Top Chef Season 3 Premiere

After watching Season 1's top 4 defeat Season 2's top 4, I couldn't wait for Season 3. This season is a make or break it deal for me. Season 1 was awesome (especially thanks to Harold!), but Season 2 was a huge disappointment. Sam should have been in the finals, Elia was ridiculous, and Marcel - victim or victimizer - who knows and really, who cares?
Okay, but Season 3 seems more varied in terms of background and personality. Lot of interesting hairstyles, at minimum. (Spoilers begin - beware)
I love love love that the first quickfire begins during their party. It's like the ultimate "left over" challenge (unlike that pathetic attempt in Season 2 where they had TONS of stuff in a fancy hotel's kitchen). I do think its a bit outrageous that they don't have utensils, an ability to heat, etc. Also, does anyone care about hygiene? Did they wash their hands before preparing that food? I hope none of them give one of the judges a cold! The "Tuscan sushi revisited" by Micah looked impressive and tasty. Clay's gazpacho, however, seemed kind of pathetic. Apparently not small enough, but also just gross, not soupy, etc. It kind of disappoints me that we didn't get to see all of the quick fires, though. Of the 6 we saw, though, I want to point out that I liked Micah's the best. (I'm blogging as I watch, so on my honor, I thought it was the best even before Colicchio called it.)
Season 3's digs are outrageous. If i were Season 1 or 2, I would be writing to complain. Season 1 and 2 were able to trash talk in smaller quarters, why does Season 3 get a hot tub to talk about how each of them is the best chef EVER. (Hello, has anyone picked up that a little humility goes a long way on this show? At minimum, so you don't get beat up).
The Surf & Turf elimination challenge is kind of gross. I am kind of surprised, though, that they didn't use Ilan as a guest judge. I liked that Harold was the guest judge last season for the first challenge - it acknowledged that the best of the previous season might have something to share. I am a big fan of traditions though, so who knows.
Howie fails to put his second protein on the plate. Wow. This is the kind of drama that made Season 1 a must watch. (Anyone remember when Dave forgot to make a third dish for the Cirque performers in that semi-finals?) I am embarrassed for Howie that he has to show an incomplete dish. Clay's dish is, however, inedible. Better to finish or better to have good food? That'll be the judge's table for sure.
On an aside, Brian, is an idiot. So he doesn't finish his dish. It looked done. There was a lot on there. Why not just present the positive things instead of saying "oh and I am bad at time management." This hurt Marcel in the finals when he mentioned that his Heart of Palm dish was suppose to include carpaccio. Do these chefs not study up before going on the show???

Okay, so judge's tables and there is only a top two? Not a top three? Well at least the top two are my early favorites as people.
Hung - I love this guy already. He's my pick to win (hey, and last two seasons, I fell for the top chefs during the first episode, so all you gamblers out there, put you money on Hung!) This does run in direct contrast with the trend from the last two seasons that the person who wins the first elimination challenge wins the show.
Tre is favorite, too. Apparently his cooking is excellent, just like Hung's, and they seem to already be pals. Tre complemented Hung's cooking, which I like.
TC exec's are keeping us on our toes with a bottom 4, and a jerk judge.
Asking Howie "What is your major malfunction?" C'mon, that's rude. Howie knew he screwed up. He was awesome in the way he was standing up to the judges. I like this guy's gumption, but someone needs to teach him time management skills.
I just can't help but feel like Clay was set up as the poor dumb southern kid. He looked like he was going to cry. But, to vote Clay off stands in the face of the rules of the game.
They were told to prepare two proteins.
Howie didn't.
Period.
It shouldn't matter how good his first one was. Really, what if someone had said - screw it, I'll cook one of these SUPER well and just not do anything with the other one? This decision allows for unfair strategic calculations. This should be a TKO.
And on a total tangent, Joey seems like a real character. He doesn't like Micah's mothering of Clay. He is a time freak. He was shown wielding a big knife. This guy could turn out to be the catalyst for a lot of interesting behind the scenes stuff. That being said, can we eliminate the awful bickering from Season 2? The end of the show already shows clips of that fighting. Just edit it out! Please! Don't ruin a great show. So, I think the premiere is great. But I'm a little suspect of the season still.