THURSDAY REPLAY
June 18, 2020

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The final three - Stephanie/Bryan/Melissa review their chances and their history. One more time - the prizes are (and again this was taped late last year before COVID-19) - a feature in Food & Wine Magazine, a spot at the Food & Wine Festival in Aspen and $250,000 from San Pellegrino!

Then at the Hotel - the final three are greeted by Breakfast and a note from Padma: "Congratulations on making it to the finale. Enjoy your breakfast and let that sink in - you've earned it! When you're done, meet me on the terrace!"

They meet Tom and Padma on the terrace.

FINAL ELIMINATION CHALLENGE - BEST PROGRESSIVE 4 COURSE MEAL OF YOUR LIFE. They get help from Kevin, Lee Anne, and Brian M. (Gregory is out due to his back injury).

Stephanie draws the number one knife - works with Brian M.  Bryan draws 2 and picks Kevin. Melissa works with Lee Anne - 3.

The chefs will be taken to Florence to shop at il Marqueta Centrale - a huge food hall in Florence. They have one hour and 1000 Euros to spend. They will have 5 hours to prep and cook at the hotel and then three hours the next day in service.

The three pairs head to Florence and plan their meals. Melissa & Lee Anne clash a bit. Next day - we start the 5 hour prep and cooking.

We start to see the menus come to fruition(and Tom comes by later in the day)

MELISSA:
- 1st Course - Char Siu Octopus with Fennel
- 2nd Course - Squash Agnolotti with Szechuan Chili Oil
- 3rd Course - Grilled Squab with Persimmon, Porcini and Fermented Black Bean
- 4th Course - Hong Kong Milk Tea Tiramisu

STEPHANIE:
- 1st Course - Prawns in Kataifi with Tangerine Syrup
- 2nd Course - Taleggio Stuffed Cappeletti in Roasted Chicken Broth
- 3rd Course - Milk-Braised Veal, Parisian Gnocchi, Lemon Rosemary Sauce
- 4th Course - Sticky Toffee Pudding, Yogurt Ice Cream

BRYAN:
- 1st Course - Beets with Tonnato, Spicy Arugula, Bonito, Aioli
- 2nd Course - Lasagna with Wild Boar Bolognese
- 3rd Course - Monkfish with Cacciucco Broth, Octopus, Squid Ink Focaccia
- 4th Course - Malted Chocolate Mousse, Hazelnut Ice Cream, Coffee & Cardamom Soil

After prep - the chefs are taken and help the judges cook them a meal. And they all chat about their experiences so far. Stephanie calls Kristin Kish (winner of Seattle Top Chef and her best friend).  Melissa calls her mom. Bryan calls Michael - his brother.

Final Cook and Prep - 3 hours.

The judges have wine with the esteemed tasting panel with includes Dario Cecchini (8th Generation Italian Butcher), Hunter Lewis (Editor In Chief, Food & Wine Magazine), Tony Mantuano (James Beard Award Winner), Clare Smyth (World's Best Female Chef, 2018 from London, England), Janice Wong (Chef/Founder of 2AM Dessert Bar, Asia's Best Pastry Chef, 2013/2014), Mauro Colagreco (Chef, Mirazur which is the #1 in the World's 50 Best Restaurants - Menton, France), and Marcus Samuelsson (Chef/Restaurateur - Red Rooster Harlem).

Final Judges Table: All three are grateful for their experiences. The families of the final three and the sous chefs are hearing the verdict.
- WINNER OF TOP CHEF LA ALL STARS - MELISSA!

We have a final celebration with champagne.

(C-Note: a lot of what goes on on this stage may look fun, but it's been designed, tested, and supervised by experts, far too many to imitate at home, so... DON'T)

This week, the Don't Master has invited the Kaufmans to his den of play - stepdad Daniel & stepmom Nicole are the stepparents to social media manager Tucker & his stepsister Cody.

DON'T PLAY BALL IN THE HOUSE: Daniel will have 2 minutes to pitch balls to Tucker. Daniel will be on a spinning wheel, while Tucker will be hanging on a swing upside down. Each ball is worth $1000 up to 20.
- They connect for 17 for $17,000.

DON'T PLAY WITH MATCHES: Daniel has 2 minutes to knock all six fire targets by launching fireballs at them. In his way: three giant matches. Each target is worth $3000. All six is worth $20,000.
- DON'T YOU DARE is in play: $5000 will be added for another match. They take it.
- He knocks out three targets for $9000, plus the Don't You Dare money for a total of $14,000.

DON'T BUDGE: Cody will stand behind a perspex shield wearing a pincushion helmet. Above her are three balloons. She'll have objects thrown at her. Every time she doesn't flinch or budge, she wins $4000. Do it five times, that's $20,000. The Don't Push Button is in play.
- Cody is PERFECT for $20,000, giving a total of $51,000.

DON'T LOSE YOUR GRIP: You have 10 seconds to pull our strongman Westley off of his platform. If you do it, you get $20,000. If not, you can try again with another teammate at a cost of $5000.
- It takes TWO tries, but they get him off for $15,000, $66,000 total.

DON'T STOP: One family member will face stop signs representing answers to multiple choice questions that the rest of the family will have to guess. The first two are worth $5000; the third is worth $10,000.
- DON'T PUSH BUTTON PUSHED! Nicole's question: according to 100 people, what advice would you give to a young adult who's moving out for the first time: don't room with a felon, don't use your roommate's toothbrush, don't walk around nude, or don't let your snake loose? Nicole goes with the felon... $5000, possible $10,000. Cody gets this: according to 50 people, what's the biggest don't your parents should know about social media: don't get scammed by hotties, don't friend Russian bots, or don't post my baby pics? She goes with the baby... but it was Russian bots. So whatever you win in this game is halved. Finally, Tucker gets this: according to 10 people, what is the best advice for new drivers, don't speed or don't take selfies? He says don't take selfies... RIGHT. So their $15,000 is halved to $7500, giving the family a final take f $73,500.

Instagram influencer Mei Brennan just uploaded a selfie of her with a Golden Putter and Plaid Jacket, and a seat for $250,000 in the season finale. Now another eight mini-golfers take the course.

Meanwhile, Zac Efron and Josh Duhamel are on the course. For some... reason.

ROUND 1
HOLE 1: SLIP 'N PUTT - Climb up the icy mountain. The first one to the top gets the better placed ball to putt through the polar bear's legs, down the icy slope, and into the hole.
- "Scary Mary" Driscol (Glendale, AZ; pro long driver) vs. Tanner "White Buffalo" Beard (Snyder, TX; filmmaker for a nonprofit). This one goes to a putt-off. WINNER: Tanner
HOLE 2: WATER HAZARD - Putt up the wave to the green while avoiding the drop zone, then try to make it past the three water jets on the plank to the other side. Land in the water... it's a one-stroke penalty.
- Jim Black (Patterson, CA; firefighter) vs. Clay "The Terminator" Myers (Irving, TX; golf pro). WINNER: Clay
HOLE 3: THE DISTRACTOR - 12 foot putt while being distracted by... a BASEBALL GAME!
- Amanda Robertson (Phoenix; opera singer & golf pro) vs. Gerritt Beatty (Thousand Oaks, CA; IT guy). WINNER: Gerritt
HOLE 4: GOPHER IT - Ride on a mechanical facsimile of the Holey Moley mascot, Sir Goph. Longest will get prime position. Then putt your way around more gophers to get to the hole.
- Karl Barth (West Bend, WI; mini-golf course reviewer) vs. Courtney Gill (La Jolla, CA; economist). WINNER: Karl

ROUND 2
HOLE 5: PUTT THE PLANK - Putt over the bow of a ship. Whoever lands closest to the X gets the help from Captain Long Jon Lovitz , where he'll chip the ball to the green on the other side of the lagoon. The loser gets to watch as Jon chips it blindfolded. Once the ball is on the other side, the contestants will have to make their way to the green by walking the plank, jumping atop a shark, and then reaching for another plank. Landing in the water is a stroke penalty.
- Gerritt vs. Tanner. WINNER: Gerritt
HOLE 6: POLCANO - Putt up the side of the volcano through a rock-laden Plinko board. Land in the center to get the best position. Otherwise, it'll end up in the rough or the hazard depending on where it lands. In any case, you'll have to zipline your way around the pole in the lagoon to the green to finish the hole. Land in the water, it's a stroke penalty.
- Clay vs. Karl. WINNER: Clay

An update after the break. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Gerritt Beatty is unable to finish the competition. So a puttoff at the 19th Hole was held between runners-up Tanner and Karl. Tanner won, so he'll face Clay in...

FINAL ROUND
HOLE 7: DOUBLE DUTCH COURAGE - Two giant windmills with more blades than season 1. You have to get your ball... and yourself... through. If either land in the water, it's a stroke penalty.
- Clay: 3 (MISS)
- Tanner: 3!

And someone call Josh Duhamel and Zac Efron and the rest of the herd, because Tanner Beard just won the Golden Putter, the Plaid Jacket, and the guaranteed shot at $250,000!

A central tenet of Buddhism states a person's actions in the present will determine their fate in the future. This is the idea... of "Karma". Eighteen teenagers have been dropped in the Alpine wilderness with no phone, no parents, and no connection to the outside world. All they have are each other. The only rule... do your best or have your karma come back to you.

The players are 9 boys and 9 girls.
BOYS:
- Justin Darrigo (14; Tewksbury, MA)
- Huck Flanagan (15; Pomfret, CT)
- Adren Gilmore (14; Keller, TX)
- Harrison Halewood (14; Glen Ellyn, IL)
- Elijah "Mack" Mack (14; Los Angeles)
- Elijah "Eli" Naidas (14; Los Angeles)
- Aaron Thomas Raye (13; Newburgh, ME)
- Jack Silver (14; Rahway, NJ)
- Luke Youssef (14; Los Angeles)

GIRLS:
- Presley Alexander (14; Rogers Park, IL)
- Ciera (14; Bronx, NY)
- Sienna Coward (14; Rogers Park, IL)
- Illya Mehrzai (14; Houston, TX)
- Andrea "Andy" Munoz (14; Rogers Park, IL)
- Ariana Pettit (14; St. John's, AZ)
- Skyla Sousa (14; Lowell, MA)
- Avon Stoutamire (15; Mary, SC)
- Skylie Thompson (15; Cyril, OK)

They hike to the middle of nowhere, 6000 feet above sea level, where they meet their guide, professional cyclist & YouTuber Michelle Khare, who informs them that they will pair up into teams of two. Together, they'll compete in games that will test them mentally and physically. However, there is one place that they'll have to try and avoid at all costs... THE CAVE OF KARMA. Every episode, two teams will enter, but only one team will leave. In the end, one team will leave camp with... $50,000.

We begin with a carryover from a predecessor show, Endurance.... the Right-To-Stay Challenge. As a group, they will get to choose TWO people to bypass this challenge. Final words from Michelle: find some balance in your home... and bring a swimsuit.
- FREEPASS: Illya & Luke (after everyone decided not to give Jack the pass, because he had a fun fact that he was going to win $50,000).

RIGHT TO STAY CHALLENGE: The Plank Walk. There are six floating platforms. Swim out to said platforms and, using only a pole for balance, traverse said platforms without falling into the water. If you fall into the water, you have to go back to the platform and start again. The last boy and girl to make it to shore are going home immediately. "It's not about being first... just don't be last."

... and Harrison is flossing... because he's FIRST! Last... JACK. Joining him... CIERA.

Next day brings the Pick Your Partner game, another holdout from Endurance.

PICK YOUR PARTNER: Fit to Pick. Wedge yourself into a frame above the water. Over time, the frames will tilt forward. Last one standing gets to pick not only their partner, but every team in the game. And one more thing... There are EIGHT frames, so only eight players will participate.
- CHOSEN: Huck, Luke, Illya, Skyla, Skylie, Andrea, Eli, Mack
- WINNER: MACK

After Mack gets some insight from everyone else... It's time to choose teams. Mack will choose the teams, and the teams will choose their color AND their first medallion symbolizing one of the 8 Laws of Karma.

TEAMS (along with team colors & initial medallion)
- Luke & Ariana: BLUE, Responsibility
- Adren & Presley: ORANGE, Focus
- Aaron & Andrea: RED, Connection
- Justin & Avon: PINK, Giving
- Huck & Sienna: GREY, Humility
- Eli & Illya: YELLOW, Patience
- Harrison & Skyla: PURPLE, Inspiration
- Mack & Skylie: GREEN, Growth

As a result.. NO one got what they wanted, and everyone is mad at Mack. Could this be a ticket for Mack & Skylie to win, or does karma have other plans? And... wait, is Harrison about to quit the game?

Season 1 available in its entirety on HBOMax. Another recap follows tomorrow.

ROUND 1: Jennifer leads the challengers with 600 to 500 for Andrea and 300 for Kari. On the Master Minds, Ken and Muffy are tied at 600 to Jonathan's 500.

ROUND 2: Going into the final question for 400 points, Andrea leads with 700 to 600 for Jennifer and 100 for Kari. Whatever happens, Kari's day is done. Meanwhile on the Master Minds side, it's THE MUFFY SHOW with 800 for her, 500 for Jonathan, and Ken on the ropes with 400.
- 400-POINT QUESTION in "Writers": With a total of four wins, which American poet was awarded the Pulitzer Prize the most times? Andrea says Robert Frost. Ken goes with TS Eliot... It's Robert Frost. Andrea and Jennifer move on, and Ken is out.

SPEED ROUND: Andrea owns it, 4400-600. As for the Master Minds... it's STILL the Muffy show, 4300-1100, and not to play favorites, but we're here for it.

ULTIMATE TRIVIA CHALLENGE:
Q1: Australians always recognize the first of what month at the beginning of autumn? (March)
- Andrea 0 - 0 Muffy
Q2: What college in Macon, Georgia was the first college to grant degrees to women? (Wesleyan)
- Andrea 0 - 0 Muffy
Q3: Three and a half miles across, the largest living organism ever found is a variety of what? (mushroom)
- Andrea 0 - 0 Muffy
Q4: A statue of a farmer and two hogs stands in front of what canned food's museum in Austin, MN? (Spam)
- Andrea 1 - 1 Muffy
Q5: Construction worker Marc Smith is credited with starting what spoken word competitions in 1986? (poetry slams)
- Andrea 1 - 2 Muffy

Tough round... but still the Muffy show.

TBS: 10:30p/9:30c
Host: Jameela Jamil with the Tenderloins

What's more miserable than a "Tenderloin" losing at "Impractical Jokers"? Prolly losing a game show with two of them helping. Welcome to "The Misery Index"!

[Hey, finally got a male contestant this season; thought they were going all "Treasure Hunt" on us...]

ROUND 1: MISERY LANE
MARKERS: You drop Grandma and she chips her last tooth (48) & Poison ivy in your mouth and throat (68)
DEVON: A reluctant high diver slips off a 10m platform, bangs body off 7.5m platform and crashes in the pool.  Devon puts it above both markers.
MISERY INDEX SAYS: 53 [$0]
MICHELLE: An escalator breaks apart and a man slips under the "steps".  Michelle puts it above both markers.
MISERY INDEX SAYS: 75 [$500]

AFTER ROUND 1: DEVON $0-$500 MICHELLE

ROUND 2: MORE OR LESS MISERABLE
DEVON: A) A drunk man craps himself on a train and removes his pants and the video goes viral...or B) A man on a moped falls into a sinkhole that was JUST created?  Devon chooses B.
MISERY INDEX SAYS: A) 57, B) 69 [$1000]
MICHELLE: A) Restaurant accidentally serves mourners hash cake at a funeral...or B) Chili's employee finds cremated human remains outside his restaurant?  Michelle chooses A.
MISERY INDEX SAYS: B) 43, A) 41 [$0]

AFTER ROUND 2: DEVON $1000-$500 MICHELLE

ROUND 3: MASTER OF MISERY (for $2000 and the win)
EVENT: Sal's dad tells a tale about how a child Sal, dressed in a snowsuit, gets hit by a car when the dad wasn't looking; the dad was more concerned about beating up the driver than Sal's physical status.  The "Index" number is from the dad's POV.
DEVON: 58
MICHELLE: 75
MISERY INDEX SAYS: 89

FINAL SCORE: DEVON $1000-$2500 MICHELLE

BONUS ROUND: MARGIN OF MISERY
Michelle is helped by "hit and run" Sal.

EVENT 1 [for $5000; 30-point range]: Your car is towed wrong and it rolls into a pool.
RANGE: 20-50
MISERY INDEX SAYS: 46 [$5000]

EVENT 2 [for $10,000; 20-point range]: You get boiling butter poured down the back of your trousers.
RANGE: 52-72
MISERY INDEX SAYS: 81 [$0]

EVENT 3 [for $15,000; 10-point range]: You find a drugged-up clown sleeping in your bedroom.
RANGE: 59-69
MISERY INDEX SAYS: 50 [$0]

MICHELLE'S GRAND TOTAL: $7500

GAME 1: "I'm a professional shark wrangler." Our first challenger has caught over 1200 sharks.
- #1: Jeannie, Bobby
- #2:
- #3: Craig, Meagan
CORRECT: #1. #2 is Shayne Davis, a model. #3 is an Australian named Damian.

GAME 2: "I'm Scarlett Johansson's stunt double." Heidi Moneymaker is ScarJo's stunt double in the upcoming MCU feature, "Black Widow" (C-Note: in theaters this November... we hope).
- #1: Bobby, Craig
- #2: Jeannie
- #3: Meagan
CORRECT: #3. #1 is Jill Penfold, a Crossfit coach. #2 is Becca Buckalew, a boxer.

So far, Jeannie, Bobby, and Meagan are on the board with 10. Craig... nothing yet.

GAME 3: "I am a Bigfoot hunter." Jerry Hestand is what we call a BFB, a Bigfoot believer.
- #1: Jeannie, Craig, Bobby, Meagan
- #2:
- #3:
CORRECT: .... total wipeout, #3.

BEFORE YOU GO: One of the imposters from the previous game just completed "365 Days of Taco" in Texas.
- #1: Meagan, Jeannie, Bobby
- #2: Craig
CORRECT: #1, San Antonio Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter. #2 is Nicholas Carl Azarian, who works at Taco Bell.

Going into the final game for double points, Meagan, JEannie & Bobby are all tied at 20. Craig still has yet to score.

FINAL GAME: "I am a Hall of Fame songwriter." Our final challenger wrote everything from "September" by Earth Wind & Fire to "I'll Be There For You", the theme song to "Friends".
- #1: Bobby
- #2: Jeannie, Craig
- #3: Meagan
CORRECT: #2, Allee Willis. #1 is Sam Paul, and #3 is Kazembe Ajamu, father of... Zendaya.

And we have a three-way tie. Mama Doris goes by body of work and decides that CRAIG is going to be crowned as the WORST PLAYER... IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!(*this week). We'd ask for a speech, but we're out of time.

(C-Note: since this episode was taped, Allee Willis died December 24, 2019 of cardiac arrest. This recap is dedicated to her memory.)