Christmas commercial of the year

Adorable...yet totes gangsta.

It's "Top Chef", not "Top SexPot"

On Wednesday Michael Voltaggio was crowned the winner of Top Chef: Las Vegas, season 6 of the popular Bravo series. Though Mike had a good showing throughout the competition, the winner of Top Chef has historically been decided almost solely by the dishes made in the final challenge and has not been cumulative by any means. Looking at the judges' comments shown during the finale, it certainly didn't seem like Michael's food was their favorite that night. I thought it looked like almost certainly they were going to choose Brian Voltaggio (brotherly rivalries are obvi great for ratings), especially since he banged out a great dessert and Michael pretty much blew it.

Speaking of banging and blowing, how hot is Michael Voltaggio? He's such a badass and can be a total douche bag, but it totally works. Michael is sexy and was one of the only standout personalities during this season, which to some extent may have accounted for his win in what was by far the closest matchup in Top Chef history between the brothers V and Kevin Gillespie. No randos snuck into the finale (Lisa in season 4, Carla in season 5), so the choice of a winner had to come down to tiny mistakes in the cooking...or who's win could make for the best story line. Sorry Kevin, but even if you didn't make some crucial mistakes I saw a plot with it coming down to the two brothers a mile away.

Top Chef is also probably the hardest reality show for a viewer to truly judge accurately through the televizzle, and thus the easiest for the producers to have say in the outcome. Compared to a purely visual art like fashion (Project Runway) or auditory art like music (American Idol), the culinary world is roughly only 20% visual and largely 80% taste, a sense which cannot be experienced by a viewer. We have the judges' comments to help us, but there is mucho editing which will never allow the viewer to receive the full story. We can follow Top Chef and know who we want to win, but it's pretty much impossible for anyone (even a culinary expert viewer) but Tom and Padma to really know who deserves to win.

Was Michael a strong contender for the title? Surely. Was his food the best during the finale? We'll never know. Would I hit it? Obvi.

Androgyny at its finest

Caught red handed shopping in the women's department...tisk tisk, Adam Lambert. Okay, so I don't think it's the exact same item, but if you ladies want to incorporate some Glambert into your wardrobe try this grey studded jacket from Zara. It's retailing for I think $99 and is almost identical to the one Adam wore to the premiere for 2012. Studs are so hot right now, and I'm also loving the braided headband that Zara paired with the jacket for their lookbook. Forever 21 has a similar one right now for only $3.80.

"Memphis" absolutely lives in me

I hate to drop the phrase "Tony prediction" because my track record isn't great (I think I was one of one person who truly believed in Brooklyn: The Musical circa 2004), but I need to when it comes to Broadway's newest hit Memphis. Having officially opened only a month and a half ago, this rock and roll musical is already developing a strong following despite less than stellar ticket sales.

Two things convinced me that I absolutely needed to see Memphis: 1) Chad Kimball's spectacular raw performance at this year's Broadway on Broadway, and 2) The overwhelmingly powerful and passionate bursts of music that could be heard through the wall that Memphis shares with Hamlet's theatre while I viewed that performance in the back of the theatre in standing room (btw, just don't).

Memphis takes place in Charleston (kidding) and tells the semi-true story of a white DJ who is among the first in the nation to broadcast "race music" on a popular radio station. He becomes immersed in the culture and stirs much controversy, especially after he (shocker) falls in love with a young talented black singer. There are obvious similarities to former Broadway hit Hairspray in plot and certain musical selections, but don't expect bubblegum and swooning teenage girls (though there is something irresistible and untraditionally sexy about Kimball). Memphis has a definite dark side which saves it from slipping into obscurity as just another 50's/60's musical. The score is both danceable and soulful, and the music strikes the right balance between cheesy Broadway predictability and elitist inaccessibility.

Memphis is a feel-good musical that still creates an emotional connection and will tug on your heartstrings, unlike some of the crap that's unfortunately currently running on the Great White Way. I'm talking to you, Shrek.

Stand clear of the opening doors please

According to service change notices posted this morning, the Uptown Cortlandt Street subway station on the R and W lines will re-open service tomorrow, November 25th, at 3pm. (The Uptown N will also stop at Cortlandt during overnights). This station was closed briefly after 9/11, re-opened, but has now currently been closed and mostly barren since 2005. I ride this line every day and had noticed significant changes at Cortlandt in the past month, but am still somewhat suprised that they're ready to open so soon. I'll be out of town and am kinda sad I won't be able to ride during one of the inagural stops at Cortlandt, it'll be nice to hear the computerized voice announce that the next stop is Cortlandt Street and actually mean it! One thing is for sure, the re-opening of Cortlandt Street is sure to make Century 21 shoppers very happy.

When happens when Adam Lambert designs a mother-of-the-bride dress?

You get Kelly Clarkson's AMA performance outfit...

Other rando thoughts about last night's American Music Awards:

-People should not be allowed to be nominated for the same award in multiple genres (ex: Taylor Swift in Favorite Female Pop-Rock and Favorite Female Country). Creates too much of a monopoly, and then really who ARE you as a musician?

-On that note, Taylor Swift just shouldn't be allowed to win any more awards in general. Especially if that means beating Lady Gaga or Michael Jackson.

-Yet I don't agree with Michael Jackson being nominated at all in a year when he didn't release any new music. But I'll keep my mouth shut for fear of angry mobs coming after me.

-I'm a country fan and I don't even know who the eff Gloriana are (winners of the T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Award). And again, anyone who beats Gaga for an award is not okay in my book. They good-naturedly acknowledged their obscurity in their acceptance speech though, so I appreciate the humor.

-Pretty sure SoShy and Nelly Furtado are the same person. Couldn't really tell them apart during Timbaland's performance.

-Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert killed it with their performances...obvi. I also really enjoyed JayZ/Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston and Carrie Underwood. Rihanna: totally overdid it.

-Apparently "bondage sex club" is an acceptable theme for an AMA performance these days. I'm okay with that, it was pretty hot. Honestly though, kinda surprised this one made it to television, ADAM LAMBERT.

Crave-of-the-Mo: Black and gold doorknockers

Not ACTUALLY doorknockers, I think you're supposed to have a house for that...or something. Since Monday I've been lusting these large gold and black onyx hoop earrings seen on Hilary Duff as Olivia on Gossip Girl. The gold part of the earring is a lion's head or some other similarly classy object, and whatever it is it's FIERCE! (Pun intended) However, I have tried my hardest and cannot find out who they're by, or even any reasonable knockoffs. If anyone has a lead on huntin these lions, I would love you more than Chuck Bass loves Asian hookers.