Katie gets canned.

Katie Lee Joel, wife of Billy, who spent the first season of Bravo’s Top Chef judging alongside Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, has had her goose cooked—she will not be returning for the show’s second season.

While many speculated that Katie’s uncomfortable-sounding delivery and deadpan manner contributed to her exit, a posting on the blog (http://www.bravotv.com/blog/andysblog/2006/06/queer_eye_wrap_party.html) of
Bravo’s Vice President of Production and Programming intimated that it was Katie’s choice, that she left to "pursue other opportunities." Right. Because her calendar was just overflowing with opportunities before Top Chef came along (if you count bailing her husband out of rehab again as one of those opportunities). Andy went on to describe Katie as "a dynamic, beautiful woman who is passionate about food with a real zest for life." But apparently, not enough spice.