A Reality Check With ... Ashlee Langas & Ricky Palomino (FOX'S "So You Think You Can Dance")

Last night's first live elimination of season 3's "So You Think You Can Dance" ended the journey for contemporary dancers Ashlee Langas & Ricky Palomino. Named two of Mia Michael's favorite dancers, their time on the show was cut short after their performance of the Argentine Tango. The dancers sit down with RealityCheckByGina to talk about their time on the show & what the future holds for them.

RC: Can you each tell me a little bit about your dance background?

Ashlee: I started dancing the typical situation – when I was 2, my mom put me in tap & ballet. I started getting more serious competing as I got older.

Ricky: I was trained very unconventially. I had 3 simultaneous mentors starting when I was 16.

RC: Ashlee, does it frustrate you when someone advances without as much training?
Ashlee: I don’t think I’m frustrated because I’m so blessed to even be classified with that group of people. I think I had a lot more to learn just from the show & all the choreographers.

RC: Ricky, you started late in life. What peaked your interest about dance when

you were a teenager?
Ricky: It was just an innate thing. I was almost a mover & once I got with my first mentor, it came so naturally. I just went right through it. When I took my first class in high school, I didn’t know what a plie or tondue was. But once I was talked through it, it was like I already knew. I was lucky to have the unconvential path.

RC: Was this your first year trying out for So You Think You Can Dance? What was the experience like?
Ashlee: Yes, it was. It just seemed to work & I was never thinking, “I don’t feel good about myself.” There were definitely moments I had to lift myself back up but the judges liked me all the way through.

Ricky: Yes, it was. I had lots of success on the way through & enjoyed every minute of it. The most frustrating part was the waiting.

RC: What is the rehearsal process like for the first episode?
Ashlee: We had a few practices with the choreographer learning & perfecting the dance. It was pretty strenuous! They expect a lot out of you which is good because otherwise, there would be no challenge & no growth.

Ricky: The rehearsal process isn’t that long. To learn one piece, you get three hours one day, two hours the next, and one hour the last day which is the day you perform.

RC: Mia Michaels gave you both very high praises during the audition process – she must be devastated you’re gone. Did you talk to her last night?
Ashlee: I did! I was thinking, “I’m not going to cry or anything” But when I saw her, that’s when I broke down. It was very upsetting that I wouldn't have the opportunity to work with her.

Ricky: I did, I did. She was devastated and I was too because I didn’t get the opportunity to actually work a piece with her. I think together we would’ve created some crazy, amazing movement. I said goodbye to everyone, the producers, and she was the very last person. When I talked to her, I lost it. I shed a couple of tears, I’ll admit it.

RC: Nigel felt it was perhaps bad luck that you drew the Argentine Tango first. Were you worried when you were given that dance?

Ashlee: I really wasn’t worried and I fell in love with it immediately. It’s totally different than anything else I’ve done. I was nervous learning it but we felt really good right before we performed it.

Ricky: We felt so good about it, I thought they’d take into consideration the height difference since they paired us up together. We felt we pulled it off, we were in line, but it wasn’t enough.

RC: Do you feel that people like Faina, Danny, and Lacey have an advantage since they have family ties to previous contestants?

Ashlee: I don’t really think they have an advantage. I think maybe it gives them a little more of an interesting story but it’s not an advantage with the judges.

Ricky: Absolutely! It’s just an inheritance of fans & viewers.

RC: I saw many season 2 contestants in the crowd this week. Did you get a chance to talk to them?
Ashlee: Yeah, a little bit. I knew Jason from last season (we took lessons at the same studio) and he started right after I left so we had never formally been introduced. It was great to finally meet him & be in the same shoes as him. Last night, I met Benji & he was really nice!

Ricky: Yeah, we conversed & got to meet. They were nice & humble kids.

RC: What dancers in the competition really impress you?

Ashlee: Oh my gosh, there’s just so many of them. They did an amazing job casting the show. Everybody is just phenomenal.

Ricky: All of them! They’re all so crazy! The top 20 should be the touring company, that would be an amazing show.

RC: Will we see you on any of the future episodes?
Ashlee: We’ll be able to come back to any of the shows we want to so I’m planning on coming back to watch!
Ricky: Oh absolutely! I’ll be there for some tapings & to watch as well.

RC: What are your plans now that you’re out of the competition?

Ashlee: Only the Top 10 tour so unfortunately I will not be able to be a part of that but I am planning on staying here in L.A. & getting an agent, continuing to dance, and maybe even modeling.

Ricky: I’m super busy! I’m getting signed with a dance agency, I have nationals in Vegas in a month, and I’m releasing my 2nd recording album on ITunes in September.

An all new episode of So You Think You Can Dance airs Wednesday night on FOX with the live results show airing on Thursday.

Get your dancing links on sirlinksalot.net.

A Reality Check With ... Alexis Shubin (CBS's "Pirate Master")

Alexis Shubin was born in Fountain Valley, CA, and raised primarily in Laguna Hills, in South Orange County. While in high school, she was on the swim team and played water polo for four years. She then received her bachelor's degree in Communications/English from the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she was also an All-American water polo player. Alexis previously worked as an assistant editor for Lemonade magazine, Lucky magazine and Harper's Bazaar magazine. Her no-holds-barred attitude got her cut adrift on last night's Pirate Master & she sits down with RealityCheckByGina to tell it like it is.

RC: What drew you to the show Pirate Master?
Alexis: Casting kind of found me, I didn’t try out for the show. It was almost too perfect. I’ve always kind of been a little bit of the bad guy, I had a reputation. For me, I had a fascination with pirates & it seemed too perfect to turn down! I’m 26 & to go live in the Caribbean for 2 months ... it was great.

RC: Was the show physically more challenging that you anticipated?
Alexis: Yeah, I think it was, for sure. We didn’t really know what to expect. They gave us a heads up that it would be physical but I think that all any of us had to refer to was Survivor where their challenges were a lot more stationary.

RC: It seemed there would be a shift when Azmyth replaced Joe Don as captain. Did you feel a positive change once Azmyth took over?

Alexis: Yeah, I think everybody exhaled a little bit. Nobody liked Joe Don at that point - he was completely non-verbal with us. He would just stand up there & watch us & not do anything. There was a huge division. I think everybody gave a sigh of relief that the reign of terror was over.

RC: Why do people act so strange when they become captain? Are they told to do that or do they just act bizarre all on their own?

Alexis: Joe Don was just playing the part because he’s actually way cooler than that. Azmyth is such a drama queen & performer … the accent & the whole thing … he just wanted to be the good guy pirate.

RC: Did you think that you would receive a black spot on last night’s episode?
Alexis: I was expecting it completely. People would be like, “Let’s clean the heads” & I’d be like, “I want a suntan!” The last few days on the ship were hard & I got super cranky. You really can’t get away from anyone & have a minute. My attitude certainly changed the last few days.

RC: I like that at pirates court last night you said that you just are who you are: take it or leave it. Did you find people to be fake on the ship?

Alexis: Yeah, I think a lot of the people going into it had a bigger plan & a bigger agenda. There were musicians & actors & actresses. I think in the beginning, people were being extremely politically correct. I wasn’t trying to protect myself on the ship. I was just like, “This is me & this is what I think about you & that’s how it is.” The crew had a lot more respect for me & appreciated that. I thought I’d end up being the bitch but Cheryl ended up really being the bitch. I was just abrasive & didn’t hold back.

RC: Do you read what people on the websites & blogs say about you?

Alexis: You know, I have run across a few things. It’s funny … going into the show, my friends said, “Are you going to care what people say about you?” I’m used to people reacting to me. There’s been some blogs from people I went to college with like 7 years ago of people saying things & I’m like, “Woah, I’m sorry, who are you?” That upset me, I felt like Paris Hilton all of a sudden. I wasn’t expecting personal attacks from people I supposedly knew back in the day. I was upset for a minute & then I was like, “Do I really care?”

RC: Did you make friends while you were on the show?

Alexis: There’s people you click with & people that you don’t. At the end of the day, I was fairly close with everyone. I’m friends with Joy & Sean. It’s weird getting to know them in that environment & then, off camera. It’s a different interaction & more authentic.

RC: What was the toughest part of being on the ship?
Alexis: I think just the circumstances, it got really smothering. You couldn’t run away, have a moment, or feel like you weren't on camera. But it is what it is & it took some getting used to.

RC: When you’re cut adrift, does someone row out there & come get you afterwards?
Alexis: That’s the magic of tv! There’s all kinds of stuff that would blow your mind.

RC: What are you up to now?
Alexis: I’m back in Laguna. It took me a while to get adjusted. I wasn’t prepared for how hard of an adjustment it would be. I’m getting back to life, work, friends & family.

Pirate Master airs Thursday nights on CBS at 8pm EST

Get your Pirate Master links, matey, at sirlinksalot.net

Pirate Master: An End To The Reign Of Terror (6/14/07)

When we last left the pirates, Christian was cut adrift and now, his pal Louie is out for revenge. Will he be able to pull off a mutiny on Joe Don? If Louie has his way, JD will be following in Christian’s footsteps. The ladies, however, don’t seem too concerned with strategizing. Jupiter spends the morning putting makeup on all the pirates. After the fun (and the work), the pirates set sail for their next expedition.

For their next competition, the pirates will once again split into crews. The black crew is comprised of: Joe Don, Cheryl, Ben, Sean, Joy, Alexis, & Laurel. Opposing them, on the red crew, will be Kendra, Jupiter, Christa, Nessa, Azmyth, Louie, and Jay. The pirates must paddle to shore where they follow a trail and have the opportunity to sabotage the other crew. The red crew, led by Azmyth, arrived at the top of the trail first and, of course, took the opportunity to sabotage.

The red team’s attempt didn’t hold the black crew off for long & they are neck and neck as they approach a river which will lead them to the treasure. Both teams search the water for the skull that will give them the key to the treasure. Lo & behold, Louie pops out of the water with the key & the red crew enjoys their first victory. This spells trouble for the black crew, especially Joe Don. A new captain must now be chosen & Louie couldn’t be happier. Cheryl, Ben, & Joe Don must clean out their rooms and bunk with the rest of the pirates.
Azmyth is unanimously voted the new captain of the ship and he chooses Jupiter & Jay as his officers. He surprisingly took his share of the win instead of splitting it among the pirates. However, he suggests giving more money to the pirates & begins speaking in a fake English accent. Jay seems ready to commit Azymyth to the loony bin! The captain & his two officers also must decide which pirates they’ll mark with a black spot for elimination. Alexis, Cheryl, and Laurel all find black spots on their notes – what? No Joe Don?! Silly pirates…

At pirates court, host Cameron Daddo calls out Azmyth on his fake accent & I couldn’t be happier. Somebody had to call him out to his face. Alexis has been marked because of her bad attitude, Laurel is marked for flying under the radar, and Cheryl receives a black spot for not attempting to fit in with the rest of the crew. Laurel is safe but a tie ensues between Alexis & Cheryl. This means, as captain, Azmyth must decide who will leave & he cuts Alexis adrift for her weak physical performance throughout this game.

More drama ensues on the high seas as a new episode of Pirate Master airs next Thursday at 8pm EST on CBS.

Get your Pirate Master links, matey, at sirlinksalot.net!

Top Chef: No Love For The South (6/13/07)

Top Chef returned last night with its 3rd installment, a new city, and 15 new chefs. Everyone has their eye on the prize: a feature in Food & Wine magazine, a showcase at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, a trip to the French Alps, and of course, $100,000 to help make their dream of opening their own restaurant a reality. This season promises to be bigger & better with the best chefs we’ve seen yet!

The chefs arrive at Casa Casuarina, Miami Beach’s historic mansion, for a meet-and-greet buffet complete with champagne. Padma & Tom stop by to greet the chefs but it’s not just pleasure, it’s business too. Their first quickfire challenge starts right here, right now. The chefs must use what is remaining on the table to create an amuse bouche, which is a dish that comes first & sets the tone for the entire meal. The only utensils they were allowed to use were the plastic ones set out for the buffet. Tom gets right to business judging & deems the least favorites: Dale, Clay, & Tre. On the other hand, the 3 favorites were: Micah, Sara, & Hung. Micah’s “Tuscan Sushi Revisited” dish earns her the win & she has immunity from elimination.

The chefs arrive at the elimination challenge to find a table full of unusual proteins laid out before them. They must use these ingredients to create a surf & turf entrée & show that they can stand out in a crowd. The chefs draw knives to determine the order in which they will choose their protein. They are allotted 30 minutes & $30 to buy the rest of their ingredients as well as 2 hours to prep & cook their entree. Anthony Bourdain will serve as the special guest judge on this elimination challenge.

The contestants are split into 2 groups of 8. The first group will prep, cook, and present to the judges followed by the second group. In the first group, Howie commits a huge error by not getting his frogs legs on the plate in time – he serves an incomplete dish. Dale makes his own mistake in the second group, choosing ingredients he’s never even tasted! At the judges’ table, Hung & Tre are called in as the strongest chefs in this challenge. The winner of the first elimination challenge is Tre, thanks to his superb dish: ostrich fillet with tomato risotto & abalone sauce.

The judges then call in Howie, Brian, Clay, and Dale as the weaker performers. The judges felt that southern chef Clay overcooked his wild boar & made stuffing that they found inedible. However, their main problem was his constant excuses for his sub-par dish & in the end, he was asked to pack up his knives & go.

A new episode of Top Chef will air on Bravo Wednesday night at 10pm EST

Get your Top Chef links served up on sirlinksalot.net

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 20 (6/13/07)

The time has come, the auditions are over, and now it’s time for the top 20 dances to hit the stage & compete for your votes. Tonight is the night that So You Think You Can Dance kicks into high gear & I couldn’t be more excited. The 20 dancers will be judged by Nigel, Mary, and hip hop/pop choreographer, Dan Karaty. All dancers have been paired up to perform a particular style of dance. Tomorrow night, the dancers with the lower number of votes will have to dance for the life & the judges will decide who’s going home. Let’s break down tonight’s dancers:

Jaimie/Hok – Hip Hop choreographed by Shane Sparks: Hok outshines contemporary dancer Jaimie in this piece but she gives it her all. After all, this is what Hok does best! Dan felt the dancers put out a good effort, Mary wanted it to be a little tighter, and Nigel felt Hok was brilliant & also felt Jaimie did keep up with Hok. To vote for Jaimie & Hok, call 1-888-TEMPO-01.

Anya/Danny – Jive choreographed by Tony Meredith: The song that is chosen for them (“Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne) does not go with the jive but they make it work as they are both superb dancers. Dan said it looked effortless, Mary was practically speechless (but unfortunately, not completely), and Nigel felt it was tremendous. To vote for Anya & Danny, call 1-888-TEMPO-02.

Lacey & Kameron – Contemporary choreographed by Mia Michaels: While this is Kameron’s forte, Lacey ventures into a new genre of dance with this piece. It is passionately danced by the duo & they pull it off with flying colors. Dan felt Lacey understood all of Mia’s vision but that Kameron was a prop for Lacey, Mary felt the hair stand up on her arm, and Nigel agrees with Dan in that Lacey was the star of the routine. To vote for Lacey & Kameron, call 1-888-TEMPO-03.

Sabra/Dominic – Disco choreographed by Doriana Sanchez: I don’t necessarily feel that disco shows off what a dancer can do nor do I feel that dancers have fared well after performing disco on the show in previous seasons. Dan didn’t think it was so great, Mary felt impressed that a b-boy danced disco so well & thought Sabra shined, and Nigel defends Domimic from Dan saying what a great job he did considering it was his first time with a partner. To vote for Sabra & Dominic, call 1-888-TEMPO-04.

Ashlee/Ricky – Argentine Tango choreographed by Alex Da Silva: I’m not sure if it’s the choreography or the dancers but the number doesn’t do it for me. There wasn’t much chemistry between the two. Dan agrees, saying the dance is supposed to be sexy & it wasn’t, Mary sides with Dan but compliments Ricky’s partnering skills, and Nigel wasn’t sure who was leading who. To vote for Ashlee & Ricky, call 1-888-TEMPO-05.

Sara/Jesus – Pop/Jazz choreographed by Wade Robson: Wade has choreographed quite a unique piece for the duo! Dan felt the piece is an automatic standout, Mary called it spectacular, and Nigel raved about their performance. To vote for Sara & Jesus, call 1-888-TEMPO-06.

Jessi/Pasha – Smooth Waltz choreographed by Tony Meredith: The piece is beautifully danced by the hip hop dancer & Latin ballroom dancer as they float across the dance floor. Dan calls them the prom king & queen, Mary felt it was classy & elegant, and Nigel enjoyed the dance. To vote for Jessi & Pasha, call 1-888-TEMPO-07.

Faina/Cedric – Hip Hop choreographed by Shane Sparks: Faina is quite out of her element as Cedric feels right at home. It doesn’t seem either pulled off Shane’s vision. Dan didn’t feel the two were vibing off each other but complimented Cedric, Mary thought Faina did well considering how out of her comfort zone the dance was, and Nigel agrees with Dan that the two didn’t gel together. To vote for Faina & Cedric, call 1-888-TEMPO-08.

Lauren/Neil – Salsa choreographed by Alex Da Silva: Though they run into a few tricky spots, the pair looks like they’re having a great time together. They bring forth an entertaining routine, pleasing the crowd. The dance doesn’t fare as well with the judges – Dan didn’t feel the chemistry and the news doesn’t get better with Mary. She felt Neil was more like a cheerleader and lacked fire and Nigel wanted Neil to get down & dirty. To vote for Lauren & Neil, call 1-888-TEMPO-09.

Shauna/Neil - Broadway choreographed by Tyce Diorio: Though the degree of difficulty is not too tough, the dancers give an energetic performance. However, it's not the most impressive piece of the night. Dan feels Jimmy outperformed Shauna, Mary thought it was a great performance, and Nigel was not impressed with the end product. To vote for Shauna & Neil, call 1-888-TEMPO-10.

Check out the live results of So You Think You Can Dance tomorrow at 9pm EST

Get all the dance links you can keep up with at sirlinksalot.net.

A Reality Check With ... Ant (NBC's "Last Comic Standing")

NBC's Last Comic Standing returns tonight with an all new season. Season 4 brings a lot of changes - a new host and the addition of 3 new scouts: Alonzo Bodden, Kathleen Madigan, and Ant. Ant takes the time to sit down with RealityCheckByGina to dish about the perks of fame & why he's most proud of this season of Last Comic Standing.

RC: How long have you been doing standup & what was your first gig?
Ant: I started in 1994. My first gig was being called up on stage drunk at the Improv because I was heckling. The comic said, “If you think you can do a better job, go ahead.” I did & I did!

RC: What stand up comedians have influenced you?
Ant: I love Whoopi Goldberg, I think she’s the whole reason why I really drove into it. Don Rickles, Kat Williams, Wanda Sykes, Ellen DeGeneres, Kathleen Madigan – they’re all big influences.

RC: Your life has changed since first appearing on “Last Comic Standing”. What are some of the highlights?
Ant: Being invited to Madonna’s parties because that’s pretty cool … oh, and the free clothes!

RC: Would you rather be a contestant or a scout on “Last Comic Standing”?
Ant: I’d like to stay as a scout because I really am having a great time sitting on the other side of the table. The pressure is off of me & I get to see what it was like. I was scared to death when I was a contestant!

RC: What changes have been made to the format this season?
Ant: Oh huge changes, Gina! We’re practically a brand new show. Anthony Clark is out, thank god! He was terrible. Bill Bellamy is in – he’s a genuinely funny person & he really gets it. We also broadened our search worldwide this year. I'm really proud of this season.

RC: Which brings me to my next question – what cities did you visit to find the best comics?
Ant: We went to Sydney, London, Montreal, and, of course, major stops here in the United States. Funny is funny so no matter where you’re from, it translates. Some of the comics who weren’t seasoned didn’t get that you can’t use regional humor. You need to use more broad based humor. The really seasoned comics came prepared.

RC: Did you have to sit through a lot of bad comedians who don’t know they’re not funny?
Ant: Hundreds of thousands it seemed like! That’s my favorite part of the show is the train wrecks. We’ll let them go on & on because it’s hilarious. That’s what makes the show really work – you’re laughing at the train wrecks & you’re laughing at the funny comics too.

RC: Do you get to get out on the road often?
Ant: I try and tour as much as I can! I’m in Florida next week but I’m really picky about what I’ll do now because my free time is so limited. I maybe get one day a month to myself.

RC: You have a CD & a DVD out, tell me about them.
Ant: My DVD I’m really thrilled about it’s called “Ant: America’s Ready” you can buy it at Amazon, Target, or wherever. You’ll learn a lot about me that you won’t get to see on national television. You’ll see it raw which is the way comedy should be, not run through a filter.

RC: You always seem to be busy with new projects – anything in the future we should look out for?
Ant: Yeah, actually, I just shot a pilot regarding celebrities & magic. It just got picked up! You can look for it probably in early 2008.

RC: Any final words?
Ant: Yeah, everyone should go to my MySpace page. People can comment me & let me know what they think of the new season!

An all new season of Last Comic Standing kicks off tonight at 9pm EST on NBC!

Get your Last Comic Standing links at sirlinksalot.net.

A Reality Check With ... Gail Simmons (Bravo's "Top Chef")

Tonight's supersized premiere of Bravo's Top Chef 3 (10:00-11:15pm EST) brings back our favorite judges as well as a new face. We spoke to Ted Allen (from Bravo's "Queer Eye") last week about being the newest judge. Now, one of our familiar faces, Gail Simmons, sits down with RealityCheckByGina to dish on the newest season of Bravo's hit show.

RC: When did your interest in food begin?
Gail: My mother was a cooking teacher & a food writer. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen when I was younger & it was something I was passionate about. It never occurred to me that I could have a career in this. I never really thought I could do this for a living. When I was in college, I started writing restaurant reviews for my school paper. I thought to myself, “There’s something fun here!”

RC: How does someone go from just having an interest in food to being an expert in the field?
Gail: You do a lot of eating! That’s what you do! That’s the God’s honest truth. I love food, I love the industry of food, I love chefs, I love the history. My degree in college was anthropology. I read every cookbook & piece of food journalism I could find. When I finally decided this is what I wanted to do, I went to my editor at the magazine I interned for & I said, “How do I do this?” He said, “If you want to be a good journalist, you need to go out & learn your subject. If you want to be a war reporter, you have to go to the front lines”. I picked up & went to New York. I went to culinary school & went on the front lines, so to speak.

RC: You oversee the Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen. What does the event entail?
Gail: Well, I’m actually calling you from Aspen & the event kicks off tomorrow. It’s the premiere culinary festival in America. It’s our 25th anniversary but let me assure you, I haven’t been working on it for 25 years. We bring with us the most extraordinary culinary superpowers from across the country & overseas as well. We have the most die hard culinary fans there as well. It’s 3 days of seminars, demonstrations, wine parties – the most amazing wines from around the world! It’s a chance for everyone in the industry to get together & play!

RC: How did you first become involved in Top Chef? Had you been approached previously about being on a tv show?
Gail: It’s my first one – I’ve done a lot of television for Food & Wine Magazine. When Bravo was looking to do a culinary show of this nature, they wanted to work with a magazine partner that they could learn from. They came to us because Food & Wine because it’s the #1 magazine in advertising & the leader in the epicurean category. We’re big in discovering talent, finding the new, young stars. It worked out perfectly.

RC: Do you have a favorite previous contestant of Top Chef?
Gail: It’s so tough, once the season is over & we can look back, we can really be proud of them. Harold, our season 1 winner, just opened his restaurant in New York. It’s a beautiful, small restaurant in the West Village and very fortunately, it’s right near my house. He’s doing exactly what I hoped he would do. Ilan, the season 2 winner, is actually coming to Aspen for the weekend. It was part of his prize to be part of the Food & Wine Magazine Classic. He’s a really young, eager passionate chef.

RC: What can we look forward to this season in Miami?
Gail: The fact that it’s in Miami is pretty hot. It’s a really sexy town. There’s a lot of good food – obviously seafood is so extraordinary there. What’s really exciting is the guest talent on the show keeps getting better & better and I get to sit besides my own idols & work alongside them. The talent & quality of the contestants are amazing – they are the most driven, hilarious, passionate people from all across the country.

RC: Ted Allen mentioned some standout chefs from this season we should keep our eyes on. Do you have any early favorites?
Gail: I have to say, the women this year were super awesome! I know from being on the other side of the table (I was a cook, too) it was the toughest job. There are certain challenges that affect women more than men. I was so impressed with the women on the show. There are a few really amazing standout women – Casey from Dallas, Lia from NY, all of them! I was really impressed with them all!

RC: Do you have any other projects in the works or do the show & the magazine keep you busy enough?
Gail: It keeps me busy enough! I’m doing as much as I can. I’m working on a lot of projects with Food & Wine that are really exciting. I play a big role in everything from organizing events to appearing at them to working on the magazine & working with the biggest chefs. I’m living my dream!

Season 3 of Bravo's Top Chef kicks off tonight at 10pm EST

Get your Top Chef links at sirlinksalot.net!

A Reality Check With ... Eddie Langlay (FOX's "Hell's Kitchen")

Last night's episode had a surprising ending when Chef Ramsay dismissed 28 year old Eddie Langlay from Hell's Kitchen. A grill cook from Atlanta, Eddie sits down to talk with RealityCheckByGina about his time in Hell's Kitchen & why he didn't deserve to go.

RC: When did you interest in cooking begin?
Eddie: When I was young, I would cook with my mom a little. But when I was 15 & had my first kidney transplant, I was put on a special diet (no sodium, etc). I started experimenting with herbs to make things I could eat & enjoy.

RC: What is your training & background?
Eddie: I’ve been doing this for over 10 years working in fine dining & casual dining.

RC: Has your size been a disadvantage when you are cooking?
Eddie: As far as my size goes, it hasn’t hindered me with cooking. The way people view me has hindered me in certain situations. When you’re working & everything, and you’re doing just as well as someone else but the person next to you has a problem with your size, it can be a pain.

RC: Did Chef Ramsay take it too far with his comments about your size?
Eddie: Chef Ramsay always singles something out about each individual that he likes to pick on people about. He has his own insecurities he has to deal with.

RC: What is the deal with Aaron? Is he the great actor Tiffani claims he is or is he really that unstable?
Eddie: What you saw of Aaron was genuinely Aaron. I remember the first night & Chef asked if we were ready. He directed the question to Aaron and he started crying. I was like, “Holy crap! What’s going on?” I think that’s all Aaron.

RC: What was the main problem in last night’s episode in the men’s kitchen?
Eddie: There’s not one pinpoint, we all had a bad night. We all deserved to be up there but I was nowhere near the worst.

RC: Is the dinner challenge set up in a way so that you almost can’t succeed?
Eddie: I don’t think so. Chef Ramsay has his standards & his reputation is on the line.

RC: Did you expect to be going home or did you think someone else, like Aaron, would be the one sent home?
Eddie: I shouldn’t have been nominated & I shouldn’t have gone home. I think anybody else should have been there. I was sabotaged!

RC: Which of the chefs really impressed you?
Eddie: I think we all bring our own things to the table. I was really impressed with everyone.

RC: What is the best dish that you make?
Eddie: My parmesan sea scallops with vermouth cream sauced & proscuitto wrap mixed greens – my signature dish that I made on the first episode.

RC: Did you feel that you got to show what you can really do while on “Hell’s Kitchen”?
Eddie: Oh, far from it! I hardly got the chance to show anything. The first episode, you saw me working hard & I hardly got yelled at. The second night, you saw us having problems. If I had more time, I would’ve been able to show my creativity & I would’ve won hands down. Chef Ramsay didn’t choose me & that’s his problem.

RC: Where can we find you cooking now?

Eddie: I have my own business called Pizzazz. We offer personal chefs & catering.

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Hell's Kitchen: Eddie's Spaghetti (6/11/07)

The girls kick off tonight's episode vowing to change Chef Ramsay's opinion of them after being called bitches & evil last week. Meanwhile, the guys are concerned for Aaron who has showed consistent signs of mental weakness. While the chefs hoped for a good night's sleep, they were startled out of their sleep at 6am and sent to a meeting with Chef Ramsay. He feels that after the miserable performance on the last episode, they need to have a better feel for where food comes from. Therefore, they must catch their own food today - fish being thrown out of the back of a truck.

When the challenge came up & it was time to clean the fish, Aaron, once again, burst into tears after cursing. Chef Ramsay tells him to take a time out & the chefs continue without him. In the end, thanks in part to Joanna, the women pull off a victory & for their prize, get to fish & dine with Chef Ramsay. For punishment, the guys must prep all the fish that will be used for tonight's dinner. Four hours into the punishment, Aaron finally resurfaces announcing that he wants to quit the game. Aaron is ultimately convinced to stay for the time being, but worries that he is way out of his league in this competition.

As the dinner competition approaches, Chef Ramsay informs the men there is a second part to their punishment - one of the men must serve the fish tableside tonight. Aaron is chosen, much to his dismay, and the challenge becomes too much for him. He claims to have passed out but he didn't fall down nor was he unconscious at any point ... could he be the great actor Tiffani claimed he was last week? Dinner begins & the red team is looking for the first victory. Eddie struggles immediately on the spaghetti & brings the blue kitchen to a dead stop.

Bonnie doesn't fare much better in the red kitchen, slowing her team down as well. However, Jen steps up to get some appetizers out to the customers, giving the red team the steam they very much needed. Eddie's spaghetti continues to be a problem, leaving the blue kitchen at a standstill & he is taken off the station. Meanwhile, Aaron struggles to de-bone the customers' fish spending 15 minutes on just one fish.

The red team doesn't stay ahead too long as Joanna forgets to prepare the lettuce for the next course. They still, however, have served more dishes to customers than the struggling blue team. Tableside, Aaron's de-boning doesn't go too well as many customers find bones left over in their fish. The embarassed blue team can't get out any of their dishes & Chef Ramsay throws them all out of the kitchen, leaving the women to finish the evening. The red team rallies & finishes the evening, pulling off their first victory.

Rock is chosen by Chef Ramsay as the "least bad" on the blue team & must choose two chefs who will be up for elimination. He puts up Eddie because he does not feel Eddie is an asset to the team. The other nominee is Josh, which is a surprise to everyone in the kitchen. No crying cowboy? Rock must be trying to eliminate what he perceives as his competition. Josh is called out for being "all over the place". In the end, Chef Ramsay sends Eddie home, who perhaps was never given a chance to show what he can do and was written off for his size.

Check back tomorrow, I'll be talking to Eddie about his time spent in Hell's Kitchen!

Hell's Kitchen airs Mondays at 9pm EST on Fox

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