JEALOUS OF THOSE JUDGES ON THE COOKING SHOWS?
Don't be.
First off, it's a dual role: arbiter and communicator.
"With 'American Idol' the audience can hear the singing. With 'Dancing in the Stars,' they can see for themselves," said Joseph Bastianich of "MasterChef." "With cooking competition shows, judges have an additional responsibility to translate the flavors for those at home watching."
That doesn't stop the second-guessing. "The wall breaks down, and the viewers feel they're part of it," said "Top Chef" judge James Oseland. "But they're not eating it or even smelling it, and they only see it for a few seconds. I'm there. I'm tasting it."
And it's not always so good, despite the skills of the chefs involved. "I'd say the highs were high, and the lows were low," Bastianich said
Added fellow "MasterChef" judge Graham Elliot Bowles: "Let's just say there were a couple of dishes that made you question people's sanity, and a few that you could probably run your car on."
BILL WARD
