Mushroom was the ingredient of favor and flop for Dale Talde in this week’s episode of Top Chef. Working in a team of three, Dale’s well-coiffed exterior started to crumble, leading to a confession that he’s not exactly a team player. He gave up the driver’s seat to bossy Nikki, who is more obsessed with presentation than food. Dale whined, “I’m not there to gussy up the table. I’m not a f—ing interior designer.” But he didn’t seem to mind dressing up Nikki’s entree of mushroom-stuffed blueberries with a little pecorino cheese, which, unfortunately, put him on the chopping block as the cheese “overwhelmed everything,” according to judge Tom Colicchio. Dale defended his actions: “I want to put cheese on so it doesn’t look like s—.” Eloquent under duress, he is not, but in the meantime, he’s safe. Lesson? Play Top Chef, not Top Food Decorator. …
In this week’s Beauty and the Geek, the beauties and the geeks went head to head in a game of “grope” football, and the beauties won this one, perhaps proving that they have more all-around game. Greg admitted, “I suck at sports. I am scared of any ball or Frisbee,” but proved himself with a few catches and runs down the line. At elimination, the ladies selected their guys of choice. Tara vied for her Greggie, but the girls decided Randi was better suited for Greg’s quiet character. Interesting how the only two ethnic minorities are coupled with no chance for romance. …
Claire Unabia of America’s Next Top Model is the peacekeeper, trying to smooth over the verbal throw-down between third-person talking Dominique and “I am not racist” Whitney. More importantly, she’s become a regular winner of challenges, and this week, she won a trip to Bora Bora for mastering the three C’s — catalogue, commercial and couture posing. Frankly, she’s a little too good to be true and gives me serious pause to wonder if her diet of breast milk contributes to her wow factor. …
According to American Idol judge Randy Jackson, Ramiele Malubay’s performance of Heart’s “Alone” was “a little pitchy all over the place.” Simon Cowell placed a temporary balm on that wound: “The truth is Ramiele, after what you sang last week, which I thought was appalling and you managed to survive, you’re going to get through this week on that performance. …”
In Dancing With the Stars, Kristi Yamaguchi landed on the top, again. “Just because I have the high score doesn’t mean I have the advantage,” she explained. But she’s not fooling anyone. With 54 out of 60 points, she and her partner are in first place. …
It was a sad farewell for Kaba Modern, who lost in a dance-off with Jabbawockeez on America’s Best Dance Crew. I can’t say it better than judge J.C. Chasez: “Seeing these two crews go against each other was the greatest competition ever.”