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.
Can you have two Asian American Top Chef winners in a row?
Monday, May 12, 2008Hung Huynh wins it all and becomes Top Chef
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Chalk up another win for another cool Asian-American male on TV.
In addition to not only smashing stereotypes as previously talked about here on Slant Eye (see previous post Add Top Chef 3’s Hung Huynh to the list of reality-tv stereotype smashers) now Hung Huynh the 29 year-old Vietnamese-American can add the title of Bravo’s TOP CHEF to his resume as of last night.
And a cool $100,000 as well.
Top Chef Hangs Title on Hung (E! News):
Never underestimate a finely prepared piece of raw fish.
Buoyed by his delightful hamachi appetizer, not to mention his meticulous attention to detail, 29-year-old Hung Huynh was named the winner of the third season of Bravo’s Top Chef on Wednesday. The Massachusetts-born Las Vegas resident looked beyond thrilled when host Padma Lakshmi informed him that his knives were there to stay during the live finale in Chicago.
“I am so excited!” Huynh exclaimed. “I worked so hard to get here and prove myself…I’m speechless, but I’m sure you’ll hear more from me later.”
More on Hung and his Top Chef win:
