Entries Tagged 'Hell's Kitchen' ↓

Quips Of The Times: “Top Chef” Swears Too Much

It’s odd that "Top Chef" is getting singled out for profanity, because it’s a later-evening cable show that could probably get away with uncensored swearing, while "Hell’s Kitchen" is earlier and broadcast and has far more anger in its dirty words. Still, as the Times says, "Bravo’s censors leave much of the offending syllables intact. Words are
not exactly bleeped out; they’re bleeped at. Instead of a fig leaf, the
network holds up a sprig of parsley."
RSS Feeds

Continue reading this post by: Aaron Weber For more…

RSS Feeds

Quips Of The Times: “Top Chef” Swears Too Much

It’s odd that "Top Chef" is getting singled out for profanity, because it’s a later-evening cable show that could probably get away with uncensored swearing, while "Hell’s Kitchen" is earlier and broadcast and has far more anger in its dirty words. Still, as the Times says, "Bravo’s censors leave much of the offending syllables intact. Words are
not exactly bleeped out; they’re bleeped at. Instead of a fig leaf, the
network holds up a sprig of parsley."
RSS Feeds

Continue reading this post by: Aaron Weber For more…

RSS Feeds

Contestant Typing: I.B. Negative

The Boston Globe has a funny story this morning analyzing what might be key moments for contestants on shows like "American Idol" and "Dancing With The Stars" - when they react to the judges’ comments. Snap back and you could end up looking like a bitchy diva who ought to be voted off. Hello, Danny Noriega! Or rather, goodbye, Dan-o! But sniffle and confess all your failings and cheerfully accept Simon’s abuse and you could end up looking like, well, Brooke White. The story has put me back to thinking that maybe "sheepish talent" David Archuleta (right) will pull it out over rocker David Cook after all - Cook’s slightly odd approach to the judges might not go over as well with 12-year-old girls "Idol" voters as well as Archuleta’s wide-eyed, grinning, You mean I really am good? look. Although seeing it week after week it’s getting a little hard […]

Continue reading this post by: Joel Brown For more…

RSS Feeds

Changing My Mind About “Hell’s Kitchen” Again

It seems like the beginnings of “Hell’s Kitchen” episodes are better than the middles and endings. The first episode had Gordon Ramsay mingle with the chefs in disguise, then mock their “signature dishes.” It wasn’t just yelling- there was critique and humor. But as soon as the actual challenge began, it was apparent that the teams had been given about half the time necessary to prepare for it, and that Ramsay was hamming up his rage for the cameras.

Last night’s episode seems to have the same pattern. First, a clever lesson about waste - waking the contestants early and making them sort through last night’s trash in their pajamas, then having them cut enormous halibut into dozens of equal portions without wasting any. Then, the restaurant portion of the evening, featuring everyone being unprepared and Ramsay screaming at them for it. Of course they’re unprepared: They had no time to […]

Continue reading this post by: Aaron Weber For more…

RSS Feeds

Gordon Ramsay Is A True Culinarian

"I don’t understand what Chef Ramsay didn’t like about my dish," says "Hell’s Kitchen" contestant Matt. He’s been asked to produce his "signature dish," on tonight’s season premiere, and says that he knows exactly what Chef Ramsay wants because he’s "a true culinarian." Not quite: The combination of chocolate, scallops, capers, venison, and eggs actually made Ramsay vomit.
"Hell’s Kitchen" has way more ad-hominem attacks and vicious putdowns than a Bravo production, but it just might be more serious about food than "Top Chef." At the very least, it’s got less product placement. And as I said last week, host Gordon Ramsay seems genuinely offended and hurt when people mistreat his beloved culinary art.
I’m amused enough that I plan to watch at least another episode or two. Readers: Do you want my running commentary?
RSS Feeds

Continue reading this post by: Aaron Weber For more…

RSS Feeds

Spoiler Warning: My Predictions For This Week’s Shows

I don’t have insider confirmation about the following stories, but I’m pretty confident in my powers of prediction and guesstimation. Beware my spoilers! They have more spoilage than day-old meat in the back of a Japanese dekotora (at left)!
On Tuesday, "American Idol"
contestants will be singing Dolly Parton songs. Despite country being
her natural genre, horsey girl Kristy Lee Cook will screw up badly.

The other week, Gordon Ramsay told us that he doesn’t enjoy swearing and that he can stop at any time. He’ll prove it tomorrow night on the season premiere of "Hell’s Kitchen,"
which will feature no rage or anger at all. He’s turned over a
completely new leaf and will gently correct any mistakes he sees in the
kitchens of his new proteges.

On "Top Model"
this week, the girls do go-sees - that is, client visits. At least one
of them is going to get horribly lost, show up late, and blame a […]

Continue reading this post by: Aaron Weber For more…

RSS Feeds

Marco Pierre White Comes To US TV

Marco Pierre White is often described as one of the most eccentric, brilliant chefs in the world. He’s perhaps best known for earning three Michelin stars, deciding that the award wasn’t worth the suffering and work he’d put into it, and quitting his restaurant. He’s also famous for being a hard-ass: He’s ejected customers from his restaurant for not appreciating his food correctly, and once reduced a young chef named Gordon Ramsay to tears.
And while he’s left the kitchen and turned to the business and consultancy side of the restaurant business, he’s still doing some TV as well: He’s replaced Ramsay as the host of the UK version of "Hell’s Kitchen."
He’s now moving to US TV for an NBC production called "The Chopping Block," which will feature teams of eight designing, opening, and running competing restaurants, while facing additional challenges thrown at them by the producers. The show […]

Continue reading this post by: Aaron Weber For more…

RSS Feeds

Gordon Ramsay, Swearing Soon In A Kitchen Near You

"Hell’s Kitchen" host and taskmaster Gordon Ramsay has had great success with the US adaptation of "Kitchen Nighmares" and it’s been renewed for a second season. How does Ramsay manage to produce US and UK versions of two shows and run a couple of restaurants?
I’m guessing he has trustworthy management at his restaurants, and spends most of his time dedicated to TV, where he shoots as many episodes as possible in advance. Even so, it’s got to be a grueling pace.
Point being, Gordon Ramsay is doing really well, and so is "Kitchen Nightmares." Tune to Fox on Wednesdays to see struggling restaurants get the tongue-lashing they need to whip them into shape.
RSS Feeds

Continue reading this post by: Aaron For more…

RSS Feeds

Ramsay: “Hey Ladies! I’m Sterile!”

Foul-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay says years in the kitchen have given him more than just a few light burns: he’s got a terribly low sperm count, and thinks it’s due to his work. Hey, convenient birth control! Or maybe a real injury to his masculine pride. Either way, really.ha
This might not be the best week for him, really. Turns out his brother’s a junkie and will be locked up in an Indonesian prison for the better part of the next year. Gordo says he just can’t help anymore. Dude’s been through rehab six times or so, and it’s breaking their mom’s heart.
No wonder he spends all that time swearing.
Ramsay can take at least a little comfort, though, that his recent TV work has been successful enough to kickstart at least one career: "Hell’s Kitchen" finalist Ralph Pagano is going to be the host of a new cooking show called […]

Continue reading this post by: Aaron For more…

RSS Feeds

How Much Of A Jerk Is Gordon Ramsay?

"Hell’s Kitchen" has a new companion, and it’s another Gordon Ramsay creation called "Kitchen Nightmares." UK viewers will recognize it; he’s had a similar show across the pond for awhile now. He comes into dysfunctional kitchens, screams and swears, and makes things work.
My favorite TV cook, Anthony Bourdain would approve… maybe. He’s certainly been in his fair share of macho, profanity-laced kitchens. But how much does a screaming boss really do to change dysfunction? It makes the kitchen pump out something decent, maybe, for awhile. But it’s not the best way to do it. You can get better food without making people fear you.
Of course, it’s less entertaining to watch someone be nice, be patient, run a busy kitchen that doesn’t get too deep in the weeds.  Is being on a Ramsay show miserable for everyone involved? Sure it is. Is he a bad example to aspiring chefs? […]

Continue reading this post by: Aaron For more…

RSS Feeds