Top Chef

:

Season 1
  • Network: Bravo
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 8, 2006
Season #: 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
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Critic Reviews

  1. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Virginia Heffernan
    80
    Like Bravo's fashion winner "Project Runway," the channel's promising "Top Chef" flaunts terms of art and insiderism to give it authority.
  2. San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
    Reviewed by: Charlie McCollum
    70
    The series has a familiar format, but the opening episode suggests it may have some real spark to it.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Paul Brownfield
    70
    "Top Chef" seems like a no-brainer, an extension both of the interactivity of TV cooking and the art-and-craft side of reality shows, in which people are actually making things as opposed to just asses of themselves.
  5. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Marilyn Moss
    60
    A cooking match that has been seen so many times before in one form or another.
  6. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    40
    "Top Chef," though it appears to have a stable of good talent in the kitchen, so far doesn't really have much else going for it in the way of personalities.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 56
  3. Negative: 14 out of 56
  1. MovieBunny
    Jul 27, 2012
    7
    This show is a good idea and not all the drama from other cooking shows where editing will change the context of a entire situation. No longThis show is a good idea and not all the drama from other cooking shows where editing will change the context of a entire situation. No long pauses for no reason, no jump cuts in the middle of a conversation, and quick eliminations and no gimmicks. Here is my major problem with the show. Product placement. Every couple of seconds they are showing the label of a item straight to the camera or whenever they go for a drive or being drove somewhere, they always mention the year and model of the car. Sometimes even to the point that I think they are going into a full blown commercial. It takes away from the show. If they did not focus so much on who their sponsor is, I would of liked it more.… Full Review »
  2. aaronpaul121
    May 25, 2012
    2
    A very poor start to an inconsistent series of cooking competitions with weird critiques, high drama and a lot of cooking talent......................
  3. GaylordFriend
    Apr 13, 2008
    0
    What a miserable and worthless pile of garbage. I walked into the room while my 10 and 12 year old children were watching this pathetic What a miserable and worthless pile of garbage. I walked into the room while my 10 and 12 year old children were watching this pathetic excuse for a tv show and had to listen to some ridiculous want to be using vulgar language because he is too stupid to express his thoughts with real words. without having my kids not watch tv at all, which is probably the best idea at this point, how do I best filter this crap?… Full Review »
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