Hell’s Kitchen–The Righteous Choice

Hell’s Kitchen–The Righteous Choice by Roxanne McDonald

The Hell’s Kitchen finale confirms there is justice in the world.

And as well, it reveals the humility and dignity of a well-deserved winner. Heather was gracious about Virginia’s creative and distinctive palette, which won Virginia all but one or two of the challenges and even the mini-taste challenge once the two finalists got to Las Vegas. (Heather had made fish and Virginia chicken, and they and Chef Ramsey stood in a casino and asked passersby to vote on which was best.)

Virginia and her creative way designed her restaurant to include walls of water (which weren’t working until a few minutes before show time); and Heather did a po-mo style décor with a giant video screen of her in action in the kitchen.

In typical Survivor/Apprentice style, HK brought back the losing contestants, and Heather and Virginia chose teams. Of course Virginia got to choose first (having won the last mini challenge) and of course she picked Keith. Not to worry, though, as the first thing she did at her outside staff meeting was slam them all saying how she picked those chefs who were considered failures, or the “weakest” chefs. Heather, on the other hand, showed respect for and faith in her team, who came through for her even in spite of her bulldog leadership in the kitchen.

Heather designed a “simple” menu, while Virginia went a little more creative (though she made a simple hot fudge sundae for dessert, which Hell’s Kitchen diners loved). Her chefs spoke in the diary room of how wise Heather was to do this, and also spoke to her skills and integrity.

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Back-to-back Suffering in Hell’s Kitchen

Back-to-back Suffering in Hell’s Kitchen by Roxanne McDonald

The idea to put two episodes of Hell’s Kitchen back to back—one from the previous week, followed by the newest episode—is brilliant…if you can stand the heat of such volatile behavior, gestures, comments, and attitudes.

But if you instead don’t follow so many episodes, if you don’t keep up, or if you missed the July 24th episode(s) of Hell’s Kitchen, oh then let me re-cap for you.

Rachel’s gone, Maribel’s next to go. At 6:30 in the morning, the remaining chef-contenders are roused to engage in a prepare-a-meal-for-Chef challenge, the winner of which will get to enjoy the greatest luxury reward of all, thus far: the opportunity to fly to the Vegas restaurant being built for the winner of Hell’s Kitchen. Each of chefs are not part of a team for this competition, but on their own, making one of three courses out of ten possible ingredients. They have one hour to woo their Master.

Chef Ramsey first considers a roasted veal and vegetable appetizer made by Garret, which Chef says is “cooked perfectly” but which he also says has too much saffron. Heather’s sautéed prawns on spinach is “very, very nice”, but the spinach is crunchy…dirty (as it is hella hard, even in Hell’s Kitchen, to thoroughly clean your own fresh spinach…has to be done leaf by leaf [and with one hour to prep, cook, and present, I imagine Heather skimped on the cleaning time]).

Chef R. then considers Virginia’s spinach with beet tops dish with poached prawns and truffles. Chef Ramsey finds the dish “delicious, vibrant….”

Sarah’s grilled veal with prawn sauce has a “boring” presentation, though the flavor works well.

And finally, Chef tries Keith’s spinach-stuffed veal chops: they have the “most amazing color,” Ramsey says, which “makes you wanna dive in there and eat it.”

While it is a tough and labored call,

Chef R. finally chooses Keith, whom he prompts to choose one other to accompany him and Ramsey to Vegas. Here we wonder if Keith will stay with his closest “alliance”, his “mate” Garrett, or if he will choose the one who was sitting on his lap at the start of the show (Heather) as the voiceovers revealed the “loyalty” Keith says he has…. He chooses Virginia, rationalizing (later, when confronted) that she was the “second best” in the cook-off.

This of course wounds the side-kick, Garrett, who is trailing behind the impressive performances of Keith (whom many viewers think is going to win that Vegas restaurant). As Keith, Virginia, and Chef Ramsey go off in the limo, and as the losers stay behind lumping product that had been delivered out back, besides most of them bitching and vociferous, sore losers, AGAIN, Garrett flips the limo the bird, which Ramsey does not take as an honorary salute but instead chastises Garrett for later….

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Hell’s Kitchen Gets More Diabolical

Hell’s Kitchen Gets More Diabolical by Roxanne McDonald

Hell’s Kitchen on July 31st was the most troublesome yet.

With four competing chefs yet, the individuals were merged onto one team, given fresh black and white jackets, and given their first one against three challenge. They were taken to a local construction site and given a small bit of time to create a fabulous lunch for the construction workers.

Heather made a grilled chicken sandwich with French fries, saying in the camera room, “Who doesn’t like chicken sandwiches/french fries?” but saying to the men how she had missed them, was waiting for them, and was wondering where they had been all her life. Odd for Heather, who is usually so focused on skill—and not sexuality. (That seems to be the not so subtle Virginia’s gig.)

Keith made the boys lobster and greens; Sarah made quail with salad and fresh berries for dessert; and Virginia made turkey and prosciutto with feta cheese sandwiches.

Virginia won the luxury challenge and got to go on a shopping spree with Chef Ramsey to Sur La Table, where she flirted with him, playfully taunted him with items like the “kiss-the-cook” apron, and where she racked up a bill of over 900 bucks.

Back at Hell’s Kitchen, the losers are preparing and cooking fresh crab, which is evidently a daunting task.

When Virginia returns, Keith challenges her, saying she had better have brought him a gift (since he had taken her to Vegas, sacrificing his bonds with Garrett). She hands him a little red crab cracker, which Keith grouses is only six bucks…and should have been a good knife or something more expensive.

Heather is not too moved by the rubber hand mitt which will dunk in boiling water without harming the hand; and Sarah is equally silent about the miniature cow creamer (which Virginia reminds is a JOKE, but which likely, going by the look on her face, just reminds Sarah of the many times Chef Ramsey has slammed her at dinner service, specifically, for example, calling her a [stupid] cow.

Little passive-aggressive on Virginia’s part, if you ask me.

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Rock Star Supernova’s Elimination Night Aug. 23

Rock Star Supernova’s Elimination Night Aug. 23 by Roxanne McDonald

Wow.       The one with the most poise, the one most likely to win maybe, has gotten a little egomaniacal already?

RockStar SuperNova’s elimination night (on August 23) was expected, though some of the subterfuge going on and shared with us on Wednesday was not. 

Evidently, as the house cams reveal, Dilana is starting to show off — in the wrong way.  First, she digs Ryan, telling him he would have been nothing without the house band; and then telling him in a taunting way, “I’m getting more votes than you.”  The remaining seven have been reading some of the comments and critiques on the Windows Live Space page, and one of the posts is addressed to Dilana and claims it is down to her and Ryan.  (Of course, thousands who know what they are talking about disagree.)  (read more…)

Rock Star Supernova Recaps

Rock Star Supernova Recaps by Roxanne McDonald 

RockStar SuperNova, Wednesday, August 16, is like any Rock Star episode of this season or last (which was Rock Star INXS, for those of you who foolishly missed the best music reality show on TV).     No, wait.  It is amped up a notch:  SuperNova hits the stage: Jason on bass, Gilbey on lead, and Tommy on drums… and Dilana fronting.

The boys have opened the show with the preface that no one is anywhere near being “chosen” as the winner.

Tonight will start a series of weekly guest fronting, as SuperNova performs one newly written song for each of the next seven weeks: this week the guest spot will be taken by Dilana (great first choice on the band’s part, of course, for anyone with an ear is anticipating she WILL win this contest, anyway—if Lukas doesn’t).  (read more…)

America’s Got Talent Finale and Props to Regis

 America’s Got Talent Finale and Props to Regis by Roxanne McDonald

I know I was pretty hard on the show in general, given its tacky middle America pandering and not so successful panning of The Gong Show and other mock games, and I am sorry to say I have to be equally harsh about America’s Got Talent grand finale.

  But if to show respect at least is to write about it, to give it air, okay, then the very writing here should suffice. 

(After all, bad publicity is still publicity and all that….)I like Regis Philbin.  I give him props for being angry and bitter and hateful and getting away with it, expressing it, giving vent, by way of cheesy and acceptable humor.   (read more…)

BB7 All-Stars - Gamut of Emotions

BB7 All-Stars - Gamut of Emotions by Roxanne McDonald

Big Brother 7 All Stars, August 17th, 2006

Big Brother 7 All-Stars puts BB devotees through the gamut of emotions—or emotional responses.

First, we are getting fed up with the Janelle thing, especially once she “scumbagged” (as Marcellas would say) her supposed “friend”. 

Yep, she put Marcellas up for eviction, pretentiously confiding in him that she had to do it but that she would ensure he was only a pawn and going nowhere.  (read more…)

Big Brother All Stars - Will is Gaining Power

Big Brother All Stars - Will is Gaining Power by Roxanne McDonald 

By the time one gets through the Big Brother 7, Tuesday, August 1st episode, one is struck hard by the frightful possibility:      what if Will wins again?

   It is a strong possibility, considering he has gone balls to wall with his intentional insulting, manipulating, and self-alienating, all of which appear to merely galvanize, or reinforce, his strength of presence in the BB house. 

He has told them all during a veto meeting that he hates them all.  He has cajoled and coerced Janelle—or attempted to convince her—to put a floater and a Chill Town member up, then work it so the floater goes home.  (read more…)

Big Brother 7 All-Stars Gets More Vicious

Big Brother 7 Gets More Vicious By Roxanne McDonald

The Big Brother 7 All-Stars July 23 episode, if possible, gets more vicious, more heated, more cutthroat… and at the same time ushers in another bizarre dimension to the personalities of two players, Jase and Will.

  The Sunday episode has creepy cute moments: Boogie speaks to the diary room cam, excitedly anticipating HOH James’ nominations, saying, “Call the Hardy Boys… get somebody in here to figure out who James is going to nominate.” 

(Boogie is a trip; reminds me of the frat boys back east, and with good reason: he is from Concord, NH, right up the road a piece from where I first went to college.  So, yes, frat boys in NH are like this—and often WORSE.) (read more…)

Jenna Morasca has a TV Journal

I was just buzzing along looking at the latest news in TV and found that one of my ultimate dream girls Jenna Morasca, winner of a million bucks on Survivor, has her own TV Journal at the CBS News site!

Very interesting!

In “Jenna’s TV Journal” she dishes out her opinions on such shows at Treasure Hunters, Hell’s Kitchen. Rock Star: Supernova, Last Comic Standing, Big Brother: All-Stars, Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent and Who Wants To Be A Superhero! (read more…)