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At least on the American Kitchen Nightmares (I haven't watched Hell's Kitchen), Ramsay is far from a "total dick." If anything, he really "gets" people and is able to bring out the best in them and less surprising, he's got plenty of restaurant business savvy.

Part of the reason he is a dick on Hell's Kitchen is because of the caliber of contestants that appear on the show. I think the casting department tries to find people that won't be able to handle the situation they are put in. I watched last night, and the man eliminated was not a professional chef, but a stay at home dad. He had not worked in a kitchen, but thought that catering to his children gave him enough experience to work in a busy kitchen environment. Part of the reason for this casting is possibly because of the show's premise.The show is looking for a line cook. The contestants cook recipes that are handed to them. They have to do the same menu in every episode. The yelling of Ramsay is the only thing that could make the show interesting. So I do not think of Ramsay as a dick...I think he is a passionate man who knows how to keep a disappointing show more watchable.(Though I won't endorse his need to be shown without a shirt in every episode of Kitchen Nightmares.)

I agree with the sentiment that he brings out some really human moments - on the British version of Kitchen Nightmares there are numerous episodes that are very touching (for lack of a better term). Gordon really has to struggle to get the best out of people who he seems to genuinely feel are better than they appear (or cook).

Anybody who watches the British version of his show has seen that his tough love approach really does have some love in it. He's an ass-hole but he also seems like a really good guy.

As for the stolen reservation book, my understanding of the situation was that he stole a reservation book from his OWN restaurant then blamed it on his rivals.

I watched HK all the way through for the first time last night. It was more entertaining than I expected. Of course it is very staged. I thought all the patrons walking out en masse was particularly fakey.

And Gordon as a major jerk, while convincing, is also hard on the nerves. I do question how much power the winner will actually have in G's new London restaurant in LA. None of those people seemed like they would ever be up to that task. Maybe the New York woman who made the soup he liked.

Psst, it's posted on Salon.com, not Slate. Show the love...

I could be wrong, but I believe he stole his OWN reservation book, not Marco Pierre White's, and merely cast blame upon White for the theft. I think I read it in the New Yorker, and this seems to confirm that:http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2007/04/05/312687/marco-pierre-white-to-sue-gordon-ramsay-over-book-theft.html

He is presented in a different (and not better way) on American television. He can be rather a softie on the British versions of his show. He can be caring, warm, funny. This really comes through on the F-Word where you can see him with his kids and with the animals they raise.

No, he has no patience for someone who's not interested in trying, but he becomes genuinely invested when someone wants to try or learn.

Kitchen Nightmares is edited to maximize the drama, you really can't take the story line at face value. If you read between the frames you can see that he is has an excellent business sense and good advice.

Remember that Purdue chicken commercial? "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken", this could be GR's motto as well.

The F Word - best food show on right now besides No Reservations. it comes on for me at some wacky time like sundays at 11am on BBC america

What a great thread. Everyone is absolutely right about the "stealing the reservation book" story. I just flat out mis-remembered. Everyone has me jazzed about watching The F Word and the British Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America.

He may be a jerk but he also has a point. I think everyone knows that tv is about the DRAMA. i must have nonstop drama on tv or i may read a book(god forbid). i think it is sad that we see 2 different personas when i like him on bbc. I watch so much bbc my son started sounding british. He is never mad, he is cross- and other words.

He's funny on Hell's Kitchen. Love the show.

The F Word is also a favorite.

So... let me get this straight. Gordon, in the UK, does a television show where there are real restaurant people in a real restaurant and he lets the real Gordon come through. Here in the US he does a television show with actors pretending to be restaurant people, on a set pretending to be a restaurant and Gordon pretends to be a screaming asshole. This is supposed to make us like him and his US show because.... they think that Americans are just to friggin' STUPID to watch the real thing? No wonder it's on a FOX network: the think that we're all dumb enough to swallow whatever shit they shovel our way.

Oh, and Gordon... you want to be taken seriously AND play a clown at the same time? Yeah. Right. Sure thing, you pathetic Bozo. You own how many successful restaurants yet you act like an asshole on American TV for what? More money? Your screaming idiot act is a kick in the teeth to the real Chefs of the world who spend the time:
1 working their way up through the ranks, confident that they really know their craft
2 hire good people with good skills and work ethics
3 take the time to instruct their staff in how they want the dishes prepared
4 get the right equipment & supplies for their staff to do their jobs
5 hire a dining room manager who knows how to pace the reservations so that the kitchen doesn't get so slammed that they can't do their jobs well
6 leading by example... not by posing for a camera and screaming.