Gsteiger's Gspace

have led to me rediscovering the simple joys of television. Particularly, the ridiculously melodramatic competition/reality show. I like to spend some quality time with Bravo on Wednesday nights for Project Runway and, now, Top Chef. I think that what I like about both shows are the nature of the challenges the contestants have to deal with and what they eventually come up with. As my friend Padraig noted about Project Runway, it nicely depicts the creative process with a short-term project that often features various restrictions, obstacles and last-minute twists.

And sure, the trashy drama doesn't hurt. But Top Chef has just become disturbing as of late. One of the chefs, Marcel Vigneron, he of the awkward social demeanor and baffling hairstyle, has become the scapegoat of nearly all the remaining contestants. Unless some manipulative editing is at play, he seems to be subject to constant bullying and adolescent social politics. The others are frequently talking behind his back, often within earshot of him, confronting him, taunting him, isolating him, blaming him, trying to make him look bad in front of diners and judges...it's bizarre behavior in a group of adults and profoundly unsettling. Almost no one, with the exception of Elia, is stepping in to stand up for the guy, and even Elia is not being terribly vocal in her support. It really takes me back to junior high...blech.

Granted, the guy isn't completely innocent. He's said some arrogant things and just seems to rub people the wrong way. But the treatment he's getting is so out of proportion to anything the audience has seen him do. It's mystifying.

I'm not entirely sure why I'm blogging about this, but Marcel just reminds me so strongly of the first guy I really fell in love with. Even kind of looks like him too. And that guy tended to get shit from "the cool kids," which always really bothered me. It just makes me wish I had been cast on this show just to tell the tyrannical clique to shut the fuck up.

Oh, yeah, and the Democrats are taking over today. With a female House speaker! Thank God! I'm not entirely sure how much they're going to be able to get done with Dubya still in office to generally fuck up the world, but it's a good day.

--karen