Hmm, the recaplet at TWoP had this ominous conclusion:

Spike drove the entire disappointing effort, but he's also dominated this season's talking-head time, and Manuel goes home for being, uh, a "follower."

Having missed prior seasons, do they keep people in the competition just because they're "colorful", and don't we have enough of that with Andrew?

Having missed prior seasons, do they keep people in the competition just because they're "colorful", and don't we have enough of that with Andrew?

They're careful to say that they don't, and honestly, I think what might happen is that what gets edited into the final cut is the most, um, colorful people simply getting more talking-head time.

I think that sometimes, when the judges are torn, the more colorful people stay, because the producers do influence the decisions sometimes. So, not to say that a boring person could create a kick ass dish and lose over the bad dish of the colorful person, but when it's borderline, the colorful person often wins.

Spike drove the entire disappointing effort, but he's also dominated this season's talking-head time, and Manuel goes home for being, uh, a "follower."

I think Manuel went home because he was the weaker chef of the two.

I think that sometimes, when the judges are torn, the more colorful people stay, because the producers do influence the decisions sometimes.

I'd love to hear what you think are examples of this in action. I think that usually the person who stays is the one that has been a better chef overall, regardless of whether they are "colorful."

I also think even if the cooking level that day was equal, the "colorful" person probably shows more potential for being a Top Chef, as opposed to a good cook. Actually, I think might be more true on Project Runway, but it's the same idea.

I don't know about that, though. Look at Sam. Hard to find a more mellow guy, outside of his one blow-up at Marcel.

Look at Sam. Hard to find a more mellow guy, outside of his one blow-up at Marcel.

Yeah, but he was delightful to look at.

But when was he mediocre?

Well, no, you're right about that Jesse. Not mediocre at all.

And very pleasant to look at, lisah.

Maybe Dave was sort of mediocre, but kept around for the "I'm not your bitch, bitch" drama?

I thought Dave was a pretty good cook, though. The over the top emotional drama was just a bonus! If they'd really wanted to keep the drama quotient high in S1 they'd have kept Miguel (I think he really would've put a beat down on Tiff eventually) or Stephen or heck even that ridiculous ass from the first episode who licked his fingers and kept putting them back in the food. Ewww.

I really am liking Richard quite a bit. But then again, I liked Marcel. And I liked Hung, too. And even Stephen grew on me. Huh, maybe I secretly love molecular gastronomy, although I don't think I've never had it.