Yay! Chef Symon won! Besh is a good guy, but I think Symon has a lot more of the personality that Iron Chef needs. Granted, given that he's buddies with Bourdain (as demonstrated in the awsome No Reservations in Cleveland w/ special guest Harvey Pekar), you'd think he might be wary of the gig, but he seems a good fit.

TAR: Sean - last week the episode showed up on youtube. I will post a link if one appears.

Also: still loving the Goths. Yes, the macrame thing was adorable. And I could not believe that father. MY GOD SHUT THE FUCK UP when you're daughter is trying to concentrate. I loved that one of the Latina team was a track and field person so naturally did the ditch vault. The entire concept of ditch vault had me laughing and laughing. But back to the detour: I couldn't believe it took that one couple so long to switch jobs. Sheesh. And back to the roadblock: NEVER would be too soon to see grandpa in his muddy undies. (And did he really tell Phil that he stripped down further than that?)

I was smiling bemusedly at the "ditch vault" mostly because that event is actually called "dyke jumping." Just not on American television.

Dear TAR contestants:

NEVER PICK THE NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK TASK AT A DETOUR! Even if the alternative task is stabbing yourself repeatedly in the arm with a fork - DO THAT ONE. Sheesh!

NEVER PICK THE NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK TASK AT A DETOUR! Even if the alternative task is stabbing yourself repeatedly in the arm with a fork - DO THAT ONE. Sheesh!

Hah! I was thinking basically the exact same thing. Come ON, people!

(Even though the knot tying part of the other task seemed pretty freaking complicated. And, hey, wasn't that basically an um...what's the task called when only one person can do it? The person at the top didn't seem to really have to do much at all.)

And, hey, wasn't that basically an um...what's the task called when only one person can do it? The person at the top didn't seem to really have to do much at all.

Not really, because they could switch if the person at the bottom couldn't figure the knots out. On a Roadblock, the non-performing teammate can only cheerlead, not jump in and help. (And you did need someone at the top pulling the furniture into the window, even if they also had help.)

Cheerlead or Heckle like Ronald.

or Heckle like Ronald.

True, that. I honestly think there should be some kind of STFU rule about Roadblocks where the person not doing the task can't talk to their teammate while the task is going on. Is it ever really helpful to have someone shouting at you while you're trying to work? Even if they're being supportive?

Yes, yes. The non-roadblocking person should have to wait where they can't even see what the other is doing - so no "gosh, if only you had...." and they also have to imagine what the other is doing, coming up with odd ideas based on the clue.

Could you imagine them not being able to see the ditch vaulting, just having the clue about being acrobatic and then seeing other folks coming back all muddy. Hearing them hypothesize on what their partner was doing would be hilarious.

Suzi - that's perfect. Yes, the other person should be in isolation. (In the grandpa/grandson team: why didn't the grandson do that?)

I don't know - the cheerleading or advice giving is an area where a team that really works well together can potentially shine over the dysfunctional teams. Which makes it to me a legitimate race skill.