Phew, It's Not Lisa! Stephanie Takes Home the Prize on Top Chef

This is what was going through my mind during the last 5 minutes of the Top Chef finale:

"Please don't let it be Lisa. Oh my god, is it going to be Lisa? Please don't let it be Lisa."

Can you tell I'm not scary-face's biggest fan?

Stephanie, on the other hand, I love. In fact, when it was announced that she was the winner of this season, my significant other and I literally high fived.

We were psyched.

Yes, the humble culinary genius became the first female winner of the show, and I couldn't be happier. I thought (along with everyone else) that it would come down to Stephanie and Richard, but who could have forseen Lisa's strong final performance? Or Richard's judge's table meltdown?

So another season of Top Chef comes to an end -- certainly not the best of the series so far, but a satisfying end leaves, appropriately, a good taste in my mouth.

Year End: Ten Best Reality Shows of 2007

All this week I'll be listing my favorites in the different areas of pop culture that Idol Thoughts covers. Now up: reality shows!

As much as I love American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance was, to me, the most entertaining reality show for the second straight year. Dancing with the Stars grabbed two of the Top 5 spots, while Survivor also secured two positions on the list. Only one Top Model cycle made the cut, however, while Amazing Race missed a spot on the list completely.

Please let me know what your favorite reality show of the year was by taking the poll here.

Also let me know which reality show you are most looking forward to in 2008 by taking the poll here.

1. So You Think You Can Dance (Winner: Sabra Johnson)
2. American Idol (Winner: Jordin Sparks)
3. Dancing with the Stars (Winner: Apolo Anton Ono)
4. Big Brother (Winner: Dick Donato)
5. Dancing with the Stars (Winner: Helio Castroneves)
6. Project Runway (Winner: Jeffrey)
7. Survivor: China (Winner: Todd Herzog)
8. Top Chef (Winner: Hung)
9. Survivor: Fiji (Winner: Earl Cole)
10. America's Next Top Model (Winner: Saleisha)

Take the poll

Click for Ten Best Plays & Musicals of 2007

Click to visit Idol Thought's AMERICAN IDOL CENTRAL for show recaps and rankings, news on former contestants, best-of lists and much more

Runway's Jack and Top Chef's Dale Start an Inter-Reality Show Romance

You always hear about former Survivor or Big Brother contestants hooking up, and they are usually heterosexual pairings, so I'm happy to report that Project Runway's Jack and Top Chef's Dale are dating!

Bravo's Outzone blog broke the news that the two reality stars have started seeing each other, and they included the above picture as proof. Adorable!

Dale, of course, came in second on this past season of Top Chef, while Jack is still in contention for the title on Runway.

Jack had this to say to Bravo: "It's very baby steps. I really like him a lot. And geography is a bit of an issue, but we'll see where it goes. I like him a lot. I assume he likes me a lot. Unless he's lying...(laughter)... He's adorable. I like keeping it incestuous, keep it in the Bravo family." Dale also chimed in on the new relationship, saying, ""Yeah, we randomly met over Myspace. And then we bumped into each other at the OUT100 party and clicked. He's hilarious. We're just gonna roll with it and see what happens. And he's cute as %&#@. We have the same sense of humor."

Soooooo cute!

Source: Bravo Outzone

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Ten Favorite Reality Show Contestants: Top Chef's Sam Talbot at #10

Starting today, I'll be listing my Ten Favorite Reality Show Contestants of All Time. Some of these folks I fell in love with for the talent; others simply had personalities that won me over. Any way you look at them, though, these are my faves from shows such as American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Amazing Race, Survivor, and many more.

Please note: I did not include any person who was a "celebrity" before they appeared on a reality show, so all contestants from Dancing with the Stars and other shows like it were ineligible for this list.



#10 -- Sam Talbot, Top Chef

He wuz robbed! Sam dominated the second season of Top Chef with his understated charm and incredibly inventive cooking techniques, but somehow he lost the title to Ilan, of all people. The shame! He was confident, but never cocky, and remained a good sport even in defeat. And did I mention he's gorgeous?? No wonder he walked away with the title of Season 2's "Fan Favorite!"

Stay tuned for more of my Favorite Reality Show Contestants of All Time...

Ranking Summer TV: Best Dramas, Reality, Comedies and Miniseries

With summer coming to a close, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on what this season of summer TV brought us. Here are my choices for the best dramas, reality, comedies and miniseries of the summer. What did you like the best?

Best Dramas
1. Damages
2. Rescue Me
3. Mad Men
4. Traveler
5. Army Wives
6. The Closer

Best Reality Shows
1. So You Think You Can Dance
2. Big Brother
3. Top Chef
4. Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
5. The Hills
6. Making the Band 4

Best Comedies
1. Weeds
2. Entourage
3. Flight of the Conchords

Best Miniseries
1. The Kill Point (read The Kill Point gets my vote for Best New Show of the Summer)
2. The Starter Wife
3. The Bronx is Burning

Now bring on the fall!

Click for more Television News/Commentary
Click for Emmy Awards 2007

American Idol and Dancing with the Stars Pick Up Multiple Emmy Nods

American Idol may have finished the 2006-2007 television season as the #1 show, but Dancing with the Stars was the big winner when the Emmy nominations were announced this morning, picking up 8 nods. Idol, which could become the biggest loser in the history of the Emmys this year if they fail to win a prize, grabbed 7. The Amazing Race was nominated for 5 Emmy's this year, while Bravo's Project Runway received 3 nominations and while Top Check took 2.

All five shows were nominated in the "Outstanding Reality Competition Category," with Idol and Dancing picking up a slew of other nominations in technical categories.

American Idol's nominations:
Outstanding Reality-competition Program
Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program
Outstanding Lighting Direction (electronic, Multi-camera) For Vmc Programming
Outstanding Picture Editing For Reality Programming
Outstanding Multi-camera Picture Editing For A Series
Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special ("Idol Gives Back")
Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For A Series

Dancing with the Stars nominations:
Outstanding Reality-competition Program
Outstanding Choreography (Louis van Amstel)
Outstanding Hairstyling For A Series
Outstanding Lighting Direction (electronic, Multi-camera) For Vmc Programming
Outstanding Makeup For A Series (non-prosthetic)
Outstanding Music Direction
Outstanding Multi-camera Picture Editing For A Series
Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For A Series

Click here for a full list of Emmy nominations.

Click here for SYTYCD's Mia Michaels and Wade Robson Nominated for Emmys!

Summer TV - Premiere Info and More

With Idol season almost at an end, withdrawl is bound to set in. Luckily, there's a couple of shows I'm looking forward to watching (and blogging about) this summer that might help fill the void.

So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
Premieres with an 85 minute episode on Thurs May 24, before settling into it's regular time slots of Wednesday 8-10 with results Thursdays at 9
**I can't wait for this show to come back!!!

On the Lot (Fox)
Premieres May 22 at 9pm, has a special episode at 9:25pm on May 24, and then settles into it's regular time slots of Mondays at 8-9pm and Tuesdays at 8-8:30pm (results).

Top Chef 3 (Bravo)
Premieres June 13 in it's regular time slot of Wednesdays at 10PM

Hell's Kitchen (Fox)
Premieres June 4 in it's regular time slot of Mondays at 9pm

Pirate Master (CBS)
Premieres May 31 in it's regular time slot of Thursdays at 8PM

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo)
Premieres June 5 in it's regular time slot of Tuesdays at 10PM

And I can't leave out the return of Big Brother (I can't help it -- it's my guiltiest pleasure!), which has yet to announce a premiere date.

I'm also excited about returning scripted fare:
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (May 24)
Rescue Me (June 14)
Entourage (season 4 begins June 17)
Weeds (August 13)
Big Love (June 11)
The Closer (June 18)
The 4400 (June 17)

And new drama series:
Hidden Palms (May 30)
The Starter Wife, starring Debra Messing (May 31)
John from Cincinatti, starring Rebecca DeMornay and cutie Austin Nichols (June 10)
Damages, starring Glenn Close (July 24)
Heartland, starring Treat Williams (June 18)
Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter (July 18)

I'm also intrigued, but don't know much about, Showtime's Meadowlands (June 17) and Californication (August 13), HBO's Flight of the Concords (June 17), and USA's Burn Notice (June 28).

Should be an interesting summer!

Next Top Model / Project Runway / Top Chef

Sweet P Eliminated, As Chris and Rami Will Compete For the Chance to Show at Fashion Week

Is Project Runway's Final Three Now a Foregone Conclusion?

Posh Spice Will Guest Judge Final Project Runway

Ricky is Gone and All is Right with Project Runway

Ricky Cries, Jillian Whines and Victorya is Eliminated on Project Runway

Kit Kicked to the Curb on Project Runway

Amber Valetta Alert: Christian Has Lost His Mojo on Project Runway!

Will Sweet P Be The Next Designer Auf'ed on Project Runway?

Top Model Returns February 20 For Next Cycle

Shocking and Not-So-Shocking: Project Runway's Elisa Makes Sense!

You Wanna Be On Top? Ranking the Winners of America's Next Top Model

Project Runway Gets Serious, As Stephen is Eliminated

Girl You Better Work! Saleisha Wins America's Next Top Model

Which Designer is the Next to be Auf'ed on Project Runway?

Battle to the Finish: Who Will Win America's Next Top Model?

Project Runway's Jack and Top Chef's Dale Start an Inter-Reality Show Romance

Project Runway Spares Ricky Again, As Jillian Steps Up Her Game and Chris is Auf'ed

Jenah Saved as Top Model Eliminates Bianca

Wednesday Fashion Elimination Predictions: Project Runway and Top Model

Ten Favorite Reality Show Contestants: Top Model's Adrienne Curry at #9

Ten Favorite Reality Show Contestants: Top Chef's Sam Talbot at #10

Who is Going to Win Project Runway?

Say It Ain't So! Heather Eliminated From Top Model

Twiggy Eliminated From Top Model; Paulina Porizkova Joins Panel

Bald Is Beautiful, Smart Not So Much, on Top Model

Thoughts on Top Model's 13 Finalists

Ten Favorite Reality Show Contestants

I'm in the process of listing my Ten Favorite Reality Show Contestants of All Time. Some of these folks I fell in love with for the talent; others simply had personalities that won me over. Any way you look at them, though, these are my faves.

Please note: I did not include any person who was a "celebrity" before they appeared on a reality show, so all contestants from Dancing with the Stars and other shows like it were ineligible for this list. Please click on the name below to read why each individual made the cut.

10. Sam Talbot, Top Chef

9. Adrienne Curry, Top Model

8. Elliott Yamin, American Idol

7. Travis Wall, So You Think You Can Dance