I guess that could be considrered a spoiler, so I whitefonted.

t /off topic

a 3 minute video on how an hourglass is made.

music, soothing music, accompanies said video:

[link]

I tend to make a distinction between competition style reality shows and the more lifestyle type shows (Like Real Housewives or Real World). I find that there are lots of competition style reality TV stars whom I enjoy (and lots whom I don't) but there are many fewer lifestyle show reality stars that I find likeable, even if I find them amusing. Folks like Nene and Kim are funny on TV because they are so out there, but if you knew them in real life, you'd hate them. I think back in the days of the first couple seasons of the lifestyle shows, you had some genuinely likeable people who made it into the casts; pretty much the entire first season cast of The Real World(even Eric Nies!) and lots of folks form the LA and SF seasons. They used to cast normal people like Irene from the LA season who had a real job - police officer! Can you imagine that on Real World today? Never. But since they decided to go all in on casting "characters" and crazy people on these shows, there just isn't that much room for normal, likeable people anymore.

I saw that. It made me smile. Oh, and of course, at least to my knowledge, there is no bistro called "L'Enfer Especial"...I looked up how to say "Special Hell" in French the other day. But now I think there needs to be a restaurant named that.ETA: Kat, yeah, I vaguely remember that. Just being a wiseass. But it does occasionally seem that the whole genre is, like, dickhooks on parade. Of course, there are other kinds.

Okay, I am not watching some of these shows under discussion, but I am popping in to say a) Dominic on ABDC is causing me physical pain, and making me miss the other judges' commentary from flailing desperately at the 30-second button to avoid having him open his mouth.

And b) on Top Shot I am so disappointed that the cadre has managed to oust a) all civilians, b) all blue team members and c) their archenemy. So much for, these guys are not about the drama. I still cannot figure out for the life of me why Jamie got under their skin. Is the disdain for Navy guys really that severe? I'm glad Ashleigh's gone because I lost all respect for him. I still like Joe and am glad he got his chance to redeem himself even though he's definitely part of the clique. And I want to like Chris Reed, but his story changes too much for me to still feel like he's a man of integrity. Gunny is too passive. And George is the world's biggest asshole. So I don't even know who I'm cheering for at this point.

Yeah, I loved that first Real World cast. Who knew what it was going to all lead to.