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• Monday, January 22, 2007 02:29 PM

  HH's comments on Top Chef

  Like most others here, I was dismayed to read HH's sympathetic "he was asking for it" commentary on the televised assault on Top Chef.

  I recall a strong letter from a woman to a Bravo executive describing how upset and anxious for Marcel's safety her 8 year old got as he watched this unfold on the screen. I am very far from 8 years old, but this was upsetting and off-putting even to me. Marcel wasn't "asking for" anything, leave alone assault, least of all from a set of despicable characters much more inferior to him in every way but size.

  I am not much of a TV watcher but I accidently discovered TC this Season. As this drama unfolded over the last two weeks, I was baffled/engaged enough to follow some reactions online in various forum/fora (especially TWoP). As an immigrant to the U.S., I was truly gratified to witness Americans' deep-seated revulsion to bullying manifest itself, even when such bullyting comes from the "popular/macho" kids whom the audience had vociferously declared their favorite and oohed and aahed over (am I generalizing too much?). Opinion about Marcel changed overnight - from being perceived as annoying, a majority of the viewers (it seemed) switched sides when the "cool kids" displayed their mean-spirited and crass bullying.

  I am glad that "Lord of the Flies" makes such a deep impression and shapes the reactions of so many in such a wonderful way. (The book was referenced many many times in different Marcel vs. lan/Cliff/Sam/Betty discussions in different places.) Clearly HH didn't even bother to read the Cliff notes.

  —inboston Read inboston's other letters
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