Ghost Hunters - Keep it in the Family

The team goes to the 200 year old Red Mill in Clinton, New Jersey. Reports here are the usual footsteps as well as the sound of a typewriter and the apparition of a little girl.

Steve and Tango start in the mill room and have an altercation with a spider. The spider gets on Tango and he tells Steve to get it off him. Did you forget who you are talking to? Steve is afraid of everything (except ghosts)!

J & G go to the 2nd floor and hear the footsteps. Grant tries to make contact with the little girl and tells her it would be funny if she would tug on Jason's pant leg. Across the room, Jason feels a pull on his pant leg! Later, Grant feels the same thing. Looks like the little girl just wants to play.

Nothing was caught on video but one EVP from Grant telling the girl to pull on Jason's pants yields a response of "come on". Jason says the mill has paranormal activity but stops short of calling it haunted.

The next investigation has Tango's dad going along to help. The investigation is at the Proprietary House in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Jersey has a lot of haunted places. They get UFOs too. Ummm....... The Proprietary House is the home of the last Royal Governor of New Jersey which just happens to have been Ben Franklin's son, William. The reports here are, you guessed it, footsteps, voices, a beam of light coming out of the walls and the figure of a little boy is seen playing with a ball.

J & G start in the drawing room telling the spirits it's customary to present one's self when someone enters your home. Right after that, they both hear footsteps and see a shadow. Well, they did say to show yourself! Grant also gets his ear flicked after provoking a spirit. That will teach you, you can't be rude to a ghost!

Kris & Joe to into the room where a man threw his nephew out of the window. When they don't have any luck, Kris suggests they provoke the spirits so she says, "come out you pathetic loser!" It's OK to be rude to a bad ghost.

Tango & Tango dad are in the tea room doing EVP work and dad asks "are you afraid of us?" and they hear a voice.

The team get the footsteps on audio as well as the response to Tango dad's question are you afraid of us, no.

Jason will not declare the property haunted but says there is paranormal activity. Double D

Hell's Kitchen-Battle of the Final Four

Let's do the Single D's analysis of the final four: Petrozza, the only man left standing. His chances are slim. If he were an animal he would be a rather large domestic hog not only in physical resemblance but in habits (although I heard swine are actually very neat, who said that?). His work stations looks like a herd of stampeding pork running amok. Jen the line chef would be executive chef, who is she auditioning for the Devil? Let's see, cold, calculating, heartless, non-team player, yeah, I would want her cooking in my kitchen. Did I mention heartless? I think her cornrows have been twisted too tight making her lose all sense of reality. Hey Jen, there are other cooks in the kitchen! Ok, she does know how to cook, but if she continually alienates people who is she going to cook for? Corey, a perplexing blend of bitchiness and low self esteem, a squishy lanky blond wrapped up in a chef coat straight jacket. She took a quick early lead and then started to second guess herself and offering herself up as a sacrificial lamb. Hey Corey, get a grip, focus, stop waffling and piss off! Do I sound like Gordon Ramsay? Christina, winner of the most challenges. Doe eyed, lispy sounding, how old is she, 7? Recent culinary grad, greatest potential but cries at the drop of a chef hat. I don't think she has the sass to command a kitchen and no one that young should make more money than me! She needs to wipe her nose, pay her dues and then maybe. Best bet to win, Corey. I think Chef Ramsay is trying to show his softer side by telling the chefs that this is the mother of all challenges. They will have one hour to cook up a lunch dish for 80 people. Christina makes an island chicken sandwich, Cory a salmon BLT, Petrozza a Monte Cristo (love those, hey anything deep fried!) and Jen with a grilled grouper. Immediately Corey falls behind and barely manages to get her food out when chef announces the arrival of the guests, 80 pregnant women. Ha ha Chef, mother of all challenges, who writes this stuff? The winner, Christina by two votes over Petrozza and earns her a $1,000 shopping trip to Beverly Hills! Whoo-hoo! Love it, but does Chef have to go? He acts like the doting father over Christina while she tries on outfit after outfit. Ah, Christina, you better start exercising, I can see all that taste testing is going to your hips! When Christina comes back, everyone is jealous and won't give her the time of day as she ask what can she do to get ready for the dinner service. Well, you can take those precious clothes you bought and put them down the garbage disposal! Come on people, grow up and Christina grow a set! Finally, Petrozza and Corey relent and start talking to her, while Jen is still fuming, I shoulda went shopping that girl's not no taste, like you have a figure, I'm thinking stock pot here! During the dinner service, Chef burns his hand not once but twice on pots that Christina gives him, while Jen is secretly enjoying her misery as her horns poke out even further. Corey asks Jen to help out with the eggs which Jen chooses to ignore. Hey JEN, anyone home? I would have taken the largest sauce pan and knocked her over the head with it, someone needs to bash in those horns! Dinner service ends with Chef saying that this was the best service ever, but someone has to be eliminated. Back in the dorm, Corey suggest that they each write two names down, but not the same two names. Read my lips here, not the same two names. When they tally the votes, Jen writes Christina's name twice. Jen's playing by her own rules I guess, either that or she doesn't know how to count. Chef ask which two for elimination-Christina lispiably says, Jen and Corey (there's that sacrificial lamb thing again). Jen because she has no sense of team playing, there is an I in team for Jen and Corey, because she is not living up to what is expected. For one split second, Christina (and I) thought Chef was going to have an Alzheimer moment and get rid of Corey, but he managed to snap back and remember that Jen is the nightmare from Elm street and sent Jen packing. Sorry Jen, if you would have just a little more soul and a lot more heart you might have made it to that top level, instead, you insisted on listening to that devil on your shoulder. Get an attitude adjustment and piss off!-Single D

Top Chef Finale

I have to warn you, this was the most boring finale Top Chef has had to date! No real excitement. With two really good chefs and one sour puss, the only thing to hope for is that Lisa doesn't win. With that said, the chefs have to make a four course tasting menu. They get help from some famous chefs that I don't know. Actually, I did recognise the one with the accent since he has been a guest judge. Our top chefs aren't too sure how to go about working with the pros and Stephanie ends up hovering over her chef and she thinks she is offending him. Richard pulls out some of his gadgets which impresses all of the chefs & Lisa is getting along with her chef which surprises everyone, maybe because her chef is a woman.

Day two and chefs find out they are on their own with no pro-chef help. Lisa says she wants her menu to reflect her personality, big, bold, spicy and sweet. What part of Lisa is sweet?! Big and bold, yes, sweet, NOT! Chef Tom comes in to check on the chefs who don't seem to want to talk to him. All Richard would say is that his menu is abstract. Does that mean we won't be able to tell what it is on the plate? Lisa says she is on track and Stephanie is nervous about her dessert.

The setting for the final meal/judging is beautiful. Crystal chandeliers, fine china, fresh flowers all in a mansion in Puerto Rico. The only thing that would have made it better is if it were all open air. That would make any meal taste better. As the chefs present their courses, Stephanie seems to have won the first course with seared snapper in fois gras topped with salad greens. Lisa takes the second course with her coconut soup with lemon grass. I thought sure (hoping really) that Stephanie would beat Lisa with her lobster ravioli and quail egg but chef Tom had to jump in and ask the judges what they thought about the leeks which did her in.

Third course and Stephanie shines again serving lamb with mushrooms, blackberries, pistachios and olives. That sounds just awful but the judges loved it. Richard, who hasn't even shown up on the radar, comes through with dessert. He made a repeat of his banana scallop with bacon ice cream. Bacon ice cream?! Again, sounds terrible but the judges loved it.

At judges table, Richard tells the judges he choked while Stephanie says her dessert could have been better and, of course, Lisa thinks she did no wrong. The judges tell Stephanie just when they think they have her figured out she surprises them. At this point, I'm on the edge of my sofa thinking that comment could go either way and talking to the TV saying don't pick Lisa, PLEASE don't pick Lisa! The judges crown Stephanie Top Chef and I jumped up cheering like I was at a football game! Thank goodness! I was so afraid that Lisa was going to somehow pull it off again. Apparently Lisa thought so to because the look on her face would turn the judges hair white. Get over your bad attitude self Lisa! Congrats, snaps and kudos to Stephanie! Double D

Tila Tequila-Shot at Love # 2-Cancun

Cancun, final three dates, Bo pouting cause he can't go jet skiing, Kristi pouting cause she doesn't like horseback riding, Bo happy after spending the night with Tila, Kristi and Brittany pouting, Kristi happy after spending the night with Tila, Bo and Brittany pouting, Brittany happy after spending the night with Tila, (isn't Tila exhausted by now?), Bo pouting, Kristi vexed, Brittany eliminated, Bo happy, Kristi happy, Single D vexed!-Single D

The Bachelorette-Mid Season Check Up and the Final Four

The first hour was devoted to DeAnna batting her eyelashes (maybe she has dry eye?) and telling Chris Hanson that she really doesn't want to keep guys around that she has no feelings for, like the chef Robert, (I would have kept him around so he could cook for me), Fred, (I would have kept him around because he would have been nice to me) and Brian, (I would have kept him around because he's eye candy, yummy!). I did like the two second bios on the remaining bachelors. My favorite was Sean, who knew that dude's high maintenance! What can I say, the guy's got a tanning booth and sauna in his home and as he says, the darker the thinner (isn't that the darker the deader-skin cancer?) He did score points being a mama's boy and lives one street over from her, which could be a good thing or a nightmare, depending on how mommie dearest she is. I thought it was funny when Ron (eliminated barber, er, hair stylest) gave Sean a hair make over. Looked good but what about Jesse's hair? Next it was Jason, who is a golfer, which never sits well with me. One of my old boss used to say, golfing is for guys that can't have sex! Jason claims he's a risk taker, how much of a risk taker can you be if you play golf? Jeremy on the other hand, loves taking risk in sky diving, bungee plunging, and fast motorcycles. I think he just has the need to show off how macho he is, not! He seems like he would be a control freak, careful DeAnna! Next it was Graham, does he remind you of a mechanic? Shouldn't he be looking under the hood of some car or something?

It's off to Palm Springs for the remaining 6 bachelors and Sean gets the first single date, a ride up the PS tram for a romantic dinner at the top. More like a frigid dinner, but it looked like DeAnna was warming up to mama's boy, Sean and she invited him to her room for dessert, no just dessert! The next day it's helicopter rides out to the desert for some ATV action. Self professed idiot Twilly got to ride with DeAnna alone in the copter, a perfect chance to get some alone time, if not for the fact the Twilly got motion sickness and DeAnna was just grateful that he didn't puke all over her. After riding in the desert and getting all dusty, it's back to the Palmer Resort for a dip in the pool. Jesse gets alone time with DeAnna and she really wants him to kiss her as she leans forward, her lips leading the way, but Jesse is oblivious. Yak, yak, yak. He's talking but what is he saying? Unfortunately he misses out of closing the deal when Graham snatches her away, which was surprising since he really hasn't made a move on his own. Did you noticed in the hammock how starry eyed DeAnna was gazing up at Graham, but Graham wasn't really looking in her direction making eye contact? His body language is just tense, could he be in the closet?

The following night it's a date with Jeremy. She picks him up in a vintage convertible about the size of a small Carnival Cruise ship, how do you park a thing like that? It's dinner at Frank Sinatra's old house. It's just what I would have imagined his house would look like, so fifties, but a bit bizarre. Having dinner at a house that is practically a museum piece was very strange. I think the whole date just looked so awkward, right down to the karaoke singing (I can hear the dogs howling) to taking a dip in the pool. Why does every date end with a dip in the pool? I wouldn't want to mess my hair and makeup, of course if I don't have any make-up on I look like Madame Mao grandmother-ouch!

Back to the mansion and it's back to reality, when the guys show up, Chris announces that there will be no cocktail party tonight, DeAnna has made up her mind. And when she makes up her mind, it's no party. So it's down to the business of getting rid of the two that she doesn't want, Twilly and Sean. Well no surprise there with Twilly, but Sean? I think she should have given him a chance, but then again, like she said, if she's not attracted to him, then it's off with ya. -Single D

Mid season check up. Translates into, we didn't enough footage and we are booked for another week so we will do a recap and sell it as a tell all by DeAnna. Oh no it wasn't! The only thing she told was that Ryan never told her he was a virgin. Like that would have made a difference, she may have gotten rid of him even sooner! And I still think she WAY over reacted at the BBQ. Come on girl, it was supposed to be a party. She really expected these guys to pour their hearts out at a function that was meant to be a kick back and relax time. Granted, I was surprised no one took advantage (Jeremy) but for her to react like that leads me to believe DeAnna may be a bit high maintenance and not the little sweetheart we think she is.

We get to see Ryan & Trista at home with their adorable baby, Max. Even Trista thinks Graham is hot. Will somebody please tell me what it is with this guy? He always looks like he is trying to grow a beard but it never gets any thicker. Surprises all around as we find out that Twilly is an artist and Sean is high maintenance. He puts more stuff on his face and hair than I do! However, he does like the finer things. Hey, as long as he has the money, great!

The group goes to Palm Springs for a week and Sean gets the first one on one date. They go on the tram to the top of the mountain. I've been on that tram and it rotates as it goes up the mountain so you get a view from all angles. They had dinner at the top and Sean starts talking and talking and talking. DeAnna didn't seem to mind since she invited him for dessert. After dessert they hit the hammock (she has a thing for hammocks) and Sean makes his move to kiss DeAnna. Looks like Sean will be sticking around after all.

The group date includes everyone but Jeremy. A helicopter comes to pick up the group and DeAnna says sorry but the helicopter is for her and Twilly much to his delight. Poor Twilly, he finally gets a chance to be alone with DeAnna and everything goes wrong. First he can't get the door to the helicopter open, then he gets motion sickness, then he can't get the door open when they land. I actually felt sorry for the guy. The only way it could have been worse is if he had actually puked on DeAnna!

The group go out to the open desert to ride ATVs. Jesse was showing off doing wheelies and falls off and Twilly, still cursed, couldn't get his ATV to start when it was time to go back. At the resort, they have a pool party and DeAnna quizzes Jason about how it would be to go on a hometown date with him. Jesse takes DeAnna away where she tells him she thought he was hot on the ATV. OK Jesse that's your cue! DeAnna was hoping he would kiss her and even moved in a little closer but Jesse was totally oblivious. Men! I swear you have to take the reins on some of them! Graham steps in and sweeps DeAnna off to, you guessed it, the hammock. Graham was talking and staring off into space, did he even know DeAnna was there? It's all about Graham honey. There's a reason he has never had a serious relationship.

Jeremy's one on one date is dinner at Frank Sinatra's house. Were they allowed to touch anything in the house? They went into the studio, put on a record and tried to sing. I really could have done without hearing that. I guess the editors had some time to fill in because they were both awful singers! Dancing pool side was romantic. I'm starting to get jealous! After dinner they get in Ol' Blue Eye's pool but there wasn't any swimming going on.

DeAnna decides to chuck the cocktail party since she already knows what, or who, she wants. She sends home Twilly and Sean. I was surprised she kept Jesse since he seems to have developed cold feet of late. I think she should have kept Sean. He came out kind of full of himself but ended up as a nice guy. Next week, home town dates! Double D

Ghost Hunters - Duped

The first investigation is in Cape Cod, MA. This is one place that is on my bucket list, it looks so quaint and the shopping potential....... The Colonial House Inn which was built in 1730 is the site of doors slamming, babies crying, apparitions working in the garden and shadows. The carriage house was the scene of a suicide and now people hear a man crying here.

J & G start in the widow's watch of the carriage house. Jason starts feeling cold while Grant stays toasty, so they change places and Grant gets cold while Jason warms up. Tango & Kris debunk the shadow in room 102 saying that passing cars are casting the shadows.

Room 208 is a room that can't be rented because people get such a creepy feeling that they request to change rooms. J & G found the ceiling fan medium speed was broken giving off a hum which gives people the sensation of being watched. To prove the point, they send Kris in while the fan was off and again with the fan in the broken position. She didn't have any problem while the fan was off but with the fan "on" she started getting that creepy feeling.

Nothing was caught on audio or video and Jason tells the owner there is not enough evidence to declare the Inn haunted.

Moss Beach Distillery in Moss Beach CA is the next investigation. The distillery is the supposed home of an apparition the owner call the blue lady. Reports are that the blue lady plays with the light fixtures in the bar, people hear her laugh in the ladies room and glasses clinking and voices are heard.

J & G go into the ladies room and immediately hear laughter. They find a sensor on the door which triggers a speaker in the ceiling. They also find a mirror with a film over. When they pull off the mirror they find a mask of a woman's face behind the mirror. It's beginning to look like the place is rigged like a fun house.

In the hallway of the basement, J & G find another speaker set up int he ceiling tiles. Suspecting the set up, they go to the bar to check out the light fixtures. Grant goes into the ceiling and finds timers attached to moveable arms which makes the lights move.

J & G are understandably upset for getting played and want to confront the owner. They meet with the manager and stay cool asking why didn't he tell them about the fake stuff. The manager claims it slipped his mind. I'm not buying that. If it slipped his mind, why would he tell the team about the lights moving and the laughter in the ladies room? Jason tells the manager they didn't get any evidence and says the distillery is not haunted. Sorry this happened to you guys, hopefully the next case will be a real one! Double D

The Next Food Network Star

As in the previous blog on the Next Design Star, I can't resist a good cooking show. I am coming in the third episode of this food competition to find that surprise, surprise, Martha Stewart is going to be on it. Love, love, love her! I've been a Martha fan way before she even went to jail. Only Martha could leave jail and still be on top of her game smelling like french perfume and pork roast. Bobby Flay gives the chefs a very Iron Chefseque task-your mysterious ingredient-the russet PoTaTo! Make a dish representing your culinary point of view and give a one minute TV presentation, definitely not for the camera shy. I love this kind of challenge, it's so food network stuff. I think Aaron's potato wrapped bacon thing looked so scrumptious I just wanted to sleep with it and apparently the judges thought so as well, as Bobby said he would put that on his menu. Now that's high praise. And Adam's bacon cheese fries, need I say more?-ok I'm getting hungry! Jeffery looked like a deer caught in the headlights when he went on to his presentation. I thought he was going to be totally prepared, he was writing a book in the green room. Lisa was all confidence before she went on, but when she went on, she must have misunderstood the directions (what's there to misunderstand?) and she used only 15 seconds of her time explaining her dish and point of view, something to this effect, "This is my dish and I made it, " with the other 45 seconds standing in stone silence as she stared at the judges (they stared back) with the TV camera rolling-can you say-awkward! And hey what's up with her makeup and hair style? Does she have a father named Ghepetto and a brother named Pinocchio? She has a very marionette look about her (where's her strings?) and would be perfect if she were auditioning for ringmaster for Cirque de Soliel.

The next challenge is to make a product for branding and packing. What's up with Nipa and her sugar and cayenne powder for peanuts? She kept saying that the portions is what makes it special, wooooo! It's two ingredients. Hey Nipa, it's not rocket science. And there's Kelsey-ok maybe she's a little young and not experienced any hardship, has not known the brutal cruel world, where you had to work and scrape your fingers to the bone. Maybe she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and had everything handed to her on a silver platter, can you tell I'm jealous of her sunny disposition? Can anyone be that happy? Even when she cries she still looks happy! The surprise judge was as I said Martha Stewart, love, love, love her! She sampled everyone's dish, liked Aaron's vinaigrette dressing the best, although he kept whining that it would have been better with cayenne pepper in it. Hey blame Nipa for buying out all the cayenne. Martha kinda of looked down her nose at Kelsey's saucy sloppy joes, which Martha says she doesn't eat much of that kind of food, probably reminds her too much of her prison days! ha! I wanted to cringe when Adam started singing to Martha, hey Adam, stick to cooking the bacon cheese fries! In the end, it's so long Jeffery he needed to put a little more soul or spice into his cooking and definitely lacked TV charisma. -Single D

The Next Design Star

There are two things that I love, love, love. All things cooking and all things interior design and that is why I watch Top Chef (which Double D blogs on), Hell's Kitchen (cause I think Gordon Ramsay is cute in a piss off kinda way) and now the Next Design Star and the Next Cooking Star. I love the Next Design Star/Next Food Star, because I am an HGTV junkie and Food Network junkie. Or as my husband would say, just a reality show junkie and that is why I am here and you are reading this. My absolute favorite designer is Divine Design star Candace Olsen. Her designs are truly amazing and no one can hold a taffeta curtain next to her. So with this show it's interesting to see if any up and coming designer can become the next Candace Olsen, seriously doubt this. Last season's winner, Kim Myles and her show Myles of Style is lacking style for me and what's his name, David Bromstad (I cheated, I had to look it up) also doesn't flip my ottoman. This season's lineup started with a limo ride to the Nashville countryside where the they are dropped off by a pile of suspicious looking lumber and toolboxes. Doesn't look good. Each one speculates that they might have to build their own living quarters, eeks! Designing and building a house, that would be a first, what is this Extreme Home Make Over?

Clive Pearse tells them that they will have $100,000 and 7 days to build a space where they will live. Tall order. He leaves the designers in a quandary as they scramble to decide how to do this when Clive comes back-ok punk'd, just kidding he tells them as they board a boat that takes them across the river to their house. Once inside they are shown rooms, dining room, living room, sun room and 2 bedrooms. Their mission, to divide up the space and design their living quarters. The house is really amazing, a stately mansion with old architecture. The designers divide themselves up into groups of two to four with only Scottie choosing to do one of the bedrooms by himself. What was he thinking? That could either be genius or disaster, in this case disaster. Doing a room by yourself, you have no one to blame things on if the room goes totally wrong. Who will you throw under the bus, point the finger at and tell the judges it was his idea, huh? huh? This decision eventually became his undoing and as Clive says, his show was cancelled. Vern Yip, the judge, was really harsh on him saying that his design, so seventies, was all wrong right down to the color choice (burnt orange) to the beds laying end to end, who wants to smell stinky feet? The best design was the other bedroom designed by carpenters Matt and Mickey V. with their unique 4 beds/loft bed design. Well, duh they are carpenters and know wood. I thought the living room was a beautiful room with dark blue grey walls and the silver insets in the bookcase. I wasn't too crazy about the dining room with it's beautiful fireplace mantel distressed brown or as judge Martha McCulley said, you turned the wood table white and the white fireplace brown, one word in my book, why? In the end, I guess the judges thought getting rid of the one that worked alone was the choice, so it's cut for Scottie, Mr. Bowtie, you look like you should be teaching a college course not designing rooms.-Single D

Top Chef - Puerto Rico

I'm behind I know. We had company so I am playing catch up. Thanks for bearing with me! After a six month break, the chefs are in Puerto Rico for the finals. During the break Stephanie says she was enjoying life by traveling to Thailand, Viet Nam and Cambodia. Thailand sounds good but Cambodia? Antonia opened her restaurant and has been cooking non stop. We don't get to hear what Richard and Lisa have been up to but it's clear the other chefs didn't expect Lisa to still be around. The quickfire challenge is to make two kinds of fritters and they have to include plantains. Stephanie makes a tuna fritter and a pork & shrimp fritter. Antonia comes up with crispy oysters and a fried yellow plantain while Richard makes pork meatballs with plantain and green plantain chips. Lisa makes tostones with pan roasted duck with mango papaya salsa and a sweet plantain with onions and chorizo. What a setting these guys have to cook in with the surf in the background. I was wondering how they could concentrate. Anyway, Stephanie wins the quickfire just edging out Lisa. The chefs get to relax a little and attend a party with traditional dancers, a band and a whole pig being roasted on a spit. That's my kind of party, dancing and a whole lot of pig! At least the chefs didn't have to good at this party. The finale is being held at a fort which is the home of the governor of Puerto Rico. For the challenge, each chef is given a whole pig to make two dishes using different parts of the pig. The chefs get help from, who else, chefs that have already packed their knives. Stephanie's advantage for winning quickfire is she gets to chose who cooks with whom. She picks Dale for herself and pairs Lisa with Andrew who pretty much hate each other. They all walk into the kitchen and there lying on the counters are the pigs. After seeing that, it will take awhile before I can eat a pork chop. They were white and, well, dead. It's one thing to see them on a spit all brown and crispy and quite another to see them laying there all white and dead looking. Call me quirky! Off to market they go and Andrew gets someone who doesn't speak English so he tries to refer to what he wants by color. He comes off, as he said, looking like a retard. Somehow he manages to get the ingredients he needs and it's back to the kitchen. The kitchen is very cramped with all those chefs in one place and they start to get a little cranky. Lisa kept stepping in on Andrew saying she could do better on all he was doing. I would have said, have at it and left if I was him. He is only trying to help. They all get to prep their dishes and come back the next day to finish. On the way out we see a container full of Stephanie's pork bellies on the counter. When the chefs arrive the next day, Stephanie and Dale find out their mistake and have to trash the dish and start over. They decide to go with chicharrones, coconut pork and pork satay on sugar cane. Richard makes BBQ pork shoulder, ribs and pork belly. Antonia also makes pork belly and also pork sausage and curried pork. Lisa has pork rellena, pork belly (of course) and adobo pork tostone. What's up with all the pork belly? And is it any good? Stephanie is nervous at the judging since she had to start from scratch but relaxes when the judges seem to like her dishes. Richard was looking pretty frazzled. As the guests were commenting on the chefs and their dishes, one guest said he had been Puerto Rican all his life, in reference to the food. I'm thinking, good for you, I've been American all my life but I can tell good food from bad also. It just seemed like an odd thing to say. At judges table, Richard and Stephanie are the judges favorites with Richard winning. His prize is a car. I think this is the first time they have given a car. Not bad! That leaves Lisa and Antonia as the least favorite. Lisa immediately defends her dishes and took on that famous attitude. The judges didn't like Antonia's undercooked beans. After the judges have their discussion, they call back Lisa and Antonia and Lisa turns on her death ray glare. In a shocker, at least to me, Antonia is told to pack her knives and go. In the war room everyone is hugging Antonia goodbye with Lisa sulking. Lisa finally confronts Steph & Richard saying why don't you congratulate me? For what?! That girl and her attitude should have been sent packing long ago. Double D

Tila Tequila-Shot at Love # 2-Home Dates

Ok, I must live in a completely conservative world. In my world mothers are mothers and fathers are fathers. Not in the world of Tila. This episode features the four home dates to meet the parents of her would be partners. First it's a stop to Bobby's house. I missed the first 5 minutes but when I came in, it looked like a tame dinner with your run of the mill family. Did I mention Bo's mother is Bi? Hey what's up with those hoop earring's Bo was wearing, maybe he's not so straight as I thought. Next it's on to Yonkers, isn't that where Hello Dolly is from? Kristi takes Tila ice skating and then to her parents house, where we get to meet her parents, brother and aunt. Her aunt is...yep you guessed it, Bi! After dinner, Kristi's dad puts on some music and guess what, it's Tila singing. Tila gets her grind on with Kristi's brother giving him, she says a woody! Ya think, he's all of what 17? Tila gives the aunt a lap dance much to the aunt's pleasure. Wait, this is tame to what's coming! Next it's on to Brittany's house in San Diego, where they meet up at OB. Yep, I recognized the street! Brittany has gotten all of Tila's favorite foods, fried chicken, fried rice, grape soda and Texas pickles. At the dinner it's Brittany's best friend, her roomie and her dad whom she finally met when she was 16. Her dad is pretty hip but manages to get embarrassed when Tila starts sucking on the Texas pickles and licking the pickle juice off her arm. Gads, now I know why guys like her, that girl's got talent! Brittany's roomie, who looked all of 18 was looking with longing at Tila. He's going to need a cold shower! The last date is to Jersey's big stately family home, somewhere in New Jersey. Now ya think Jeremy, although brash and obnoxious, his family would be somewhat the conservative Jewish family, not! In fact, I had to watch most of this segment with my hands over my eyes! I was cringing. It started out tame enough with Jeremy's father, stepmother, mom, step dad, and brother, who looks like an older replica of Jersey, at the family dinner table. Tila comments on how young and attractive the mothers are. She really knows how to work a crowd and asks the mothers to show off their assets, which was like watching a hypnotist work her magic as they obediently comply with her request. For the sake of the viewing audience MTV had pictures of shot glasses (big ones) covering you know what! Jersey and brother were beside themselves and had to cover their eyes. I mean it's their mothers for heaven sake! The fathers meanwhile were totally amused. I think they do the wife swapping thing! Next Tila asks the mothers to kiss and I mean, OMG, they do it! Can you say, ick! No wonder Jersey is all screwed up! Next it's an after dinner romp in the the hot tub passing Tila around like she was the dessert, after all Jersey's father says, it's all in the family. We taught Jeremy to share! Gads! As Tila says leaving it was like attending a porn convention, and we all know she knows a lot about that! I would definitely have to say that the tamest home date was Brittany's, after all what's a little pickle juice among family? Back at the mansion, all four compare notes on how their dates went and each one thinks they have it sewn up except for Brittany's and you know why, no shock value. Night of elimination, Tila dashes the hopes of one more. Bobby and Kristi get the first two keys so it's between Brittany and Jersey for the last one. I don't know if Tila saw Jersey flipping off Bo when he got his key, but Tila curtly says to Jersey, "You're not my type, your shot at love has ended." And with that, Jersey knocks over the key holder, breaks something else and storms out of the mansion. I think he even called Tila the "s" word too. I'm just wondering why she kept him so long? Maybe the producers told her she'd get extra $$ to keep him? No doubt. Anyway, down to three and this is eerily like the first season, two women and one guy. Is Bo the next Bobby? Careful Bo, word had it that she dumped Bobby right after the show, wouldn't take his calls, poor sap, he supposedly even posted that on his my space page. She used him and then threw him away. Only one word for a girl like that, and I don't think I want to say it on my blog!-Single D

Hell's Kitchen Cooking School

The five remaining chefs get a lesson from Chef Ramsay on how to make Lobster Pasta. Their challenge is to teach that receipe to 5 cooking students but not your typical aspiring chefs, but more like Housewives of LA County, domestic divas, who can't tell the difference between a sauce pan and a chef knife. Petrozza gets all flustered and is more interested in putting the apron on his student and sweeping up her hair. Jen is trying to cheat by doing most of the prep work for the student. Forty five minutes later, the student-housewive divas present their dishes to Chef. Chef Ramsay pronounces Corey and Christina's the best, much to the disappointment of Jen (who thought she was going to win again!) and Bobby who has never won a single challenge (which is very telling). Chef chooses Christina's student dish as the best one and for her reward, Mark Peel and Ben Ford to give her their special chef tips. Do we know who they are? I guess I'm celebrity chef challenged. I was wondering if Christina knew who they were, or was she just bluffing? They came to teach her their secret tips while the losers had to scrub down the kitchen. Jen takes on the cleaning nearest the two chefs so she can spy on what they are teaching Christina. When they handed her the dishes to be washed after they ate their preparations, Jen ate the food off their plates so she could taste what they had cooked. Bobby said that she's eating food that's meant for the garbage, that's just wrong. And I agree!

I think the two strongest contenders are Corey and Christina and will probably end up in the final two if they don't make a huge mistake first. For the dinner service it's only 5 chefs in the kitchen and Chef announces that a party of 12 will be coming in.

Again Jen loses it on the fish station and JP quickly tells the waitstaff to push the meat. But when Bobby messes up the meat station, JP is in a quandry and tells them to push the chicken. Hey, push the Jack In the Box down the street, I'm sure they can get the food out. The large table coming are the Hawaiian Tropic Models and JP is acting like a giddy schoolboy. He should team up with Petrozza, they both could drool together! We finally learn that JP is from Beligum not France. Back in the kitchen Chef is riding Jen's chef tails telling her that everytime he tells her something, she just klops along slowly. Chef calls Jen, Bobby and Petrozza-inconsistent, inconsistent and dreaming! With the dinner service finally over, he says the best performance of the evening was Christina and for her to pick two for elimination. At first it looked like she was picking on Petrozza (dreaming) when in fact it was Bobby and Jen that completely lost it. In the end, it was Bobby and Jen for elimination. Bobby has not shined during this whole process and as Corey said Bobby is mediocre, which turns out to be true. So it's goodbye Bobby. The general has left the building.-Single D

Ice Road Truckers - First and Last

I made a promise to watch Ice Road Truckers. I watched the premier for this season and was not impressed. It starts out showing the road getting built with one of the snow plow drivers, when asked what he thinks when he hears the ice cracking says, he turns up the stereo and rolls up the windows so he can't hear it. Now there's an idea. I guess it's a case of what you don't hear can't open up and swallow you and your plow!

Then there are the drivers. The show focus's on four drivers, two work for one company and two work for another. They all know each other and it's pretty much a bash fest. Even the super religious Alex gets in on the bashing saying that some of us are less blessed than others. At least he puts it nicely(?). Alex also has 11 kids so now we know what he does in the off season! As they give the short bios on the drivers, we meet Drew who goes off by himself to contemplate his navel. What ever gets you through the day.

The mission is to take supplies from Inuvik to a natural gas drilling site 145 miles north in Mallik. They have to haul everything from buildings to the drill rigs. Hugh gets the first load and is off across the frozen Arctic sea to Mallik. Alex has to wait for a truck to be delivered by Rick who gets in wreck trying to avoid hitting a herd of moose and Drew is told to wait. Rick gets the truck to Alex and they both start out together with Alex doing about 55mph while Rick is not used to driving fast on the ice and goes about 30mph. Come on Rick, grow a set and speed up!

Everyone makes it to Mallik despite brake and speed limit problems, drop their loads and head back for more. All but Drew who is too impatient to wait for a ride and quits. Go back and contemplate your navel some more Drew. Like the one driver said, this isn't for everybody and this show really isn't for me. Double D

The Bachelorette-Two Elimination Shocker!

Ok, it was two hours of crying from DeAnna. What's there to cry about? Well, maybe the singing! This episode opens with Chris Hanson telling the guys that they will have to compose and perform a song for DeAnna. Winner will receive a one on one date. Jesse's like jeez man, Graham's composing a song, who does he think he is? Bon Jovi? Of course this thing was right up Twilly's theatrical alley. Most of the guys performed a semi muscial rap, half talking, half singing. I thought the best song was from Brian (hunka hunka!) "House of Pain", but it was Jesse's one knee hand holding serenade that caught DeAnna's ear and earned him the single date. She's just not into Brian, silly girl! The guys sit around speculating what Jesse should wear and then a knock on the door and a dress suit magically appears, just Jesse's size. I guess DeAnna wants to see what Jesse looks like when he's cleaned up. But what about that hair? Jesse answers the door wearing a tee shirt that had a print of a tie on it, maybe he should wear the tee under the jacket, just his style! I must say Jesse was so excited about his date with DeAnna. DeAnna comes to the out house to pick up Jesse and all the guys are looking so hound dog and some of them won't even look at her. I guess that's the way jealousy rears it's ugly head with guys. It's Retreat, Retreat!! The date is to an empty theater in LA, where a dining table magically appears with Natasha Bedingfield singing. Jesse's like a small child, wide eyed and wild hair. Suit and all, still looked like a pro boarder but in a stuff shirt. He was kinda of endearing and in the end I guess that's why DeAnna gave him the rose, although I don't see those two together in the end.

The next date is the macho drag racing date with everyone else except Robert and Fred who will have to duel it out for the single rose. The guy whose speed is the fastest wins the alone time w/DeAnna. All the guys act like they've all done this before, getting their macho on, but you could so tell most of them were scared witless! Brian is first up and he's so scared he can't even get it into gear. His speed comes in at 140 and is the top speed until Twilly takes over. A look of relief came over DeAnna, when Sean managed to over take Twilly speed and win the alone time with D. The alone time was spent sitting on the grass drinking champagne with tons of swirling gnats flying around their heads, how romantic! I'm surprised that gnats didn't fly into their mouths! Sean tries to act all charming, but how charming can a redneck be? He tried to tell DeAnna that they both had that redneck thing in common. Hey Sean, being southern and being redneck are two different things. He's like Bud in a can, she's more like a mint julep, more sweet tea please! After her time with Sean, she's dying to get her lips on Graham, but he pulls back much to her displeasure. He says he can't when he thinks shes done that with the other guys. Oh please! Can you say double standard! Graham really has serious issues, no wonder he's never had a relationship that has lasted more than 5 months. Either he's extremely jealous or he's seriously afraid of commitment. You can see the fear in his eyes, like a deer caught in headlights. Go home Bambi, this is cruel stuff. In the end, Sean gets the rose for being his gentlemanly redneck self and climbs up the bachelor pile.

The next day, the guys cook up a BBQ and invite DeAnna over, but when she gets to the out house, there's a bad vibe in the air as the guys are all like mountain goats circling each other and wanting to butt their horns, but instead it's retreat, retreat! Robert and Graham sulk into the house, cowards! And DeAnna goes to find them. When she confronts Robert, he says he's under a lot of stress and that guys have been saying stuff, wa wa wa! DeAnna's not only mad, she's furious and immediately confronts the group and tells them that she's been through all this and knows exactly what they are going through and if they don't want to be there then leave. You go girl! A wise girl knows that shedding a few tears doesn't hurt as well. Seems that the guys have bonded so well, that they might as well had their bbq party for themselves and not invited DeAnna over, as she tipped the balance of king of the heap of the bachelor pile. It's really funny how the guys act compared to the women that have been on the bachelor. The guys are like fraternity buds communing around the campfire discussing stragety and if their rank in the pecking order is disturbed then they retreat, whereas the women would be claws out scratching each other with verbal bards and sharp, sacrastic tongues-meow!

The two on one date, DeAnna invites Fred and Robert over for a informal dinner. Robert has already theorized to Fred that whoever kisses her first on the date will get the rose. Of course to prove his theory, he tries to go in for the kiss when he's alone with DeAnna and she quickly says of course, on the cheek. Obviously there's no connection there! Robert fails and Fred pleads, but at the table DeAnna quickly dismisses Robert. It was so quick, Robert did a double take. His jaw dropped so hard, the china rattled and he didn't have a chance to plead his case. Yep buddy, you lose, so it's off with ya to the limo. Back at the table a shocked Fred is probably feeling pretty good by now, but DeAnna comes back, screws up her face, and gently tries to let him down, by saying that she can't keep him either! What, whoa girl! Nice, sweet, genuine Fred a goner. Good guys do finish last. At least he was a good sport about it and took it pretty well. Fred is really sweet and I hope someone snatches him up, he'll make a good husband to someone one day. Hey Fred, my sister- in-law is available, do ya like maturing, slightly overweight women? Ok, old and fat!

Back at the out house, the guys rush to see whose luggage is being whisked away and are shocked to see both sets go. Hey guys, just goes to show you, don't mess with DeAnna, she means it!

DeAnna comes home to the only man left standing or in this case reclining in the mansion is Jason. Much to his delight, he's happy to catch her on the rebound, all vulnerable and all. The night of elimination it's a pool party and for the first time everyone is having a good time. All the macho horn ramming is put aside. In the end, looks like Brian couldn't bring it to the table and open himself up to DeAnna enough. Such a shame. I would have liked to see (and I mean See) more of him in future episodes without his shirt. hubba, hubba! It was like that twit Twilly said, he preferred to hang with the guys than with her. Hey Double D, who are we going to drool over now?-Single D

The guys show off their talent by writing songs to DeAnna to win a one on one date. Hunky Brian was getting into it, Sean was a little slow getting started and Jesse wanted to know what a refrain was. They all can't sing with some even resorting to talking their songs they did write pretty good and Brian even got a standing ovation. Jesse got all romantic with the getting on his knee while singing which earned him the date. A suit is delivered for him and he gets even more nervous. DeAnna takes him to an empty theater where they have dinner stage side. Jesse pours his heart out telling DeAnna he is really into her. They get a performance from the singer Single D mentioned above (I have no idea who she is) and Jesse gets a rose.

The group date is a trip to the Auto Club Speedway to drive stock cars. Now that's right up any guys alley! Come to think of it, it's up my alley too! Can I drive with Brian? Brian gets to go first and after having trouble starting the car, pulls out a fast time. The others take their turn and Sean is the winner and gets alone time with DeAnna. He really didn't utilize his time well even telling DeAnna they are both rednecks. I'm sorry, but I don't want any guy calling me a redneck (excuse me while I scratch my butt and get a beer)! Once they are back in the group, here comes Jeremy! He takes DeAnna away, again even though she isn't complaining. DeAnna gets Graham alone and tells him now would be a good time to kiss her (cue the ominous music) and he says he wants it to be different which doesn't sit well with DeAnna. DeAnna ends up giving Sean the group date rose. He came off so cocky in the beginning, now he seems more grounded. I guess being among sharks in a pool with one fish for a prize can be a little humbling.

The out house guys decide to throw a BBQ and invite DeAnna. Robert wasn't real happy when the guys gave him a chefs hat and apron then sat him at the "kiddie" table. After throwing a chair (is he related to Bobby Knight?) he rips off the hat and storms off saying he can't do this. Can't do what? Take a joke? I hope you are taking notes DeAnna. The guys were all hanging out with each other and no one was really paying any attention to DeAnna so she goes in to talk to Robert who is still sulking. The combination of no attention and Robert whining gets DeAnna mad enough to go off on the group telling them she knows what they are going through and storms off.

The two on one date (sounds like a wrestling term, doesn't it?) pits the two average guys against each other. I'm not sure what to say about these two. Average doesn't quite cut it, I wanted to say teddy bears but sure about that either. They are just Fred and Robert. How about average nice guys? Robert doesn't waste any time and gets DeAnna alone and asks if he can kiss her. She says yes, but on the cheek. Does that just scream you're going home? He looked like a 70's reject sitting there with his shirt unbuttoned showing his baby chest that matches his baby face and personality.

Fred gets his alone time and tells her he is just as happy to be sitting and talking. I swear I have seen him in Chicago. Maybe he has a commercial for a law firm or something. The out house boys are sitting around the camp fire betting that Robert will be going home. They were right! Back at the dinner table, DeAnna sends Robert home. He starts crying in the limo saying he is destroyed. Light weight! You're a guy, suck it up and move on. How in love can you be with this girl?! Meanwhile, Fred is back at the table letting out a big sigh of relief and smiling now that he has the rose all sewn up. Twist! DeAnna sends Fred packing too! At least he took it like a man and wished DeAnna to be happy. What a nice guy (average) guy!

DeAnna gets back to the mansion and it's Jason to the rescue asking her if she wants to talk about it. He takes advantage of her vulnerability and moves in for a lip lock.

At the cocktail party, Jeremy takes DeAnna away first thing. Hunky Brian finally gets his chance and tells DeAnna that he only wants to marry once. Graham gets some face time and tells DeAnna he is there for her and she finally gets her kiss. They all hit the pool and we get to see Brian sans shirt with his muscles to next week. Yummo! I thought sure they would do the rose ceremony in the hot tub but party pooper Chris had to break up that party and told everyone to get out and get dressed. Darn! In the end, DeAnna sends home our hunk-a-hunk Brian :( I still can't believe she kept Twit Twilly over Brian and will someone please tell me what she sees in Graham? Double D

Tila Tequila-Shot at Love 2-It's a Sweet Trip to the Tattoo Shop Not!

Oh my gosh! It's a field trip to the tattoo shop. More like a trip to the nightmare shop! Here Tila treats her would be lovers to a little shop of horrors, tattoos, piercings, a walk on broken glass and an electric chair. The remaining would be suitors need to prove their love by taking on one of these modern day chamber of horror stunts. I would be like, "see ya"! How could anyone in their right mind even propose such a thing and how could a contestant even consent to it? Oh right, it's shock TV, I forgot! Brittany is the first one to pipe up that she would get a tattoo and then when put on the spot, gets a serious case of the "I can't go through with it", good girl, your mother would be proud as she slinks back to her chair. Georgie is eyeing the broken glass box and is willing to cut his feet in the name of love and bravely kicks off his shoes. George steps on the broken glass and is squealing in pain, glass shards piercing his feet. When he makes it to the other side he quickly looks at his feet crying out that they are cut. When Lisa looks at them, she says it's not cut and there's no blood, but the pain is so intense for George, the medics placate him by putting on a bandage on his toe, is that better? Good boy, now go get yourself a Popsicle. Tila then says she wants to try the glass and kicks off her high heels and quickly walks across it. I guess wearing stilettos makes your feet callous. She makes it to the other side where she pronounces with girlish glee that the glass is fake. Ya you heard me fake, fake, fake! George got himself so hyped up, that he imagined it hurt and cut his feet. Hey the mind is a terrible thing to waste. Christy says she wants a star behind her ear. I must say it was very dainty and behind the ear, which could be hidden. Good thinking. Bo steps up and tells Tila that he wants the shot glass tattoo. Are you kidding me? Hey Bo, you'll have that stupid shot glass when you're 86! Of course, Jersey doesn't have an original thought in his head and follows in Bo's shot glass step and gets one as well. Lisa decides to do the electric chair and gets her electric groove on. It looked like she was enjoying it! Brittany meanwhile is mad that everyone out did her so she decides to get her belly pierced. Now, she claims she's deathly afraid of needles, yet she chooses the one thing that looks the most painful and hey what about that lip ring you have already? Christy gets the single date and a shopping trip to the lingerie store, now that's a reward! The rest gets the dirty date, donning white underwear, which George liked a little too much, smearing paint and rolled around it in. Ok, that's not my thing, who wants blue paint in their hair? The final challenge is a hot dog challenge, but since Bo can't eat anything solid, it's a blender shake of hot dogs, buns and condiments, yuck! Lisa once again is an animal and wins, but again, she takes on that tough girl attitude and turns Tila off. At the elimination, it's not enough for Lisa to apologize and Lisa is left key less along with Georgie. It was time for George to go, he just doesn't have that killer instinct and is the Domenico of this season. Hey, MTV don't even think about making a bachelor out of George, he's just doesn't not have that X factor.-Single D

Hell's Kitchen-Looney Tunes by Matt

This episode, Chef sends Jen back to the girls team and Matt back to the guys team. Neither side is happy with the switch. At 6 am the blindfolded group finds themselves on the roof top of Chef Ramsay's new LA eatery London West Hollywood. It is here that he announces that the teams will merge. For their first individual challenge each person is assigned one item, Petrozza-chicken, Matt-veal, Christina-sea bass, Corey-lobster, Jen-beef and Bobby-duck. Pretty much everyone did really well, but Chef chooses Jen's paper thin rib eye as the winner. Chef likes her dish so much that he's going to put it on the dinner menu. For her reward she gets to chose one person to accompany her. She choses Corey, which Matt says it's like pairing a cobra with a mongoose. So it's off to Las Vegas, baby! to see last season's winner, Roc at Green Valley Ranch at his Terra Verde restaurant. What a nice gig. The girls get a gorgeous suite with their very own bath and their very own swimming pool. Must be nice! The rest of the group gets the delivery punishment, carrying heavy supplies into the restaurant. Matt complains non-stop getting on everyone's last nerve. Bobby says Matt is like a full metal jacket when he's pissed. Matt definitely needs some anger management classes. He's so looney, he's one fork short of a set, he's the missing knife in the butcher block, he can't find his beans and franks with both hands (as Jeffie would say), there's a cuckoo missing in the clock, he forgot to take the out to lunch sign off his head, ok, he's just plain psycho and lives in the land of twilight zone, cue music.

Chef Ramsay must know that Matt is really getting to Christina and pairs them up together on the meat station for the dinner service. Pretty much dinner service is a disaster with Christina and Bobby mixing meats while cooking them, like cooking the salmon with the chicken? Corey loses it on the vegetable station, how hard is it to cook green beans? And again Matt is out in left field, not understanding the simplest English instruction, 2 rib eye, 1 chicken, 2 wellingtons!! Matt's brain has left the building and Matt tells Chef he has a migraine, no Matt, it's not a migraine, you need a brain for that! Hey Matt, you've given us a migraine! Chef is so frustrated he sends everyone out of the kitchen. Gee, I wondered who finished the cooking for the customers? JP? He says for them to come back when they have nominated two for elimination. When Chef ask who they chose, Petrozza says Matt and when Chef ask Corey who else, Corey says Christina, but offers herself because she failed on veggies. Chef calls all three up and brings the chef knife down on Matt. In the end, Chef recites poetry as we see Matt walk off without his chef coat-

"There once was a boy named Matt, whose performance fell flat. He was terrible on meat, it was no easy feat, and so he's gone and that's that!" or something like that!-Single D