A pretty good ending challenge (build a house of cards using heavy wooden planks) ten feet tall….that Susie wins. Yeah. Susie. I know. But, backing up….just wanted to say that I had no problem with Sugar creating a tie between Bob and Matty to go for final three, which allowed Bob into the finals at all. I felt for Matty, who is entirely too trusting, but felt that was her really best path…leaving it up to them to rightfully win that slot.

I’d have thought she’d have a better shot at the million, but clearly…not even a chance. So she was right in that it didn’t matter who she put there. What bugged me was that Bob was so seemingly forgetful of the fact that it was largely Sugar’s gameplay that got him to that point. She didn’t have to flip on Kenny. And she seemed to regret that. And yet, even he couldn’t toss a vote her way.

So, it ends with Bob, Susie, and Sugar in the finals. Would have rather it been Matty. As I’m sure Matty feels the same since they all made it clear they’d have chosen him over Bob. However, he seems at peace with what he got from his time out there. And, by the way, he’s a trust fund kid, so money isn’t exactly going to be an issue.

I think this was easily the worst jury in the history of the game. Even months later, the most bitter group ever. Wow. Corrinne deserves not an additional single word of print. So I’ll leave it with Karma. Please. Randy still just strikes me as a sad and damaged guy. I thought it said a lot that he gave his tickets to fans of the show…and that he’s still bitter about the damn cookie. Marcus is still smug, Charlie is still a follower and incredibly bad judge of people. Crystal has some self awareness, as does Susie. Kenny…is still Kenny. The rest….

So, my hope is that Bob and his family enjoy their very well deserved windfall. That Matty lives a long and happy life with his soon to be wife. And that Sugar goes on to win an Oscar and make millions on her own.

Oh….and that the powers that be on Survivor decide in the future that the winner of the million is then exempt as fan favorite. Because….Susie got second place money, Bob won…..and Sugar got majorly shafted. Even Probst didn’t really give her respect for her game play, casting her instead as simply being much maligned. While true, still didn’t pay any homage to her game play. A shame, that. And making her think, even for a second, she won the 100k? Shame on you, Probst.

Bob…likable, worthy winner whose time on the show I definitely enjoyed….and still possibly the most boring recipient of the million and 100K ever. So, anticlimactic, despite the fact that I have no issues with the win.

Next season? Brazil. Looks stunning and fascinating. Let’s hope for fewer damaged ugly people and more Bob’s and Sugar’s - interesting folks out to play a game.

I hope everyone is getting geared up for the holiday season. My family is here and I will be taking the next few weeks away from the blog and enjoying my rare time with them. I wish you all the very best of time spent with you and yours…and maybe a good book or two in there somewhere, too. I’ll see you all back in 2009! Thank you for making 2008 so much fun!

Happy Holidays!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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We’ll get to Top Chef in a moment. But first, another delicious night of Survivor treachery and strategery where Sugar, once again, proves that playing with your heart can actually get you somewhere in the world. Or, at least in this particular game. She teams up with Bob, hands off her idol at the last possible second to Matty, winks at Susie…..and Crystal is outta there. Should have been Kenny, but I’m supposing they kept him there so Bob could kinda sorta keep his word to Kenny in keeping the immunity necklace since he knew Kenny wasn’t in danger. Which, he wasn’t. Last night, anyway.

Bob is the only guy I know who can make two fake idols, put them both into play, lie to one of the power players in the game - twice - and still basically look like a guy who has maintained his integrity throughout. I heart Bob in a big way. He’s having the time of his life, is a challenge monster (4 in a row! Dude!) and has somehow managed to make his awkward social game work for him, too. Whoda thunk it?

I don’t see any scenario in which Kenny survives to the final 2 or 3 unless he wins immunity, Bob’s integrity notwithstanding. I’d be perfectly happy with a Sugar, Bob, Matty/Susie final three, as they are all likable, more or less. Altho I’d like to see the win go to Sugar or Bob. I don’t think Sugar could pull off the votes in this particular jury, so, right now, it’s Bob’s million to win or lose. Good times.

Oh, and Randy? Women will not think the mohawk is hot.

Over on Top Chef, the hilarity continues as we discover the Stefan has a crush on Jaime. We also find out that he’s been married twice…to the same woman. Now divorced twice. From the same woman. And currently has the hots for the only gay girl in the room. Love. It!

We hear from Hosea and Leah that they’re “just friends” as they both have significant others at home. Um. ‘K. If I was your sig other, I’d be thinking just what the rest of us are thinking, which is….doesn’t look like just friends to me. Which is seemingly backed up by Tom Collichio, who in an interview this week said the two are still dating even as I type. Hunh. Imagine that.

Hosea wins a taste off against Stefan (good times!) and then the big challenge is catering Gail’s bridal shower. Hootie! (Just seeing if you’re paying attention….you were supposed to say Hoo! Keep up.) So we have four teams - Something Old, Borrowed, New, and Blue. Two teams excel, two….not so much.

I’m going on record right now and saying that I heart Fabio and would totally believe that yellow and green make blue if I heard it in that accent, too. (It’s yellow and blue to make green, but clearly the women who were all oooooh and ahhhhhhh bought it just like I would have…..) He’s got a gorgeous wife, as does Eugene! And I love Fabio’s sense of humor about the whole thing and about himself. I am hoping we see him stick around till the end game. (Love that he cooked for his own wife’s bridal shower - “Don’t want to make the bride mad right before the wedding!” Love. Him.)

Jaime, on the other hand….not so much. Some have called her and her arms folded I hate losing bitch face a reminder of Lisa from last season. I wouldn’t go that far. Lisa pretty much has that crown screwed onto her head. I’m thinking more Tiffany from, lo, those many season’s past. Jaime is a bit miffed that she’s not getting credit where it’s due (dude, you’re finishing near the top every time. Shut up.) and has absolutely no game face about how pissed she is that she’s not winning a set of steak knives. I think she definitely has the cooking chops (Lisa…) but needs to work on the pouty face and good sportsmanship or I’m going to have to put her in L column — which, in this case isn’t L for Love. More like L for Loser. Or Lisa. You pick.

She Bangs girl, you know who I mean, can’t remember her name, but wow with the sideways green gangsta hat? For reals? Not. Getting. It. So she’s not making my Love List. Leah isn’t either, though Hosea clings there due to his win over Stefan.

Also on my Love List…Jeff! He’s been the kindest, most even keeled, helpful guy (he was the one who urged Ariane to wait on that lamb a few more minutes, which, in end cost him the likely win) and helped to plate their service, to boot. He handled Stefan’s natural overbearance and arrogance politely but firmly, stuck to his guns, and created the sorbet Stefan insisted would never work….and came in a close second for his efforts. Stefan’s reaction to the judges love of the Jeff sorbet? More Good Times. Really, this season…loving it.

Ariane snatches victory from the jaws of Jaime’s defeat. Collichio also said in his interview that had she expressed more clearly that she’d been the one conceptualizing the entire dish, as opposed to just preparing the exquisite carrot puree accompaniement to the perfectly cooked (thanks Jeff!) lamb by Ariane…she’d have been a stronger contender for the win.

I’m fine with Ariane for that win. Again. She’s earning her chops. For the most part, the whole team is fun to watch. Oh yeah…mostly because an entirely delusional Danny gets sent packing (and still, not only in his exit speech on the air Wednesday night, but also in his post-exit interview yesterday….is still completely clueless as to owning up that he essentially sucked.) Even Eugene grasped where he went wrong and owned it. Which is why he’s still there. And Danny, you are not. (Thank you, judges panel!)

Next week? Survivor Finale Sunday….and Martha on Top Chef. Good, good times, they just keep a coming.

Which means it must be time to give away a free book! Avalanche of entries, but only one winner, and this week it’s Kathleen E! Woo hoo, Kathleen!!

Tune in Monday for all the gritty play-by-play final tribal MAC….and the last contest before the holidays are upon us!

Have a great weekend…..stay safe, stay warm. Read a book!

And? DISH!!!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Not the most scintillating season of Amazing Race, but a solid enough one. In the end, to the shock of absolutely no one, the Frat Boys got an extended tour of the greater Portland area and were in no contention for the race whatsoever. Nick and Starr raced neck and neck with a bickering Ken and Tina who so totally deserve to be stuck with each other for the rest of their natural lives. I think it probably wasn’t as neck and neck on the final dash to the mat, which the sibs won handily, but it was a good, tough, frantic final leg (Note to the race planners: please find ANY other way than depending on finding a cab to determine the final race to the mat.) On the mat the sibs were gracious in victory, even though I’m pretty sure Nick’s ego might be slightly difficult to live with in the forseeable future. I learned from a print interview that Starr and Dallas are still dating (and the passport fiasco kept him and his mom from making the final mat.) We also get to see a tearful Ken put his and Tina’s wedding rings back on while standing on the mat as they pledge to make their marriage work. Which is an impressive goal that I most definitely respect…but, Ken. Seriously? Dude.

They’ve already announce that the next race airs in early March, so YAY!

Now it’s on to more Top Chef and this week’s Survivor finale (Thursday and Sunday.)

In the meantime, why don’t we giveaway a free book? This week I’m making it easy on ya. Just send me an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “I’m a winner!” in the subject line. I’ll choose one from all the entries and post the winner on Friday. Good luck!

And? DISH of course!!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Last night’s Survivor was like an emotional rollercoaster with loved ones, tears, a marriage proposal, yet another fake idol, lots of strategery, and, thankfully, Mean Heather Corrinne getting the boot.

Wow, what a nasty piece of work she is. I thought it was particularly interesting when her brother shows up during the Loved Ones portion of the program and she’s all happy because she can finally be around someone who “gets my humor and how mean I am.” Unapologetic about her superior intellect and how much she loathes the other morons in the game (morons, who managed to outplay, outlast, and outwit, you, Corrinne…..just sayin) she is perfectly fine being a Mean Heather, and, in fact, seems to enjoy it. Not as some kind of Richard Hatch or Johnny Fairplay role she’s playing, but just bein’ herself. Wow.

Her parting speech was filled with hate - and not game play hate either, oh no. She proclaims her eternal hatred for Sugar, which I supppose is understandable. Must be hard having a person you can only see as a blond bimbo point out what an ugly human being you are…and out play you at the same time. I can see where that would be uncomfortable for someome like you… But then to go on and after wishing Kenny and Bob well, to not only wish everyone else not well, but also state that you hope their entire lives are miserable. Just…no words.

On the positive end, seeing Bob and his wife was such a major boost. What a grand couple they make. I can almost forgive him his eleventh hour scheming with Corrinne and yet another fake idol, as, to be honest, he had very little other hope in the game than to try and change things up when he still had at least one member of his alliance left. So….no hatin’ here, but I’m glad you didn’t pull it off in this instance. Thank god Kenny was smart enough to keep Crystal’s vote for Corrinne. I know he was trying to flush out the idol, but I was thrilled it meant Corrinne was hoist by her own ever-so-brainy petard. You all will have to cannibalize each other soon enough, and I’m just thankful the last nasty bit was ejected from the game first.

Matty’s heartfelt, almost total emotional breakdown of a marriage proposal to his girlfriend/now fiancee was very, very sweet and emotion-wracked. I couldn’t help but feel for her because you know Matty is totally used to there being a camera everywhere he goes, but she is not, and she was a lot more awkward during their “private moment” than he was. I think she initially thought he was just breaking down from starving and missing her, but eventually realized he was actually proposing. Very sweet, although part of me wishes it had been truly private for them.

Next week looks interesting as Bob tries to get Kenny back on his side. We have no clue what Matty does about his peeps turning on him. And Sugar has to decide her best route to the end. I like everyone who is left, and though I can’t say I’d be thrilled with Crystal or Susie at the very end, I’d be happy with whatever combo of Bob, Kenny, Matty and Sugar who do make it. I’m already planning on muting the tv when it’s Randy and Corrinne’s turn to grill the finalists. I could care less what they have to say.

On to contest time! Did you guess the right Survivor ejectee? Every single Survivor left had votes cast for them by the Blog Babes, so I knew someone would win a free book for sure, but the overwhelming avalanche of votes was for Corrinne, so the competition was fierce! However, we do have a winner…and that is Susan C! Congratulations!!

I hope everyone has a great weekend…..see you next week with some Amazing Race Finale MAC (only because I have to…..so not enthusiastic about this finale…) and another contest!

Okay……so DISH!

Tags: Uncategorized by Donna
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On Top Chef, the right guy goes home. Sorry, Alex, but that was self-I-wanna-go-home-to-my-fiance-sabotage right there. So, while perhaps Melissa, maker of inedible foods, should have been the one to get the PYKAG from Padma…I was perfectly okay with this auf’ing.

Btw…Padma. High? Or just hormonally fogged by standing next to Rocco? Listen to her as she (tries to) explain the Elimination Challenge. When you see her on screen talking, she is totally all over the place. When the camera is panning on the cheftestants and you only hear her voice, it’s clearly a do-over voice over. What’s up with that?

And Rocco, you might have been a delightful goof on Dancing With The Stars, but harsh as a judge, dude. Still….I’d have KILLED for that hand selected set of tools.

Also, editors, we’re going to go from sick to downright squeamish about the whole Leah/Hosea showmance if you give that any more airtime. Oh, right, we already are. Cut it out. We like Hosea and would like to keep it that way.

Ariane…rocking another challenge. She seriously needs to get rid of the chef cap. But I’m okay with her come-from-behind confidence. However, I’d have probably given the win to Fabio. I’m really liking his Euro-charm. He seems really sincere as well as a basically fun guy who gets his own place in the overall game here.

Oh, and Kathie Lee…when did she resurface on national tv anyway? Yikes. What, she couldn’t even pretend not to humiliate one of the chefs on live tv? Of course, it’s Kathie Lee…so everyone will totally not hold it against Jeff, but still. Rude doesn’t begin to describe…. I was all ready to not be happy with Jeff over his women with unsophisticated palates comment….and then there’s KL horking up his food and I had to give him the bye. Because…proof.

Next week…..Gail Simmons as Bridezilla. Run. Run, now.

And where is new chef judge guy? I’m guessing he must be filling in for Gail. Supposedly he’s a pretty snarky Brit. I’m anxious for him to start.

Don’t forget to enter this week’s contest. You have until 8pmEST tonight to get your vote in. See Monday’s post for all the details.

DISH!!

Tags: Writing by Donna
1 Comment »

I’m still unhappy. Pout. Toni and Dallas end up missing the final leg of the Amazing Race by thatmuch and, instead, we get Frat Boys and Ken/Tina. Sigh. I am left to root for Team BroSis, who, of the remaining group deserves the win hands down. But I’m not happy about it. It’s not exactly going to be a fun finale to watch. Dangit. You let me down, Phil. (Although there was suspicious moisture in his eyes when he had to break them the bad news….)

So let’s talk contests instead! This week we’re playing Who’s Going Home! Send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Buh bye” in the subject line and the name of the player you think is outta there on Survivor this Thursday night. You don’t have to watch to play….it’s a guess for everyone anyway. Here are your choices: Bob, Matty, Crystal, Kenny, Susie, Sugar, Corrinne.

If everyone gets it wrong, then everyone who entered has a chance to win. So can’t hurt to try! You have to enter by 8pm EST this Thursday, Dec 4, winner announced Friday morning. Good luck!

And? DISH! And sob. If the Frats end up winning this thing (Cinderella Story? I don’t think so!) my love for this show will be in jeopardy. Tarnished. Forever. Do you hear me, Phil? Kaput!

Tags: Uncategorized by Donna
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