So You Think You Can Dance: No Sympathy From FOX

Over the last 48 hours, there has been quite an uproar over the elimination of hip hop dancer Jessi Peralta. Peralta had been hospitalized twice in the last two weeks for dehydration, causing her to miss Wednesday night's dance show. Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe announced that if she were healthy enough to dance Thursday, she would have to dance for her life, regardless of her partner Pasha Kovalev's reults. Jessi did return, able to perform her cha cha with her partner, and dance for her life. Yet, without any explanation, Lythgoe abruptly dismissed her on Thursday's live results show despite disappointing performances from other female dancers. Outraged by the results, viewers took to the message boards such as Television Without Pity & FOX's official site. A petition was started, receiving thousands of signatures. FOX had only the following response: on their main page, they simply state: "You knew two more would get cut. Keep it together." Ouch.

CLICK HERE to read RealityCheckByGina's interview with Jessi Peralta & Jesus Solorio below.

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A Reality Check With ... Jessi Peralta & Jesus Solorio (FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance")

This season of FOX's So You Think You Can Dance has proved to have shocking elimination results and last night was no exception as hip hop dancer Jessi Peralta & contemporary dancer Jesus Solorio were sent home. What seemed like an easy ride to the top 10 ended abruptly for the two & they're here to talk to RealityCheckByGina about their experience.

RC: Jessi, first of all, how is your health?
Jessi: I’m feeling as good as can be expected after just being kicked off the show.

RC: I spoke to Faina last week who said you had suffered from dehydration then. Was your illness this week in part because of that?
Jessi: Last week, I did get really dehydrated again & I was admitted to the hospital. It wasn’t on show day so the cameras weren’t following me around. I had the same symptoms this week but the doctors were focusing on my dehydration. There’s not enough time for me to take care of myself. Everyone is on schedules and the show has to run like a machine otherwise, the viewers will be disappointed.

RC: Can you both tell me about your dance background?
Jessi: I started dancing at the age of 2 & have been taking classes ever since. I was on scholarship at Broadway Dance Center in New York. You name it, I’ve tried it. I’ve gone to street battles & tried to hang with the boys. I just love every single form of dancing so anything I could get my hands on, I’ve tried to do.
Jesus: I actually, when I was smaller, I started break dancing, believe it or not. I went into jazz then to lyrical then to training when I was 12.

RC: Was this your first year trying out for So You Think You Can Dance?
Jessi: I actually had never even seen the show & this was my first year. I haven’t been able to afford television. All I knew was that it was about dancers from different backgrounds.
Jesus: This was my second year trying out for the show. The first time I auditioned was unorganized. It felt very unorganized & was harder than this year. I didn’t know the process but this year, because I knew the process, I made it through. It was stressful to a certain degree but not to the point where I wanted to collapse & faint & cry, feeling I wanna go home.

RC: Jesus, you said something last night about getting a phone call saying you had helped kids. Can you elaborate?
Jesus: I got a call from my rec center that I grew up in, a non-profit organization in Oak Park. They said I had inspired all these kids to pursue their dreams & that no dreams are too big for them even if they don’t have money because I was poor & homeless at one point. There’s a lot of that going on in Oak Park. Hearing that was the greatest thing for me.

RC: So there is time to communicate with your family & friends while on the show?
Jesus: Yes, totally there is. It’s not a lot of time & I decide not to talk too much so that I can focus on my dance & rehearsals. I don’t want to stay out of touch & I don’t wanna be an ass. But it’s because that’s how focused I am.
Jessi: Yes & if that were not the case, I would’ve been eliminated sooner. There was a lot of pressure on me & drama. They keep reminding me that I’ll overcome anything.

RC: Jesus, you received great reviews for your krumping dance with Sara. Were you surprised to be in the bottom? What do you think happened?
Jesus: It did come as a surprise because I thought America liked us & the dance. We got good reviews from the judges. That’s what confused me a little but I understand that it’s a show & it’s all good.

RC: Jessi, was it difficult to be cleared by your doctors to dance last night?

Jessi: It was frustrating because I could overcome everything in my mind so my mind is saying, “You’re fine, you can dance”, My body is yelling at me to slow down a little. My mind is saying to the doctors, “I’m fine, please let me go” and the doctors are looking at the monitors saying, “No way”. I kept thinking of Pasha, I didn’t want to leave him to dance alone. I’m glad he was safe. That’s my guy.

RC: Jessi, your elimination in particular was very abrupt. Why do you think Nigel chose to do it that way?
Jessi: I would assume they were going for the shock of it. As a businessperson, he has to make a good television show. As a dancer, we’re in the background a lot so we’re taught to be poised. He was probably trying to pull that out of me. I don’t know, I felt like … that was rough. It was a little harsh. I don’t think he was taking into consideration all the other crap I had gone through that week. Giving me that last blow, I was in round 10 after being knocked down so many times & that was it.

RC: What do you think of the new pair Sara & Pasha?
Jessi: I’m jealous! I really feel like what Pasha & I had was special, it was more than the show, it was more than the performance. You know, girls, let’s be honest. It’s hard not to have a crush on that guy. I felt like our chemistry was more than a performance. That’s why I was so inclined to tell that to the country last night.
Jesus: Well, I was talking over the situation with Sara. I think they’ll be good. Pasha is a strong lead & Sara is a good follower & hard worker. She takes notes to heart & makes it professional. It’s a good mix & they’re both entertaining! I don’t know if he’ll be good as me because nobody can replace me for her but, all jokes aside, I think they’ll do well.

RC: What was the reaction from fellow contestants that you would be leaving?
Jessi: They were sad, they were sad. But it’s a competition, they want the good people out. It makes it easier for them. Not to pat myself on the back, but I feel like they lost a good person last night. I felt like they lost a big player.

RC: Mary Murphy, in particular, was extremely harsh with Cedric. Did you think he & Shauna would be in the bottom 3?
Jessi: Cedric had kind of been their “risk”, they were taking a risk on him letting him in the top 20. He knows exactly who he is & what he’s capable of. He agrees with everyone’s opinion that he needs more training & education. That’s the beautiful thing about America being in control – they love the underdog. I think it’s great!
Jesus: I kinda had a feeling that they wouldn’t because of sympathy votes. Cedric is my friend but the judges were trying so hard to kick him off that it backfired. They need a new strategy: don’t antagonize, find another tactic.

RC: Do you have a favorite dance performed by your fellow contestants so far?
Jessi: I would say … Wade’s piece for Hok & Jaimie. But ... honestly? I love my performances with Pasha. What you see us doing on stage, that’s the real thing. I look at him & I say, “This is the truth!”
Jesus: That would be Sabra & Dominic’s lyrical dance. I helped Dominic with it while trying to learn my own routine & he’s so passionate about what he does. They both are, so it really touched me.

RC: Jessi, how was it to say goodbye to Pasha?

Jessi: That was tough but Pasha is a very centered human being. He said, “I’m sorry, you’ll get through this.” After this, will there be something between us? I hope. But I can’t expect his head to be anywhere else but the show. I think he feels the same way I do.

RC: Jesus, do you have a favorite moment of being on the show?
Jesus: The pasa doble with Sara.

RC: What are your plans for the future?
Jessi: I have been pursuing this professionally since I was 16. The office job, the day job, was something I had to resort to. The pursuit of dance wasn’t taking care of me financially. Hopefully I won’t have to dance at bar mitzvahs again. I would rather dance at a bar mitzvah for $100 than spend another day in the office. I do have some opportunities coming up with some movies. I don’t think this was a bad thing.
Jesus: I’m not going to stay here, I want to do professional work & I have been doing so since I was 17. I did Hannah Montana & the Latin awards. I wasn’t sure if people were looking at me so that’s why I did this show. I’m hoping I did inspire people. I’ve been doing acting as well so I’ll be working on acting & singing.

So You Think You Can Dance airs Wednesdays & Thursdays on FOX

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Pirate Master: The Return Of Azmyth (6/29/07)

Joe Don does not regret his decision to bid on the pardon, which he did not end up needing. Ben was disappointed that Cheryl ended up being the one to go last week. It seems like the pirates are gunning for Nessa this week - no one seems to appreciate her flirtatious methods of getting ahead ... except the guys she's flirting wtih! She won't take it lying down & calls out Sean for flipping his vote in pirate's court, ultimately getting rid of Cheryl.

Once again, the pirates split into two crews to compete for treasure. Louie will lead the black crew along with his officers Nessa & Sean, as well as Joe Don, Christa, and Joy. Opposing them will be: Azmyth, Jupiter, Laurel, Kendra, Ben, and Jay. Jay is hoping for a win so he can orchestrate Nessa's ousting but with Kendra & Laurel on his team, he's not too optimistic.

The pirates will paddle to the anchor on the beach, then head west to the voodoo forest where they must search for playing cards to make 21. The black crew arrives first & hits a booby trap, narrowing the gap between the two teams. Joe Don, Sean & the remaining black crew find their card first. They now head back to the anchor to find a heart which leads them to a graveyard which leads them to their next clue.
Louie got the black crew's spyglass wet, making it very difficult to search the horizon for a heart however they reach their next clue first, maintaining their lead. For the last part of their treasure hunt, the pirates must search for a palm tree where their treasure will be buried. Both crews are neck & neck but it is the red crew that comes from behind to win! This week's pot is $40,000 & Azmyth is re-elected as captain after Louie's loss on the black crew. He chooses Jay & Ben as his officers.

Once again, Azmyth is a fair captain, spreading the wealth as much as he can & trying his best to keep his pirate crew happy. Meanwhile, Jupiter & Sean plot to get rid of Nessa but she overhears their plan & devises one of her own to save herself. She attempts to bid on the royal pardon but, not wanting to see her go, Joe Don kicks her a couple thousand so that she will have the highest bid.

When it is time to hand out black spots, Louie, Laurel, and Sean are all marked for elimination. Nessa is surprisingly spared this week but that's because Jay & the other men don't mind that the women are fighting so much - it takes the heat off of them! At pirate's court, Azmyth explains why all 3 have beem marked: Louie, because he asked to be after becoming captain, Laurel, for having no particular allegience, and Sean, for switching up votes & viewed as untrustworthy. Though Sean makes a convincing argument to stay, he is cut adrift as Nessa paid the most for a royal pardon she didn't need.

An all-new episode of Pirate Master airs Thursday at 8pm EST on CBS

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A Reality Check With ... Lauren Bryant (NBC's "Age Of Love")

27 year old Lauren Bryant is a lighting consultant from Studio City, CA. She loves to win and is always trying to improve herself; in fact, she once traveled in Cost Rica all alone for a month! One of her favorite things to do is indoor rock climbing so a potential mate would also have be into adventurous activities. Age doesn't really matter to her. Sometimes, she dates men who are 17 years older then herself. Lauren was eliminated on Monday's episode of Age of Love but she's got her sights set on bigger things.

RC: How would you describe yourself?
Lauren: I would describe myself as a very well rounded young lady. I’m silly, I like to go out with my friends, I like to travel… I really like to try new things.

RC: What made you want to do “Age of Love”?
Lauren: There were multiple reasons. I just came out here to California. I drove across the country from CT. I wanted to get my feet wet in entertainment industry. One of the many things I submitted myself to was this show. They made the guy seem like he was a really nice, interesting person we’d want to meet.

RC: So your goal is to get into acting?

Lauren: I want to get into commercials. I’m looking for a commercial agent and taking some classes. That’s what I’m focused on.

RC: How did you feel when you found out you would be competing against a group of women in their 40s?
Lauren: It really wasn’t such an issue. I can be competitive person but I’ve gotta be given a good reason, otherwise it’s not worth it. It didn’t really occur to me that there would be a problem.

RC: Did you feel bad the Cougars were deceived into thinking they were the only ones there to compete for Mark’s heart?

Lauren: We didn’t know either. Neither group knew that there was another group but I felt like they should’ve had an inclination. He’s 30 & they’re in their 40s. He has always dated younger women so they probably should have been a little afraid.

RC: What can a 20 offer over a 40?
Lauren: I think just a positive, fresh attitude. You know, the more you live your life, the more jaded you become. You have more baggage. Having youth on our side, we’re able to see things for the first time in a fresh new light. It’s like when you’re a kid & you do something for the first time & it’s amazing! I’m not saying the other ladies didn’t have that but most of them had already been married & it’s not as exciting the second time around. He’s looking to start a family and there’s something to be said for doing it the first time around.

RC: Did you think that the 20 year olds were portrayed accurately?
Lauren: I would say there was a bit of editing. I haven’t played with a hula hoop … I can’t even tell you! I was one of the girls who was hula hooping but it’s not something I would do on a Saturday night.

RC: What was your first impression of Mark?

Lauren: We all really loved the video of Mark. He came across as really sincere. When I met him the first time at the pool, quick introduction, he seemed like a nice guy.

RC: If you could choose, what age group do you think Mark should be dating?
Lauren: That’s a hard question because I don’t know the 40 year olds. I know the 20 year olds have a lot going for them. I can think of one girl in particular who’s in school, who has a career, a house of her own, all of these ambitions & dreams. Just because she’s young doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a plan for your life. I would say the 20 year olds have a lot to offer. We are new, we are young. The 40 year olds had their chance to have a plan & live their life.

RC: Did it hurt when Mark said he couldn’t feel a romantic connection with you?
Lauren: Oh absolutely not! In this instance, I did not take it personally & I wasn’t surprised. There just wasn’t that spark.

RC: What kind of guy would you normally go for?
Lauren: Well … let’s see … you know, it’s hard for me to pick a specific type of guy. I like a nice guy who doesn’t wanna play around. I don’t want a whole song & dance. I want someone who wants to spend time with me, do things, add to my life. I’m looking for someone to have a mutual exchange with … someone who’s going to bring me up & vice versa.

RC: What was the reaction like from your family & friends?
Lauren: Well, let’s just say that everyone was not happy. My personality did not come across – time didn’t allow to show everything & it wasn’t part of the story. I had a lot of fun while I was there for the week & it just wasn’t shown. I’m very bubbly & always trying to make everyone feel good, and it just didn’t come across.

RC: Are you glad you got out before the drama ensued?
Lauren: You better believe it! I’m happy for the time I had there, it was a good experience, but I’m glad that I did get out when I did. Editing’s a bitch, let’s just say that.

A new episode of Age of Love airs Monday night on NBC at 9pm EST

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So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 18 (6/27/07)

Tonight’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance features our top 16 dancers. The group will be judged by the usuals Nigel Lythgoe & Mary Murphy as well as guest judge (and legend) Debbie Allen. Debbie is a director, producer, multiple award winner, and the perfect person to judge these up & coming dancers. Mary is asked who stands out for her, and she chooses Dominic, who has come a long way since his first audition. Nigel expresses how happy he is with the season but also, how much abuse he took for eliminating Jimmy & Faina last week. Time to see how the top 16 measure up:

Sara & Jesus – Krumping choreographed by Lil’C (“It’s Okay” by The Game): Sara is right at home in a hip hop style of dance but for Jesus, he’s ventured into new & unfamiliar territory. Suddenly, this contemporary dancer has a bit of a street edge to him! The dance packs a big punch with high energy. Debbie felt the energy & praised Jesus for committing to the dance fully. Mary was happy to see Sara’s transition from last week’s pasa doble back to her roots this week. Nigels calls Sarah “gangsta” & comments how together the duo was. To vote for Sara & Jesus, call 1-888-TEMPO-01.

Shauna & Cedric – Contemporary choreographed by Mia Michaels (“I Thought We Had” by The Family Stand): Both dancers need to impress tonight as both were in last week’s bottom 2. Nigel told Cedric if he ended up there again this week, he would not save him. There’s lots of the line & both leave it all out on the dance floor in an emotional performance. Debbie says Shauna is wonderful & that Cedric touches her every time he dances. Mary felt both danced their heart out but it’s still not good enough & she harshly tells him she doesn’t want him in the competition anymore. Nigel agrees with both Debbie & Mary & feels the choreography was skewed towards Cedric. To vote for Shauna & Cedric, call 1-888-TEMPO-02.

Lacey & Kameron – Quick Step choreographed by Tony Meredith (“Big & Bad” by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy): Arguably one of the most popular couples in the competition, the duo takes on an energetic quick step. Lacey & Kameron have great chemistry, high energy, and always put on an entertaining performance. Debbie felt the number was classic & fun, Mary says Lacey was amazing & Kameron was a great partner, and though Nigel wishes they covered more area on the stage, the number was very entertaining. To vote for Lacey & Kameron, call 1-888-TEMPO-03.

Anya & Danny – Hip Hop choreographed by Dan Karaty (“Oh Timbaland” by Timbaland): It’s hard to picture these two pulling off a successful hip hop routine, as their strengths are ballroom & contemporary, respectively. The only problem with this routine is that it looks like a ballroom dancer & contemporary dancer trying to do hip hop. They have the steps but not the attitude. Debbie calls them the dream team & says there’s nothing they can’t do. Mary loved the choreography for the two & Nigel felt that they didn’t look comfortable in the style. To vote from Anya & Danny, call 1-888-TEMPO-04.

Sabra & Dominic – Rumba choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux (“Stickwithu” by Pussycat Dolls): It wouldn’t be a song you’d expect for a rumba but this show is full of constant surprises. Dominic lives up to Mary’s praise, show versatility while Sabra shines again. The couple is quickly gaining popularity & this number should help keep the alive in tomorrow night’s elimination. Debbie calls the routine “hot” & says the two are beautiful together. Mary says Dominic really pulled off the routine & calls Sabra’s dancing effortless. After Mary delivers a blood curdling scream of joy in his ear, Nigel congratulates the duo on a wonderful performance. To vote for Sabra & Dominic, call 1-888-TEMPO-05.

Lauren & Neil – Tango choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux (“Tanguera” by Sexteto Mayor): Once criticized for having a lack of chemistry, Lauren & Neil try to turn up the heat tonight with their tango routine. Lauren’s energy outshines Neil’s & I find myself watching her most of the time. They pull off the steps but the crowd seems underwhelmed. Debbie felt it wasn’t as smooth as she wanted it to be, Mary felt some chemistry in the beginning but not as the routine went on, and Nigel actually felt Neil overperformed. To vote for Lauren & Neil, call 1-888-TEMPO-06.

Jaimie & Hok – Jazz choreographed by Wade Robson (“The Chairman’s Waltz” from Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack): Wade does a phenomenal job playing up the strengths of both Jaimie & Hok. They give an incredibly strong & connected performance. This is one of those routines you’ll definitely want to try to find on YouTube. Debbie says the routine is “brilliant” & “genius”. Mary says it’s a step up from last week, praising the routine, and Nigel says there is no critique to give because this is their essence as dancers. To vote for Jaimie & Hok, call 1-888-TEMPO-07.

Jessi & Pasha – Cha Cha choreographed by Tony Meredith (“Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez): Unexpected things happen during the show & a video is shown of Jessi in an ambulance. She left rehearsal feeling weak, unable to breathe, with chest pains. Her doctors have not cleared her to dance but the show must go on. Pasha must do the routine with Tony’s assistant & you will be voting only for Pasha on this routine. Pasha does the best he can with the routine, shining in his element, but obviously lacking the chemistry he had with his partner, Jessi. Debbie says Pasha deserves an Oscar for the passion he portrayed towards his partner and Mary felt he brought the house down. Nigel informs the audience that Jessi is still having tests and her EKG has come back as abnormal but he feels Pasha will make it through to next week. However, if he’s in the bottom 3, he will be there with Jessi as well. To vote for just Pasha, call 1-888-TEMPO-08.

Time to vote!

Tune in tomorrow night for the live results show at 9pm EST on FOX

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A Reality Check With ... Sandee Birdsong (Bravo's "Top Chef")

A Georgia native, Sandee Birdsong specializes in southern soul food. Her signature dish is grilled hamachi collar with southern collard greens and soy sherry reduction with jalapeño corn bread. Strong and independent, she is not a pushover. Sandee is aware that everyone will underestimate her, but she is adamant that while her opponents are playing it safe, she will work harder because she doesn't know any other way. She lives by the motto, "Dream as if you'll live forever; live as if you'll die today." Last week, viewers as well her fellow competitors were shocked that she was the 2nd chef eliminated on "Top Chef". Sandee steps out of the kitchen to chat with RealityCheckByGina about what went wrong.

RC: You have not been a chef very long. What made you decide to try it?
Sandee: Well, you know, the whole cheesy thing: passion, food, all that, has made me want to do something I loved instead of something that just made me money. I had the priviledge of taking a year off from work to figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I didn’t want to keep doing something I didn’t have a lot of passion for. I went to Restaurant in Miami, knocked on the door, and asked if I could work there. The chef put me on the line in between 2 guys. Two weeks later, I became kitchen manager. Two months later, the owner of Tantra came in, gave the chef the boot, and I've been there ever since.

RC: What were you doing before becoming a chef?

Sandee: I own a magazine, called She magazine (a lesbian publication). I do a lot of promotion & events. I’ve owned some websites, been all over the board, anything that came my way. I went to college for business management & jumped on any money-making scheme out there.

RC: There are lots of cooking shows out there. What drew you to Top Chef?
Sandee: Top Chef seems to be the most respected show, it’s not about screaming at somebody in the kitchen. They really concentrate on the food & not so much on the drama. Over all as a reality show, Top Chef seems to be the one to work into your career. You get to meet a lot of wonderful chefs & work with a lot of wonderful food.

RC: You got some flack in quickfire challenge for putting a flower in your mohito. What do you have to say to that?

Sandee: One guy in the top 3 had a seed in his salad yet the judge took the flower out of my drink. I guess you like seeds in your salad but not flowers in your drink! One girl had food that wasn’t even citrus, one girl had shells on the plate, so when things like that happen, you start questioning the judges’ abilities.

RC: Do you always agree with the feedback you're given by the judges?
Sandee: Never! The episode where I was told to pack my knives & leave was the most shocking episode I’ve ever seen on Top Chef. I wondered if I had missed something but now that the show has aired & everyone (friends, family, people on the street) says how shocked they are, I don’t agree with all the judges’ decisions.

RC: What went wrong for you in the barbecue elimination challenge?

Sandee: The judges said my dish was gourmet but not barbecue enough. To determine what made it barbecue, I really wasn’t on board with that. I was like, “What? Do you just want barbecue sauce?” The top 3 didn’t have barbecue sauce. Then, the judges turned it into, “Well it just wasn’t barbecue”. Howie’s dish wasn’t gourmet or barbecue & Joey made a chicken leg which is not gourmet. It’s weird because you wonder how you missed the mark since it doesn’t make sense. But it is what it is, I went out with people loving me.

RC: What did you think of all the drama? That’s not something that happens too often.
Sandee: The drama that happened between Joey & Howie started the previous episode where Howie did not complete his dish. He was allowed to stay when he did not complete his plate and another guy was sent home. The other contestants thought, “Even though Clay was not up to standards, Howie did not finish that challenge & Howie should have gone home.” We went to this next challenge & Howie’s pork was way dry – it looks like a 2 year old had cut it with a butter knife. Nobody ate it, literally, his pork was almost in the same condition as when it started. For him to get up there in the bottom again & be allowed to stay just ripped everybody the wrong way. Obviously, Joey came out & said what he felt but it was warranted. We all thought it, Joey just said it.

RC: Your fellow competitors were surprised you were sent home. That had to make you feel good.
Sandee: It made me feel amazing. We're at the judges’ table & we turn to walk out & as I walk down the hall, I hear them chanting my name because they know we’re coming. As we get into the room, they stand up & yell, “Yeah!” & I had to tell them no. I had had a great day, everyone loved my food at the event. I had to take food off other people’s tables because I had served all of mine.

RC: Where can we find you cooking these days?

Sandee: I’m the chef as Tantra restaurant in South Beach, Miami. I’m going to start doing events, promotions, catering, and just having fun.

A new episode of Top Chef airs tonight on Bravo at 10pm EST

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A Reality Check With ... Vinnie Fama (FOX's "Hell's Kitchen")

Last night, Chef Ramsay kicked 29-year-old night club chef Vinnie Fama out of Hell’s Kitchen, crushing his dreams of running his own Vegas restaurant. A New Jersey native, he couldn’t get his Beef Wellingtons out to customers in last night’s episode & was named the weakest performer. Vinnie is here to talk to RealityCheckByGina about his time spent in Hell.

RC: When did you interest in cooking begin?

Vinnie: I started cooking ever bit of 15 years ago. My first job was at a pizzeria. From college, I went on to work at many 4 star locations.

RC: How did you land a role on Hell's Kitchen?

Vinnie: I stumbled into it. Two women came up to me at a nightclub I worked in. I was the executive chef. They cast people for shows and saw me working on the dining room floor. They liked me and wanted me to try out.

RC: How did you remain calm when Chef Ramsay slammed food into your chest?

Vinnie: If you read my lips, you can see I wasn’t cool. I actually dropped the F bomb. I knew it was coming since I saw him hit Aaron with something. If you wanted to win, you just had to take it. Josh also took a hit as well off that same plate but it didn’t make the show.

RC: Was it hard to focus when Chef Ramsay was hand feeding you food for the taste challenge?

Vinnie: At 5am in the morning, it was a tough challenge. You don’t see me get the first 2 right. You only see me with the tuna. I had two other tastes prior, one was basil and I knew right away.

RC: Who was the biggest distraction on the blue team?

Vinnie: Um, I don’t know. We had one. I mean, Aaron was to other people. I didn’t find anyone on the team a distraction. I knew what I need to do and get done.

RC: Why is it so hard for the chefs to get the customers served in Hell’s Kitchen?

Vinnie: Its an edit thing. I told Ramsay one day, “You sabotaged service for me”. It was up to him to send things out and at times, he wanted to get under your skin.

RC: Why did Rock originally nominate Josh last night?

Vinnie: I don’t know, Josh doesn’t ever make it through service. Josh has all the know-how but when it comes down to the service end, he cannot handle the plating. He overcooked it all, could not get it out on time. Since Josh could not get appetizers out, it affected my Wellingtons. He can prep anything but when it came down to service it was too much for him to handle.

RC: What was your first though when Chef Ramsay decided to overrule the nominations?

Vinnie: I think he knew that I was borderline ready to attack him and he pushed me far enough to a possible throw down.

RC: Where can we find you cooking now?

Vinnie: You can check out my website & you can place catering orders online.

An all-new episode of Hell's Kitchen airs Monday at 9pm EST

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* Contributing writer: Mark Yawitz

Age Of Love: Things Gets Interesting (6/25/07)

We pick up where last week’s premiere left off, with the news that Mark will now have a wider variety to choose from. Thus, we are introduced to the Kittens, a group of women in their 20s. Mark seems pretty excited to get to know them, as one by one they come off the elevator to introduce themselves. Adelaide forms a quick connection, as not only is she good looking, but she & Mark are both natives of Australia. We don’t see much panic on Mark’s face throughout these introduction, as we saw when he first met the Cougars. In fact, he can barely maintain eye contact with the woman … up here, Mark! Look up here!

Mark enjoys a barbecue with the Kittens, giving him a chance to get to know them each a little better. First up is Tessa, who says her personality is just like her dog, a maltipoo (maltese & mini poodle mix). Jealous, the other girls convince Mark to get away from Tessa & get in the pool with them. It seems exciting to get in the pool with 6 beautiful girls in their 20s until they realize they all have absolutely nothing to talk about, leaving Mark wondering with the 40 year olds are doing. This leaves Mark to desperately ask, “Does someone wanna pull me aside & talk to me?” The girls agree and Mark ends up finding out that none of the girls have any solid career paths or goals – none of them seem to know what they want. Thankfully, there’s down to earth Adelaide, who is able to maintain a conversation with Mark, even if it was all flirtation and no substance.

It’s time for host Mark Consuelos to break up the party. He lets bachelor Mark head back to his room while the girls are informed that only some of them will go on dates while the rest won’t see Mark until the elimination. First, though, the women in their 40s will get a group date with Mark roller skating. Mark is immediately happy to see them – they’re enthusiastic & full of life! The 40 year olds lack something that the 20s have plenty of: drama. Back on the 20th floor, Mary can’t stop crying over what she felt was a bad first impression with Mark. No tears at the roller rink, though. A limbo contest has ensued & the winner gets some 1-on-1 time with Mark. Angela wins but her time is cut short when Jen jumps in. All seems to be going well between Jen & Mark until Jen talks about her 25-year-old son … who is 5 years younger than Mark. He went a little pale upon learning that!

Back at the hotel, Mark gives the Kittens a call to invite Megan, Amanda, and Adelaide over to his place to get to know them better. When they get there, they find Dance Dance Revolution set up to play. No one is very good at the game but they at least get to show off their sexy dances. Afterwards, Adelaide pulls Mark aside to speak to him alone and confess that (yes, already) she has feelings for him. He’s willing to take that journey & we probably don’t have to worry about her going anywhere anytime soon. Leading up to the elimination, the claws come out on the 20th floor as they mercilessly make fun of the women in their 40s … who they haven’t even met yet.

It’s time for the two groups of women to come face to face at the elimination. The 40s stand below as the 20s descend from the elevator to meet their competition. Not surprisingly, the Cougars are upset. Lynn expresses that this is not what she signed up for & perhaps, she should be sent home. Host Mark Consuelos explains to both groups of women that they’re here to see if age really does play a factor when it comes to falling in love. Kitten Tessa is called forward first by bachelor Mark, who asks her to come out of her shell a little more but still wants to get to know her. Mark keeps around fellow Kittens Mary, Amanda, Megan, and Adelaide as well as Cougars Maria, Jayana, Lynn, Kelli, and Angela. 40-year-old Angela & 27-year old Lauren are asked to leave, as Mark doesn’t feel the romantic connection with either of them. While Lauren takes the news well, Angela is particularly hurt by the rejection.

I’ll be talking to the eliminated women this week so make sure you check back!

You can read Mark’s exclusive thoughts on his blog HERE.

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Hell's Kitchen: He's Gone As Far As He Can Go (6/25/07)

Jen kicks off tonight’s episode still reeling from her awful decision to pull food out of the garbage to serve to customers. Vinnie shows no sensitivity, telling Jen that he would never hire her in the kitchen & she’ll always be known as the girl who pulled food out of the garbage. He’s right – she’s definitely THAT girl for the remainder of the show. Chef Ramsay feels no one pushes their palette so he’s got the perfect challenge for them: a taste test. Each chef must identify 3 different foods. The team with the most correct answers wins. The strange part of the competition is that Chef Ramsay feeds each of the chefs by hand. Creepy.

Julia gets the team off to a strong start, identifying 2 of her 3 ingredients. Brad struggles, unable to identify american cheese or carrots & Melissa can’t identify hard boiled egg yolk. Neither Bonnie nor Josh can identify scallops but Bonnie pulls her team ahead, knowing the flavors of bok choy & pear. The last pair to face off are Jen & Vinnie. Vinnie will need to identify all 3 & Jen will have to miss all 3 in order for the men to pull off their first victory challenge. Unable to identify tuna, Vinnie costs the blue team the challenge.

Once again, the men suffer another loss & must prep both kitchens for dinner service. That’s not the worst part, though. Chef Ramsay feels that since their palette needs work, they should eat everything on a platter he sets before them containing beef liver, tongue, pig’s feet, & kidneys. The men feel that Bonnie cheated, since she said multiple times during the challenge that she could hear Chef Ramsay. When confronted, she denies it & calls the blue team out for making excuses.

The women, for their prize, receive a unique dining experience with Chef Ramsay, eating in the complete darkness. Bonnie takes the opportunity to flirt with Chef, perhaps giving credibility to the men’s conspiracy theories about her. Meanwhile, the men struggle to get their food on their plates down. Once done with part 1 of their punishment, the blue team begins part 2: prepping & working through exhaustion (and stomachaches). Tonight’s customers in Hell’s Kitchen will hand in comment cards, ultimately deciding the winner.

The blue team immediately gets off to a weak start, unable to cook risotto properly. Julia overcooks her scallops, slowing down the red kitchen. Perhaps worse than doing things wrong, is doing nothing at all. Josh has nothing going on in his station, his burners are literally off. Rock steps up & gets his appetizers out to customers, moving the blue team on to entrees. However, Bonnie & Vinnie struggle with the meats for their entrées & once again, the kitchens are at a standstill. Too many dishes sent back by the customers forces Chef Ramsay to shut down the restaurant for the evening, making sure to smash a plate of food on the ground before throwing everyone out.

The customers’ comments were so bad, he couldn’t declare a winner. Over 65% of them said they wouldn’t come back because it took too long for service though a majority of them enjoyed the food they were served. Jen & Rock must each choose someone from their respective teams to put up for elimination. Rock puts up Josh, saying he’s not an asset to the team while Jen puts up Melissa, saying she didn’t see her leadership. Chef Ramsay is disappointed & decides to overrule the nominations. He instead puts up Bonnie & Vinnie as the worst performers of the night. Vinnie is sent packing by Chef Ramsay, who says he can’t get him any further.

I’ll be talking to Vinnie tomorrow about his time in Hell’s Kitchen – make sure you check back to hear what he has to say!

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A Reality Check With ... Cheryl Kosewicz (CBS's "Pirate Master")

Cheryl Kosewicz was born and raised on a 22-acre farm in Grand Couler, WA, where she and her family literally lived off the land-their only store purchases were paper products. Growing up, she would fish, hunt, garden, sew her own clothes, work with animals and make things for the farm. Cheryl received her bachelor's degree in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she was on the dean's list, on a basketball scholarship and continued on for her master's degree. She then attended law school at Northwestern School of Law in Portland, where she received her Doctorate of Law. Last week, Cheryl was cut adrift on Pirate Master for being too much of a physical threat & not fitting in with the rest of the pirates. Cheryl sits down with RealityCheckByGina to talk about her time on Pirate Master.

RC: What made you want to be a part of Pirate Master?
Cheryl: I had actually tried out for Survivor 3 years ago. Somebody had pushed me to do it. I made it quite a ways through, all the way to the last interviews. When Pirate Master came around, they called me and said, “This is way more up your alley.”

RC: Isn’t it dangerous to be climbing up a pirate ship?
Cheryl: Our training was on the ship & it was scary! Those masts are high. I remember the first time I crawled up there, I got halfway up & was like, “Nuh-uh” and climbed back down. It’s difficult being tall because you have to go on a tight wire up there You have nothing up there but the sails & the seats.

RC: How do you feel you performed in the physical challenges? Were you proud of how you did?
Cheryl: Oh absolutely! That’s where I excelled was in the physical challenges. I trained really hard for that part. That’s just me. I’m very physical in every sport there is.

RC: In the last 3 episodes, there have been 3 different captains. How do you adjust each time there is someone new in command?
Cheryl: You know, that was really difficult, from my perspective. As one of the first officers to JD, I got thrown in. We had to make a lot of rules & changes & we got a lot of grief for that. As the other captains went along, they got to see what the crew wanted & needed & they were more well-liked. As things went along, it was more like a booze cruise than a pirate ship. We’re not there for a booze cruise.
RC: If you could go back, would you change anything about being one of Joe Don’s officers?
Cheryl: If I had to do it again, I don’t think I’d want to be an officer. I’d want to be with the crew & get in with them & learn with them because the crew really had it out for JD, Ben, and I.

RC: Are Ben’s days numbered or was he able to blend back in with the other pirates?
Cheryl: When we went back, he was definitely blending. I tried to in the end & it was a little too late.

RC: Did you feel there was anything you could have done to change the minds of the pirates in court?
Cheryl: Absolutely not! The girls had it out for me, they were jealous of my physical abilities. Jay, who is the mastermind, knew he couldn’t turn me so he wanted to keep the weaker ones.

RC: Did you at least get to take home a decent amount of money before being booted off?
Cheryl: Absolutely! The time that I was on there, I spent a lot of time & did a lot of things. Did it crush me that I went early? Yeah, no doubt about it. That’s my competitive

RC: When you are cut adrift, are you sent home or do you hang around?
Cheryl: We’re there.

RC: What pirates are you rooting for?
Cheryl: Ummm … well … my ties right now are with JD & Ben. We had the pact from the beginning. I know them the best. So from my perspective, I’m with them.

RC: What’s in the future for you?
Cheryl: I love my job as a district attorney, that’s what I’ll continue to do but I’ll also continue to do this to help with community service & working with kids.

Pirate Master airs Thursday nights at 8pm EST on CBS

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A Reality Check With ... Jodie Fisher (NBC's "Age Of Love")

Jodie is a successful businesswoman who used to work on the committee of Narcotics Abuse and Control for the government and now she feels that her responsibilities to her son make her not the ideal catch. But as long as a man is confident, takes care of himself, and isn't hung up on age (Jodie once dated a man who was 22!), she is ready to find a new partner who is as spontaneous and wild as she is. Unfortunately, that dream didn't become reality as she was the first eliminated on last week's "Age Of Love".

RC: Can you remind the readers how old you are?
Jodie: Must I? (laughs) I'm 46.

RC: Why did you want to do a show like "Age Of Love"?
Jodie: I'm beginning to wonder! I wanted to do it for the adventure of it. I had gotten emails from friends simultaneously saying, "This show would be perfect for you!" I had dated a younger man before.

RC: Yes, I see you dated a man who was 22 years old. Tell me how the relationship worked for you & how it didn't.
Jodie: He's still in my life, I've known him for a few years. He's a great guy & the relationship is very lighthearted. He said that he loves that there's no drama with me.

RC: What was your first impression of Mark when you saw him?
Jodie: Well, when I first saw Mark, he had his hands in front of him & he looked so nervous. I said to myself, "I'm going to be as sweet & as as nice as I can be." But on the video, the part that was so endearing was when he was playing with his puppy.

RC: Would you say the show picked stereotypical things to show - for example, the women in their 40s doing needlepoint while the women in their 20s played with hula hoops?
Jodie: Oh for sure! They slanted it that way & wanted to polarize the two groups.

RC: Speaking of the women in their 20s, they arrived after you left. When did you actually find out that twist?
Jodie: I found out 3 days later when I went to a publicity photo shoot for NBC. Someone called me & said, "Oh by the way, there's going to be 6 women in their 20s there!"

RC: Would you rather have gone out first or later in the game?
Jodie: I think I'm lucky because I came out relatively unscathed. I was relieved when I was eliminated but I wish I could have stayed longer. I loved hanging out with the other 40 year olds. My feelings definitely would've been hurt if I stayed longer but I talked to him less than 2 minutes so I can't really take it personally.

RC: Would you say the show was looking for party girls in their 20s? I'm in my 20s & I definitely do NOT act like that!
Jodie: That's a great question. I have a 21-year-old stepdaughter. She's beautiful & has a great spark about her. She is nothing at all like those women. I think they were looking for edgy quality, for lack of a better word. They just have no awareness that in a few years, they're going to be 40!

RC: Do you think that the fact that you have young children may have affected Mark's decision to eliminate you first?
Jodie: I would love to know the answer to that. I did say something quickly about having an 8-year-old and maybe that was too much for him but I'm not interested in someone who's not interested in my kids.

RC: Who's going to take it here - the women in their 40s or the women in their 20s?
Jodie: In the promos, he does say that he misses the older women as he begins to spend time with the 20s. Ultimately, though, he's a guy who wants to get married & have kids. I think he'll go with someone younger.

RC: You're 46 & look amazing! What's your secret?
Jodie: I'm young at heart & my parents are the same way. I have a son who keeps me young - we go pogosticking & play all kinds of sports. I wish I could say I ate well & exercised but it's just not true!

RC: Good! I'd like to think that I can continue eating junk food & not exercising & look that good in my 40s!
Jodie: (laughs) Yes!

RC: So you're back to your life in California now?
Jodie: Yes, I'm actually getting ready to go on a cruise to the Caribbean. I'm leaving in an hour! There's 28 of us going, my whole family.

A new episode of Age Of Love airs tonight on NBC at 9pm EST.

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