The Official Hell's Kitchen thread......

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Thought this deserved its own thread. I'll put ksyrup's quote from another thread here to start it off.....

So the season premiere of Hell's Kitchen last night was awesome. I kinda get the feeling they loaded the show with a bunch of losers and a few legit candidates, though, to maximize the entertainment value a bit more. Allen, the gigantic-headed, 48-year old dude who looks 15, clearly can't handle any type of pressure (he cooks in a retirement home and broke out crying twice during the show last night!). And it appears he'll break down again next week, plus pass out at some point right in the middle of the kitchen.

And the women...I haven't seen a group of people live up to a stereotype so perfectly since I don't know when. Do you think a group of women, competing against each other but grouped as a team, would do anything but bitch at each other all show? Hell no! That was embarrassing. And then for most of them to put down that Julia chick because she works at Waffle House was terrible. Although the chick who was considered the least knowledgeable and got shut out last season the way Julia did last night did get knocked out early, so Julia better start asserting herself or she's going home soon.

But Allen clearly needs to remove himself from the show. I honestly felt bad for him as he was blubbering away. Even Ramsay tried to be nice to him during his second meltdown.

[CraigSca]

Why would Aaron (Allen?) even think for a moment that he would be able to run his own Las Vegas restaurant when he cries during the first episode?

FWIW, I'm glad my favorite show is back on the air, at least until the planets align and they decide to bring back Arrested Development.

[Ksyrup]

Was it Aaron? I can't remember names. Aaron, Allen...he'll be gone in a couple of weeks anyway.

He'll be the easiest justification ever when he gets nominated. I think that's what saved Julia last night - that chick who got to choose the nominations probably wanted to get rid of her, but she risked looking bad if she nominated her with no good reason. The other two definitely deserved to be nominated.

[Ksyrup]

The other cooking show - Top Chef - is pretty good, too. I think that one comes back in the fall on Bravo (I think?).

[Richard Weed]

Great show last night and typically pathetic. Aaron gives Asians named Aaron a bad name. There were a couple of hotties on there last night though. I would've bumped the bitchy chick instead of the chick who couldn't make eggs.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

IMO.....definitely the best premiere they've had.

The big guy that was a retirement center chef is going to make for good entertainment, but he's going to get run over in the end. Too many breakdowns. Ramsey doesn't like fat guys who sweat in the food and get tired halfway through the shift either.

The only think that's going to save the big guy is the younger chef who mouthed off to Ramsey late in the episode and thinks he's better than everyone else. Note to him: Ramsey doesn't feel challenged by you because of your confidence. He's pissed at you because you're an overconfident jerk.

The little guy who called himself a bulldog might actually do really well. He's confident in his work, did very well when judging other cooks' meals, and is smart enough to keep his mouth shut in the kitchen. He didn't get called out once in the kitchen while the other male cooks continued to hang themselves.

The ladies look like a mixed bag as well. A couple of really hard workers while the rest of them will likely engage in cat-fights for the rest of the series until they're booted.

[Ksyrup]

The bitchy chick? You mean you could narrow it down to one?!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Great show last night and typically pathetic. Aaron gives Asians named Aaron a bad name. There were a couple of hotties on there last night though. I would've bumped the bitchy chick instead of the chick who couldn't make eggs.

I could be wrong, but I think that Aaron is actually Eskimo or Native American.

[Richard Weed]

The bitchy chick? You mean you could narrow it down to one?!
The black chick who clashed with the hot blonde and the Waffle House chick and the hot chick who made the call to pick two.

[Ksyrup]

The little guy who called himself a bulldog might actually do really well. He's confident in his work, did very well when judging other cooks' meals, and is smart enough to keep his mouth shut in the kitchen. He didn't get called out once in the kitchen while the other male cooks continued to hang themselves.


You can never tell what they're showing you from the previews, but it looked like he gets into a ton of shit next week. At least, that's what the preview suggested. That, and another blubber session from Aaron. At the very beginning, they showed him pass out on the line, too, and also showed an ambulance. Not sure if those are connected, but it looks like we'll be getting plenty of Aaron drama until he goes home.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

The black chick who clashed with the hot blonde and the Waffle House chick and the hot chick who made the call to pick two.

:D Someone's going to have to post some pictures with names to avoid any further posts like this. :D

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

You can never tell what they're showing you from the previews, but it looked like he gets into a ton of shit next week. At least, that's what the preview suggested. That, and another blubber session from Aaron. At the very beginning, they showed him pass out on the line, too, and also showed an ambulance. Not sure if those are connected, but it looks like we'll be getting plenty of Aaron drama until he goes home.

I actually delete the episodes off Tivo at the end of the episode and before the previews for next week. I do that because they usually portray the next episode's events to be something somewhat different than what actually occurs just to get people to tune in.

I'm not surprised about the ambulance for any of these contestants. They all look like they're one step from the morgue at some point. Smoking, crying, fainting, kidney issues.......this crew has it all.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, the black chick was over the top pushy, although I had a hard time figuring out whether she was ultimately in the right on the pasta thing. Still, the way she makes her points to people shows that she's got no leadership skills.

[Ksyrup]

I actually delete the episodes off Tivo at the end of the episode and before the previews for next week. I do that because they usually portray the next episode's events to be something somewhat different than what actually occurs just to get people to tune in.

I'm not surprised about the ambulance for any of these contestants. They all look like they're one step from the morgue at some point. Smoking, crying, fainting, kidney issues.......this crew has it all.

True. Even during the show last night, they made the commercial breaks out to be much more than they were. Like when that chick bent down after Ramsay picked her dish, it looked like she was about to faint, and then nothing came of it after the break.

BTW, that part of the show was the best...about half the time Ramsay opened a dish, his immediate reaction was to mumble/say, "Oh fuck me!" I couldn't get enough of it. I can't imagine having him react to my dish that way, and then say, "Who's dish is this?" Can't be a good feeling...:D

[Richard Weed]

Yeah, the black chick was over the top pushy, although I had a hard time figuring out whether she was ultimately in the right on the pasta thing. Still, the way she makes her points to people shows that she's got no leadership skills.
Good call there. At first, it seemed as if she wasn't doing it correctly. Then, she jumped on the pasta when it was kicked back. I couldn't tell either.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

BTW, that part of the show was the best...about half the time Ramsay opened a dish, his immediate reaction was to mumble/say, "Oh fuck me!" I couldn't get enough of it. I can't imagine having him react to my dish that way, and then say, "Who's dish is this?" Can't be a good feeling...:D

Yeah, the taste-testing portion of the show was awesome. It made the episode. Some of those dishes just looked terrible and he nailed them pretty hard. I also liked how he did like a couple of the dishes and also noted a couple of the chefs who actually made good assessments when they did the taste-testing. It certainly made it seem like he was actually judging the dishes rather than just busting the chops of every single candidate just to knock them down.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I don't have any specific comments about the show, but I was very entertained. This is easily my favorite of the "reality" contests.

Being somewhat facetious here, I can't figure out why customers would actually go to this "restaurant" for dinner, particularly on opening night. Hell, in the first two seasons, the teams could be on their fifth or sixth dinner service and still not get everybody served. Who goes there expecting to actually eat on opening night? I brought this up to my wife, and she figures that the people are there more for the event than the food. That's probably true, but I can't wrap my head around it. Even if I was given the opportunity at a free meal (and I'm sure these people don't have to pay for the dinners), I'm not sure how keen I'd be on possibly sitting there hungry for two hours and then having the restaurant close on me.

[CraigSca]

It's always endearing when people tell you, flat out, that they're the best and that they'll step over everyone to get what they want. I forget what book of the Bible that's from.

[CraigSca]

Being somewhat facetious here, I can't figure out why customers would actually go to this "restaurant" for dinner, particularly on opening night. Hell, in the first two seasons, the teams could be on their fifth or sixth dinner service and still not get everybody served. Who goes there expecting to actually eat on opening night? I brought this up to my wife, and she figures that the people are there more for the event than the food. That's probably true, but I can't wrap my head around it. Even if I was given the opportunity at a free meal (and I'm sure these people don't have to pay for the dinners), I'm not sure how keen I'd be on possibly sitting there hungry for two hours and then having the restaurant close on me.

My wife and I were commenting on that as well. I'm hoping everyone stopped off at McDonalds before they started getting in line.

What gets me is their disgust and surprise at not getting served for that length of time.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

It's always endearing when people tell you, flat out, that they're the best and that they'll step over everyone to get what they want. I forget what book of the Bible that's from.

I believe it's Revelations.......

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

My wife and I were commenting on that as well. I'm hoping everyone stopped off at McDonalds before they started getting in line.

What gets me is their disgust and surprise at not getting served for that length of time.

1. They don't have to pay; I'm pretty certain of that.
2. There is no lack of attention whores in California who would love to be on TV and throw a fit like a Hilton sister.

[rkmsuf]

I would think that the "diners" are staged and part of the show in a way. The same way Ramsey would not let it go smoothly even if they cooked stuff perfectly right from the go.

[Ksyrup]

Honestly, I thought they were half-extras, half-real diners...real in the sense that they would choose what to eat, be served, eat it, and give comments, but all in the context of the show. But I don't know...is it possible for Joe Connected Shmoe to call up and get a reservation on the show/restaurant for a particular night they are having a challenge? Is it basically like getting tickets to a studio audience taping, or is it much more controlled than that? I just assumed it was more staged than an actual restaurant.

[rkmsuf]

I would guess it's all totally staged. Or staged in the sense that people "getting tickets to the taping" are preconditioned to act and respond in a certain way since they would probably be familiar with the show.

I mean what actual diner hangs in there for 3 hours hearing Ramsey screaming at the staff.

Heck for all we know they are just hired actors. It doesn't really matter though since the fun of the show is suspending belief and just accepting the scene at face value I guess.

[Ksyrup]

If I ever open a restaurant, I'm putting Gnat Piss on the menu as a specialty drink.

[Toddzilla]

I'm kind of bummed out because - much like Survivor but to a much more obvious degree - the producers all but tell you who the finalists are going to be in the first episode. I won't give it away, but everyone in the premiere was made to look like a bumbling ass-clown except for two of them, who were made to look tremendously poised and capable.

Ah well, it'll be fun to watch anyhow.

[Terps]

One of my favorite shows since I'm a chef myself.

It was entertaining, but I couldn't imagine taking so long to get food out. Plus, running out of chicken and other stuff when they hadn't even sent any entrees out.

[JeeberD]

The screaming black woman is annoying as hell and I'm sad that Ramsey didn't axe her when he had the chance. But most likely she's going to be on a while since she's "entertaining". Ugh...

[Ksyrup]

I wanted the black girl to go home just for the fireworks that would have resulted from the other chick staying after being told there was no way she was going home, and then the chick nominated her. That was good for some fireworks last year between those two guys.

[Qwikshot]

It is an amusing show. I read in Anthony Bourdain's book ("Kitchen Confidential" - I think) that most people pay, book in advance, to see the senior chefs be raked over the coals in the open kitchen at the CIA (Culinary Instute, not Central Intelligence). Bourdain raves about Ramsey.

Amazing as it seems outside of the promotional chef (Ramsey, Oliver, Lagasse, even Bourdain - though I think he'd hate to admit it), most chefs are f-ups, criminals, drug users, migrants...

Cooking is a delight, and it is a discipline...I could tell a few of the guys/gals were not of the head chef mold.

There is an entire chapter in Bourdain's book about one day, just one day in the life of a head chef, and I don't relish the thought of it.

I highly recommend it if you have an interest in cooking, because he does give some tips for what to do, and it did remove the romantic allusion of being a head chef at any restaurant.

[Richard Weed]

We re-watched it yesterday. Some really good stuff there. We started watching in the middle of last season and one of the things I noticed is that Ramsey is somewhat easy on the good-looking girls. If she's a hag, the chick has no chance.

One of the things that appeals is that Ramsey's character is a character. You can tell that he's yelling at them, but underneath he really cares about the people. He can separate their performance from them.

[CraigSca]

I highly recommend "Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares" on BBC America if you're a fan of this show. He basically goes into failing restaurants and attempts to bring them back from the brink of bankruptcy. A great show, but definitely shouldn't be watched around children. :)

[Ksyrup]

We re-watched it yesterday. Some really good stuff there. We started watching in the middle of last season and one of the things I noticed is that Ramsey is somewhat easy on the good-looking girls. If she's a hag, the chick has no chance.

One of the things that appeals is that Ramsey's character is a character. You can tell that he's yelling at them, but underneath he really cares about the people. He can separate their performance from them.

That's when I got into it last year, toward the end (probably 5 or so people left). This, along with Deadliest Catch, were the two shows I started watching during my rest periods from studying for the Bar last summer.

Have any of you watched Top Chef on Bravo? A slightly different dynamic, in that the show isn't really centered on an overbearing personality like HK is, and it's far more toned down and seems more real to me, but it's basically the same concept. On that show, at least in the last season, the fireworks come from the competitors themselves, so we get to know them more because they're not really splitting time with the "head chef." In fact, that show is judged by a panel, although one guy is considering the main chef.

[Qwikshot]

That's when I got into it last year, toward the end (probably 5 or so people left). This, along with Deadliest Catch, were the two shows I started watching during my rest periods from studying for the Bar last summer.

Have any of you watched Top Chef on Bravo? A slightly different dynamic, in that the show isn't really centered on an overbearing personality like HK is, and it's far more toned down and seems more real to me, but it's basically the same concept. On that show, at least in the last season, the fireworks come from the competitors themselves, so we get to know them more because they're not really splitting time with the "head chef." In fact, that show is judged by a panel, although one guy is considering the main chef.

Top Chef is a fav of mine, though last season sucked, too much on personality not enough on the art of cooking.

I'm thinking Ramsey is rough on dishelved appearances, if you can't take pride in yourself, how can you take pride in your food (He also yelled any the cryguy for the snot).

One thing Boudrain stresses is order, you have to know where everything is, it's like an assembly line and it begins with you, the chef. So you can be hungover, strung out, or dying, but keep the scuzz out of the dishes, keep the work place neat, and churn out the dishes with consistency and you're gold.

[GrantDawg]

I highly recommend "Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares" on BBC America if you're a fan of this show. He basically goes into failing restaurants and attempts to bring them back from the brink of bankruptcy. A great show, but definitely shouldn't be watched around children. :)


And the American version starts this fall. I cannot wait.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

And the American version starts this fall. I cannot wait.

Any information on when it starts? It's on the BBC America channel?

[Ksyrup]

Here's what Wiki says:


Ramsay has also inked a deal to bring an American version of the show (called simply Kitchen Nightmares (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_Nightmares)) to US network FOX (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOX) in summer 2007 (although the UK version already runs in the US on BBC America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_America)). Production will start in February and will follow the same format as the original but based in American restaurants.

And then...

The show is scheduled to premiere on FOX in fall 2007 (following the third season of Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell%27s_Kitchen_%28US_TV_series%29) airing in the summer) in the competitive Thursday 9:00PM/8:00PM CT timeslot.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

And then...

The show is scheduled to premiere on FOX in fall 2007 (following the third season of Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell%27s_Kitchen_%28US_TV_series%29) airing in the summer) in the competitive Thursday 9:00PM/8:00PM CT timeslot.

Wow, they're throwing that one right into the fire. Honestly, I don't watch the NBC shows during that timeslot, so that's likely a good spot as far as I'm concerned.

[Ksyrup]

Another good episode last night. Fairly obvious a girl was going home after they shit-canned Aaron. I've never seen someone so unable to deal with life. I wonder if he's beenhome curled up in the fetal position since he got kicked off? As bad as the chick was who got sent home, I thought Jen should have gone. There's doing poorly in the pitcken (repeatedly), and then there's picking food out of the garbage and trying to reuse it. She will not win now, it's guaranteed. How could you give a restaurant to someone like that? And I got sick of people calling it a "mistake." That was not a mistake. The mistake was throwing it out to begin with. Taking it out of the garbage was a deliberate act.

I had no idea Top Chef premiered last night on Bravo. Luckily, since it's Bravo, they'll probably re-run it 150 times. Looks like Mondays are going to be food nights this summer.

[Toddzilla]

I think the show is wearing thin and getting too repetitive - every single episode is basically exactly the same


Ramsay is upset over the previous dinner service
They wake the contestants up early
There is a challenge, winners get something cool and rag on the losers who have to perform some long labor-intensive chore where they resolve to win the next dinner service
Dinner service is a disaster
Ramsay yells and curses at everyone
Losing team boots out someone obviously over their head
Rinse, Repeat.


The only redeeming quality to the show is Gordon Ramsay himself - he's must-see IMO and outweighs any negatives the rest of the show piles on. His new show this fall will be 100x more entertaining than HK.

BTW, if you can't tell who the final 2 are at this point, you really aren't paying attention.

[Qwikshot]

I think the show is wearing thin and getting too repetitive - every single episode is basically exactly the same

BTW, if you can't tell who the final 2 are at this point, you really aren't paying attention.


..Aaron?:D

[Arles]

It's always that way early on. I think he wants to purposefully weed out the players over their head (Eddie, Aaron, Joanna). Next will probably be Jen then Vinnie. The dinners will continue to go bad and he will single out those two (I think he partially sets this up with the quantity/state of the food in some ways).

It will then be Julia (good story), Melissa and Bonnie for the girls against Rock, Josh and Matt for the guys. At this point, suddenly the services will start getting much better as the show head towards the final 2 (which I agree most should know by now).

[Pumpy Tudors]

I still can't tell most of the guys apart, so unless the final two will be women, I have no idea. Maybe I should pay more attention. :)

[Ksyrup]

June 20, 2007


Gordon Ramsay’s lawsuit nightmare





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<!-- Remove following to not show photographer information -->(Stefan Rousseau/PA)

<!-- Print Author name associated with the article --><!-- Print Author name from By Line associated with the article -->Nico Hines


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The celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has been accused of faking his reality television show by staging culinary disasters and hiring actors to dupe the viewers.

A former manager of an Indian restaurant in Manhattan filed a lawsuit against the Glaswegian chef yesterday. He demands millions of dollars in damages and a court order to prevent the airing of an episode from the American version of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares.

The series, which was first broadcast in the UK, shows Ramsay being parachuted in to save a failing restaurant with his gastronomic and business expertise. By the end of the programme dramatic improvements have usually been seen.

The lawsuit claims that Ramsay pretended that meat he found at Dillons restaurant was rotten and that he used a defective chair to suggest that the restaurant was full of faulty furniture.

<!--#include file="m63-article-related-attachements.html"--><!-- BEGIN: Module - M63 - Article Related Attachements --><SCRIPT language=JavaScript> function pictureGalleryPopup(pubUrl,articleId) { var newWin = window.open(pubUrl+'template/2.0-0/element/pictureGalleryPopup.jsp?id='+articleId+'&&offset=0&&sectionName=World','mywindow','menubar=0,resizable=0,width=615,height=655'); }</SCRIPT><!-- BEGIN: Comment Teaser Module --><!-- END: Comment Teaser Module --><!-- BEGIN: Module - M63 - Article Related Package --><!-- END: Module - M63 - Article Related Package -->Martin Hyde, the general manager who was fired on Ramsay’s advice, says that to demonstrate the success of his advice actors were hired to make the restaurant look busy.

Mr Hyde says exaggerations about the restaurant’s conditions will destroy its reputation and the good name of the people who worked there. The lawsuit has been filed at the US District Court in Manhattan.

James Curich, a Ramsay spokesman, said that he could not comment on the lawsuit because he had not yet seen it. “It is a reality show and as far as I know it’s not something they do,” he said.

Ramsay, 40, opened his own restaurant in New York last year. The Gordon Ramsay at the London (NYC) hotel in Manhattan has received mixed reviews.

Ramsay was expecting to emulate the success of transferring Hell’s Kitchen across the Atlantic with the American series of Kitchen Nightmares due to start in September.

The programme won high ratings when it was shown on Channel 4, but it attracted a similar accusation of “gastronomic mendacity” in the UK.

Ramsay won a libel payout last year after a newspaper suggested programme makers appointed an incompetent chef and invented disasters in the kitchen in a bid to prove that Ramsay’s expertise was required.

Bonaparte's was the first restaurant to feature on Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. A month after Ramsay was broadcast choking on a rancid scallop, owners said bookings had dried up and the restaurant folded.

At the time, Ramsay celebrated his £75,000 libel payout by saying: “I won’t let people write anything they want to about me.”

Ramsay has also been threatened with a lawsuit by fellow celebrity chef Marco Pierre White this year. In April, Ramsay told New Yorker magazine that he had framed White for a robbery nine years ago.

Ramsay admitted that he stole the reservations book from Aubergine, a Michelin-starred restaurant, in order to prevent his former friend replacing him as head chef.

"I nicked it. I blamed Marco. Because I knew that would f*** him and that it would call off the dogs. I still have the book in a safe at home,” he told the magazine.

"It was my one stroke of genius, f****** somebody over without his knowing that I was the one who done it. You always eat that f****** revenge when it's cold, don't you? Trust me, this was stone cold."

White’s lawyers said they were considering a lawsuit for “malicious falsehood”.

[Ksyrup]

This guy is a piece of work, huh?

[flere-imsaho]

Given the backstory between Ramsay & White, that'll be an exciting lawsuit to watch. I believe in one of White's books there's a picture of Ramsay as a young chef on the verge of tears after being on the receiving end of one of White's own tirades.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, that story kinda overshadows the main story of the article.

[Ksyrup]

So getting back to our discussion of the legitimacy of the diners, what is the consensus about the wedding party? Real couple, real wedding that day, real wedding reception? Real couple, but staged dinner party? Actors? Could the wedding planner have been any more typecast as the gay SoCal event planner? How can anyone be surprised that they are given a honeymoon as a gift - how many couples do you know that decide to have a big, planned wedding and reception, but also decide to wing the honeymoon later than night?

It all seemed fishy...particularly the fact that they finished service!

I had an inkling no one was going home last night. I told my wife about halfway through the episode that they wre focusing so much on Melissa, there's no way she's going home (the Survivor Effect). And I kept the fact that Aaron left the show in the back of my mind, meaning they were one week short of vote-offs. I'm just surprised it happened this early. It's too bad, because she has to go. What a freaking whiny, controlling bitch.

I've been watching Top Chef as well, and I think those contestants could cook circles around the Hell's Kitchen people. It's like they're on another level.

[Alan T]

I made the same comment about the wedding gift last night. It had to have been pre-planned as part of the whole thing. I wouldn't be suprised if it was a real wedding party, just alot more preplanned and alot more help then what was shown in the show to make sure it worked ok.

We were annoyed by melissa really quickly, but then the annoyence turned into a conversation of trying to figure out what was on her chin. It looked like she had a small goatee. Was it a pimple?

[Ksyrup]

Yep - same thing at our house! At one point I asked my wife if she had a soul patch.

That was the other thing I asked my wife - even if it was completely free plus a free honeymoon, would it be worth the chance that the reception was ruined by a lack of food? She said not a chance. They had to have had some help, and I bet they assured the couple that they would finish service.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Yep - same thing at our house! At one point I asked my wife if she had a soul patch.

That was the other thing I asked my wife - even if it was completely free plus a free honeymoon, would it be worth the chance that the reception was ruined by a lack of food? She said not a chance. They had to have had some help, and I bet they assured the couple that they would finish service.

They got everything done pretty quickly. They had to have had help.

I thought the thing on her chin was a piercing through the very bottom portion of her lip. Not sure though.

[Ksyrup]

The one thing that stood out was the sauce Melissa screwed up. Ridiculous move to go ask the guys for some of theirs, but then the issue quickly went away and they served everyone. One of the sous chefs must have taken care of that. Especially since they seemed to be screwing up as normal, and didn't come close to finishing service for the past 3 weeks.

[Richard Weed]

So getting back to our discussion of the legitimacy of the diners, what is the consensus about the wedding party? Real couple, real wedding that day, real wedding reception? Real couple, but staged dinner party? Actors? Could the wedding planner have been any more typecast as the gay SoCal event planner? How can anyone be surprised that they are given a honeymoon as a gift - how many couples do you know that decide to have a big, planned wedding and reception, but also decide to wing the honeymoon later than night?

It all seemed fishy...particularly the fact that they finished service!

I had an inkling no one was going home last night. I told my wife about halfway through the episode that they wre focusing so much on Melissa, there's no way she's going home (the Survivor Effect). And I kept the fact that Aaron left the show in the back of my mind, meaning they were one week short of vote-offs. I'm just surprised it happened this early. It's too bad, because she has to go. What a freaking whiny, controlling bitch.

I've been watching Top Chef as well, and I think those contestants could cook circles around the Hell's Kitchen people. It's like they're on another level.
There was no way a guy like that would get a chick that good looking. Also, I think Melissa was always that way throughout the show...they just focused on it last night.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

There was no way a guy like that would get a chick that good looking.

I'm living proof that a guy 'like that' can get a chick 'that good looking' to marry them. There is such a thing as 'marrying up'.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I should have seen the conclusion coming when Rock said earlier, "I don't know what I'd do if I had her on my team." I don't know how I didn't expect it, even after Ramsay told Melissa to take off her jacket. It's great that they can pull out all these soap opera editing stunts and still keep the show watchable.

Edit to add: I mentioned to my wife that you can tell Melissa's evil, because Melissa has the goatee.

[JeeberD]

I think it's a mole or wart on her chin, but I could be wrong...

Last night's episode did have a very "acted" feel to it. My wife and I came to the conclusion that it was a real couple who really go married, but most of what they showed was a recreation and acting...

[Ksyrup]

Also, the "person confronts Gordon at the pass" thing is pretty obviously staged. This is 2 weeks in a row they had someone try to talk to him. I'll admit it's funny (especially the giraffe comment to the lady last week), but ultimately, the show feels a bit too staged with stuff like this. Still good TV, but I think I prefer Top Chef to HK because it's more low-key and feels more legit. But they are two totally different shows - HK is obviously about Gordon, while Top Chef is more about cooking. The chef personalities really take a back seat to the challenges on Top Chef.

[Alan T]

Thats probably why I watch Hell's Kitchen and not top chef.. I don't really care less about cooking, and half the stuff they make is too "fancy" for me. I just enjoy the personalities and the conflict of the show I guess. I think for me Gordon makes the show, and I don't really care if alot of it is fake, its still entertaining to me.

Might not have a huge shelf life with me before I get bored of it, but I watch it every monday night (or whenever I get around to watching my dvr recording of it if I am out)

[MJ4H]

I watch both. I never used to be much on cooking, but we actually cook stuff using recipes from Top Chef now. Some really, really good stuff in there.

Check me out, made this with a Top Chef recipe just the other night:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Gorgonian14/IMG_0168.jpg
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Gorgonian14/?action=view&current=IMG_0168.jpg

[Pumpy Tudors]

Uhhh... OK, MJ4H... what is it?

[Alan T]

I recognize strawberries!

[JeeberD]

Eggs with bacon and green stuff on toast and topped with strawberries would be my guess...

[MJ4H]

Yeah, the recipe called it something or other served "toad in hole style" I would have to look it up. Basically it is scrambled eggs mixed with onion, peppers, bacon and basil pesto served on/in a bagel with a hole in the middle of it. The strawberry sets off the flavor wonderfully. It was delicious. I had forty-seven of them. Or I wanted that many, I'm not sure which.

[JeeberD]

Sounds good, except for the pinche cebollas...

[Arles]

Of course most of this is staged, it's TV. If you are going to televise a "competition", you have to have some safeguards in to make sure it's watchable and good TV. I'm not sure why that bothers some people (or even surprises them). It's like everyone expects every live prime time competition to be like "Battle of the Network Stars" where we see Ed Asner huffing and puffing through an obsticle course for 5 minutes.

If you want a show like Hell's Kitchen to be successful, you can't leave it to fate on every aspect of the show. I'm sure Ramsey places odd things or barriers at times (rancid crab, limit the meat quantities) and helps on others (Sous chefs cleaning up sauce debacle and helping in service). In the end, you still end up seeing which chefs are capable and which aren't. It's just you have a much more watchable journey to get there.

[Ksyrup]

It's not surprising so much as unabashedly transparent at times. I guess it is what it is, but I'm used to reality shows at least trying to fool the audience into thinking we're seeing a straight-up competition. But I guess with this show, it's more about giving Gordon the opportunity to scream obscenities at people than the competition itself.

It's still good TV, I'd just rather not feel like I'm in on the fix.

[thealmighty]

I watch because it's funny to see the chef-wannabees get lambasted and cussed at and they just have to sit there and say nothing or "Yes, chef."

Sometime in my 20 years teaching I wish I could have gotten away with that..."You f***ing retard bitch!!! 2+2=4. How can you not know that? What a f***ing loser you f***ing moron. Now get OUT!!!" I feel better already.

[Karlifornia]

I'm living proof that a guy 'like that' can get a chick 'that good looking' to marry them. There is such a thing as 'marrying up'.

I not only demand proof, but I think you should let FOFC be the judge of that. I mean, it's the only way to know for sure.

[Karlifornia]

Sounds good, except for the pinche cebollas...

Fucking onions?

[rkmsuf]

I not only demand proof, but I think you should let FOFC be the judge of that. I mean, it's the only way to know for sure.

guys throws up on the teacups. how charming can he be.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

guys throws up on the teacups. how charming can he be.

Dammit! I already returned my man-card to the proper authorities! Now let me live in peace!!!!!

[rkmsuf]

Dammit! I already returned my man-card to the proper authorities! Now let me live in peace!!!!!

My bad. You married up and get to ride in your own teacup. You sir are a modern day genius.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I not only demand proof, but I think you should let FOFC be the judge of that. I mean, it's the only way to know for sure.

I'll give you only 1/2 of what you're looking for. There's simply no way that this could be produced from a marriage where the mom was less than attractive......

http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j157/limelicker/kali%20pics/week20/?action=view&current=KaliPics024.flv

[rkmsuf]

I'll give you only 1/2 of what you're looking for. There's simply no way that this could be produced from a marriage where the mom was less than attractive......

http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j157/limelicker/kali%20pics/week20/?action=view&current=KaliPics024.flv

This album is private. Please login.

dammit

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

dammit

I'll get a share link and put it up later this afternoon. Sorry, I thought that was the shared link.

[rkmsuf]

I'll get a share link and put it up later this afternoon. Sorry, I thought that was the shared link.

the link was fine. I was trying to view your entire collection.

blimey.

[Karlifornia]

I'll get a share link and put it up later this afternoon. Sorry, I thought that was the shared link.

Are you married to the baby or the teddy bear?

[rkmsuf]

Are you married to the baby or the teddy bear?


I didn't look close enough to determine whether his wife had man hands.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

the link was fine. I was trying to view your entire collection.

blimey.

Ah, I see. Well, the child has her mother's looks. :)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Are you married to the baby or the teddy bear?

Either one's awfully cute, though I'm awfully fond of the kid.

[Ksyrup]

What the hell got into Rock last night? The whole trash thing was ridiculous, but then sending him all the way to the photo shoot to get their trash? Freaking brilliant.

You can definitely tell that some of this stuff is set up...unless they absolutely fell on their asses, there was no way the girls were not going to win a photo shoot for In Touch mag. I mean, come on. What the hell would that mag want with 3 guys and a chick with a goatee?

I still find it hard to believe that none of the guys can actually cook. I can't see how any of them deserve to win. Rock has been OK, but his meltdown was bizarre. Best part of the show last night was when Bonnie called a meeting of the girls right after Melissa had been switched to the guys team, and she said, "Not you, bitch." Awesome.

[johnnyshaka]

Somebody has to tell the women that "There's no crying in the kitchen!!"

[MJ4H]

Bonnie is hot.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I couldn't stop laughing at Rock last night. He lost it. He just lost it. This show has had some pretty funny moments this season, but Rock's meltdown got me good.

It looks like they're setting us up for something with the revelation about Jen's experience. I have a feeling that she's going to really turn it on now, because Bonnie is inexperienced and Julia is overwhelmed. Jen's going to have to give 100% to save her own ass. She can't really count on her team to help pull her through.

I think the wild card in all of this is Brad. He's been pretty much invisible throughout the whole season so far. I know he got blasted by Ramsay in last night's episode, but that was just one time. I don't really remember him taking any heat up to that point. It might motivate him to try to take over Rock's role as the leader.

[Ksyrup]

The thing with Jen, though, is how could you give such a high profile gig to someone who picked food out of the trash? Honestly, that is unforgivable and she should have been cut right then and there. And more importantly, I think that is the kind of thing that would stick with her. Certainly, it is one of those moments I haven't forgotten.

[Glengoyne]

The thing with Jen, though, is how could you give such a high profile gig to someone who picked food out of the trash? Honestly, that is unforgivable and she should have been cut right then and there. And more importantly, I think that is the kind of thing that would stick with her. Certainly, it is one of those moments I haven't forgotten.

Yeah, I don't think the folks at Green Valley would really appreciate her taking home the prize.

This is down to Melissa and Rock. Although I missed the last two weeks, and it appears much has happened in that time.

[Ksyrup]

This is down to Melissa and Rock. Although I missed the last two weeks, and it appears much has happened in that time.

Then I will refrain from saying anything about your prediction...unless you completely missed those episodes and won't be able to watch them.

[Pumpy Tudors]

The thing with Jen, though, is how could you give such a high profile gig to someone who picked food out of the trash? Honestly, that is unforgivable and she should have been cut right then and there. And more importantly, I think that is the kind of thing that would stick with her. Certainly, it is one of those moments I haven't forgotten.
Ah, I had forgotten about that. It might go well with the setup, though. Jen isn't going to make that mistake again, so it's safe to keep her around for now. When it gets down to the final 3 or 4, though, Ramsay might blindside her with it. See, if I remember correctly, I don't think any of the other chefs told him about her pulling the spaghetti out of the trash. She might think that he doesn't know. He might let her slide by while the lesser chefs get picked off, and then he'll drop the hammer.

Can you imagine the drama of that? The show and Ramsay could build her up and make it look like she's taking over as the best chef, and then he could say something like "You had a good service. You've really stepped up your game. I think you'd be great running a restaurant... but you almost served food that you pulled out of the trash bin! Give me your jacket and get out of Hell's Kitchen!"

I would piss my pants laughing if that happened.

[Alan T]

Ah, I had forgotten about that. It might go well with the setup, though. Jen isn't going to make that mistake again, so it's safe to keep her around for now. When it gets down to the final 3 or 4, though, Ramsay might blindside her with it. See, if I remember correctly, I don't think any of the other chefs told him about her pulling the spaghetti out of the trash. She might think that he doesn't know. He might let her slide by while the lesser chefs get picked off, and then he'll drop the hammer.

Can you imagine the drama of that? The show and Ramsay could build her up and make it look like she's taking over as the best chef, and then he could say something like "You had a good service. You've really stepped up your game. I think you'd be great running a restaurant... but you almost served food that you pulled out of the trash bin! Give me your jacket and get out of Hell's Kitchen!"

I would piss my pants laughing if that happened.


I am pretty sure later that evening when someone was removed from the show, it came up as a discussion in front of chef ramsey. I don't remember his exact expression, but thought it was more of shock or disbelief than anything. I was actually suprised at the time that he didn't get rid of her there.

[Ksyrup]

I believe she nominated herself that night and revealed it to him.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Darn. There goes my fun. I had forgotten that she told him. Well, he hasn't brought it up since, so he could throw it in her face later on, and it would still be epic television.

[Ksyrup]

Not kicking her off for that is the biggest clue she is going to be there in the end. I just don't know if she can win with that kind of info about her out there. I'm not in the biz, but I'd like to know how that info would change the perception about working for her, or her running her own restaurant. She kept referring to it as a mistake, but a mistake is overcooking the monkfish, it's not making a decision to take food out of the garbage and try to reuse it.

[Arles]

I think it's Rock's to lose. The whole challenge thing was a joke. I agree with Rock, the final two dishes by the ladies were ridiculous. The final dish could have been Julia making lobster waffles and Ramsey would have made them the winners. I think Rock figured that out and it pissed him off.

I also think Ramsey deliberately does things to "guide" winners and add drama. The men basically owned last week, so he gives them Melissa and shorts them on main dishes (I think they ran out of potatoes and wellington). He also rejected for silly things (including making an extra appetizer). It's good TV, but I wouldn't get too excited about the chances for the women.

[Ksyrup]

I thought they were running out of everything because they kept screwing it up and starting over. They barely served anyone.

[Arles]

I thought they were running out of everything because they kept screwing it up and starting over. They barely served anyone.
Could be - we didn't see why Ramsey started rejecting their entrees though. We just saw the potato episode (which seemed like it was quickly corrected by adding salt).

My point is that I wouldn't be surprised if the men have a resounding win next week followed by the women winning again the following week.

[Alan T]

WHat happens when the teams get much smaller? Won't it be really difficult to do a kitchen with just 1 or 2 people? Do they combine up the teams soon?

[Ksyrup]

I think they are going to combine the teams into one and force them to compete against Aaron, who will singlehandly destroy them and be crowned the champ.

[rkmsuf]

I think they are going to combine the teams into one and force them to compete against Akon, who will singlehandly destroy them and be crowned the champ.


:eek: Must see tv!

[Ksyrup]

Is Akorn going to be in that Chipmunks movie?

[JeeberD]

After catching an episode of Top Chef while I was on vacation (and caught up on current episodes after I got back), I'm now solidly in the group that thinks it blows Hell's Kitchen out of the water. Hell's Kitchen is still fun to watch, but just not quite the same...

[MJ4H]

If you haven't seen season 1 of Top Chef, watch it. Steven is comedy gold. GOLD.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, but as someone earlier said, if you aren't into the cooking element (no pun intended) of the show so much, HK is probably more entertaining. But in terms of seeing a more legit cooking competition that focuses on the food and less on personalities (particularly of the judges), there's no question that TC is much better.

[Ksyrup]

This is turning into a Top Chef thread now...


Hung is seriously annoying the hell out of me, what a conceited bastard. He's like Marcel except on cocaine and without the skills/execution to back up his inflated ego.

And I am falling hard for Casey. Not the Casey who cooks with her hair pinned up, but the Casey who looks like a young MILF with her hair down in the interview segments. My wife even mentioned how pretty she was, at the exact moment I was thinking, um, less pure thoughts.

[JeeberD]

On the Hell's Kitchen side, I SO want to see Julia win and get her own restaurant. I would love the see the menu for that place... :D

Regarding Top Chef...first off, leave our Dallas womens alone, damn you K. Second, I agree with you on Hung. WAY too much ego, and I absolutely love it when he fails. Third, I think I'm rooting for Tre, though after his quick start he hasn't had a lot of success.

[Ksyrup]

My parents are in Richardson and we may be there for Thanksgiving. I need to get directions to the place where Casey is head chef.

[Pumpy Tudors]

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/3738/hk00fi2.gif

[rkmsuf]

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/3738/hk00fi2.gif

It looks like pumpy dropped his pants right in front of her.

[Mustang]

WTF? She moves like an android.

[GrantDawg]

My parents are in Richardson and we may be there for Thanksgiving. I need to get directions to the place where Casey is head chef.


Casey is like a hotter Jennifer Anniston. I bet she ends up with her own show on the cooking channel or something.

[Ksyrup]

I can't find any pics of her other than the stock "hair up," too much makeup shot on Bravo's site. Someone's got to have a vidcap from one of the episodes or something.

[Richard Weed]

Rock rules.

[Pumpy Tudors]

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6650/398760ab2eb1bf1aa33eff3ca0.gif

[MJ4H]

hot(ter than Casey).

[GrantDawg]

hot(ter than Casey).

Nuh-uh! My wife said so.

[MJ4H]

Truthfully, Bonnie is cute as hell. Casey does look nice in a bikini though.

[Richard Weed]

Rock for teh win. Easy one here.

[Poli]

I can't believe I enjoy this show. I think I just miss yelling at students.

[Galaxy]

Anyone been following Gordon's new show?

[MJ4H]

Yep. I really like it. I liked the BBC America version of Kitchen Nightmares already, though.

[thesloppy]

I too love both versions of Kitchen Nightmares, highly entertaining.