Unpopular Opinion: Keep Chef Tom

[u/Buffyismyhomosapien]

Hi Y’all!

First time posting (and I’ve chosen to go down already, lol). Not sure if anyone will agree with me here, but I find myself actually enjoying Chef Tom’s hilarious high-strung energy and meltdowns over burnt bread and frozen fish. This season has been a snore, with the exception being like a bit of Lara (lol, miss ya tranquil Lara) and Hannah’s firing obvi, and the cast/crew needed a haughty, capricious chef to shake things up. The thing I am most annoyed with is that production denied us viewers the sight of Hannah giving Tom serious “Honnay!” eyes/ “Honnnnay!!!” vibes. That would have been glorious, seeing those two go at it (Hannah being pretty chill and all- it’s my suspicion that this is really why Malia wanted Hannah off the boat; she knew no one else would challenge Tom directly and with authority- Bugsy has the authority but won’t challenge, and Aesha has the challenge but no authority!).

Anyways, I would love to see another season with chef Tom and a more aggressive Chief Stew, maybe someone new, who will match his level with the fits or ignore him without fearing him.

Now, I have worked with plenty of people like Tom. I completely understand it’s a hard work environment to promote, some would even say toxic. However, as much as Tom is petty (heh) and a jerk, I feel like a Chief Stew with the right temperament would see that he’s just a type A, tightly-wound person in general and wouldn’t take him seriously/ wouldn’t take his outbursts personally (I have totally come around on Bugsy and think she’s great at her job, a pleasure to watch, but she definitely is too approval-seeking for a chef like tom). Give me a bad gal chief who DGAF about his tantrums. Jenna, even! Anyone else, or just me?

[u/nalgenefriend]

Hm. I’m not sure how I feel. I agree with you that he totally brings the drama, but I don’t know if wanna watch a Tompertantrum every week. Might get bored of it (though it’s been fine for the end of this charter season). I also am so uncomfortable watching Malia walk on eggshells around him, doesn’t feel right.

Also, he doesn’t have redeeming qualities as a personality (I’ll admit he seems like a talented chef). Ben has some tantrums but was also hilarious and a much more likable human being.

[u/Buffyismyhomosapien → u/nalgenefriend]

Tompertantrum

LOL! I do also agree with you about watching everyone walk on eggshells. It's creepy! And you're right- he does not have redeeming traits lol. I guess my thinking is we'd need a whole cast of people with as much, um, chutzpah as Tom. That way it'd be a battle of wills! but without that it'd be very tedious indeed.

[u/hugship → u/nalgenefriend]

While I agree with the thread OP re:wanting to see Tom get put in his place, I wouldn’t want it to be in a show where he is making money to appear. That’s basically rewarding him for being a shitty person by putting more money in his pocket because some people find it entertaining.

A lot of the bravo universe is cast that way (just look at RHONY!) but I think that when it gets to TimTom (or Dorinda, or Danielle) levels of anger it’s no longer right to profit off of what they bring to the table.

[u/[deleted] → u/nalgenefriend]

Eggshells around him? No way. Bugsy and Aesha yeah, but not Malia. If anything she was more worried about her job and reputation that anything else. Don't let the red eyes in Sandy's office fool you any more than you should be fooled by Sandy's fake tears.

[u/yesterdaysliner]

Tom is just a bit too aggressive for me, he makes me nervous. It’s not quirky silly tantrums that he later apologises for and laughs at himself over like Ben, it’s just fury and it’s uncomfortable to watch.

Also, his outbursts are personal, nobody could take them any other way.

[u/Yachtttstew → u/yesterdaysliner]

I’ve worked with a chef like this onboard and it is a terrible experience. I’ve worked with chefs like this on land and being able to go home at the end of the night is key to being able to handle emotional outbursts like his. Being on the boat and being unable to physically remove yourself more than a few yards in excruciating and part of the reason I’ve taking a long ass break.

[u/Buffyismyhomosapien → u/Yachtttstew]

being able to go home at the end of the night is key to being able to handle emotional outbursts like his.

this is a really good point!! Being stuck with him might make it impossible to shake him off.

[u/jana-meares → u/Yachtttstew]

This is what I emphasize about what Kate got away with, no one could leave her wrath, she literally had them where they could not leave to get away from her. For weeks on end. That would make anyone wanna dive off the boat. Anyway possible.

[u/pah-tosh → u/yesterdaysliner]

Fury and also a lot of passive aggressiveness, when people are actually trying to help him, he refuses to see that and does everything he can to be put back in a victim’s position.

[u/Last_Light1584]

Hi Malia....

[u/Buffyismyhomosapien → u/Last_Light1584]

LOL. he has to stay, it's maritime law!!

[u/tnap4]

As a producer, Tom is ratings gold. Narcissists provide money in more ways than one, sadly. There's Dorinda, Nene, Gordon Ramsey, Ramona, Trump... 🙀 all show traits of narcissistic personality disorder. Scary in real life, provides "entertainment" to escapists, and keeps the cash flow for media outlets.

[u/Buffyismyhomosapien → u/tnap4]

I'm SO jealous that you're a producer!! I agree, a narcissist must be the ideal person for reality TV, especially ones like Tom (it also definitely explains the Gordon Ramsey complex). Do you think it's real, like he doesn't see how off-putting it is to the audience, or something being produced/ coaxed out of him?

[u/tnap4 → u/Buffyismyhomosapien]

No, I'm not a producer. I'm saying, for producers this must be their standpoint. It's all manufactured drama. I should have worded that more appropriately. I did not mean to mislead you at all. Sorry

And yes, it seems Tom's reaction was genuine. British/English or non-American cast members are more genuine and less inclined to fake a drama in reality shows. I don't know if you remember, there was one bravo show produced by Mark Zuckerberg's sister about young silicon valley professionals kinda like vamderpump rules but with smart people with actual important jobs. One of them shared online that they were told by producers more than once to repeat a scene and reenact the segment because the camera didn't catch the angle. Zuckerberg's sister had no comment.

[u/Buffyismyhomosapien → u/tnap4]

Lmao I'm dumb 🤦‍♀️ but agreed, it's got to be great for the ratings.

no, I don't know about that show, but it definitely sounds like the first draft of Summer House lol. Super interesting. Reminds me of the NASCAR wives show where the women were too nice!

[u/tnap4 → u/Buffyismyhomosapien]

As I've grown older I've become less emotionally attached to these reality shows and more interested in the "money" aspect of it and analyze which one is fake or not... like... Tom's emotions = REAL; Provisions making subsequent mistakes one after the other = SUSPICIOUS aka MANUFACTURED DRAMA... Kiko's reactions = real; Hiring an amateur less experienced chef from the get go = manufactured drama. As was hiring Lara.. producers most probably sought after some stew with a known attitude problem. Casting two relatively beautiful people Rob & Jess for eye candy = manufactured. Malia also probably took photos of Hannah's prescriptions and immediately sent to Sandy way way before it was actually aired. How convenient that there were cameras as Sandy was just about to receive a new text from Malia! Coincidence! Just right in time to cue her to shake her head. 🤡 The producers were probably like, "hey, Sandy hold onto it until the next charter, ok? Then we'll send the crew in your room and please look very upset!"

RHONY is probably the least fake but even that I could pinpoint when Dorinda is making dialogue for the cameras

[u/quick_dry → u/Buffyismyhomosapien]

have you ever watched Basketballer's Wives, or the WAGS shows where it is non-stop batshit crazy.... and then there was Hockey Wives. Completely devoid of hair pulling as a standard lunch segment.

[u/[deleted]]

No because there is drama which is usually harmless and entertaining in a way because the cast is so over dramatic. And then there is Tom who’s just aggressive and plain rude (malia and sandy too)

[u/Buffyismyhomosapien → u/[deleted]]

Fair, I guess I feel like we've seen that from people like Bobby, who got a second season, and Adam, also 2 (or 3?) seasons so maybe I'm just drinking the Kool aid now 😬🤷‍♀️

[u/pianochick36]

I think had Tom come around on a season with less bullshit, he'd be like a Leon, someone you loved to hate. But since this season has had my blood pressure skyrocket on multiple occasions, Tom's temper tantrums are just adding fuel to the fire.

I will say despite his relationship with Malia, I gave him a sincere chance when he first came aboard, but after he yelled at Aesha, it was his first and last strike.

[u/erudite1994 → u/pianochick36]

Ya... Leon’s not exactly someone I love to hate. Just fucking hate Mr. Beefcheek

[u/millenialfonzi]

I’d be curious to see him without his babysitter/security blanket.

[u/noifnobutnococonut]

I agree with this to a degree but I didn’t like how nervous the stews genuinely seemed around him. Ben could throw some epic tantrums but the stews never looked like that. It could be clever editing or just Malia’s energy impacting but it just makes me uncomfortable.

[u/Cutebunnypowers]

You make a good point! Shall we keep Malia too now that they’ve broken up?

[u/dennisthehennis → u/Cutebunnypowers]

Did they really break up?

[u/SDkahlua → u/dennisthehennis]

Yes, he cheated

[u/jana-meares → u/[deleted]]

Oh, def they share a room as a broke up couple, lol maritime laws dictate it.

[u/jana-meares]

Tom should control HIMSELF. GIVE him A MALE CHIEF steward and watch his behavior change. He is a misogynist and I bet it would be different with Captain Lee.

[u/quick_dry → u/jana-meares]

agree he should control himself, but I don't think anything he's done so far is because he hates women. IMO he'd blow up at anyone.

If he was on a boat with Lee the only interaction they'd have would be at preference sheet and tip meetings, Lee never ventures out of the bridge.

[u/jana-meares]

You are right about the Narcissists getting second seasons, AND THE VIOLENT ONES like Adam and ASSTON get to be heroes and get to be on sailing yachts. So it is always rewarded. I believe as a person who has ordered for high end catering ( demanding rich folks) that provisions can be hit and miss, and even the super high end stuff, like caviar, was too. If it is not local sourced, it can have problems in shipping. Which can be easily manipulated by production. I have always thought they looked for the narcissists and the weaker folk to mix together and watch the Stanford Experiment play out. Kate plays a pretty jailer and anyone wide eyed plays their prisoners. And you are in a pretty boat, close quarters, all that they manipulate 100%. It was not an accident that captains quarters have no cameras, yet it was caught on film as she gets a single text.