[Big Az Al]

Last year I saw the a couple nights of the show,

liked it enough to find out that there was a casting call, in Phoenix Area.

No Vacation left no chance to get there.

then I never had chance to see anymore, and haven't seen any listings

[KYHeirloomer]

I, for one, don't miss it in the least. I saw one episode, and that was two too many. A bunch of unqualified people (among the titles of those around for the episode I watched: ex-stock broker; pizza chef; salad chef, and similar non-positions), competing in unrealistic conditions, to become head of a multi-million dollar restaurant kitchen, while Gordon Ramsey (not one of my favorites to begin with) acts like an arbitrary **** who, among other things, changes the rules at whim.

One of the competitors never completed his service because he 1. forgot to turn the gas on to his oven, and 2. never once checked on how the food was progressing. And this guy thought he was qualified to run a major kitchen?

From what I understand, neither of the winners of the first two seasons actually got the jobs advertised.

So, all in all, a total shuck that was an insult to every professional in the industry.

[Big Az Al]

[quote=KYHeirloomer;171999]I, for one, don't miss it in the least. I saw one episode, and that was two too many. A bunch of unqualified people (among the titles of those around for the episode I watched: ex-stock broker; pizza chef; salad chef, and similar non-positions), competing in unrealistic conditions, to become head of a multi-million dollar restaurant kitchen, while Gordon Ramsey (not one of my favorites to begin with) acts like an arbitrary **** who, among other things, changes the rules at whim.

One of the competitors never completed his service because he 1. forgot to turn the gas on to his oven, and 2. never once checked on how the food was progressing. And this guy thought he was qualified to run a major kitchen?




I think what caught my attnetion was while I know I cannot run a major kitchen, I had and have no doubt, that I could have run circles around the contestents that I saw.

Al

[Jock]

Gone to h-e-l-l where it belongs I hope.

Jock

[RAS1187]

I actually liked hells kitchen, Chef Gordon brings a (slightly extreme) doseage of reality to cooking shows that you never see on network television.

What I am disappointed to hear though is that neither winner from season 1 or 2 really got what they wanted.

I read that the season 2 winner was demoted from her spot as Exec. Chef and given the title "Senior Chef" of a restaurant that already has a Chef.

The season 1 winner traded his prize to apprentice under Gordon, but left very soon with disgust.

[OahuAmateurChef]

I only watched one episode before I vowed to never watch another episode of that garbage again.

[AprilB]

It's coming on here on Fox starting Monday June 4. We're in So. NV.

It sure can't be worse than 'Blind Date' or ... criminy ... anything else on TV...? (except House...I love the guy ... he's such an A**)

April

[MuskyHopeful]

AprilB is right. It's starting 6/4. I think everybody that takes offence at the show is taking it a little too seriously. Of course, I'm not a chef, so I probably look at it differently.

The people they have competing are supposed to be incompetent, that's the whole point. It's not a serious show about cooking. It's supposed to make every man and woman in Amercia who's handy with a chef's knife think, "hey, I could do better than these idiots". I like it when he calls them donkeys. You don't hear that as an insult too often in the U.S.

All that being said, I wish someone would produce a show that had highly skilled chefs competing over a certain time frame. I'm not too crazy about Iron Chef America. Actually a documentary a la Soul of a Chef, chronicling Master Chef certification trials at the CIA would also be interesting. I really enjoyed that book, and just bought another by the author. I doubt that's Network TV series material, however.

The masses would rather see Gordon Ramsey swear and call idiots donkeys. I've read that Marco Pierre White is going to be the judge/chef/tyrant of the next British version.

Kevin

Wrasslin' with Hodags.

[shel]

Originally Posted by MuskyHopeful

All that being said, I wish someone would produce a show that had highly skilled chefs competing over a certain time frame

What about Top Chef?

Shel

[DC Sunshine]

Top Chef definitely would appear to have more competent people competing than HK. But they still sneak a couple of donkeys into each series

Iron Chef America IMHO is not in the same class entertainment wise as the original Iron Chef - it failed so badly here they stopped showing it and put old re-runs of the original on. We've started watching it again. I did so miss Chariman Karga biting that capsicum

[AtlTournant]

I got banned from the messageboard because I was furious at how all the "armchair experts" who never worked a day in a kitchen were buying into that crap.I posted an actual ad/requirements for an Exec Chef at a Four Seasons and asked "Do you people really think that any of these twits could actually DO THIS?"

I know,it's stupid to get upset over something such as that,but it made our profession look like a joke.It pissed me off because I'm proud of what I do.

I also posted an article that very clearly stated what the winner was really going to get,which was NOT an Exec position [it was quickly removed;surprise!].Big venues in Vegas don't staff a multi-million dollar kitchen via a ridiculous t.v "competition",especially since there was already a Certified Master Chef at the helm.

I really like Ramsay,but for that show,he's doing it for Fox and ratings.You know darn well he wouldn't tolerate some of the crap [or contestants! Two words: K-Grease] in a real kitchen.
I used to really like his new show ["The F-Word"],but now he's got non-professionals working in the kitchen [like firefighters or office people] and that irritates me.Gee,Gordo is upset because the apps aren't going out on time? Well,don't have non-industry people working your line!

But the public loves to see people fail and get torn a new one.It makes people feel better about themselves...and it's massive bucks for the network.
Please,more people vote for the American Idol crapola than they do a President..we're a sad country sometimes.


I was at my former culinary school talking to a class before they went out on externship and this one girl of about 19 or 20 told me she had already signed up to be on the show...the look of abject horror on my face was very obvious!

She asked why I thought it was a bad idea.

Well.....do you think that it would be a good idea for you to have your mistakes,petty immaturity, and general lack of experience on FILM forever and to be fodder for the Great Unwashed Masses known as the Television Audience? Ya think that's gonna land you a JOB? Get you taken seriously? Not very likely.

[MuskyHopeful]

I never caught Top Chef, but will watch for its return. In the meantime, I'll check in on Gordon Ramsey and his gaggle once in a while.

I think very few viewers of that show really believe the contestants are actually representative of what restaurant kitchen professionals are really like. I surely don't.

Kevin

Muskies

[AtlTournant]

Originally Posted by MuskyHopeful

All that being said, I wish someone would produce a show that had highly skilled chefs competing over a certain time frame. I'm not too crazy about Iron Chef America. Actually a documentary a la Soul of a Chef, chronicling Master Chef certification trials at the CIA would also be interesting. I really enjoyed that book, and just bought another by the author. I doubt that's Network TV series material, however.
.

A close friend of mine was lucky enough to work under a CMC and we talked about how we'd love to see serious competitions on TV,but as you said,not many people would be too interested.I heard once that there was something of that nature [the CMC certification],but I'll check on it.

No swearing,no stupid challenges...just quiet professionalism and skill....and coming soon to your local PBS station

[oldschool1982]

Looks like the shows decision makers took some of the rantings about the "talent" (lack there of) in the contestants to heart. From the looks of the new blood... not one is a "arm chair Chef". All seem to have spent some time, one form or another, in the trench's. Could be interesting to see what developes this year. Then again it's that or some of the many other crappy shows' that are being put out these days. We spend more time out in the yard anyhow during the summer so we may end up using the DVR and picking when and what to pay attention to. LOL

Edit: DOOHHH!!!!! I take back what I said. Waiter I'd like my crow with some sauce bernaise please!

There we a couple moments between well placed edits that you could see a glimmer of hope out of one or two though.

[AtlTournant]

I don't know,oldschool...I saw the trailer and it was just painful.A paintball competition? And what ACF rules apply to THAT?

I don't think I'll be able to stomach watching,but my husband loves it. [non-industry person!]
He gets a bigger laugh out of watching me squirm on the couch going "There is no way any of these fools could even run a busy saute station,much less a kitchen!"

It's like a car accident..I have to look.