Sue's World

Food Network: Private Chefs of Beverly Hills.

Tune in to the Food Network at 10pm PST on Friday, April 16th to watch the episode of Private Chefs of Beverly Hills that I participated in at the castle.  The episode is called Foodzilla and we're one of the three story lines featured. 

And yes, I will be recording it.  Don't know how much footage they'll use, but....

Food Network Filming at the Castle

Cousin Denise got a call from the Food Network to film an episode of a new series at the castle.  The show is called "Private Chefs of Beverly Hills" and it's a reality show.  A deal was struck and I was invited to participate along with other family members and some friends.  The premise for this episode was that Denise was having medieval-themed murder mystery party and hired the chefs to cook for us.  We donned medieval costumes and I was surprised when my name was called out to come have a mike put on me. 

We were filmed arriving at the party and then getting the murder mystery started.  Each person got an envelope with instructions.  As it turned out, I was the chief investigator, reading clues (hence the mike).  Throughout the event, we were served medieval-themed food.  For an appetizer we had a tasty meaty bread, sort of like foccacia.  We had soup (roasted tomatoes with bison), salad, and our main course was a turkey leg cooked inside a collard green served next to a shepherd's pie and gravy.  Dessert was a baked lemon concoction with cream.  The chefs were dressed in costumes and the whole thing was a lot of fun.  Well, it was more fun for us than the chefs (who arrived at 11am) or the crew (who arrived at 9am); we got there around 4:30 and by 8 were on our way home. 

That's about all I'll say for now since I have no idea what the final version will look like.  Apparently in each hour-long episode, 3 events will be featured and they will certainly focus on the chefs and the food more than our little party.  No matter what, it was worth doing and a lot of fun.

Stuff I'm Watching

Hell's Kitchen finale is tonight.  Design Star.  The Closer.  The Shield (on DVD...just finished season 2 and am getting prepped for season 3). That's Clever.

For now I've kicked the CSI habit.  I also stopped taping 1 vs. 100. 

I have better things to do....

What's Hot Right Now

As usual, I'm following several tv programs.  I admit that on weekdays it's relaxing to plop in front of the tv instead of starting a new project.  My eyes are pretty trashed so computer and close-up work is out.  And that makes tv a good option.  (Did you buy that?)

Winding down:  The Apprentice, both versions.  I am fine that Martha's version isn't going to be renewed, or at least that's what I've heard.  The herd has been thinned and I'm not sure she's got the cream of the crop left.  Martha Stewart is still considering that wild and crazy Jim?  That would be a mistake.  He's a bull in a china shop.

The Apprentice Season 4 is winding down.  In the past couple of weeks I predicted Alla would win it.  I was wrong.  This season had three multiple-person filings.  My jaw dropped at all three.  I've also liked Rebecca and Randal so I can't complain that they're pitted against each other in the finals.  Ooohhh...that starts recording in 5 minutes.

Aside:  we have Replay TV so almost nothing is watched live.

Project Runway Season 2 started last night.  What a fun show.  I got hooked last season after a mini-marathon where I watched the first three episodes back-to-back and got hooked.

Bones:  love it.  Yea, there's some sappy stuff in it.  But I love Kathy Reichs' books (though there's REALLY, REALLY gruesome stuff in them) and couldn't resist the show. 

Curb Your Enthusiasm has been pretty fun but there's some vulgar stuff that really turns me off.  He's very creative and there are really funny, and painful, situations written in.  Can't there be a G version?  Or PG?  Hmmm....

Apprentice Season 3 Ending

One more week to go.  I avoided American Idol and much of what I used to watch, but didn't escape this season's "The Apprentice".  After the first week I almost didn't go back.  I wasn't that impressed.  But somehow I kept with it.  Man, there were some serious misfits in this season's group.  Danny lives in some alternate universe.  It was already bad when he was actually a candidate but got worse when he came back to "help" Kendra.  When you're in a high pressure meeting with clients, you don't pacify them by making up a stupid jingle.  Geez.

Watching the show makes me glad I do what I do for a living and am not scratching and clawing my way up to the "top".  The top?  Pu-leaze!  They can keep their dang job. 

I admit I was pulling for Tana throughout most of the season, but was really disappointed with her this week.  I am a project manager and was horrified how she handled a lot of things.  Mostly she mishandled people.  And that's not how you succeed in business.  Granted, they show us only what they want out of the hundreds of hours of tape, but....

My last parting words deal with Craig.  I grew to dislike him immensely.  He seemed to dumb himself down over the season.  No longer was he a savvy businessman.  He was ghetto.  And it was insulting.  How he got into the final three is a mystery.

Boycotting The Oscars

It finally happened.  I had to boycott the Oscars.  I'm sick of Hollywood being so self-important and for being one of the sheep who has let them get away with it.  What's wrong with our society when we idolize actors and sports starts whose lives are horrible examples for our children?  The icing on the cake was a big spread in the Daily News about how the censors were ready to bleep out anything that might come out of Chris Rock's mouth.  Come on!  How about him just behaving himself? 

I don't care who looked hot or who was wearing what designer's dress or how many millions in diamonds was draped over someone.  Patrick O'Connor (with whom I usually vehemently disagree) got yesterday's editorial cartoon right:  a bunch of Hollywood types patting themselves on the back.

I have better things to do with my time.

I'm Watching Too Much Television

Replay TV is a wonderful thing, but I think it's taking over.  It's so easy to tape shows now that I'm watching stuff I don't need to watch.  No, it's not trash.  But how many episodes of Iron Chef do I *need* to see?  This weekend I think I need to revise my taping selections.

First to go away?  The Apprentice Season 3.  After three weeks I have no interest. 

Must haves?  Project Runway, Debbie Travis' Painted House, What Not To Wear.  Project Runway is a lot of fun.  And it's motivating me to sew clothes again.  And I'm thinking about nominating Wendy for What Not To Wear.  Yikes!

The Good In Reality TV

This morning I have puffy eyes.  I watched Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition last night and my eyes were leaky for quite a bit of the show.  I like this kind of reality TV.  The kind that shows what the human race is capable of:  people helping people.  There's no fighting or back-biting...people are working their keysters off to help a family in need.  Extravagant?  Over-the-top?  You betcha!  And I'm glad for it.  The people this show helps will likely never again know the luxury or celebrity bestowed upon them.  So I say:  keep the shows coming and keep the Kleenex handy.

The Next Apprentice

Okay...so we're down to two candidates I didn't count on seeing at the end.  There's Jen, the manipulator, and Kelly, the "look at me in my underwear" candidate.  I have no problem with Jen using her talents to get her this far (what a witch Ivana was...jealous for sure about Jen's looks).  Her talents include manipulating and using whatever means necessary to get what she wants.  The problem I see for her tonight is that she actually has to run a team.  That's harder than sitting on the sidelines and directing traffic.  I didn't like Kelly from the start...not quite sure I can put my finger on it, but I didn't.  The weekly scramble to answer the phone so he could show us his parade of undergarments was obvious.  Oh yea, and pathetic.  I think Jen is shrewd.   Her poker face (and perceived lack of personality by jealous competitors) can be an asset.  But can she schmooze and crack a smile when she needs to?  I don't know.  And can Kelly get over himself and actually do what's best for his employer?  As little as I like him, I think I'd have to pick him for the job.

That having been said, I imagine there are hundreds of hours' worth of footage on the cutting room floor.  We're shown what they want us to see.  And maybe there are some surprises yet to come. 

* * * *

Confidential to Raj:  different is good.  Outlandish and womanizing is bad.  Puberty should have passed; grow up.  You're probably really, really smart.  But losing as a PM in your own line of work should be a wake up call.  Start taking some salt peter and get back to work!

Confidential to Maria:  you're hip and smart AND good at what you know.  But you need to face the fact that your expressions (those twitchy eyes!!!!) will not help you out in the business world. 

Confidential to Ivana:  your petty jealousy is going to keep you from going places.  The constant catty comments about female competitors's looks betray you.  You're jealous and nothing else.  And dropping your skirt?  Talk about hypocrisy.  And low class!

Lastly, confidential to Sandy:  don't let anyone give you a hard time about not going to college.  The only people who care are those who are trying to justify the massive amounts of dough their parents spent on their education.  (For the record, I went to college and it's contributed about 1% to my success.  What makes you successful is drive and determination and rolling up your sleeves to get the job done.)

 

Confessions Of A Reality TV Addict

I admit it;  I'm addicted to reality tv.  I prefer the home and garden stuff but admit to stooping low enough to get hooked on crazy stuff like "The Swan" and even lowered myself enough to watch a couple of episodes of "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance".