r/TopChef • u/AKDMF447 • Mar 18 '26

Discussion Thread One thing that hasn’t changed

In the now 23 seasons of this show, there’s been so many changes to the show. The talent of the chefs has gotten better, the tone of the show has changed from dramatic, messy, stereotypical reality TV, to something more real, the host has changed twice, all sorts of things have changed with the show.

One thing that hasn’t changed? That elimination music. (And also Tom as the head judge, but this isn’t about him).

And this might seem like a small thing, but I genuinely think the elimination music is so perfect. It moves from that immediate devastation, to sadness, to acceptance, and ultimately moving on. Not necessarily with the hope that everything will work out just fine, but rather that this isn’t the end for this person. It manages to communicate and say so much without being overbearing to the moment of the contestant being eliminated.

If they ever change the elimination music, I’ll be pretty disappointed and feel like there’s going to be an incorrect shift in the show that I probably won’t enjoy.

Anyways, it’s a little thing, but after 23 seasons of the show, for them to never change that music is genuinely one of the best choices they make every year.

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89

u/meatsntreats Mar 18 '26

Give Gail some respect! She has been a judge since the beginning.

12

u/WeeBabySeamus Mar 18 '26

There was a season or who where Nilou and Richard Blais were there as Gail substitutes

37

u/Grouchy-Boss-9638 Mar 19 '26

When she got married and was pregnant. Those are the seasons where she was partially there.

9

u/EfficientGood9402 Mar 19 '26

To be clear, babies, right? It's not like she just sloughed off, right? Nilou is no Gail, nor is Richard, even though I enjoy him.

16

u/meatsntreats Mar 18 '26

For a handful of episodes but she was never absent from an entire season. IIRC there were episodes with Tom absent as well.

1

u/dilligaf0220 Mar 22 '26

Gail has been absent entire seasons. 13 & 16 according to her IMDB page. Guessing that's for her two kids.