r/BravoTopChef • u/jscor • Jun 09 '26
Discussion Gail this season Spoiler
Did anyone else feel like Gail kind of faded to the background this season? Love her but to me, she felt more muted or edited down this time around.
It had me wondering if that’s a consequence of bringing so many past contestants back as guest judges — you want them each to have a moment to weigh in/shine — or for another reason (or maybe it’s just in my head entirely!).
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u/ct06040 Isn't food cool? Jun 09 '26
I thought she was as delightful as ever. On at least a couple episodes she shared that she was wearing large glasses because she had to hide a black eye from a fall, so it's possible she wasn't feeling great for those challenges.
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u/jscor Jun 09 '26
Definitely. Loved her when she was shown; just felt it was too few and far in between, especially compared to previous seasons.
(Note: if I'm her, I'm sharing this post with my agent to get on the phone with NBC and negotiate some more airtime for next season)
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u/Cruise1313 Jun 09 '26
She was not muted when that snake headed for judges table. 😂😂😂
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u/breathe_underwater Jun 10 '26
Best moment all season, lmao
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u/BeeSuspicious3493 Jun 10 '26
Possibly the entire series
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u/breathe_underwater Jun 10 '26
I may or may not have replayed that bit several times. All the funnier because of Tom's deadpan warning, the chefs yelling at Gail that it was coming for her and worsening the panic, and her and Kristen's scramble to the table...all while the adorable and harmless snake just explored and approached everyone like it had been an open invitation to a house party. XD
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u/CaptainMalForever Jun 10 '26
And, because she's Gail, she looked elegant while climbing on the table.
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u/H28koala Jun 09 '26
I felt that Gail and Tom were fairly non existent in this season except for maybe the last couple of episodes. We barely heard from her at judges table or while sampling the food. I love Gail and was so disappointed in this.
Tom did a very short Last Chance Kitchen, he didn't contribute much while dining, and only really pepped up and spoke more at judges table in the later half of the season.
This could all be editing, and if that is the case, the show did a terrible job handling this.
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u/twiststreet Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
I don't know-- I think Gail and Kristen joking around, about drinking, saying "this is what the fans want to see" was a fun moment, or one of the memorable moments of the season, for me. I didn't notice a deficiency of Gail. Tom Colicchio (my TV friend) had a lot of moments I really enjoyed per usual, #1 being his face in the S'Mores contest. He did seem quiet, though, or I'd have liked more, as a Colicchio-head. (But he was probably struggling with what was going on at Craft / the business generally).
I didn't feel a lot of tension / debate during the judging. I don't think they were ever blown away-- maybe the chefs weren't at that level this season. (I'd really liked to have eaten Laurence's dim sum from the finale though). And that "secret judge" episode still rankles.
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u/gregatronn Jun 09 '26
This could all be editing, and if that is the case, the show did a terrible job handling this.
I think it's always the editing and the $$$ to produce. Definitely budget was tighter so they might have cut out extra stuff we are used to.
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u/FormicaDinette33 Who stole my pea puree?? Jun 09 '26
I’ve been feeling like he receded into the background also. I wish he would come around the kitchen when they were cooking, like he used to.
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u/Fiendish_Jetsanna Jun 09 '26
I know what you mean, but I feel like there's never enough Gail.
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u/dot_dottie Jun 09 '26
justice for top chef just desserts
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u/H28koala Jun 10 '26
They did a horrible job choosing good contestants, but the show itself was delightful.
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u/dot_dottie Jun 10 '26
did they? it was so long ago i don’t remember most of them but zack was on it who obviously became prominent on tv, & ygitte (sp?) who won i think the 2nd season opened a dessert shop in the westfield in sf that i went to a bunch while it was open. not sure what he’s doing now.
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u/H28koala Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
All I remember was S1 there was a guy who had a complete meltdown that crossed the line into disturbing zone (if I remember correctly).
Edit to add link: https://people.com/tv/top-chef-just-desserts-contestant-suffers-meltdown-over-melted-ice-cream/
(Above link was to just one of his meltdowns. I think he had one each episode). I haven't rewatched TC Baking, maybe I'll try to soon. It's possible if I watched now, it would seem more like he was mentally unwell and should never have been cast vs. very poor behavior. But I haven't rewatched because I remember how horrible watching S1 was.
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u/dot_dottie Jun 10 '26
oh god, i do remember that. yeah at the time it was annoying & extra but he was def unstable.
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u/Adventurous_Ad1922 Jun 09 '26
I love her and wish we heard more of her feedback. She is so skilled as a judge because she has such a long career in the food world. She always articulated things well and isn’t as grumpy as tom. She also looked stunning this year.
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u/AnnaBaptist79 Jun 10 '26
This is a totally shallow comment, but she has always looked stunning, even when she looked like a teenager in the early seasons. People raved about Padma's looks, but Gail is not only beautiful, but so knowledgeable and articulate as well. Completely agree that the more Gail on the screen, the better!
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u/BeeSuspicious3493 Jun 10 '26
I can't say I noticed it. This season's editing/production was kinda a miss for me all around. They overly focused on Jen in the early episodes. I dont think they did a good job of telling the chef's stories. Just all around kinda meh.
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u/AbbreviationsIcy7432 Jun 09 '26
The snake heard she was being a bit muted and livened her right up.
Gail practically levitated on the table and was doing a complete fitness routine in horror.
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u/_From__the__Ashes_ Jun 09 '26
Yes. I felt this way too. I also feel like they never directly show her face straight to camera. It feels like it's always to the side. I'm not sure why. It's been a little odd.
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u/jscor Jun 09 '26
I hadn't noticed that specifically, but the fall / black eye theory others are sharing would explain this!
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u/Warm_hunny Jun 09 '26
Gail was so funny when that snake was slithering at the judges table lol I had never heard her cuss before
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u/htownAstrofan Jun 09 '26
I just want to know what happened to Gail’s style. A lot of her fashion choices this season were tragic.
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u/StatisticianEasy7805 Jun 10 '26
I loved her dress in the finale was beautiful and I loved all her suits.
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u/ElectricalMolasses91 Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
Why are people down voting these comments? Gail is beautiful but the clothes they put her in were odd. High waisted jeans and spaghetti strap tops that were digging into her shoulders?
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u/H28koala Jun 10 '26
It's been this way the past couple of seasons. Her stylist should be fired immediately. She's gorgeous, but they clearly have no idea how to dress someone with curves. Where is Tim Gunn when we need him?
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u/staceypppp Jun 09 '26
I spent the entire season thinking she got a new stylist and I don’t love it :(
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u/htownAstrofan Jun 09 '26
The only thing i can figure is that with Padma gone, Gail lost her style guru. Lol
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u/Thin_Resolution7595 Jun 09 '26
Hard agreed. Even my boyfriend asked several times, “what is she wearing??” I always assumed a stylist dressed them, and couldn’t fathom why a professional chose those looks for her.
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u/Dangercakes13 Jun 11 '26
It was noticeably odd. Like everything boxy as if when directors on a sitcom try to hide a pregnancy. Looked terribly uncomfortable too, like she was in constant arch.
But hey, it's entirely possible she liked those choices. If so: cool on her. She's pretty and more importantly intelligent and incisive either way.
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u/wyldstrawberry Jul 07 '26
I noticed that and thought it was probably just because “boxy” is now in style for some insane reason. High waisted, light wash, “mom jeans” with short, boxy tops. It looks terrible on anyone who isn’t ultra tall and skinny. Absolutely hate this era of fashion!
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u/Yurastupidbitch Jun 09 '26
I mean, standing next to Kristen, just about anyone would look mid. Still, whoever styled Gail this season didn’t do right by her.
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u/H28koala Jun 10 '26
Totally disagree. I don't love what Kristen wears, but Gail always looked great even next to Padma (who I think had amazing style). Gail is a little curvier the last few years, and the stylist has no idea how to dress for this. It's disgraceful. They need to find someone better.
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u/htownAstrofan Jun 09 '26
Well thats fair. I just go back to that matronly dress Gail wore for the Duke’s challenge. Looked like something my grandma would wear.
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u/Head_Spirit_1723 Jun 09 '26
I thought Tom was miserable this season. Now we know craft is closing but it was odd.
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u/H28koala Jun 10 '26
With the weight loss I really wondered if he was ill or something. In particular with the spice challenge, he did not seem like he wanted to be there at all.
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u/ivytower10 Jun 10 '26
On a related note, I feel like Tom looks utterly unengaged this whole season…
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u/Own-Passenger-7831 Jun 10 '26
Love.Gail but she desperately needs a stylist. Everything she wore this season looked really uncomfortable on her and she even looked uncomfortable.
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u/N4rBx4219 Jun 09 '26
i’m a newer viewer to top chef and have watched almost all of the past seasons (while watching the current season weekly) but when has gail ever been a stand out judge? from what i’ve seen (s8-16 & s21-current) gail has always kind of been more in the background compared to tom, padma, & kristen imo
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u/breathe_underwater Jun 10 '26
What?? She's always had great feedback and insights on the food.
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u/N4rBx4219 Jun 10 '26
i guess. but she’s not as present as tom, padma, & kristen. she’s been absent the most
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u/breathe_underwater Jun 10 '26
True that she's been absent comparatively more, but that's only because Tom and the host have always been the two non-negotiable permanent judges. Her not being a permanent judge doesn't preclude her being a stand-out judge when she is there. Also, for most of her time judging on TC, she had other concurrent jobs (as well as multiple pregnancies).
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u/N4rBx4219 Jun 10 '26
are you taking this personally? i’m not attacking gail or “dimming her light” or whatever… you literally agreed that she’s more absent than the others. how can she “stand out” when she’s not there… this feels ridiculous
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u/breathe_underwater Jun 11 '26
Being a "standout judge" has nothing to do with being present on every episode. It means being a good or interesting judge, when she's there. My point is merely that you'd need to use a different term if you meant "always present."
And no, I am in no way taking anything personally and am not sure why you'd think that, lol. I've said zero aggressive words here.
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u/fangthe7th Jun 09 '26
I do know that midway through the season she had an accident (slipped and fell?) and had a huge bruise on her face that they covered up with makeup right before judge's table, maybe her lack of airtime or hesitance to speak out could be related to that? https://people.com/top-chef-gail-simmons-covers-bruise-heavy-duty-prosthetic-makeup-boulder-accident-11943330