As much as I'd like to remember last night for the departure of the Mad Meat Monkey, what stood out the most was the repeated interference from the judges during the team challenge. They were everywhere, including where they shouldn't have been -- in the makeshift kitchens. Call that proper texture on your sausage? Did you notice your casings have split? Now that you know your results are too sweet for votes, how about an emergency counterbalance? (The non-genius of taking peppers away from onions in the first place is a separate issue.) The trio was madly fixing everything as if every motorcycle rider in California had vowed to avenge an offended taste bud by spinning out on all of their lawns. For starters. The teams got to make their own initial mistakes -- but after that, it was Obey The Fix Or Die. Subtle, really, for a Bachelorette definition of 'subtle'.

As for the pressure test -- no, I don't like having an HK format here. This should be a meritocracy: allowing anyone the chance to eventually put up rivals can backfire, and letting Esther off the hook for her total lack of leadership was just wrong. Admittedly, Gordon will push the override button if he senses gameplay and since the panel isn't looking for a head chef, leadership isn't as much of a need as it is for other shows -- but I still feel like Esther's total uselessness should have forced her to cook something. Roasting her resume' over an open flame would have helped.

And I still haven't seen what well-done is supposed to look like. (I never order it. I prefer medium rare. And locally, all the chefs seem to think 'well-done' equals 'grey'.)