On Demand Weekly

I need an intervention. My "Top Chef" addiction is way out of control (somebody call A&E's "Intervention"!). And you know this because I even wrote you about "Top Chef Just Desserts." We've already basically forgotten that show in the wake of the "Top Chef All Stars" coming on to the set like a blender full of stuff out of control.

Just when I thought there couldn't be any more wonderful Top Chef spinoffs (I mean they even got actual big time chefs like Rick Bayliss and Govind Armstrong to hash it out in front of judges - and they OWN restaurants already!), somebody comes up with the genius idea to get a few of the best of the past contestants (the ones who almost won and who showed mucho presence during taping) and have them hash it out with each other.

This episode is just after Jennifer Carroll (Season 6) got the boot after arguing with the judges that her breakfast dish made for tons of hopped up New York children who spent the night in the Natural History Museum was basically not delicious. Jen, who was kind of quiet and spoke with her food skills in Season 6, ventured towards taking off her earrings, slapping on some Vaseline and going to blows with with the judges (Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, Padma Lakshmi and that foodie rebel Anthony Bourdain) over her dish. This kind of meltdown usually happens in the kitchen and not a judges table and came ask a shock to all in the room. It also set a bit of an edgy tone with those contestants who remained, armed with their utensils.

- T. Tara Turk


T. Tara Turk is a novelist/playwright/screenwriter, living in LA with her boyfriend and dog - all three successful TV addicts. You can find her at www.ttaraturk.com or follow her on Twitter @ttaraturk.

Media savant T Tara Turk goes deep inside cable TV to reveal Video On Demand's Hidden Gems so even the busiest of our readers can get the most out of On Demand TV. Tell Tara what VOD shows you think deserves her attention.

HOTEL IMPOSSIBLE (VOD Hidden Gem)

By T. Tara Turk

While the Food Network Channel is gaining so much popularity that they need two channels (yes, THAT’S what the Cooking Channel is...Food Network Jr.), the world of renovation doesn’t seem to have the same clear path that food does. Normally you’d think a show about hotel business revamping would go maybe on HGTV but Hotel Impossible is held up at the Travel Channel which makes a little bit of sense if you connect the travel and leisure dots.

Much like "Restaurant Impossible" where British chef and TV host Robert Irvine goes to revamp failing restaurants or Gordon Ramsey for "Kitchen Nightmares," hospitality vet Anthony Melchiorri goes in search of failing hotels across the country and helps them revamp and renovate to at least passable standards. In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb and say this show is the same exact show as Restaurant Impossible except for the business and Melchiorri is shorter and bald to Irvine’s taller and bald. And Melchiorri has no accent.

There’s nothing wrong with the sameness of the shows. In fact the Impossible brand seems to be in dire need when it comes to hospitality. A few of the hotels that Melchiorri visits are in such denial and disrepair that it’s surprising to see anybody staying in them. At worst case they look like the photos of pissed former guests on TripAdvisor.com - nasty tubs, fallling cielings, dirty rooms, hair in the beds...you know, common sense things.