Heh. I can't believe she knew the principal actor's name!

I KNOW! That was an exciting round.

Top Chef: Bourdain is guest-blogging for Collichio, at least this week: [link]

I think it's interesting that tuna and filet are considered boring choices, but shrimp isn't. That's got to be more about the execution than the ingredient, right? Maybe the idea is that there is less to do with the tuna and steak?

yes, it was an exciting round. I'm not sure how well Fragilay will do (I'm totally rooting for them - they may be my favorites) though in the semi-finals because that one team earlier this week that swept the "they're real and spectacular" team are really good. I think they could have answered some of the questions that Fragilay missed.

Wocka Wocka, I think. I liked Fragilay a lot, but it seems like their final member (Tani?) was stronger than the other two. I give them credit for strategically using her last, though-- I think you should only use your strongest member in an earlier matchup if the subject is well within the player's wheelhouse. As last year, my fave team is Almost Perfect Strangers. So adorably nerdy, particularly the guy who knew Louis Gossett Jr.

oh yeah. I really like Almost Perfect Stranger 2 also. They might go the distance.

I forget which team it was where the woman couldn't come up with the movie in which Morgan Freeman played the President. I was literally wiggling my fingers in front of my forehead, vibing her the words "Deep Impact...Deep Impact..." but she wasn't receiving, unfortunately.

I always like to imagine how I would do up there, and I know that any category dealing with music is my huge downfall. I thought I'd do well in most of the movies/tv categories, but I have gaping holes there as well (I've not seen any of the "Frat Pack" movies other than Meet the Parents, which I hated).

I was shocked with some of the answers I did know, without having seen the movie in question or whatever. Osmosis, man.

I should never go on that show, because song lyrics, album titles and the other musical questions are my downfall. I knew the Guns 'n Roses songs, but for the life of me, had no idea what that album was called.

And, of course, Da Butt.

And, of course, Da Butt.

I was so disappointed they didn't use the song "Doin' It in the Butt" from the Spike Lee movie School Daze! That was my default answer to all the questions I had no clue on (after "Baby Got Back" and "My Humps," I was lost).

I think it's interesting that tuna and filet are considered boring choices, but shrimp isn't. That's got to be more about the execution than the ingredient, right? Maybe the idea is that there is less to do with the tuna and steak?

I can see where he's coming from -- shrimp doesn't immediately jump out as a luxury main ingredient, but filet and tuna are everywhere. You could walk blindfolded into almost any restaurant in NYC and order a tuna tartare appetizer w/ filet mignon as your main course. In retrospect, being forced to switch away from scallops was probably a godsend for that team.