bad taste
I can't say I was terribly surprised at the outcome of last night's "Hell's Kitchen" season finale: It was pretty clear from the start that Rock was going to win, but I'll admit I was holding out hope for someone a little less egotistical to claim the top spot.
Though I guess you have to be pretty egotistical to compete on one of these reality shows in the first place. You have to love the fact that your own charming grin is going to grace TV screens around the world; you have to look forward to your every move being narrated and broadcast with dramatic music in the background. You have to be pretty confident in everything you are to put yourself out there like that.
Because it could backfire. You can't care that you could end up looking not only confident but cocky; not only calculating but heartless. It happened to Rock. He's probably not as mean and merciless as he appeared on the show, thanks to the ruthless editors and producers, who have the tough job of distilling each contestant's character into two dimensions.
But he did come across as mean and merciless, and when he wished his fellow finalist, Bonnie, good luck, it ended up sounding hollow. And because of this, his victory left a bad taste in my mouth.