BuzzSugar

Are There Too Many Chef Shows on TV?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:30:02 -0800

We've already talked about the abundance of dance shows on TV, but there's another genre that seems to be taking over the networks - competitive cooking. NBC just picked up United Plates of America, a new series by the producers of Top Chef which will pit hopeful restaurateurs against each other for the ultimate prize of starting their own chain. The winner gets to open four locations on the night of the finale. That's a pretty cool gift package, but it has me thinking - don't we have enough of this programming on TV already?

The premise does sound more unique than most, but it used to be that the Food Network was the only TV cooking choice with its popular Iron Chef franchise. Since then, other channels have gotten in on the act, too, like Fox's Hell's Kitchen and of course Bravo with Top Chef, Top Chef Masters, Top Chef: Just Desserts . . . need I go on?

Of course, if you're a foodie, you may be excited to have yet another show for your TiVo queue, but I wonder if all of this is overkill. How about you?

Link Time! Rumer Willis to Romance a Major 90210 Character

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:30:34 -0700

Guess who Rumer Willis's character on 90210 is going to have a girl-on-girl relationship with? - Ausiello Files
Hulu will not start charging for content after all - PopWatch
Zooey Deschanel will make a guest appearance on Bones - The Futon Critic
Natalie Portman was the guest judge on Top Chef last night - test your knowledge! - YumSugar
Dave Eggers's novel Zeitoun is going to be made into an animated film - Vulture
The new Avatar trailer is a bit more exciting than the first - Cinematical
Keanu Reeves will star in romantic comedy Henry's Crime with Vera Farmiga - Coming Soon
Abigal Breslin will star as Helen Keller on Broadway, along with Alison Pill - Hollywood Crush
Will Twilight's Anna Kendrick get a supporting actress nomination for Up in the Air? - HitFix

Photos courtesy of The CW

TV Tonight: Top Chef Heads to Vegas

BuzzSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:30:44 -0700

Start sharpening those knives - Top Chef returns tonight! This time we head to Sin City for the first of many grueling quickfires and elimination challenges. If you haven't checked out the contestant list already, get to know your players here.

I was lucky enough get a taste test from three of the newbies at the TCA, and I was very impressed. Padma Lakshmi even mentioned that the contestants keep getting better season after season. I can't wait to pick my favorites when the mouth-watering madness starts again tonight. Maybe I can even convince PartySugar to organize one of her themed viewing bashes.

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TV Tonight: The Top Chef New York Finale

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:31:41 -0800

So, who will it be? The Top Chef: New York finale airs tonight on Bravo, and once again I've gotten sucked into another season of succulent cooking and "did that just happen?" drama.

Tonight, the three remaining chefs get the customary final challenge from had judge Tom Colicchio: "Cook the best meal of your life." It seems straightforward enough, but this is a Bravo reality show, after all; I'm sure there will be at least one twist, if not several!

I've been following all the action on TV and on YumSugar this season, and while several of my favorites got eliminated before the finale, I'm still excited to see the remaining three throw down their knives tonight. Full disclosure: I'm rooting for Carla, and if she wins, you'll probably be able to hear my yells of "Hootie!" Which chef do you think should win? To check out a preview for tonight's episode, just read more.

Photos courtesy of Bravo

Buzz In: What TV Job Would You Want?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:30:53 -0800

It occurred to me while watching the adorable CW show Privileged last night that the main character Megan has a pretty sweet gig. She's a tutor living in the lap of luxury in sunny Palm Beach who is in charge of ultimately getting two rich girls into college. I'm not sure I'd love to be a tutor to heiresses, but lately she's spending less time teaching and more time hanging out with cute guys . . . in the lap of luxury. I'm jealous!

I also think Chuck's job as a secret spy often seems exciting (though, you know, a little dangerous). And in the reality TV world, Padma's judging gig on Top Chef is an enviable job I would not turn down (eating all that great food? Sign me up!). Your turn: which TV jobs would you want?

Photos courtesy of Bravo, NBC, and The CW

Weekend Reading: How Not to Get Sent Home First

BuzzSugar — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:00:42 -0700

I got a kick this week out of a piece Slate did on the doomed reality show contestants who have been voted or kicked off in the first episode, complete with tips on how to avoid their fate. At first I struggled to remember a single first contestant, but then this piece reminded me of Jerry and Nimma from Bravo's Project Runway and Top Chef.

If you are planning on competing on one of these reality shows, these are some pretty good tips for sticking around for more than one episode. If not, you'll probably find them as fascinating as I do and will watch to see if they hold true for shows like The Amazing Race, which premieres tonight.

Here are some of the tips and excerpts from the article:

Lesson 9: Everyone loves a comeback story: "A bad first episode doesn't mean a contestant can't make a comeback. But if you want a shot at post-reality fame, you first have to make it past Week 1."
Lesson 8: Know your demographic: "VH1 understands the ratings power of the loudmouth; who among the channel's viewers wouldn't want to watch a plus-sized Omarosa gone ghetto?"
Lesson 6: Know your eliminator: "On a reality show, it's almost always good to be memorable. But if your fate is in a single person's hands, you'd better be indelible for the right reasons."

To see some more, just read more!

Lesson 5: Don't clam up: "With so little time to break through the clutter, no one has the luxury of opening-night jitters."
Lesson 3: Don't be chicken: "Sometimes, a reality contestant signs up for adventure but winds up looking sorry she didn't stay home."
Lesson 2: Nice guys finish last. Same with nice ladies: "This was an island of snakes and rats, and Sonja's guileless personality made her seem impossibly weak."

Do you agree with these? Do you remember any reality contestants who went home first?

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Do You Watch Reality Show Reunions?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:30:37 -0700

It wasn't till I was reading YumSugar this morning that I realized I'd completely forgotten to watch the Top Chef reunion special! Luckily, she had a great rundown of all the action. Still, I'm a little surprised that the reunion didn't stand out more in my mental TV schedule, since I usually love watching reality contestants come back and dish on what happened behind the scenes while the show was filming.

Do you watch reality reunions? Or do the personality conflicts and clip packages just not interest you?

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Link Time! 6/17

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:33:56 -0700

I love this question: FilmExperience wants to know which movie star you first had a crush on. (See my answer, left.)
The Vulture editors use charts and logic to predict the song of Summer 2008.
Best Week Ever lists 20 headlines that are funnier if you pretend they're about House, MD.
Popwatch has a sweet "in memoriam" post for visual effects genius, Stan Winston, who died Sunday at the age of 62.
TV Squad interviewed the fabulous Jean Smart.
Cinematical ponders the news that apparently A Fish Called Wanda will be the next movie to be made into a stage musical.
YumSugar has the scoop on Top Chef's 20-city tour.
Rolling Stone's Rock & Roll Daily found the toughest tradeoffs on the Lollapalooza schedule (Nine Inch Nails or Kanye?).

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Link Time! 6/12

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:29:53 -0700

Check out the new image from the Where the Wild Things Are movie, courtesy of MTV Movies Blog.
Top Chef fans, be sure to head to YumSugar for a recap of the finale and a test of how well you paid attention.
Cinematical ponders the news that Hugh Hefner apparently wants Robert Downey Jr. to portray him in Hefner's biopic.
TV with MeeVee doesn't know that someone will die on Battlestar Galactica, but they're handicapping the odds anyway.
Speaking of Battlestar, TiFaux found Tricia Helfer rocking out in a video for the Old '97s.
Stereogum has the new, summery Goldfrapp video for "Caravan Girl."
TV Squad has a clip of the alternate ending for Jericho if there had been a season three.
More OC on Chuck! Hollywood Insider has news that Melinda Clarke will appear in the show's second season.
Popwatch wants to know which acts at Nashville's Bonnaroo you'd like them to cover.

Link Time! 3/13

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:30:06 -0700

Cinematical asks the important questions: Should George Clooney return to ER?
Check out Jude Law's top ten best performances over on FilmExperience.
Vulture boldly defends the era of watercooler chat and sets new guidelines for what should and should not be a spoiler.
Yum is ready to dish about the new Top Chef, if you're up for it.
David Hernandez, take note: TV Squad figures out what happened to all those other people who finished 12th on American Idol.
Idolator wonders if anyone actually watches those bonus DVDs that come with some CDs.
Bella explains how to achieve Natalie Wood's old Hollywood, swoon-worthy looks.
Popwatch is just getting into Say Yes to the Dress and wants to know what other cable shows have totally not been on our radar.
Lifeline Live reports that Tim Gunn is taking on a new project: giving makeovers to contestants on The Biggest Loser!

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