Watch with Kristin

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We got taken for a ride by a Top cheftestant, and we don't mind one bit.

When we told you a couple weeks back that we had reason to believe that a front-runner (Jen, Kevin, Mike V. or Bryan) went home early, that reason was because someone from our team ran into "the red-haired guy from Top Chef" (aka Kevin Gillespie) while shopping for engagement rings in downtown L.A. The chef in question told our friend, "I got kicked off before the end." Well, as you saw last night, Kevin won the final Vegas challenge and sailed safely into the finale, along with fellow obvious finalists Jen Carroll and the Volt bros.

(FYI, this encounter happened in mid-October, which we believe to be before Kevin went north to shoot the finale in Napa, so don't sue us if Kevin doesn't make it into the final three and you feel spoiled. In that case, it's just a coincidence and we're not liable, darn it!)

We warned you at the time, "It could be part of a Bravo misinformation campaign, but we trust the source, so we're passing it along to you." Well, it's looking more and more like misinformation is the case, and we have to say, "Thanks, Bravo!"

Why are we grateful to have been taken for a ride? Well...

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• Keeping Up With the Kardashians: Kourtney is pregnant, Khloé is married, and Kim...got a job? Yep, Kim Kardashian tweeted this morning, "Up and on my way to the set of CSI Wish me luck! Have the best day guys! xo." CBS reps confirm that today is Kim's first day of shooting for the Dec. 16 episode of CSI: NY. Kim and fellow guest star Vanessa Minnillo play a pair of hot would-be criminal masterminds.

• Mark Your Calendars: Showtime has announced premiere dates for the new seasons of three excellent series. Crazy mamas Edie Falco and Toni Collette are back at it when Nurse Jackie and The United States of Tara return Mar. 22. The final season of The Tudors, starring Joely Richardson as the last wife of a finally fat Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), premieres April 11. Oh, and for the five remaining humans who haven't seen Twilight, the TV premiere is set for Jan. 23 on Showtime.

• Top Chef: For those who felt defrauded by the lack of a new episode of Top Chef this week, we offer you this exciting (but profane, thanks to Mike Voltaggio) sneak peek of next week's episode, featuring that notorious layabout Padma Lakshmi.

Sammie in Omaha, Neb.: Is there any hope for Trauma? I'm loving the show! It's an entertaining, action-packed drama, plus Rabbit-Nancy is awesome! It's been staying almost even with Heroes in ratings, and the latest episode actually had more overall viewers.

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Hold on to your knives, Top Chef fans, because a shocking elimination is right around the corner.

According to a source, one of Top Chef's four generally acknowledged season-six front-runners—Jennifer Carroll, Kevin Gillespie, Bryan Voltaggio and Mike Voltaggio—has let slip that he or she doesn't make it all the way, saying, "I got kicked off before the end."

The cheftestant in question revealed this info a couple of weeks ago during a casual conversation with a new acquaintance in the jewelry district of downtown Los Angeles. It could be part of a Bravo misinformation campaign, but we trust the source, so we're passing it along to you.

So who is it? We can't tell, but that doesn't mean you can't guess! Here's another clue: He or she has a number of wins under his or her belt, and he or she seemed to be coasting toward the final and very possibly the title of Top Chef!

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• OK, We Get It, JVDB! In his latest attempt to prove he's totally not the squeaky-clean Creek boy of yesterseason, James Van Der Beek has taken a role on ABC's The Forgotten, our frenemy reveals, as a dark and shady financial broker. (We're talking to James, Kevin Williamson and other former Creeksters next week, so email any Q's to tvdiva@eonline.com or tweet @kristinalert.)

• Even Sweeter Than the Real Top Chef: Yum! There's a spinoff in the works called Just Desserts, with pastry chefs. Word is a certain E! Online columnist would not cry if they asked her to judge.

• Big Bang Throw-Down: Ruh roh! Executive producer Bill Prady promises "a big, giant, knockdown, drag-out fight" for Penny and Leonard, after which she will run into an old flame. We're no mathematicians, but this seems to add up to trouble in geek paradise. 

• Dollhouse: If you love this show, tell a friend. Friday night's ratings hit an all-time low. Ugly Betty is also down 14 percent.

Jeffrey: Was that really Jayma Mays singing "I Could Have Danced All Night" on Glee?

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Carin Baer/FOX

• Dollhouse Pulled: Sources confirm that Fox is planning to pull Dollhouse for November sweeps, and then bring the show back in December. No word back from Fox yet. The new season begins airing this Friday, and something tells me Fox and Joss Whedon really wish this news weren't breaking now.

• Glee, Part One: This might be the best tweet ever: @neildiamond Hey, so who's this guy Puck singing "Sweet Caroline" so good,so good,so good on #Glee? Loved it!! (@Mark_Salling must be a puddle of goo right about now.)

• Glee, Part Two: A rep for Fox tells us there is "no truth to my knowledge" that Glee is planning to slap back at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's recent diss by doing a spring episode about the Glee club being excluded from a school parade.

• The Big Bang Theory: The hot geek cameo du jour is apparently CBS' Big Bang Theory. Star Trek's Wil Wheaton appeared on this Monday's ep, and now Battlestar babe Katee Sackhoff is set to stop by later this year. Nerds rejoice!

• Top Chef Masters: Mmmm...delicious news! Bravo has renewed Top Chef Masters for season two. But who do you think will win this season of regular Top Chef: Kevin, Jen or a yummy Voltaggio brother?

Rebecca in San Diego: Kristin, is the Lost holdout Mira Furlan (Rousseau)?

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Well, well, well. The "Dinner Party" episode of Top Chef certainly was chock-full of revelations, wasn't it? Not only was our investment in a possible Mike Voltaggio-Jennifer Carroll pairing torpedoed by the reveal that Mike V. has not one but two young daughters, but Ash all but threw himself on his sword to protect team partner Mike V. Maybe we were looking at the wrong love connection this whole time!

Virtually the only storyline that wasn't shocking was Mike Isabella's continued insistence on being an obnoxious blowhard. Ergh. Somebody muzzle that guy.

Now, which of last night's surprising moments stood out most for you?

Take our poll below!

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Kelsey McNeal/BRAVO

Top Chef: Bravo has announced a season-seven renewal for superamazing cooking-competition series Top Chef. And yes, we are mostly doing this item so we can post a photo of Bryan and Michael Voltaggio. What?! You know you lust after them, too really respect their food.

Californication: Good news! David Duchovny remains gainfully employed! Showtime has renewed the debauched-author dramedy, created by Dawson's Creek alum Tom Kapinos, for a fourth season.

Glee: If you haven't seen it yet, check out this sneak peek to see Cory Monteith's dance moves in all their big-galoot football-player glory in the guys' entry in the guys versus dolls sing-off this week on Glee. 'Tis wonderful and excellent and typically Glee-ful.

Brace yourselves for TV tonight, kiddos—it's Monday, aka the second-most-overwhelming night of TV after Thursday, and there's so much to see. Enjoy.

Virginia Sherwood/Bravo; Michael Lavine/Bravo; Jay Sullivan/Bravo

Bethenny Frankel minus the Housewives? Christian Siriano without the designers? Fabio Viviani and no quickfire challenge?

These are topsy-turvy times, folks, but as strange as these concepts may seem (all except for Bethenny, who is not in fact a wife), embrace them because these breakout personalities are on their way to superstardom in their own Bravo series.

The three docu-shows are currently untitled and in development, but brief descriptions have been provided by the network.

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Bravo Photo: F. Scott Schafer, Kelsey McNeal/FOX

Is anyone else enjoying this season of Top Chef as much as we are? Last night's French-cuisine challenge was just the latest highlight of this already delicious season—are you watching and drooling as much as we are?

Plus, So You Think You Can Dance returned for last night to brilliantly toy with our emotions!

We must discuss...

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Trae Patton/NBC

NBC may be the home of some of our favorite shows, but the faltering network has definitely been the target of much scrutiny in recent seasons—particularly in the past few weeks with the departure of NBC Entertainment President Ben Silverman.

But the scoop given out during today’s Television Critics Association panels has made us believe that things might just be turning around. What's more, we're more excited than ever for Bravo's Top Chef: Las Vegas.

Check out some of our goodies from Chuck, Friday Night Lights and the always interesting Heroes...

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Is it just us, or is Neil Patrick Harris simply delicious in everything he does? From How I Met Your Mother to hosting the Tonys to this week's guest spot on Top Chef Masters, the funnyguy simply makes us smile every time he opens his funny little mouth.

The actor heads to the Magic Castle in Hollywood for a special episode of Top Chef Masters, Wednesday at 10 p.m. on Bravo, to be wined (well, saked) and dined by the best.

As you see in the clip above, NPH seems to know a thing or two about gourmet food and what goes well with his favorite drink: sake.

Click below for more clips from the episode...

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Michael Williams/FOX; Fox; Michael Williams/FOX; Michael Lavine/BRAVO; ABC

Alas, our friends, we have come to the end of Watch With Kristin's 2009 Tater Tops Awards. Today we bring you the final category: Best Reality-Show Judge.

It's been fun sharing this ride with you, and we thank you for voting over the past 29 days and for voicing your opinions on who were the best of the best on television this past year. Voting will be open until July 7. (Tomorrow we'll post an item that has every single poll listed in the same place.) We will announce the winners on July 14.

Now, on to today's competition...

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