Congratulations to the class of 1999. You all proved more or less adequate.

Snyder ,'Chosen'


Non-Fiction TV: I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own

This thread is for non-fiction TV, including but not limited to reality television (So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef: Masters, Project Runway), documentaries (The History Channel, The Discovery Channel), and sundry (Expedition Africa, Mythbusters), et al. [NAFDA]


amyth - May 30, 2008 1:41:27 am PDT #5135 of 23273
And none of us deserving the cruelty or the grace -- Leonard Cohen

I agree that the Juilliard kid needs to develop a tougher skin, but it felt (to me) like a lot of his reaction to the rejection was frustration and anger that he was being rejected precisely because he was gay, and he didn't feel safe saying that on camera. But yeah, he needs to grow up.

I wonder how Nigel would have reacted to your friend? Probably told her that she looked "frumpy" and that she needed to put on a nice dress.

You're right! No ballroom! Weird. It always seemed like the three things you could count on were 1) Russian ballroom dancers, 2) Mormons, and 3) students taught by Denise Wall.


Jesse - May 30, 2008 2:57:03 am PDT #5136 of 23273
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

Is it just me, or are we not seeing hardly any ballroom people this year? And hardly any GOOD hip hop people??

Yeah, I noticed that too.


Toddson - May 30, 2008 4:34:05 am PDT #5137 of 23273
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"

SYTYCD - I missed about the first 45 minutes of the show (working late, snarl), but I did get to see Brandon (?) who was phenomenal. Poor Anthony - I'd mentioned his earlier appearance to someone, and here he is back. I hope he finds his niche - this isn't going to be it.


Jessica - May 30, 2008 4:48:23 am PDT #5138 of 23273
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

TC thoughts:

Lisa really doesn't care, does she? The only challenge she really put her heart into that I can remember was when she got to cook for Ming Tsai. (It was Ming Tsai, right?)

Spike, whatever. So long you ginormous douchenozzle you.

I think my favorite thing about the top 3 right now (I'm assuming Lisa will go next unless one of the others chokes) is how decent they all are. I can't remember the last time I've liked almost all of the finalists this much just as people.


Frankenbuddha - May 30, 2008 4:55:46 am PDT #5139 of 23273
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

I think my favorite thing about the top 3 right now (I'm assuming Lisa will go next unless one of the others chokes) is how decent they all are. I can't remember the last time I've liked almost all of the finalists this much just as people.

I very much agree (as whiny as SOOOO many of the others were). Granted, I don't have other seasons of TC to go on, but it's definitely true for the few other reality shows I've watched.

Richard's calm self-assurance sometimes borders on smug, but that seems more to do with his opinion of his abilities; as a person he seems really nice (splitting that prize with Stephanie really won me over). Plus, he seems to know when he's out of his depth on something.


Amy - May 30, 2008 5:04:20 am PDT #5140 of 23273
Because books.

I agree.

I think the thing I like best about Richard is that he's always really putting his all into what he does, and he seems to try to find the upside in every challenge. He really won me over during the wedding challenge.

Stephanie is no-nonsense and focused on making the best food she can, each time, and she knows she's not a great Quickfire contestant, which I don't mind. She's more thoughtful about what she wants to make, and I don't really expect a restaurant chef to come up withe genius in 15 minutes if I'm ordering, you know?

Antonia is just so ... nice! And friendly and comfortable in her abilities and without a lot of the uber ego of a Marcel or a Stephen. Whatever she makes always looks like something I'd want to eat, too.


sumi - May 30, 2008 5:17:46 am PDT #5141 of 23273
Art Crawl!!!

Chow.com's exit interview with Spike.

New Yorker profile Grant Achatz


Jesse - May 30, 2008 6:34:21 am PDT #5142 of 23273
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

Antonia is just so ... nice!

Except for when she's talking shit in her talking-head segments!


Amy - May 30, 2008 6:39:56 am PDT #5143 of 23273
Because books.

Maybe it's just the fact that I usually agree with her in those ...


Kathy A - May 30, 2008 7:22:33 am PDT #5144 of 23273
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil

I'm still bugged by Antonia (and Lisa, too, wasn't it?) opinion of Midwest palates. Goddamnit, we're not hicks, even though we don't live near an ocean!