Can you have two Asian American Top Chef winners in a row?

Monday, May 12, 2008

While there's a part of me that is hoping a woman breaks the mold and finishes as a Top Chef this season - I've wondered this before (and I'm not alone, check chezpim - who also happens to be guest judging on Iron Chef America) - can there actually be two winners in a row who are Asian American?

Would producers allow it? Or would they be thinking "We can't have two Asian American winners in a row, what the hell would people say?".

I think there's an honest to goodness vibe out there that says if you'd have another Asian person winning Top Chef, people would think the show would be overrun with Asians and they might actually stop watching.

There might even be a riot.

And then there would be the quotas.

Not just on Top Chef, but on all reality television shows.

Just for a moment imagine what happens if Dale wins Top Chef, Yamaguchi wins DWTS - and then just for fun, Peih-Gee actually won Survivor, Ron and Christina won the Amazing Race, Brandi Milloy won Oprah's Big Give, and Ramiele Malubay won American Idol.

Are you kidding me?

I just don't have the faith in our society that if Asian Americans ran the table on some of the most watched reality television shows, that it wouldn't be the impetus for some mini race-war that would get totally out of control.

I can't help it. I know it's wrong but I just don't see it happening any other way.