Well, I have to say that Spike can't be long for the show - and Manuel really hadn't done anything to distinguish himself so I wasn't too sorry to see him go.

I think that Nikki has got to go soon.

Stephanie, Richard, Andrew - seem to be at the top now.

Mark, Dale - next tier.

And then a bunch of people I'm just not sure about.

And while I feel bad for Whitney as the plus-sized girl, it's not like she didn't know that would happen at the go-sees

Yeah, but she was right. In the real world her agency would never have sent her to that place that didn't hire "plus size" models in the first place. And she recovered from her snit pretty fast. Her hair is still terrible though.

I was kind of sad to see Claire go because she's the most interesting looking to me. but she was also getting on my nerves. I think they just kept Lauren because they still hoped to make her that Biggest Transformation girl and I just don't see her being able to stop lurching without, as you said, a year of dance classes or similar.

Did you get a load of Granma Dominique's missing tooth???

Top Chef:

Zoi's comments were ridiculous. I mean you can say that you think that that taste combination may not work but it didn't sound like she'd actually tasted it!

And I thought freakin' Ryan was going to bring the Hobbit down with his ignorance. I was shocked that they ended up making a dish that actually worked.

That beef dish sounded divinely yum.

Well, Markwise had a few favorite films that I have NEVER heard of. . .

I have to say that I love that they wound up making a dish based on "A Christmas Story" and that one of the other top dishes was inspired by "Top Secret."

Zoi was out of line. I got the feeling that she didn't taste the dish so couldn't possibly know.

I have to add that I thought that this challenge was right up your alley, Jessica. I immediately thought of your annual Oscar Night party with the movie-themed food.

Well, Markwise had a few favorite films that I have NEVER heard of. . .

"Crazy Bad" isn't that obscure, and "To Kill A Mockingbird" is a classic, although I'd be hard-pressed to guess what you'd come up with.

I'm surprised no one did a food-inspired film like "Ratatouille." Manuel came close to picking a food-based film with "Like Water For Chocolate," but didn't take command.

He should have taken command - but Spike clearly wanted to to Vietnamese food.

I hadn't heard of Crazy Bad - or, was it "Bad Bubby"?

You could have done a poultry based southern inspired dish for To Kill a Mockingbird. Quail or grouse would have worked.

Well, Markwise had a few favorite films that I have NEVER heard of. . .

It was mainly just killing me that neither of them mentioned any of the LoTR movies!

I'm surprised no one did a food-inspired film like "Ratatouille." Manuel came close to picking a food-based film with "Like Water For Chocolate," but didn't take command.

I'm glad they didn't. That would have been way too obvious, I think. But Spike's wanting to do Vietnamese food so proposing a film with "Vietnam" in the title and doing a dish that had nothing to do with the film (and was boring to boot) was idiotic.

"To Kill A Mockingbird" is a classic, although I'd be hard-pressed to guess what you'd come up with.

classic southern cooking with a twist.

I'm surprised no one did a food-inspired film like "Ratatouille." Manuel came close to picking a food-based film with "Like Water For Chocolate," but didn't take command.

Or Big Night, but not enough time for Timpani (?), I guess. A good risotto would have worked.

It was mainly just killing me that neither of them mentioned any of the LoTR movies!

I'm glad they didn't - I fear it would have been cringe-inducing given everything else Ryan was saying.

Well, I have to say that Spike can't be long for the show

I suspect the next time he takes charge and fails, he'll get the axe instead of the beta chef(s).