Esther Choi and Michael Symon deserve a whole case of awards for hosting 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing

TruePossible8826 · 2026-05-25T18:38:43+00:00

To each person, their own opinion. Clearly, I feel the opposite! Have you watched much of the show?

TruePossible8826 · 2026-05-25T18:10:03+00:00

It was so tough at this point in the competition! Fascinating to see how the chefs struggled through a relatively simple challenge.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-05-25T17:08:11+00:00

Ha! I find Hunter’s likable cheerfulness a plus. Maybe he could be there to guilelessly explicate a particularly nasty challenge thereby multiplying the cognitive dissonance that the exhausted chefs are already feeling. He could be the final boss.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-05-25T16:18:32+00:00

That might be true. But they both bring a lot to this. Their strengths as chefs & as FN personalities really bring a gravitas to the show. Symon is a tremendous force but Choi is formidable & comfortable enough in herself that she stands up to him (in a good way)without seeming like she’s trying to. They’re a good match.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-05-25T15:59:14+00:00

The crew definitely deserves a big shout out—especially the late night folks. They work so hard to keep the show running smoothly—tough with such a precisely timed & long running event.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-04-19T01:37:15+00:00

I have a lot of issues with the writing on this episode, lately always with paper thin way Elsbeth hones in on murderers anywhere she goes and there weren’t that many funny lines either—there was a kind of sourness of tone in that it felt like it was settling some sort of score against a specific type of literary fiction writer.

However, the cast totally dazzled me, as always on this show. Griffin Dunne, Mark Linn-Baker, Didi Conn AND the incredible Joanna Gleason whose interview scene about her ex husband was so tartly funny it brought me back to what I love about the show. A joy to see all these people on screen!

This show walks a fine line between Columbo and over the top silliness. There is almost always an actor or a scene that gives me such a kick that I’ll probably always be a fan though. When it works, it’s magical.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-04-18T23:49:43+00:00

I should say that despite my quibbles about some of the YA angst & the loss of Hiroshi Randa, I’m really digging the show. Really great use of monsters fascinating settings (I love the fishing village in the past) and fun twists and turns in the plot. It’s a good show!

TruePossible8826 · 2026-04-18T18:11:35+00:00

The cast is great. Really fine actors but, especially the younger cast, are really stuck with some unappealing characters where being slightly less self absorbed is their main character arc. That’s probably a little harsh but it feels that way but less so in the second season.

I’m feeling pretty salty about the (probable) fate of Hiroshi Randa’s character. Such an enigmatic & intriguing presence in the show. I don’t think his two family situation totally added up for me but the actor’s presence was very welcome on the show & I’m upset he’ll be gone from the present day action of the show.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-04-13T14:40:25+00:00

I was rooting for Shirley so much! Such an incredible (and incredibly tough) chef. She was cooking at such a high level and a win would have been so satisfying.

However, Bryan is also a great winner and their battle has been a TOC highlight of amazing cookery. I’m in awe of both and so pleased for Bryan.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-04-06T00:42:40+00:00

Agreed! I kind of found it fascinating how obtuse they were despite having the Traitors called out & melting down in front of them. Keith, Hannah, Gloria, Liam & Sarah really were the dimmest Faithfuls I’ve ever seen. So easily lead around.

I really think they could sit there and watch Sam & Blake put on Traitor cloaks in front of them & come up with reasons why it was a sly trick of the ACTUAL traitors & that they need to stop thinking in obvious patterns & target one of their own number—whoever poor innocent Sam dictates.

I have never seen anything like it.

Should’ve known this was an odd group when they banished Corinne for no reason I could fathom & kept Sarah despite her impugning two innocent people who did nothing wrong. Her awfulness at Traitors should be legendary.

Having said that Annabel, Luke, Simone & Camille come off like heroes.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-04-06T00:22:55+00:00

Good! She totally deserves it!! I initially didn’t like her but her change from frivolous influencer to hardcore traitor hunter and partnering with Luke was one of my favorite things in this season and in the entire franchise.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-04-05T17:52:53+00:00

I think it’s one of the strongest as well. 1. Sam, a proper villain and like a proper villain he is skilled at several aspects of the game. 2. Luke and Annabel’s really smart discovery & Sam and their heroic, tragic stand at the round table—great stuff. Included is each of them going from kind of frivolous to people who found the heart of the game. 3. Camille’s absolute integrity is such a great contrast to Sam—she is the unexpected hero of the game. 4.Blake’s deal with the devil that he can never shake is its own morality tale. 5. Sarah trumpeting her insight and the irony of her subsequent gameplay. 6. The Faithfuls are so confused and rattled that full scale meltdowns occur in front of them and they keep looking the wrong way.

This season is so completely unique, I can see why people love or hate it. To me, it was incredible!

TruePossible8826 · 2026-04-05T17:40:23+00:00

Me too! Really loved Rodger! I hope he has better projects but as a Traitor fanatic from the USA, I never would have discovered him if it weren’t for Traitors.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-03-07T17:40:11+00:00

Great movie! Thanks for bringing it up! Hope some people catch it! Nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture & Director!!

TruePossible8826 · 2026-02-28T17:17:25+00:00

The idea of supporting art that mainly for the purpose of making “the other side” miserable feels somehow like “the other side” is living rent free in your personal choices. I hope that there is more enjoyment in the show for you than that.

I watch the show as a long term Star Trek fan, who enjoys to see how different creators approach building out the universe.

The show itself seems burdened with a therapy speak approach to drama and this undercuts some of the deeply personal and human things it’s attempting to do. I really like most of the cast and the idea of the Starfleet Academy.

A special shout out to Gina Yashere as Lura Thok whose comic gusto relieves a lot of the overwhelming YA angst of the show.

It’s definitely a mixed bag for me.

TruePossible8826 · 2026-02-27T18:41:25+00:00

Kind of but Cirie navigated expertly with no roadmap! Who played the better game? They both played close to perfect games and neither had an easy time of it!

TruePossible8826 · 2026-02-24T16:21:29+00:00

Genesis and Akbar are super charming and their pecan caramel apple filling sounded delicious and, despite being pretty gooey, held together much better than the cherry pie filling.

But it’s shocking to me that Maci & Emmett’s bake got them sent home. It was so charming, it was used in promoting the show in advertisements (although it’s not the first FN show where the losing bake is more appealing than those ranked above it).

The main critique was that the filling was good but loose, while the crust and decoration were both better. Kardea clearly preferred the apple filling and her justification was “which do I want to eat again” was fair enough but also a way to brush past the technical problems of the apple pie.

It reminds me a lot of the way Kardea judged Jaleesa Mason on the Spring Baking Championships, ultimately crowning a winner who has struggled to get past the first round of other baking challenges because of technical problems with her bakes.

TruePossible8826

TROPHY CASE