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The Most Awesome Thing We Saw Last Week: By Crom!

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Written by spunkybean staff

Tuesday, 23 June 2009 10:00

Well, it’s officially Summer. We hope you’ve been enjoying yourselves with all the seasonal John Locke: Patron Saint of Awesome activities, be it tetherball or synchronized swimming. Or other activities. We’re sure there are other choices available. We don’t really know, because we’ve been inside, sorting through a variety of media entertainment to determine the Most Awesome Thing We Saw Last Week. We do it for you, people. Because of the love.

With most of my favorite reality shows on a break right now, Bravo has stepped up with a special edition of Top Chef. Top Chef Masters features four established professional chefs every week competing in crazy culinary challenges. This week’s episode was seemingly aimed right at me, which I appreciate. First off, one of the contestants was “molecular gastronomist” Wylie Dufresne. In case you don’t know, a molecular gastronomist is basically a food mad scientist. The first challenge involved making an amuse-bouche from vending machine ingredients. At least two of the chefs attempted a “Dr. Pepper reduction”, which sounds fantastic. But even better, the main challenge was Lost-themed. Basically, they had to create a meal using only ingredients found on

the Island, as well as some additions from a list approved by the Dharma Initiative. So not only did they get ingredient lists emblazoned with the Swan logo, but they had to cook for the Lost writing staff. We got to see show creators Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse, as well as three writers who weren’t identified onscreen, but I recognized Elizabeth Sarnoff and Brian K. Vaughan. Sadly, nobody threatened to withhold food until they writers revealed whether or not the bomb went off or if the Island can bring Locke back, but it was a lot of fun to see the writers of my favorite show enjoying another of my favorite shows.

Next up, well, I’m not quite sure what this is. I’ve never heard of a modeling show called She’s Got the Look before, and I’m not even convinced that it’s real now. However, this is absolutely the most fantastic elimination footage that I have ever seen.

Finally, spunkybean favorite John Hodgman gave a speech at the annual Radio & TV Correspondent’s Dinner. With President Obama in attendance, Hodgman delivered a hysterical and occasionally brilliant speech commemorating our “first nerd President”. This is seriously the best thing you will see all week.

MYNDI

Since it returned in April, FX's firefighter-themed drama Rescue Me has been a consistent blend of hilarious and gut-wrenching, and it's always engrossing. Last week, the show had a few stand-out scenes (which I'd love to show you, but can't since the episode isn't online yet in clippable form). Anyway, one featured Denis Leary's Tommy finding out that "Black Sean", one of his fellow firefighters who was dating his daughter Colleen, broke up with her because she seemed to know a lot more moves in the sack then he did. So what did Tommy do when it was perceived that his daughter had been called "a whore"? He turned a firehose on Sean in the shower, which prompted the response, "You turned a hose on a black man?" from multiple people. It's a great scene.

Tommy also chewed out an entire AA meeting, throwing the whole program back in their faces, saying he can control his drinking, which his family, friends and we the audience know is a complete farce. On top of that, he continues to juggle "no strings attached" sex with both his ex, Janet, and Sheila, the widow of his dead cousin, who are each their own special brand of crazy and crazy hot. And are not really capable of "no strings attached", so look for a possible catfight soon!

The best scene, though, came courtesy of Steven Pasquale, as Sean Garrity, a 35-year-old firefighter diagnosed with kidney cancer most likely from all the work he did at Ground Zero. Fearing that he'll lose his job--and any future job with the department--if he uses his benefits to pay for the surgery to remove the infected kidney, Sean has been extorting money from the bar the guys from his house are running under the table and hiding his condition from everyone, except his chief.

As he was given the sedation drugs to put him under for surgery, Sean fell into a musical dream state, where his nurses began singing and he himself walked down a deserted street outside the firehouse, singing a lovely song about his situation. (It seems this was based on the experience of a real firefighter, and the whole concept is discussed here.)Theater vet Pasquale has a gorgeous voice, and maybe they should just have Sean recover, leave the department and start auditioning for shows next season. The man isn't book smart, but he's adorable and talented, so he's got that going for him!

In conclusion, watch Rescue Me on FX!

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