The reunion actually threw out a few tidbits even alert fans might not have noticed. Some of the things I personally learned include:

• If you believe Internet chatter, coupled chefs Zoi Antonitsas and Jennifer Biesty are coupled no more — Love how they refused to confirm or deny that by not commenting directly since it really isn’t anybody’s business anyway
• There was a whole lot more man-love going on around the chef’s shared home than the aired episodes showed, and the guys involved don’t care who knows it — Good for them!
• Although Andrew D’Ambrosi claims he’s not gay, he would totally get it on with Evangelos “Spike” Mendelsohn, and he doesn’t care who knows that either — Good for him!
• Dale Talde is nowhere near as much of a jerk as the show presented him as being
• Shockingly, sourpuss Lisa Fernandes is also less offensive personality-wise than the show presented her as being, although she’s still a bitter pill to swallow
• Judge Gail Simmons takes naps on the set during boring segments and doesn’t deny that she has/had/will always have a crush on competitor Andrew
• Being on a team with The Black Hammer, better known as Antonia Lofaso, was almost a guaranteed kiss of death since four competitors who came into too-close contact with her during the challenges got booted
• If you get bumped earlier than, say, the fifth round, nobody cares about you, judging by the general lack of participation during the reunion from the first four to get shown the door this season: Nimma Osman, Valerie Bolon, Erik Hopfinger, and Manuel Trevino
• People really, really love first female victor Stephanie Izard because, for the first time in Top Chef history, the overall winner was also the chosen Fan Favorite — Good for her!
• All this time I thought I just enjoyed Top Chef when I actually had a Culinary Boner for it — Didn’t think that was possible, being a girl and whatnot

Tags: Bravo, Reunion Special, television, Top Chef, tv

As far as I’m concerned, Atlanta’s Richard Blais came in an impressive second, and there was no third place since the finals became a two-way race the second severely personality-challenged Lisa Fernandes wasn’t ordered to pack her knives three episodes ago and New York chef Dale Talde got his walking papers unfairly instead.

Take a look at an absolutely and understandably glowing Stephanie in the victory video below as she discusses what it’s like to emerge triumphant in the biggest challenge of her life thus far. I’m psyched for her, too.

Tags: Bravo, Stephanie Izard, television, Top Chef, tv

Sure, the fringe made out of human hair was kind of freaky — okay, all kinds of freaky. The undeniably odd touch was still quite innovative and daring, however, and it seemed to me the designer deserved extra brownie points for taking the risk. He certainly knew the judges would probably turn their noses up at it, as at least one of them visibly did (was that you, Nina Garcia?). Instead, all Chris got was the boot.

So, what did Rami Kashou, the other contestant chosen for a final battle to determine which of two designers would get the third spot at Fashion Week, present that was so special? I didn’t see much besides yet another (admittedly gorgeous) draped dress; a hideous, overdone, turquoise-looking coat; and an enormous black gown with a frighteningly long tail and huge frying pans attached to each hip.

One of the judges, I believe host Heidi Klum, remarked that Chris’ garments still looked costumey to her, an observation I disagree with vehemently. If any of the outfits looked like something you’d wear to a masquerade ball, those would be the coat and formal gown Rami sent down the runway.

But, heck, what do I know? Maybe I’m just admitting that I have a thing for costumey fashion with too-dark, Goth overtones. I really wish Chris had made it to the final round, though. Yet, he was probably doomed the moment he was brought back in the fifth round to replace departing Jack.

And, to his credit, Rami did give a stronger reason for wanting to stick around: fashion is his calling, while Chris merely thought a different perspective — his costume design background — would be refreshing. Next time someone asks Chris, just tell them you’ll die if you don’t get to show your stuff. That will do a better job convincing people of your dedication and enthusiasm.

Tags: Bravo, Chris March, Project Runway, Rami Kashou, television, tv

The title Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style pretty much sums it up when it comes to this wardrobe makeover series. Assisted by former supermodel Veronica Webb, who handles shopping duties with each episode’s guest, and excerpts from his own book, Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality Taste and Style, the former Chair of the Department of Fashion Design at Parsons The New School for Design and current Chief Creative Director of Liz Claiborne Inc. will counsel assorted needy women from around the country in hopes of helping them to get a clue about how to dress with both ease and charisma, as if they were to the closet born, so to speak.

In the host’s opinion, the ultimate indication of success will be if he and Webb manage to inspire the participants “to achieve their own stylish identities,” what he also calls a “signature look.” I’m pretty sure that just breathing the same air as the fashion master will do wonders; so, one can only imagine how great the lucky women in each of the first season’s eight episodes will look after the phenomenal double team of Gunn and Webb get through with them. If Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style doesn’t become another instahit in Bravo’s mostly superb reality-TV stable, I, for one, will be absolutely stunned.

Tags: Bravo, television, Tim Gunn, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, tv, Veronica Webb

First up is Larry Birkhead: Good Night My Sweet Anna Baby, which features that guy who recently crawled out of the woodwork named Larry Birkhead talking about his relationship with Smith. In case, like me previously, you have no idea who this Larry dude is exactly, apparently he’s just one ex in a line of several. Why is he so special? I guess because (1) he accepted the money Bravo offered for his “intimate insights” the fastest and (2) he shared with someone that he supposedly used to tell Smith “Good Night My Sweet Anna Baby” every night when they were together, and, unfortunately, that somebody thought the phrase would make a really nice documentary title. Bravo’s press release describes the interview conducted by Access Hollywood‘s Tony Potts as “exclusive” and “emotional.” I’m thinking “tacky” and “unnecessary” describe the situation far more accurately.

Closing the hour is Anna Nicole: My Life Through the Lens, which aims to present Smith’s life in retrospective fashion with plenty of video, including “never-before-seen archival footage and photos of Smith with her late husband, billionaire J. Howard Marshall.” Screeeech! Back that up a second. Smith and dead billionaire Marshall? To make it even worse, some of the footage shows “Smith with her late husband, Marshall, as he reads his will aloud.” Reads his what? Why would anyone want or need to see that?! And in addition, there’s also discussion of “recent revelations about her lesbian relationships.”

—SIGH—

Bravo execs have obviously never heard the well-advised commands to not “speak ill of the dead” and to “let sleeping dogs lie.” I don’t think “documentary” is quite the appropriate noun for either of these two shows since “trash TV” and “exploitative garbage” fit the bill so much better. Watch at your own risk.

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Other Good Stuff on TV Tonight:

• The 38th NAACP Image Awards: Airing live for the first time ever, this year’s annual celebration of both people of color and proponents of diversity in the arts and entertainment fields features musician-actor LL Cool J as host. The deserving special honorees are CNN journalist Soledad O’Brien, Irish musician Bono of the rock band U2, and actor-comedian Bill Cosby. [Fox/8:00]
• The Bourne Supremacy: Matt Damon returns for another round of high-octane adventures playing the once-again-framed but no-longer-amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne. The only thing that could make this better is if for once a network aired the original installment, The Bourne Identity, before the sequel for a thrilling double feature. [TNT/8:00 & 10:00]
• Monk—MR. MONK GOES TO THE HOSPITAL: Poor Adrian! It’s the fifth-season finale and instead of celebrating, he’s in the hospital with a bloody bloody nose. Maybe guest stars Dan Butler (Bulldog on Frasier) and Charles Durning (Big Daddy Gavin on Rescue Me) can help liven things up. [USA/9:00]
• Psych—SCARY SHERRY 2: BIANCA’S TOAST: Ohhh—nice title! The freshman hit’s first season closes with a spooky tale co-written by lead actor James Roday and directed by John Landis (An American Werewolf in London) that revolves around mental institutions, sororities, and the ghosts that haunt them. Can’t wait. [USA/10:00]

All times are PM and EST/Eastern Standard Time
Anna Nicole Smith photo courtesy of United Press International

All is not totally lost, however, since Fab Five interior decorator Thom Filicia has already scored a new half-hour design reality series on the Style Network. The show, Dress My Nest, premieres on March 28, and it will feature Filicia analyzing participants’ wardrobe fashion sense to mete out his customary sage suggestions on making one’s home a better and more personalized place to live.

Fans of Project Runway, Bravo’s other popular, Emmy-nominated fashion reality series (Queer Eye actually won for Outstanding Reality Program in 2004), have reason to get excited, as well. That show’s resident fashion wizard, Tim Gunn, has his own freshman series to look forward to later this year when the basic-cable station premieres Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, which will flow from his book, Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style, to be published this May. Viewers will have the opportunity to witness Gunn, the Chair of the Department of Fashion Design at New York’s venerable Parsons The New School for Design, deliver his excellent design advice as he counsels participants on relevant issues. Fashionista wannabes and gonnabes, mark your calendars.

Queer Eye and Thom Filicia photos courtesy of Bravo
Tim Gunn photo courtesy of Dara Kushner/Ingoff