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Bravo to Document Life After Top Chef

Susannah Chen — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:27:17 PDT

If Top Chef, Top Chef Masters, and Top Chef Just Desserts isn't enough for you, Bravo's announced a brand-new series, Life After Top Chef, which will follow four former contestants around the country. Bravo states:

For the first time cameras are taken outside of the Top Chef kitchen and into the lives of Bravo's most beloved former contestants as they reach milestones in their personal lives and culinary careers. From opening their own restaurants to expanding their growing franchises, viewers will follow Jen Carroll in Philadelphia, Richard Blais in Atlanta, Fabio Viviani in Los Angeles, and Spike Mendelsohn in DC.

Sounds like Fabio wasn't kidding when he told us last month that he had further plans for reality TV. "You're going to see me getting up in the morning, you're going to see me doing some sports, some hobbies I have, but my show will be more about everything that's going on in my life rather than let's see who Fabio's dating, or let's see who Fabio's barking at," he told us.

Will you watch Life After Top Chef?

Photos: Camilla Salem, Diane Bondareff, courtesy of the National Pork Board

Will You Watch the Dance Moms Spinoff?

Natasha Dantzig — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:15:34 PST

Welcome to Miami! Like most reality shows, the runaway ratings hit Dance Moms on Lifetime has seen its share of drama. The original follows instructor Abby Lee Miller, the girls' fiercely competitive instructor, as she tells it like it is - little girls' and their mothers' feelings notwithstanding. Like its predecessor, Toddlers and Tiaras, Dance Moms has proven to be as much about the conflicts and personalities of the don't-call-them-stage-moms stage moms as it is about actual dance (hence the title).

Much of show's controversy has centered on Miller's very demanding teaching style. She is very up front about the fact that she does not baby these girls and expects complete and utter focus and determination - bellyaches, schoolwork, and other kid stuff is irrelevant in her world. Berating both mother and child is a part of the job.

The spinoff takes the wildly successful franchise down South, to the slightly more TV-friendly locale of Miami, FL - the original is filmed in Pittsburgh, PA - to follow two new teachers and a new crop of eager pupils. Maybe the warmer climate will mean a mellower crowd? Let's hope not: that wouldn't make for very good TV now, would it?

Will you tune in for Dance Moms: Miami?

Source: Lifetime

Helicopter Moms Get the Reality-TV Treatment

Natasha Dantzig — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:17:44 PST

Forget Nanny 911, there's a new parenting sheriff in town, and her name is Lenore Skenazy. Readers may remember her as the famous or infamous - depending on which parenting circles you run in - New York columnist who was dubbed the "world's worst mother" for allowing her 9-year-old son to ride the subway solo in 2008. Instead of backpedaling and trying to save face in front of all those haters, Skenazy turned her adventure in parenting infamy into a whole movement, known as Free-Range Parenting, in direct opposition to the Helicopter Mom phenomenon.

Skenazy is now the host of a new reality series, Bubble Wrap Kids, where she attempts to "unwrap" a generation of tots being protected to the point of suffocation by their well-meaning, way overprotective parents. The first episode finds Skenazy counseling an extremely anxious mother of a 10-year-old boy who isn't permitted to skate, ride a bicycle, eat bacon, go to camp, or use a knife. Currently, the show is being produced in Canada, but if an American version shows up, will you watch?

Did You Tune Into The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs?

Lizzie Fuhr — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:56:15 PDT

The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs premiered on Food Network last night. Just as expected from the lineup of the accomplished and talented chefs, the competition was fierce.

In the last installments of The Next Iron Chef, just appearing on the show was a feat in itself; the tables have turned this season. All of the contestants have an established following - most even have a restaurant or two up their sleeves.

The difference was clear, even from this first episode: each of these chefs has the culinary chops to be the next Iron Chef. The real challenge here is going to be standing up to the pressure, remaining confident, and not getting lost in their head, regardless of what crazy circumstances are thrown in their direction.

The first challenge tested the resourcefulness of all the competitors: the 10 cheftestants were paired off into teams and promptly dropped in the middle of nowhere. All the teams had was a suckling pig, a spread of local ingredients, the necessary elements to build a fire, and the instructions to cook their hearts out. Given the situation, what all the chefs managed to create was nothing short of spectacular. Keep reading to see which team won the challenge and who was forced to duke it out in Kitchen Stadium.

The 9 Deadly Sins of Reality TV Women

Tara Block — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:40:19 PDT

As grown women we find entertainment and redeeming qualities in our favorite guilty-pleasure reality TV shows, but many of them aren't meant for a prepubescent audience - and for good reason. New research from the Girl Scouts says that reality TV is making girls meaner and vainer, with a higher percentage of the girls who watch reality TV saying that gossip is normal between girls and that a girl's value is based on her looks. More of the reality-TV-watching girls, ages 11-17, also said they have to compete for a guy's attention and that they are happier when dating someone. On the positive side, they ranked higher for believing in themselves as leaders. So they are mean girls with confidence? We decided to look into some of the not-so-great qualities that the women of reality TV shows promote, whether they recognize it or not, and then ask you which has the most negative effect on young girls. Tune in now!

Bravo Confirms: Top Chef 9 Will Be in Texas

Susannah Chen — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:59:37 PDT

We've been wondering for some time: how will Bravo top last season's Top Chef All-Stars? The answer, we're assuming, lies in the location. After more than a month of speculation in the blogosphere, the folks at Bravo have finally confirmed that Top Chef is headed to Texas.

According to the announcement, the season will take place in "not one, but three cities - Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio." Houston is glaringly missing. In addition, the show will feature not only the regular cast of characters (Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons), but also Emeril Lagasse and and former Top Chef Masters contestant Hugh Acheson.

As a native of the Bayou City, I'm undeniably biased, but it's hard to believe that Houston - the largest city in the state, the fourth-largest in America, and home to Bryan Caswell, Chris Shepherd, and some of the country's biggest rising stars - has officially been snubbed. We should pray that this season won't get caught up in Texas stereotypes, but the announcement - which is already full of cheesy references like "everything's bigger" and "we hope the cheftestants' cowboy boots are made for walking" - almost certainly foreshadows campy challenges and hokey one-liners. I'm already predicting a kill-your-own challenge on a ranch, a guest appearance (or five) from Dallas star chef Tim Love, and a trip to Smitty's, Salt Lick, Kreuz, or another famous Austin-area barbecue joint. Will you tune in?

More Details on Top Chef Just Desserts Season 2

Susannah Chen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:40:25 PDT

Gail Simmons revealed to us that the second season of Top Chef Just Desserts would air before the end of the year, and now Bravo's finally unveiling more details.

The latest season of the Top Chef spinoff will premiere Aug. 24 at 10 p.m. on Bravo. It'll be led by the usual suspects - Gail Simmons as host, Johnny Iuzzini as head judge, with Hubert Keller and Dannielle Kyrillos as regular judges - plus a few famous guest judges, among them Cat Cora, Francois Payard, and the Beastie Boys' Adam Horovitz. Oh, and the cast of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Bravo's revealed the season two lineup of contestants, too.

Will you tune in?

Photos courtesy of Bravo

Gail Simmons on Season 2 of Top Chef Just Desserts

YumSugar — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:11:36 PDT

Top Chef Just Desserts is back and better than ever: just ask the show's returning host, Gail Simmons. Simmons talked shop about the Bravo show's second season, not confirming an air date but hinting that "the second season will air before the end of the year."

Will season two have the same frenzied, diva- and drama-filled cast of characters that the first season had? "The chefs, the pastry chefs on this next season are really, really special - really talented. I mean, what they accomplish just blows my mind," said Gail. As for what will change on-set: "I think the way they're going to make it different is just that everything is going to be bigger, higher, sweeter, more colorful, more visual, and the challenges are going to be even more unbelievable."

Sounds like a lot more of, well, everything! Are you excited to tune in to Top Chef Just Desserts 2 when it returns?

Will You Watch the Latest Cooking Reality TV Shows?

Susannah Chen — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 04:12:29 PDT

Many of you said that when it comes to food reality TV shows, the novelty has completely worn off. But this type of culinary programming hasn't let up; last night was the premiere of Food Network Star, and tonight Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliott, and Joe Bastianich will return for the second series kickoff of Masterchef. Will you watch these two new cooking shows?

Photo courtesy of

Will You Watch the Latest Cooking Reality TV Shows?

Yes, I'll watch them both.

I'll watch one; I'll tell you which below.

No, I won't watch either show.

Next Food Network Stars: Where Are They Now?

Susannah Chen — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 03:55:21 PDT

Get excited: Food Network's number one series, Food Network Star, premieres its seventh season tonight at 9 p.m. As we once again count down to more hopefuls competing for their own show (get acquainted with the new cast!), we take a look back at winners and finalists from seasons past and come to a conclusion: what happens on the Food Network stays in the Food Network. To see what we're talking about, keep reading.

All Photos Courtesy of Food Network