As a Cougar Town fan, I’ve been looking forward to this episode ever since they showed the promo on premiere night. While it was great to see some of my favorite actors and creator Bill Lawrence at the judges’ table, I was also happy to see a too-often-criticized contestant go home this week.
But before the contestants went to Cougar Town, previous winner Melissa d’Arabian told the top eleven that they’d have to make hors d’œuvres using Kellogg products. (I’d say “shameless sponsor promotion alert,” but I think I have to accept that these camera challenges are more or less half-hour commercials.) Melissa then introduced Iron Chef Michael Symon, who would also be on the judging panel for this challenge. This challenge was relatively uneventful, except for Melissa’s creepy facial expressions when the contestants presented their dishes.
Jyll won the challenge again. I didn’t think her presentation was anything special, but I think she won more because everyone else stunk. Even Jeff messed up a joke, so bottom two were Jeff and consistently monotone Justin B. Of course they showed a clip of Jeff in the house worrying about his place in the competition after his first stumble, but please, he’ll definitely make at least top five. In fact he’s the only guy who I think could possibly end up winning, or at least getting his own show on Cooking Channel (that seems to be the consolation prize these days).
Then Busy Phillips and Bill Lawrence told the contestants they’d be cooking lunch for the cast and crew of Cougar Town. While my inner fangirl squealed (Bill Lawrence also created Scrubs, by the way), I shook my head at Chris’ “Hollywood-type peeps” comment, and rolled my eyes when he kept bringing up cougars. And I questioned if Penny’s even watched the show when she loves it because she’s a cougar, so she can relate. FYI, the show is not about cougars, hasn’t been since the middle of the first season. Now Cougar Town is more like Friends, except the group of friends is ten years older and they all drink tons of red wine.
Anyway, the contestants were divided into groups again, this time four pairs and one group of three. They had to shop the day before, then serve lunch buffet-style to general crew, and present their dishes personally to the cast, Bill Lawrence, Paula Deen, and the usual judges.
Whitney, Susie and Justin D.: Both Whitney and Justin D. were boring compared to Susie’s bubbly personality, and their food didn’t impress. Justin D. will probably go home soon if he doesn’t figure out a way to make himself memorable, other than his “sexy Harry Potter” appearance.
Vic and Jyll.: Not much to say here. Vic made a great dish for the Star Challenge and didn’t stumble at all this episode, so maybe he’ll be around for a little while more. While personally I kept saying he was going home soon, now I’d say he’s safe for another few episodes as long as he makes good food and doesn’t mess up his presentations.
Jeff and Justin B.: Presenting together, they couldn’t have been more opposite. Jeff charmed everyone by persuading them to try his unpopular but delicious tofu. Jeff B. sounded more like a waiter, and his dish was bland.
Penny and Mary Beth: As usual, Penny tried to create drama by saying she didn’t like “square” Mary Beth. Annoying, since they were on the same team and she could’ve at least tried to have an open mind. In the end, Penny burnt her mac and cheese, but everyone raved about Mary Beth’s twist on meat loaf. Though her “pork” joke made me cringe a little (the judges/Cougar Town crew loved it), her meat loaf sounded so good I actually want to look it up online and make it myself.
Orchid and Chris: I thought it was adorable how Orchid “tamed” Chris instead of getting annoyed with him. Makes me wonder if she ever considered being a kindergarten teacher. She and Chris should team up every chance they get, for both their sakes – Orchid showed a lot more personality in elimination.
On Justin B.’s elimination: Not surprised, had a feeling he would be sent home. Sure, Justin D. is forgettable and Penny is…Penny (who might have been sent home this week because of her awful mac and cheese). But, as made clear during elimination, Justin B. didn’t think he needed to improve as long as his food was good. Why bother keeping him around if he didn’t plan on changing? His “whatever, I can cook” line says it all.
