Q&A with a 'Top Chef' Season 5 Crew Member
An anonymous "low level crew member" of Top Chef season five decided to come forward on Reddit.com and answer questions about the show. "I can't tell you anything that I think Magical Elves might sue me for...but I'll try to be as specific as I can." A few good nuggets:
On Padma:
She wasn't dumb, but she was a major diva who expected preferential treatment and complained about things the other judges didn't care about. She got along better with Gail than she did with Tom—she and Tom were like cats and dogs
On editing the contestant interviews:
They do interviews after someone gets eliminated. People keep tabs on what they wore during different segments, so that they can change into those clothes for the interview. They talk in the present tense and the producer helps them recount what they did and why they did it. This way the contestants don't get hints about what's coming in the future.
On who was awesome:
Danny, Stefan and Eugene were awesome, easy to talk to and a riot, Danny especially. People were sad when they found out he'd been cut. Stefan was super nice and people liked talking to him, and I had no idea until I watched the show that he was being painted as the bad guy—he opened a beer for me once without me even asking.
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
6 Comments:
Skimmed the interview. Pretty cool and I could always tell Padma had to be a total %$@^^!
Glad to know, also, that Gail and Tom are nice people.
AnnieNT at 12:24PM on 10/06/09
The worst season of the bunch, including the current one. Full of weirdos, pretty boys and cryers. Stefan was the only one who could cook, damning with faint praise. The rest were useless frycooks. The fact that Hosea ended up winning is a black mark for the show for its duration. He doesn't deserve to stand with Stephanie, Hung or Harold (though Ilan is almost as lame).
This season has much better contestants, performing at a much higher level. At least 5 decent contenders for the prize.
Pupster at 1:08PM on 10/06/09
I read the interview, interesting stuff however I may have to call BS on the whole thing but if anyone can tell me I'm wrong, I will graciously admit defeat.
I couldn't help but notice that at one point, the supposed crew member is asked who his favorite guest judges were. He said, "Rocco DiSpirito scared us. Intense guy. Jamie Oliver was super nice." Rocco guest judged on episode 4 if I remember correctly, however I cannot remember a Jamie Oliver appearance. Anyone? Anyone? WTF is this guy talking about?
wahwahweewee at 2:10PM on 10/06/09
Padma looks like a diva! I figured out of the whole crew she would be the b**ch!
Is she an actual chef? Or is writing cookbooks her claim to fame?
jlewfoodie at 4:58PM on 10/06/09
@wahwahweewee - I remember reading that too, and I briefly glanced through Top Chef wiki to see any mention of a Jamie Oliver appearance, which there wasn't...and as of right now, there are a bunch of deleted posts on that Reddit link. WTH?
hungryhungryhippo at 9:30PM on 10/06/09
sadly, all the comments from the insider have been deleted.
peekpoke at 1:20AM on 10/07/09