Sports first… So, the US Open night match is a wash out when the rains come, but I’m thinking that is probably good for Rafa since he appeared to re-injure a stomach muscle. Then, THEN, my Steelers pulled it out in OT, which meant Hines Ward slept a LOT easier last night after that fumble. He felt so bad and I felt for him. Glad it all worked out in the end. Great season opener, guys!

On to Project Runway, where the designers find out that their clients are their models, who need a special party dress to wear to attend a business function where they are all hoping to get noticed by prospective employers. No pressure. And some have better personal aesthetics than others. (Epperson’s model….just wow. Thank goodness she liked what he came up with. Because orange? No.)

I always wonder when they have to leave for the night, if it makes them crazy not to be able to go back home and keep on working. I’m the work-all-night-till-its-done type, so having to stop would make me nuts. Even if I did need the sleep.

Interesting judge panel. Mark Bouwer looks like the love child of Siegfried and Roy and it was interesting to have a celeb stylist on the panel as well.

I admit that none of the creations really wowed me, but some were better than others. Again, the ones who were sent out first as ’safe’ would have been the ones I’d have kept on the runway as my tops, so go figure. I totally don’t get the judging this year.

I do agree that while the dress was a bit too Fredericks for me, Epperson’s crafting was good, and I did really like Carol Hannah’s soft/hard edge combo. I liked how Logan stood up for himself regarding the Rocky Horror Show prom dress, and agree, it’s a good thing he’s cute. The collective gasp of horror when Heidi said bridesmaid about Johnny’s dress was hilarious. Kiss. Of. Death. And they all knew it. I was glad he laughed with them and took the criticism to heart. It was the smartest move he could have made at that point. Given he doesn’t have the Cute Quotient of Logan.

Qrystal gets slammed for safe, which, totally true and she really needs to go home. But wow, bitch stylist Jenn Rade with the “thank God” comment after Q’s model agrees that she’s not a designer. Rowr. And unnecessary. (Especially comparatively speaking to Rocky Horror Picture Prom dress standing a few feet away…) Heidi can get away with mean because she’s too adorable when she says it and you just can’t hate on her. But Jenn is all Mean Girl to the model (but not to others) and…no, the model’s not a designer, but you’re no model either. Which, I suspect, might be a teensy bit of a vulnerable spot with our stylist. Just sayin.

Then they all gush over Althea’s combo, and while I can understand the more unique POV of she’s showing, which is certainly more interesting than pretty much anything on that runway at that moment, save Carol Hannah’s maybe, I otherwise don’t really get it. Still, golf clap, Althea, just for the risk factor.

I’m guessing it’s between Althea and Carol Hannah. I’d give it to Carol, but I’m thinking, given the comments and the difficutly factor, it will go to Althea. And I’m good with that. Going home should be Qrystal. It’s clear she’s out of her depth here, while both Johnny and Logan do, at least, have some kind of cohesive vision. Liked the Boob Chat between the judges. Cute.

And, the verdict is? Well, I can’t always predict who is going to be in the top and bottom three, but once there, I do manage to get it right. Althea gets the win. And, to the shock of no one, it’s Qrystal going home. (Poor Logan…torture!) I never did see anything of notice from her.

Next week, more tough challenges. More drama!

Now, time for Free Stuff! The winning Blog Babe this week? Is Cindy A! Woo hoo! Send me your address and a few title ideas (in case I’m out of your first one.)

Enjoy your weekend everyone. See you next week!

Tags: Writing by Donna
3 Comments »

First with the cooking… Way to go, Gnome Kevin with the bacon snails! Even I’d eat snails if there was bacon involved. Okay, so I’d have slopped up the bacon jam with bread and given the snails to the dog, but hey, just more happy bellies in the house that way. Also way to go Jenn on being top three. But Mike I….sigh. Feeding the ego. Never a good thing, TOM.

So, Most Brutal Quickfire Ever. I know Jessie can’t ever seem to pull it off, but I can’t help but think that she’s otherwise pretty good and has just totally psyched herself out. I hated that she was bottom three. Especially when all the dishes looked pretty good and you know Tom and Bouloud thought so, too. So, how are they going to decide? By an Amuse Bouche Cookoff? Wow. One Bad Bite & You’re Out.

It came down to Jessie, Robin, and Ashley and, yeppers, Jessie is out. Sigh. Can’t say I’m surprised, but bummer, dude.

Elimination Challenge. Everyone gets classic French sauces or proteins and pair up. Mattin is happy…Mike I, not so much. I am okay with this. YAY, Hubert Sighting!! They are cooking for the most influential French chef’s ever, including Joel Robuchon, chef of the century. Super coolest is Gnome Kevin doesn’t have to cook, his prize for winning is he gets to eat the dinner with the famous chefs instead. Pretty sweet reward.

Okay, Ashley’s hair just annoys me to know end. More than Jessie’s facial hardware. Just….give me a brush and a pair of scissors. STAT.

Sweating bullets, most teams did pretty well, but the Volt Bros, Jennifer, and YES, Mike I, were the ones to pull it out in the supreme. Winner? Well, just cooking for that table on national television was probably win enough, but the winner was Bryan (and whew! Because, natch, Mike I took WAY more credit than he deserved for their dish and I might have had to throw something if he won…) Bryan wins a week working with Robuchon. A wow for sure.

On the losing end…Mattin, Ashley, Hector, and Ash. I’m thinking it’s Ashley’s turn to pack knives, but we’ll see. Mattin totally throws Ashley under the bus but she refuses to stand up for herself. Ash and Hector can’t do anything but agree with the judges, because they’re right. Who packs up and goes? Hector is out. I think it should be Ashley only because she’s been in the bottom more often, but I don’t see her lasting much longer. And I know Hector wouldn’t have gone all the way either. This game is for Kevin, the Volt Boys, or Jenn to win. Clearly.

All in all, a pretty hefty challenge this early on, and the judges agree no other season could have taken that on so early in the competition. Next week? Cowboy Roundup! (Cooking in the heat. Again. We get it, Bravo. Vegas is in the desert. But any more cooking food in hot weather and my squeamy tummy is going to revolt.)

SYTYCD kicks off the first audition night for Season 6 in Los Angeles. Hi Cat! I’m so glad we don’t have to wait a year to start this all over again. Yay! Spoil us, Uncle Nigel, I dare ya!! Hi Adam!!

Blond Mollie with her two towheaded little brothers was a cutie patootie. The Tap-Off was great fun. Looks like some really good talent is headed our way this season. Liked Amber and thought Nigel gave good critique. Loved her mom’s reaction. Alexie and Paula - I thought gave the most in the short time we saw them. Loved Tapper Phillip - such charisma.

Next week? Phoenix! (Yay. More hot desert stuff. Thank god they’ll be doing all their cooking inside. On stage.)

So…what say you Blog Babes? Any early faves? DISH!

Tags: Writing by Donna
2 Comments »

Okay, so it’s not exactly Fall yet, but the Fall Season officially launches tonight with the first of the audition rounds of SYTYCD. Yay!

Tonight is also Top Chef, and the 17 yr old cutie patootie bull dog Melanie Oudin continuing her stunning run through the US Open. I’ve so enjoyed the competition this year. Last night, the first two sets with Rafa and Monfils was highly entertaining. Federer v Soderling should be a good show today, too.

But right this very second? Free Stuf!! Woo hoo!! Send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “It’s My Turn!” in the subject line. I’ll draw one name from the pile and announce it here Friday. Winner gets a free book from my website bookshelf.

In the meantime, what are you reading? I’m currently reading Louisa Edwards cooking related rom com, Can’t Stand The Heat. Pretty cute!

Tags: Writing by Donna
7 Comments »

Project Runway: Swimsuit Edition

Last night our designers had to make beachwear and, completely inexplicably, an avante garde piece which, as far as I could tell, didn’t have to have anything to do with the beach at all.

The group worked in twos and the three pairs who were pulled out first were my top three, so go figure. But at least they were safe. The bottom pairs deserved to be there. The whole Epperson/Qrystal dynamic was a complete trainwreck, though I have to admit that while I haven’t seen anything remotely classy from Qrystal (especially the clothes she wears herself- so poorly fitted!) I think Epperson came off like the most frustrating person on the planet to try and converse with. So I don’t know who to really blame with those two. In the end, they were both safe, because? One half of the winning team (go Ra’Mon) did no work (yes, Mitchell, we’re alllll looking at you, slacker) and was sent home, in a Project Runway first. I’m sure Qrystal is thanking her lucky stars, because she’d have been outta there.

As for Ra’Mon’s winning….I do get why the judges singled out their combination of looks and I think using neoprene for his avante garde look made him the only designer who really brought the beach theme to both looks, but gah, what an ugly dress! Still, after all the frustration he went through, then to listen to Tim’s critique and totally switch up his avante garde look, I have to give him mad props for even pulling any of it off. Mitchell was such an odd duck, I don’t know that I think he really got what the hell he was doing and how important it was for him to actually, you know, work, instead of flirt and socialize the entire time and try and get along on being the adorable bumbler. I don’t know that I see him having much of a career, mostly because I don’t see him focusing and being organized enough to pull it off. Not to mention the talent is questionable.

Also watched PR Australia and go Anthony and Lauren! Interesting challenge for the pre-finalen and can’t wait to see what they do for their collections. That has been a fun season all around.

On to Free Stuff Friday! Thanks everyone for entering….and this week, the winning Blog Babe is? Fedora! Just drop me a note with address and some title ideas (in case I’m out of your first one) and I’ll send it along.

I hope everyone enjoys their three day weekend - I know I will! I look forward to seeing you all next week after the holiday. More MAC and more Free Stuff Friday. We’ll have chefs, designers, and YAY, dancers! next week. Fall is almost back!

At the moment, however…..DISH! Did you get the winning look? Did you agree on sending half of the winning team home as the loser? Who do you think will win? Who should go home next?

Tags: Writing by Donna
3 Comments »

I really enjoyed the review of the top dances of So You Think You Can Dance. As Nigel went season by season, starting with the first one, I found myself thinking, “oh, wow, that really was the best season, I loved them best!” Then he’d go to the next season and I’m “Oh yeah! I love THEM best!” It’s really amazing just how good the talent has been, consistently, over the past five seasons and it was great getting to look at the choreographers older stuff. I will tell you who I do miss. Old School Shane Sparks. It was great seeing two of his classic routines on there and does make me think we’re really slipping in the hip hop department, though easily excelling and growing in most others.

Can’t wait until the new season starts next week!

On Top Chef….mmmm, Mike I Smackdown Night. Definitely enjoyable for me. Not so much for Mike. Loved how the guest judge just let him have it. Ahhhh. Karma, you are my friend.

I thought Jenn did an outstanding job in both quickfire and as head chef. I think Jesse has so completely shot herself in both feet now I’m not sure she can ever recover. I still heart gnome Kevin. Still liking both of the Volt brothers, and Mike totally earned the elimination win tonight (close second, my little gnome!) but the editors can tone down the whole bro competition any ol time now.

I enjoyed the military challenge, but wtf were Gail and Padma thinking? They show up at an air force base wearing the latest in high end streetwalker fashion. Wha? I mean, skin tight black leopard print…on base? Padma, seriously, show some respect. And Gail, was that really the place for the tight little black dress? I wondered if they got the wrong info and thought they were going to the MTV music awards or something. Wildly inappropriate for the families who had gathered, bordering on disrespectful, really.

So…back to Mike being hammered in the bottom two. Ahhh. I might have to rewind and watch the smackdown again. On the other hand, Tom, calm the hell down with the pasta badgering. I mean, seriously… I didn’t mind Preeti standing up for herself, given how hostile they seemed to be with her and her partner.

On a side note…Bravo, Bravo, Bravo….I didn’t mind so much when you had the pop up ads on the bottom of the screen while the current show is in progress. It got mildly more annoying when you started animating them, because, I don’t want animation going on in the corner while I’m trying to watch the damn show in progress. But now, you’ve just gone and plastered a huge pop up add right on the side of the screen, that covers a good third of the actual show I’m trying to watch. Multiple times. If I wanted to watch Housewives from ANY city in this country, I would. Covering up the show I have tuned in to voluntarily watch is not the way to get me to want to do that. Intensely annoying. Almost as annoying as Mike I. If that were possible. Which it is not.

Back to the competition… Clearly we must have missed somethng in the Chastise the Losers segment because the judges were pretty hot. Preeti feels that it was because they refused to throw each other under the bus (commendable, by the way. TOM.) I don’t know what the heck had their panties in a twist, except that maybe Padma’s too tight dress had cut off all oxygen supply to her brain and, well…Tom doesn’t have an excuse. He was just being Tom. Overall, quite annoying judging panel. Rescued only by the the fact that they extended their bitchiness to Mike I, who is always deserving. (He claims Jenn is winning by favoritism….forgetting completely that her win’s have been awarded by entirely different guest judges….) Thwap.

In the end, they could have sent any of the three home, so do they make my wildest Top Chef dream come true already by week 3? Sadly, no. Mike I remains to continue to annoy me. They send home Preeti. Who was third out of the three in line for me to be sent to pack knives. So what do I know. Clearly nothing since I’d have JUMPED on the chance to get Mike out of there. Sigh. Her exit speech, unlike Padma’s wardrobe, was very classy. Good on ya, Preeti!

Tonight we have Project Runway! And tomorrow, Free Stuff Friday! Check out Monday’s post for details on how to enter.

And now? DISH! Who would you have sent home? (Duh.) Who’s dish would you have stood in line for (pulled pork and potato salad, and Mike V’s bacon dish for me!) Who looks like a winner to you? (Between Jenn and Kevin for me.)

Tags: Writing by Donna
1 Comment »