It certainly made it harder to watch

GABS: I actually thought they did a better job this time of getting the tone closer to GBBO. Except for the Paul Hollywood character mainlandsplaining (?) to the PR woman that desserts from her region are "usually cloyingly sweet". Something else he said made me raise an eyebrow too but I disremember.

I can't stand him and couldn't even before this show.

Yeah, he's a little too invested in some Bad Boy of Baking schtick. I don't like Paul Hollywood, either.

I dint recall ever seeing him before but I'm not impressed.

Neither was I. And Paul, at least, made a good target for Mel and Sue's quips (and Mary twinkled at him).

The male judge did bow down to Mary after she correctly diagnosed why a particular cake looked odd and the male judge scoffed at her idea. Mary's reaction to the word Snickerdoodle was funny.

I remember a show - I believe it may have been an earlier version of the American one that had Jeff Foxworthy as the host - and Paul Hollywood was a judge. One of the contestants - a woman from the south - was making something with chocolate, peanut butter, and bacon ... and Paul was doubtful but, on tasting it, said it was delicious.

I was pretty happy with this week's PR! I mean, not really avant grade, but they almost never are, and almost all the looks were beautiful. The way Roberi's metal moved with his model was extraordinary. Can't really argue with who went home, either. I find him personally delightful and I think his designs have gotten a LOT better since the beginning, but he's still just not really ready for Fashion Week.

PR: stoked with the final four and with the promise of Michael Kors judging!

How much do I love Mary Berry? a lot, in case you were wondering.

In yesterday's American Baking Show, she really liked a couple of the dishes (it was pie and tart day). One pie, she ate two bites (instead of the usual one just to taste) and for the miniature hors d'oeuvre tarts, she ate a complete one. Made those contestants very happy.