Mentok: Are you still enjoying Top Chef: Masters? I like it, but it seems like more than half of the show is spent on introductions and judging. These are master chefs and I would like to see more of them working in the kitchen actually cooking.

Also, do you know what the format will be once they finish with the preliminary rounds?

Gail: I do like "Top Chef: Masters." It's no "Top Chef: Original," but it's still enjoyable. I like the high level of the cooking on "Masters," and also like it when the great chefs flop. I'm still chuckling over the famous Wylie Dufresne's meltdown last week. I believe they're narrowing it down to six, who'll then compete in the finals. I'm not sure of the specifics of that (three and three, then two? Six at once?) but I'll be rooting for Hubert "Burger Bar" Keller.

Matt B: GP;

NBC seems to be running repeats of The Office and 30 Rock on Thursday nights this summer (if they ain't being pre-empted). Since they dumped Earl, does that mean they won't show the repeats? Does a broadcaster lose rights to the shows of a just finished season if the decided to drop a show? If there were episodes that haven't aired, wouldn't they be allowed to air those?

Just curious to how it works.

MB

Gail: NBC doesn't have any episodes of "My Name Is Earl" scheduled. I think it's less having the rights to a show you've canceled than not wanting to waste space on it, and also not wanting to give it a boost going over to a new network.

evanbenn: Good afternoon, Gail! Been hearing some buzz about "Beyond Twisted," the new late-night show from TMZ loudmouth Harvey Levin that's set to preview soon in several markets. Is St. Louis one of them?

Gail: I hadn't heard of that show! But will you be impressed if I tell you I've hung out with Harvey in the TMZ newsroom? He is shorter than I am. And I noticed the other day that he's still the street reporter on some court show that airs here. I digress, however. The stations should be sending me their fall syndication schedules soon, and I'll keep an eye out for "Twisted."

John: I was wondering if you have seen any episodes of the upcoming season of "Entourage" and what you thought. I am looking forward to Sunday night.

Gail: I've seen the first two episodes, and they're fine -- they're "Entourage," after all -- but a little disappointing. Not much happens. I'm sure what doesn't happen is setting up the rest of the season, of course. We find E. contemplating getting his own place, and getting back together with Sloane. Everyone else is pretty settled. My favorite plot has Lloyd demanding a promotion from Ari.

srs1: What do you make of Top Chef Masters? (didn't see it last night yet, so no spoilers here). It seems to have its moments, but lacks some of the zing of the original. Also it seemed like the episode 2 weeks ago was meant for Rick Bayless to win. While i wouldn't go as far as to claim that is rigged, it does seem that the producers have their favorites. thoughts?

Gail: Call me naive, but I don't see how they could rig that show. Explain more what you mean about the producers having favorites -- they're deliberately sprinkling one especially famous chef into each show, and Rick Bayless was the one that week. Wylie Dufresne was the one before, and he lost in a big way. "Masters" will never replace "Top Chef," but I like seeing the big guys do their thing.