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Talk Back: BBC America's "Last Restaurant Standing"

So you've read my advance review of the original UK episode (sadly, edited down here for US audiences) and watched last night's two-hour launch of BBC America's latest unscripted series, Last Restaurant Standing.

So what did you enjoy about the series and what did you dislike? Did Sam and Jacqui irk you as much as they did me? (Sadly, a whole subplot involving Sam making a phone call to complain about a sous chef candidate right in front of the poor old guy was cut.)

Who are you rooting for and, based on this week's installment of Last Restaurant Standing, who should win this cutthroat culinary contest?

Talk back here.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Big Brother 9 (CBS); Deal or No Deal (NBC); America's Next Top Model (CW); Wife Swap (ABC); American Idol (FOX)

9 pm: Criminal Minds (CBS); Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC); One Tree Hill (CW); Supernanny (ABC); Moment of Truth (FOX)

10 pm: CSI: New York (CBS); Law & Order (NBC); Cashmere Mafia (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: America's Next Top Model.

No, it's not the start of the new series (damn!), but the second of two specials entitled "Exposed," in which the audience gets to relive "favorite moments" from the series. Like maybe when Jael made a fool of herself and jumped in the pool at Benny Medina's party. Good times.

10 pm: Project Runway on Bravo.

On tonight's episode ("The Art of Fashion"), it's time for one last field trip, where the designers get to use their own unique artistic visions to create a design, before leaving to go and design their own lines. Looks like there will be four runway shows after all this year!
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Comments

Anonymous said…
A great episode and a promising start to this show. I don't usually watch BBC America and wouldn't have tuned in if it hadn't been for your review. I'm glad I did as it was fast paced, funny and informative. Agree with you about Sam and Jacqui. He didn't seem to cook at all other than the salmon he made for the contestants and no one could ever find him whenever he was supposed to be in the kitchen. The other players stepped up and became chefs in their own kitchens but Sam was too busy setting up his drums or telling a paying client that she couldn't have piano music at her event because he had already booked the band! I can't wait for the next one.
2/13/2008
Danielle C.F. Maris said…
Great show! I was surprised how quickly it sucked me in. Sam and Jacqui are definitely my least favorite team. I can't believe how, during the pitches, Jacqui spent more time trying to sell herself than the restaurant, going on about how she'd wear a glamorous dress, etc. (And I love how Jade made a quip about how the focus should be on the *client* not on them.)

I thought that Sam and Jacqui did an okay job in the challenge but totally depended upon the other teams helping them. Sam was nowhere to be found! I wish they would have brought that up in the elimination. Yes, they pulled it off but only because of the people helping them.
2/13/2008
Unknown said…
I think Raymond Blanc is a genius! he gave some of the best notes I've ever heard that were truly constructive and perfectly on target. The winning team with the 8 course meal was very impressive but i'm not rooting for anyone just yet. what a show!
2/13/2008
Anonymous said…
I finally got to sit down and watch this last night. It's a great start to the series though Sam and Jacqui definitely irritate in both episodes and I was hoping they would get kicked off after his inane behavior. Raymond Blanc is a great host/mentor for the couples and I am excited to have something to watch until TOP CHEF comes back.
2/15/2008
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