Leave it to a premium cable network like Starz to figure out a way to combine The Food Network with Cinemax. They will be producing a series based on former New York magazine writer Gael Greene's 2006 memoir of her time as a food critic.

Greene has most recently been seen on television as a judge for 'Top Chef Masters' on Bravo. She's been writing about food for over 40 years.

But don't let her career as a writer fool you into thinking of this as another cookbook. She slept with porn stars, famous chefs and the Studio 54 set (including a tryst with the King of Rock and Roll). In other words, it's perfect fodder for one of those cable adult dramas that creep into the softcore porn territory (and can use the analogy of eating as sex).

Starz itself is becoming a player in the game with the success of its 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' series. It looks like the network seeks to continue the streak.

As far as I can tell, from comments on this site and other sites I've looked at, Top Chef Masters wasn't loved by fans half as much as fans love the original Top Chef. I think fans want two things from their food competition shows: more conflict and a sense that the contestant isn't necessarily a "master" at cooking (though being a chef is fine). For the most part, the chefs on the first season of Masters were nice and professional, and I think that the fact that they're all great chefs already zapped some of the tension that usually comes with the judging segments of the show. Plus the chefs competed in sections, not usually all against each other.

Last night's episode of Top Chef Masters upped the "reality show" factor on the show, as former Top Chef contestants came back and controversy was injected. This was most evident in the confrontation Dale had with Michael Chiarello (KEY-a-rello). More controversy isn't necessarily a good thing when it comes to a cooking show (it's been good to see civility), but it certainly spiced things up.

I thought this was the finale, but it's not. The finale is actually going to be aired next Wednesday at 10:15 PM, after the premiere of Top Chef: Las Vegas. That's confusing.

You probably haven't given a second thought as to who Top Chef Masters judge Gael Greene has slept with (why would you?), but you're about to find out. Greene describes it all in her 2006 memoir Insatiable.

She has always seemed like an interesting character to me, one of the judges on that show (or the original) that seems to have an intriguing, wild background. And in the book she describes the various famous men she has slept with, and that list includes Elvis (Presley, not Costello), Burt (Reynolds, not Ward), and Clint (Eastwood, not Black).

Here's an excerpt from Greene's book.

[via Pop Candy]

You have to love a reality cooking show that makes the contestants cook an egg with one hand tied behind their backs (and has Neil Patrick Harris and magician Max Maven as special guests), but I'm beginning to get bored with Top Chef Masters.

I love cooking competition shows, but the fact that these people are professionals and don't seem to get quite as upset as other Top Chef contestants (and there doesn't seem to be as much at stake) stands out a lot and makes the show a lesser version of the franchise. I mean, I like the lighter tone and the professionalism, but the original is better.

Later this afternoon I'll have my What's On Tonight picks posted, but I did want to give Top Chef Masters fans a heads up about tonight's episode: there isn't one.

For some reason, Bravo is replacing this week's episode of the cooking competition show with a special episode of The Fashion Show. And this isn't one of those deals where one show is put in place of another show but that other show is rescheduled to another night during the week, maybe in the slot of the first show. No, Top Chef Masters won't be seen at all this week (except for reruns of previous episodes, of course).

Fans will have to wait until next week for the next new episode. (And if you're wondering what's on tomorrow night at 10 in the regular time slot for The Fashion Show, it's a repeat of tonight's episode.)

Oh well. I'm not watching The Fashion Show so I guess I'll catch The Philanthropist.

So last night we had the premiere of Top Chef Masters, which is supposed to keep us satisfied until the regular Top Chef returns. But it's a different show. The judges are different, and the contestants are actually well-known, successful chefs already, so the food is going to be better and the arguing is going to be less. It's not bad. I was hoping for all of the contestants to compete at the same time and not be split up into groups like this, but it's actually refreshing to see the pros do it. What did you think?

I'm not a big reality show fan, but if it involves food I might just watch it. Tonight Bravo debuts Top Chef Masters, which is Top Chef only with some of the best chefs in the country, including Wylie Dufresne, Rick Bayless, Cindy Pawlcyn, Anita Lo, and Art Smith. Here's a clip from the show. I wonder if this is going to be more foodie-oriented than trash talk/arguing-oriented?