Chopped on Food Network

Official Summary: In each episode, four chefs compete in a three-round contest, where they attempt to incorporate unusual combinations of ingredients into dishes that are later evaluated by a panel of three judges.   At the beginning of each round , the chefs are each given a basket containing four mystery ingredients and are expected to use all of them in some way. Although failing to use an ingredient is not an automatic disqualification, the judges do take such omissions into account when making their decisions.  The ingredients are often not commonly prepared together. The competitors are given access to a pantry and refrigerator stocked with a wide variety of other ingredients.
          Each round has a time limit, typically 20 minutes for Appetizer, and 30 minutes each for Entrée and Dessert.  The chefs must cook their dishes and complete four platings before time runs out. Once time has expired, the judges critique the dishes based on presentation, taste and creativity and select one chef to be "chopped" - eliminated from the competition with no winnings. Ted Allen reveals the judges' decision by lifting a cloche on their table to show the losing chef's dish, and one of the judges comments on the reason for their choice to the eliminated chef.
          In the Dessert round, the judges consider not only on the dishes created by the two chefs during that round, but also their overall performance throughout the competition. The winner typically receives $10,000.

ALNM rec: I have a problem with this show and that problem is that I CANNOT stop watching it.  If I turn this show on, the chances are, it’s during a marathon on Food Network and I can’t stop watching it.  When I was in the hospital for all that time, recovering from surgery, my nurses would tell me I would fall asleep with this show on my TV.  I don’t know what it is about the Food Network shows that are so addicting, but there’s definitely something there. If you’re a fan of Food Network, you’re probably already familiar with Ted Allen and all his friends that frequently judge Chopped, but did you know that Hulu recently put the entire series on the streaming network?  That’s right - all 35 seasons; all 470 episodes. In addition to watching and recording those marathons each week on Food Network, you can also watch it from the beginning on Hulu or watch recent episode on the Food Network app.  If you need a day to veg out (no pun intended), this is the perfect bingeable show!

by Kelly Lee

by Kelly Lee

The Artist: Kesha
The Song: "This Is Me"

Where you heard it first: I finally decided to break down and purchase the Golden Globe winning song from The Greatest Showman, but when I went to search for it on the iTunes store, this cover by Kesha popped up as well.  Being a huge fan of hers, I opted to download her version instead.

Why it’s been stuck in your head: How did I now know that this cover existed?  It is perfect for her and what she has been through in the last few years.  And I have to say, I feel the same way about myself. Kesha has been a warrior and someone that people should look up to.  She has come out of huge challenges victoriously and held her head high in the face of adversity. This song was meant to be covered by her.

Why you recommend it to our listeners: You won’t regret listening to this earworm.  I promise.

by Kelly Lee

Official Summary: Set in a dystopian future, a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship.

ALNM rec: As the premiere of season 2 gets closer and closer, I urge you all to watch this fantastic show.  The story is spell-binding, a heavy drama with so much action that if you blink, you might miss an important piece of information for later episodes.  Deemed one of the most un-binge-able shows due to its heavy subject matter, this fantasy story hits a little too close to home in our current political climate and it makes us wonder exactly how far off from this dystopian world we actually are.  Make sure you check out season one on Hulu before season two starts next month!

Available to watch on Hulu

by Kelly Lee

Nailed It!
Premiere Date: March 9, 2018
Streaming Service: Netflix 

​Home bakers with a terrible track record take a crack at re-creating edible masterpieces for a $10,000 prize.  It’s part reality contest, part hot mess.

by Kelly Lee

by Kelly Lee

by Kelly Lee

Official Summary: Liza Miller (Sutton Foster) is a recently divorced 40-year-old mother. As her teenage daughter, Caitlin (Tessa Albertson), studies abroad in India, Liza has to figure out a way to support herself and her daughter since her ex-husband's gambling addiction has left them in a financial hole, losing all their savings and their house. Following her ambitions from college, Liza attempts to get a job in publishing, but has to start at the bottom, which proves difficult for a woman of her age. During her hunt, she meets Josh (Nico Tortorella), a 26-year-old tattoo artist who thinks that they are about the same age. Maggie (Debi Mazar), Liza's best friend, comes up with the idea of giving Liza a makeover in order to pass her off as a 26-year-old. Ultimately, she becomes an assistant to Diana Trout (Miriam Shor), at the publishing firm Empirical Press, where she befriends Kelsey Peters (Hilary Duff), her 20-something co-worker.

ALNM rec: I have talked about how much I enjoy this show on past episodes of the podcast as my “Obsession”, but as the series is gearing up for its fifth season, I encourage everyone to watch it.  Sutton Foster and Miriam Shor are hilarious as Liza and Diana and, as usual, the men in the show are just as hot as its women. Not only does this show promote multiple strong female role models, but it also attempts to bridge the ever-widening gap between Millenials and their parents.  Millenials and middle-aged women alike will love this show!

Available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video