They've definitely improved on these early episodes... less sap, more focus on cooking good food. Now that we're getting into the thick of things, it'll be interesting to see who gets their shoulder tapped tonight.

This show is so manipulative that it's impossible to take seriously. The funny thing is that they don't even try to hide it. I've never watched American Idol past the first season, but I assume that MasterChef takes a lot of tips from that show. Just based on the format alone with the snarky judges and the cameras following people home with their cheesy storylines.

With that said, I'm a sheep for food-based competition shows, so I'll continue to watch this. The best part of last season was when they tossed out most of the sob story contestants so quickly in the basis skills competition. I'm sure that's why they let through some of those really, really awkward people. Give them a few days of happiness and then see ya.

I watched the 1st show and nixed the other 2 of selection as they are pretty much the same. But, chopping apples and cooking chickens was interesting. I'll most likely tune in next week.

Just finished the Top 18 selection show.

The opening challenge with the contestants slicing apples was insane. They should have set a time limit. To have some of the contestants slice apples non-stop for almost 2 hours is nuts.

I like the quirky Asian guy Alvin and I also like the Indian girl Suzy. Not that the pool is narrowed down it's going to be a little easier to get to know the contestants. I already can't stand the gay travel writer who wears the chef hat.

at every time Joe samples the food. He sticks to the same formula every time.

Sad to see the trucker who made the gator stew go

The tall blonde guy, Max??, looks like he's going to be a complete douche.

I want the 18 year old preppy gone and I want him gone now.

Rich douche. Ramsey should ask him to make a simple pizza and watch him try to "uptown" it up so much he gets kicked out of the competition.

Already he is calling one of the girls arrogant. He's the one that comes off as an arrogant douche. He seems to be the "Lee" this year.

So did any of you watch this weeks episodes?

I know Tony wasn't a great cook and his raviolis weren't good, but between him and Esther, who didn't even know what she put in her filling, she should have gone home. I also thought Jennifer should have gone home too. I'm not too familiar with the taste of nutmeg, Is it really horrible and not good for pasta?

I did think Tony screwed by Max during the cafeteria challenge. They lost 26 burgers because that little shit dumped them all on a dirty cookie sheets. His burgers still beat Suzy's lasagna, but still.

Max is so arrogant. He was really getting on my nerves during his testimonials.

I don't have a clear cut favorite right now, but I kind of like Giuseppe. I like his low key personality. Suzy seems like a pretty decent cook too.

I did.

I like Christian for the win, and the scowl on his face when Max picked him was priceless.

I also enjoyed the Italian guy's comment when he was cooking the pizza, "You ever cook pizza for 300 people? Me neither."

The editing certainly makes Max come off looking like he has the attitude where everyone is to blame but himself. And his comments stating that they would have been better off with the sliders after the dirty tray setback made no sense. Sure, sliders are smaller, but that doesn't mean that you'd lose less meat when you put them on a dirty tray, you'd lose the same since you'd fit more on the tray. It's not like if 26 normal sized patties fit, you'd only put that many sliders on it. Also, even though Max kept bitching about how they should have gone with them, the sliders would have still been a bad idea as you'd need to dish out 2 to 3 per person, and that, coupled with all the excess work it'd take to cut the buns would have made for a lot of wasted time and room for error (much harder to make them to order as far as how the diners wanted them cooked and such).

I like the show, but I can't stand these shots of people almost crying and freaking out when they're not even the ones cooking.

Esther isn't gonna last very long. I really don't mind Max. The one who gets on my nerves is Suzy. What the heck is a neural engineer anyways?

MasterChef called out for fake crowd scene: http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/06/22/ma...wd-shot-photo/

Haha. Doesn't surprise me one bit.

Max sounds like a mini Donald Trump. He's a charmed douche, yes, but he also has some skills, apparently. He'll stick around for a while, but he won't win.

Anybody else see this?

http://www.avclub.com/articles/foxs-...n-hilar,57984/

Uh, I saw it a couple posts above yours...

I don't mind Suzy at all. She seems like a smart girl who knows how to cook very well. In a way she kind of reminds me of the Indian girl from last season who made it to the final 4.

As for that fake crowd shot. Whatever...I think someone in the editing room got lazy and thought the viewers wouldn't notice.

Exactly. I don't think Gordon was in the editing room demanding more people.

Easier solution would have just been to have Graham stand out in the crowd for a second.

So I was googling some of the contestants, and googled Christine Corley, and found this link - looks like she was arrested in 2001 and has her mug shot up, heh.

http://florida.arrests.org/Arrests/C...orley_3472284/

Last night was good. I still get nauseous anytime Graham eats something, but they've been doing a good job of keeping the show interesting. I'm sure everyone here who watches LOVED seeing Max get shut down big time with his dessert.

I'm so glad that skid mark went home.

Google Tracey and tell me what you find. She's by far the best looking on the show.

Really good 2 episodes this week.

I liked Alvin and was surprised how badly he tanked in the 1st episode. I think this was a case where he went a little too crazy with his cooking style.

Was quite surprised that the judges kept Christine over the Prodigal son Max. They were pretty neck to neck as far as the coloration of their meats went, but I thought Max was stronger. I hated Christine's attitude while she was making the meats. I was impressed with her in the 1st episode when she managed to create the mousse so fast.

at Esther hiding like a little mouse after she threw them under the bus.

at judges calling Max's dessert in the 1st episode disgusting.

I think they were scared of what Christine would do if they cut her. There were knives within arm's reach!