I am starting to think Marcel has to be completely scripted. Who sucks this bad? Who writes "poems" called "These People"? He's the French-inspired Kevin Federline of Top Chef.

I'm dying to see next week's episode of what they're going to do to Marcel.

I also have to add: I am sick of the open hostility from the judges and criticisms devoid of creativity or even details sometimes. It's them that keeps Top Chef from being a great show (even a great reality show).

The way the commercial played out...it makes me wonder if they're covered in bruises or magic marker or something on their heads. All I can help thinking is if they did something really childish and stupid, it would be cutting Marcel's awful hair off.

To Flounder's defense, there are several Food Network chefs that can't pronounce Chipotle either. Emeril Lagasse is one of them.

I also think that Mikey made a great "snack", but the judge's obvious bias against the food combination marked him down. The judge was incredulous about seafood and cheese mixed together? Has he ever had seafood enchiladas at a decent Tex-Mex joint? Or fish tacos with a heavy helping of mayo-based sauce? It's food heaven for me.

Nevertheless, it was time to bid adieu to Flounder. He's coasted along in the show for too long and despite his abnormally good performance last week, he again proved this week that he relies too much on ducking his head and taking orders from others in order to avoid elimination. I will give him some applause though for playing the game very well; he pinpointed the glaring problem that exists with judging on Top Chef and rode it out, whether consciously or not, for many many episodes. Next year, Top Chef needs to reevaluate how the judging process is done and take past merit into consideration more. They rely too heavily on blaming the leaders in team challenges when things go wrong as well.

The menus on both sides were so-so. I usually don't go for Italian, so I probably would've wound up on the Diner side. The diner menu had everything that appeals to me...though I would be dubious about an oreo/lemon pie combination.

I don't know what Sam was thinking on his dessert...it sounded vomit inducing. Did he even taste it first? If I had to rework that dish, I'd make real gnocchi and work in sugar to the dough. Instead of watermelon, a red berry sauce over the top with a little sweetened mascarpone would be nummy.

On a side note, my biggest peeve about Top Chef is the branding all over the place. I guess Bravo needs the advertising money or something...but still, we don't get inundated with the same crap on Hell's Kitchen. Kraft challenge... *gag*

I'm thinking since everyone has been so openly hostel to Marcel, he's going to be in at least the final three. Despite his love for foams.

I'm glad(also a bit sad) that I'm not the only one who made the K-Fed connection.

My problem with Top Chef is that food relies so much on taste and smell that it's hard for me to decide who has the best dish. It's not like a dress which I can see and know if it's good or not.

Christal--that's a problem I have to; the thing is, on Project Runway, you can see the dress and judge as you will, but the judges there deconstruct and describe and give detail after detail about the clothes they see; though Top Chef has to realize the shortcoming of judging food with an audience, the judges barely describe the food they've tasted. And there's a lot to be said besides taste; texture, aroma, etc...I think they need better judges next season.

Mikey was great for entertainment value but I think it was indeed his time to go. I will also say that I think the judges should taste the culinary creations blind. Knowing who made them could definitely taint their opinion of the dish. If all they had to judge by was the food itself, I think it would be more objective and the results might be different in some cases.

That being said, I think Sam's watermelon gnocchi was a disaster but *could* have been really good. If he had cut the watermelon into the gnocchi shape, then SPRINKLED it with some Gorgonzola crumbles and a bit of ground black pepper, rather than drowning it in that nasty goopy cheese and cream sauce, it would have been an entirely different dish, which I suspect I would have loved. (sweetness, combined with pungent and a bit of spice from the black pepper -- YUM!)

As for as I am concerned, Top Chef is dead. I am very disapointed that Cliff was shown the door, for a prank that was instigated by almost everyone there. I feel that he was made the scapegoat so that someone else they felt should win could. I think for to much favoritism has been shown to Elia and Marcel. Personally I feel both should have been long gone. When Marcel was threatened by someone who wasn't drunk(Frank)nothing was done. I think someone loves Elia,afterall she's good at having others sacrifice themselves for her.

I believe Cliff should have been booted. He violated the rules of Top chef. But I also agree he was made a scapegoat (pansie) for Sam and Ilan. Note that when Marcel was calling for help, Sam just sat his fat a or the sofa and laughed. Elan also ignored. I Hope Marcel wins by default. He knows more anyway!