Gordon Ramsay's shows- are you a fan?

In watching Gordon Ramsay's various shows, from 'Hell's Kitchen (the UK and US versions), Kitchen Nightmares (The UK and US versions) to 'Gordon Ramsey's F Word'. I'm struck how over the top the US versions of his shows can be. Do you suppose the screeching foul tempered Gordon that prevails in the US Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares (and not so much the UK versions) is an act? The US version of Hell's Kitchen seems all drama, and nothing but shouting and arguments.

I *think* the formula is that in the UK version of Hell's Kitchen, celebrities  are used, and in the US version, chefs are used- hence the US version of 'Hell's kitchen' is run like a boot camp- but is it real?
The pace is totally differnt between the UK and US versions-One might argue the UK versions are of a slower pace-but I prefer it that way....
What is your take on Gordon Ramsey?


I once swore I'd never like reality shows, but somehow I was sucked in...

I've seen a few of his shows. I used to enjoy watching people look stupid on Hell's Kitchen, but after watching a few seasons it got really old. There are only so many times you can hear GR call someone a "donkey" and still care.

Likewise with the US version of Kitchen Nightmares…the drama/fame-seeking of the restaurant owners got really annoying. I liked the UK version, though, as GR seemed a lot more laid back, and genuinely interested in helping the owners learn how to run a restaurant (rather than the production unit just handing them a restaurant makeover).

I haven't watched all of the F Word, but it's reasonably enjoyable. I like the bits involving the farm animals of the season that he's raising…the recipes almost always involve meat (I'm vegetarian), so they don't interest me too much.

I like his UK versions of the shows, like I enjoyed Kitchen Nightmares from when they were on years ago - and I enjoy the F word, but the US versions annoy me to no end. I think Hell's Kitchen is beyond stupid.

Having read his biography, he prefers to do the US shows actually. Probably because they show him lots and lots $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ (which converted into £££££££££ is still really good  )

I really like his resturants though.  Yum oh yum. 



 
 

I like Kitchen Nightmares because it is not so much about running a restaurant as it is about managing a family business, which I can relate to.

Has anyome here been to any of the resturaunts that appeared in the UK Kitchen Nightmares?

Yes! We thought the food was decent, but way overpriced for what we got. We prefer to go to the places that GR said "no wonder the locals prefer this to the one I'm dealing with now".  We've never been back. 

Has anyome here been to any of the resturaunts that appeared in the UK Kitchen Nightmares?

I tried to go to one that had appeared in Liverpool, but when I called to make a reservation no one answered so I think they closed... I have to admit I have a crush on GR.. and his big wrinkly head.  

I tried to go to one that had appeared in Liverpool, but when I called to make a reservation no one answered so I think they closed... I have to admit I have a crush on GR.. and his big wrinkly head.  

hee hee me too! I just love him in the F word...I like his take charge attitude...I ran restaurants for many years so I love these kind of shows.

I've seen a few of his shows. I used to enjoy watching people look stupid on Hell's Kitchen, but after watching a few seasons it got really old. There are only so many times you can hear GR call someone a "donkey" and still care.

Likewise with the US version of Kitchen Nightmares…the drama/fame-seeking of the restaurant owners got really annoying. I liked the UK version, though, as GR seemed a lot more laid back, and genuinely interested in helping the owners learn how to run a restaurant (rather than the production unit just handing them a restaurant makeover).

I haven't watched all of the F Word, but it's reasonably enjoyable. I like the bits involving the farm animals of the season that he's raising…the recipes almost always involve meat (I'm vegetarian), so they don't interest me too much.

I'm with you!  The Hell's Kitchen shows never really interested me that much. I LOVED the original Kitchen Nightmares.  It did really seem to be about making the restaurants better.  Yeah, he was foul-mouthed but it seemed to be from a place of genuine concern.

The US version is cringeworthy.  The owners always cry. There's always an emotional "I guess I'm like this because of my father...." kind of therapy mentality. Ick! And then there's the grand makeover. WTF?  When did it turn into a decorating show?  In the original he'd drag them in on their day off to clean grease traps when on the US version they get designer-themed makeovers done during the night by unseen elves. Blechhhh! 

The US version is cringeworthy.  The owners always cry. There's always an emotional "I guess I'm like this because of my father...." kind of therapy mentality. Ick! And then there's the grand makeover. WTF?  When did it turn into a decorating show?  In the original he'd drag them in on their day off to clean grease traps when on the US version they get designer-themed makeovers done during the night by unseen elves. Blechhhh! 

Exactly! The UK show had none of the personal psychotherapy/drama, other than "you're an idiot for not realizing that [really stupid thing] is really stupid".

At this point the US restaurant owners just expect a makeover, and think that + the lure of TV will magically make their restaurants successful, even though they have crap food/staff/management/all of the above.

The US versions all seem very staged to me. And I have a feeling that they probably are.

Last weekend I was watching the US version of 'Wife Swap' (don't judge me! we were in a self-catering flat without SKY and that was all that was on telly!). Anyway, at the beginning was a disclaimer saying that, "Unlike the British 'Wife Swap' certain scenes had been created for entertainment value," or words to that effect. So I suspect that most American shows are done the same way.

The US versions all seem very staged to me. And I have a feeling that they probably are.

Last weekend I was watching the US version of 'Wife Swap' (don't judge me! we were in a self-catering flat without SKY and that was all that was on telly!). Anyway, at the beginning was a disclaimer saying that, "Unlike the British 'Wife Swap' certain scenes had been created for entertainment value," or words to that effect. So I suspect that most American shows are done the same way.

I read an article/blog post from a former reality-show-writer who said that if an episode seemed to be lacking in drama, they would just manufacture it. (I think in this example, they combined a snippet from a girl saying "I really like Lisa. She is so nice and not a b*tch." and a snippet of her saying "I hate [something random]" to be "I really hate Lisa. She's such a b*tch."

One of the many, many reasons I would never sign up to be on a reality tv show.

Exactly! The UK show had none of the personal psychotherapy/drama, other than "you're an idiot for not realizing that [really stupid thing] is really stupid".

At this point the US restaurant owners just expect a makeover, and think that + the lure of TV will magically make their restaurants successful, even though they have crap food/staff/management/all of the above.

I like the US show, but I don't care about reality. I just want to be entertained. If I want to watch reality, I'll look out the window.

I like the shows because he's soooo over-the-top and I find it entertaining.  I don't look at it as a reality show...everyone should know that 'reality' shows don't exist.  I look at them as entertainment only (and realize that maybe 40% of it is 'real').

I just love to see how many swear words he can throw together in a stream and what he is going to throw next...boiling water?  raw lobster?  a pan with hot oil?  Oh wait, I've already seen those...give me something new.

I like Ramsey's Best Restaraunt and find this to be the most 'real' of his reality shows.  I've made it a mission to eat at each of the restaraunts that win...just because.  I'd like to try a GR restaraunt too at some point.