Kitchen Nightmares

[Correction]

I think there was a Hell's Kitchen thread before it got eaten by the server hiccup a few months back. So I'm pretty sure Gordon Ramsay already has fans on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. His new show premieres...tonight (!) I think, giving us plenty more Gordon Ramsay until HK4 can get underway.

If you're not familiar with his work I suggest you look it up on youtube. Here's a prime example of the show's British Predecessor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQVOhRNb81g

In a nutshell, Ramsay visits failing restaurants, figures out what's gone wrong and does whatever is necessary to give the owners some hope they won't go out of business. Then he comes back after some time has passed and sees if any of what he taught them sank in.

Of course, 'whatever is necessary' by Ramsay's standards includes a lot of swearing at incompetence. Fun!

[Priran]

it's nothing like the british show, it's just Ramsay screaming at people (and there's no follow-up).

[Rhinox]

Yea, his other show is on the BBCamerica. thats the one thing i dont like about the new one(btw it premiered last week) is that they dont follow up.

[Correction]

Dang...well here's hoping they do followups for DVD releases or something, they were definitely the highlight of the UK series.

[Jefe]

I thought it was meh, I like the brit version better. Dunno, perhaps it was because of that italian annoying son of a bitch that made it hellish (last week's), and like they were overacting or w/e. I'll give it another shot today see if it picks up.

[Elesirdur]

It's pretty crap. While I didn't particulairly enjoy the UK version, at least they showed how the kitchen staffs either followed through and got better or how they just failed once again. With the US show it's pretty much just 30 minutes of Ramsey yelling at people and making them cry.

I would enjoy Food Network a lot more if they just showed lots more Good Eats, Food Jammers, Ace of Cakes, and Japanese Iron Chef.

[Slapper]

I would enjoy Food Network a lot more if they just showed lots more Good Eats, Food Jammers, Ace of Cakes, and Japanese Iron Chef.

seconded
American Iron chef sucks ballz

[Boyiee]

I would enjoy Food Network a lot more if they just showed lots more Good Eats, Food Jammers, Ace of Cakes, and Japanese Iron Chef.

seconded
American Iron chef sucks ballz

i like the take home chef... is that even on that station? Oh well, its cooking, and I like it lol.

[Elesirdur]

Jamie Oliver's School Dinners was really good too, even though I think he's a bit of a wanker.

Michael Smith's programs are pretty good too. The Chef at Large shows were pretty good, especially where he's cooking in a RCN ship's galley or out at a wilderness lodge; not the typical cooking show venues.

[FrogBoiler]

Michael Smith is the fucking MAN, hes the reason why I went into cooking. 2nd Year Apprentice Chef yo!

[Gere]

I would enjoy Food Network a lot more if they just showed lots more Good Eats, Food Jammers, Ace of Cakes, and Japanese Iron Chef.

seconded
American Iron chef sucks ballz

American Iron chef:
challenger chef: I challenge Bobby flay
Bobby: I put an american southwest spin on every dish
challenger chef: I didn't
Judges: challenger wins!
challenger: Yay now I can tell everyone I beat an iron chef and they'll be impressed as long as I don't tell them which one >.>

[SephYuyX]

The premier was last week, last night was the second episode. It's an ok show at best so far, HK is much better because it's an actual continuation, but this show isnt too bad. It's something to watch atleast.

[tornfleshofsoul]

I've watched a good 5-6 episodes of the British version prior to watching these. I liked the British version a hell of a lot better. I found in that one, he helped the resturaunts help themselves. In this one it's just like.. "You suck, but here's a new kitchen for you" He buys them an entire fucking kitchen. Ok .. soo you gave them a new menu, they still know nothing about running the damn place. The follow up was probably the biggest/best part of the British version, and it's not in this one :/

[volcanicweather]

As someone who was a huge fan of the UK version of Kitchen Nightmares (seen every episode), the US version is a very different show.

First you have to realize after commercials, it's only 40 minutes long in the US version in comparison to a full hour in the UK version. So a lot of things such as the follow-up visit and minute details have to be cut out, which is sad because especially the follow-up visit is what made UK version of the show great.

But it seems the US version is more about "shock value" and less about transforming a kitchen and building with what you have. Like the episode last night... the place was a total shithole. There was never a kitchen THAT bad in the UK version.

A lot of the premise on the UK version was taking a kitchen and restaurant with potential and bringing the potential to the forefront to create a successful restaurant. It seems as though in the US version they find the most "messed up" situations and go "rags-to-riches" on them overnight. I don't feel it has the same impact on the people in the restaurant because they aren't a part of the evolution process as much. Like last night's episode... poof new head chef, poof new dining room design, poof new menu, poof professional cleaning crew. The UK version was about improving what was already there, not giving them a bunch of new stuff for free.

I totally loved last night though how Gordon just stuck it to the General Manager of the restaurant and made him quit. He was such a moron. I worked at a restaurant for a year and a half in college and I think I would have killed a guy like him if he was the GM. Also lol at the Indian chef who gave Gordon a minute long hug.

The US version is still a quality show.

[Correction]

It's a good show, and a far sight better than other wednesday night programming out there. In general I'm finding the American targets more likely to ham it up in front of a camera but what disappoints me the most is they're reusing musical cues from Hell's Kitchen. Couldn't they at least spring a couple of bucks to get different music?

[Varg]

I would enjoy Food Network a lot more if they just showed lots more Good Eats, Food Jammers, Ace of Cakes, and Japanese Iron Chef.

seconded
American Iron chef sucks ballz

American Iron chef:
challenger chef: I challenge Bobby flay
Bobby: I put an american southwest spin on every dish
challenger chef: I didn't
Judges: challenger wins!
challenger: Yay now I can tell everyone I beat an iron chef and they'll be impressed as long as I don't tell them which one >.>

I agree that American Iron Chef isn't as good, but challengers would sometimes do that in the Japanese version too - battle foie gras where the french trained challenger decided to skip hiroyuki sakai and head for chen kenichi.....cause yeah.....french chef vs. a chinese chef with foie gras is equal footing. I am just glad Chen tied......twice.