Nothing says TCA like stars in awkward situations. (See pic at left of "House" star Hugh Laurie in a bumper car at Fox's TCA party on the Santa Monica pier last summer.)

Yep, the Television Critics Assn. summer press tour is upon us, starting Tuesday at the Beverly Hilton hotel. The January TCA gathering was scuttled by the writers strike, so undoubtedly there will be pent-up excitement (agitation? irritation? ultra-obnoxious lines of questioning?) than usual among the scribes, execs and stars who make TCA go 'round.

As we did last year, On the Air will offer team coverage of this fortnight of frothing about shows to come and the strike-interrupted season that just was, and any other issues that crop up between Tuesday and July 22. Variety's Stuart Levine plans to park himself at the BevHilton for the duration, while our TV leader, Michael Schneider, reporter Daniel Frankel and myself will also be availing ourselves of the hotel's free Wi-Fi to cover the events...and drink. I'm guessing it's a safe bet that the tradition of TCA bingo (in which attendees track the over-use of buzz words by panelists) will include the phrase "writers strike" this year.

It all starts Tuesday with a heavy rotation of cable presentations, including Hallmark Channel, HD Net, BBC America and E! nets.

Wednesday's lineup includes: AMC and WE; MTV Networks; A&E Networks

Thursday: Discovery Networks; ESPN; Sundance Channel; HBO

Friday: Turner Broadcasting; Fox Reality Channel; Starz; Lifetime

Saturday-Sunday: PBS -- whose talent roster includes none other than Sir George Martin, plugging his series "On Record: The Soundtrack of Our Lives."

A hearty bon appetite to Stephanie Izard, the first femme foodie to claim the mantle of "Top Chef."

It was the braised pistachios that seemed put her over the top among the final three. Lead judge Tom Colicchio, who's not easily impressed, commented at the close of Wednesday's finale on that nutty touch to one of her winning dishes, roasted lamb medallions with maitake mushrooms.

Izard, a 31-year-old Stamford, Conn., native and former owner of Scylla restaurant in Chicago, told the Top Chef blog that she's going to use her $100,000 prize to "pay off credit card bills" and get back into biz with a new eatery.

The fourth-season finale of Bravo's hit culinary competish came on the same day that the cabler announced plans for "Top Chef Junior," which puts a teen oriented spin on the format, as Variety's Stuart Levine reports.