BBQ Pitmasters on TLC: Episode 08

Johnny Trigg's Shootout

The final episode was filmed in Mineral Wells, Texas just west of Fort Worth where Johnny Trigg invites all the teams to a rib competition. All the teams will be able to watch the judging, and hear the comments as they happen.

Johnny starts the episode in one of his favorite meat markets where he picks up 153 pounds of baby back and spare ribs for the competition. The teams then share a dinner the night before where Johnny explains the judging. Rather than judging in particular categories, each rib will be given a score from 1 to 10. Myron then asks about the cash at stake, and since Johnny had no plans for a cash prize, they all agree to put $500 apiece into the pot for a total of $3500 to the winners. Jaime then adds a side bet of $100 that Paul finishes in the top 2. Johnny then adds another bet that Myron won't win, and Tuffy put up yet another $100 that one of the two Virginia teams will win it all.

The teams start cooking in the morning and we witness Le-Ann covering her ribs with Parkay (really?) and honey and they made a big deal about Myron covering his charcoal with lighter fluid to get the fire going.

As the judges get the baby back ribs, the contestants take a seat at a television that's showing the judge's comments. Jaime is the first one on the hot seat, and he had his tail between his legs when the judges said it was sweet and bland. Le-Ann's comments weren't much better, but Johnny's ribs got some great comments about his flavor and smokiness. Comments on Tuffy's ribs included dry and tasteless. Of course Myron couldn't stop complaining about the judges when they said his ribs were too spicy. Harry ribs were well received, so Paul was the only one left. The comments for him included dynamic and "Johnny Trigg Jr.", so Paul was pleased.

The contestants head back outside to finish up the spare ribs, and few decide to take the baby back comments to heart, and add some of the flavor profiles that pleased the judges. Jaime adds quite a bit of spice with cayenne and Tuffy adds more seasoning.

The second round of judging wasn't any easier for the pitmasters to watch. Myron's ribs were overcooked and had little flavor beyond the sauce, and Harry's were about the same. Tuffy got great comments, so his changes seemed to do the trick. The judges enjoyed the flavor of Paul's spare ribs, but they thought they were undercooked. Jaime was pleased when his spiciness fired up the mouths of the judges. Johnny didn't fare as well in the second round with undercooked ribs, and Le-Ann's ribs tasted like orange juice and were too sweet.

Scores were announced from last to first. Le-Ann was last in baby backs while Harry took the top spot. Jaime finished last in spare ribs after all that cayenne. Tuffy took home the top spot in spare ribs after his adjustments. Overall, Harry was the big winner followed by Johnny Trigg, Myron, Paul, Tuffy and Le-Ann taking last.

This may have been the most fun episode since someone had to get last place. They were also all cooking next to one another, so the trash talking was at full bore. Hopefully the show gets picked up for another season, and if so I'll be here providing recaps of Season 2.

- BBQ Snob