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I watched most of it. I think I missed the beginning a bit. I felt like Chef Ramsey was over the top with the yelling and the pissy-ness this time. Or maybe it's because I've gotten used to nicer people by now. The first episodes in the season are usually like this though (?) You get to see who can take the pressure and who can't. Also, there's probably a good bit of selective editing too. We barely heard about some of the contestants.

If I stumble upon it again while flipping channels, I'd watch it. But I'm not scheduling it in.

I saw one of these shows, and I cannot, for the life of me, understand why anyone would want to watch this jerk scream and carry on. It's ugliness of the first order, without any entertainment value (unless you enjoy watching people be humiliated and degraded), and was simply boring.

I love Gordon Ramsay when I watch the British shows on BBC America. On "The F Word," he goes through a series of dinner services with teams comprised of 5 "regular people" who just like to cook. When they're slow, or they screw something up, he gets irritated - but he's basically just cranky. He only yells if they're complete asshats to him. That show made me adore him. The American shows amp up the anger too much. I wish he'd stand up to the producers/etc. and just be himself.

I was excited because this turned up in my DVR. Once I started playing it, it was some stupid police reality show. Boo.

@hungrychristel; My whole family is addicted to reality food programs. Sunday afternoons are devoted to Duff, Bobby, and whatever Food Network challenge is on. The kids RUN to the tv while I make dinner.
I find it a nice way to spend time with my kids as opposed to some inappropriate music video.

Gordon is a rock star in this house.

Ok, I'm also a moron: here's the link to the video ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDstQWR1Rbs

Thanks for that maered! He seems to know Gordon well and was quite sincere.

@donnie -- He was in Santa Cruz doing a talk and book signing for "No Reservations." The audience would throw out questions and he would riff ...

Kind of "stream of consciousness" talking ... give him a subject and set him loose.

Also, Bourdain? A very very nice man. I got to talk to him for a few minutes when they were setting up the book signing table--very gracious, very appreciative that he has fans.

Getting back to the actual topic -- the contestants on this season's Hell's Kitchen look like a bunch on inbreds.

Of course I did, and I feel a little dirty. I adore BBC Ramsey more than words can say. I totally crush on him. I swear, sometimes he makes me smile like a 12 year old looking at Bobby Sherman (a reference only other oldsters will get, I'm sure.)

So I watch his US shows because I need another GRrrr fix. The contestants. They suck. I have no fear that this year will be unlike the others, all "chefs" I wouldn't trust to make my toast in the morning.

Hey @perky, you can watch Kitchen Nightmares on hulu.com. I have the show subscribed so it automatically adds it to my queue. I also do it with Kitchen Nightmares, and a long list of other shows they carry. Seriously, Hulu rocks.

@chisai ~ thanks for the tip! They have lots of my favorite shows. I didn't skim through all 35 pages, but I'm crossing my fingers that Mad Men is there, too. (not food related, or Gordo related, I know).

@dd ~ I hope you're wearing earplugs while watching Gordon. His language hurts my ears even though, yes, I've heard those words before. I don't like the idea that he makes it ok to use them, as probably most do today. I still wince when I hear that language. I know, at 10, you've heard those words, but that doesn't make it right to use them. There are lots of better ways to deal with people than anger and screaming, as well. Just my inner Mommy talking. I grew up in a home where tempers never flared and cursing was rare. I know that's unusual, but it was beautiful.

@chisai ~ great & thanks. I did find one site that had MM eps and they cut you off at 72 minutes and demanded payment to continue to watch.

Now that I know when Hell's Kitchen is on, I'll watch and see if they hook me in. Thanks!

@chisai - yes! The edit on Lacey and her pretty face was priceless...and I want both of them off my telly screen as soon as possible. Ugh! (as she said, most people think I'm just another pretty face in the kitchen, OH and I yelled in unison - Noooooooooo, we don't think so! Of course now we call her The Pretty Face)

Which brings me to - yeah, I watched it. My excuse? I stayed on the sofa in the living room after AI, and OH always watches it. Lame excuse, I know. Hell's Kitchen always strikes me as a freak show, but at least this year there seem to be a couple of decent contestants. At least the signature dishes weren't as much a disaster as they usually are. Still a freak show, of course. I'm glad I can get my "normal" Ramsey fix on BBC.

@ Perky Mac the last comment that said

" Hey, its a good thing they beep the curse words out."

Was from me dd!!!!

@ Perky Mac Its me dd I got my own account and yes a lot of beeping.

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Its so different from Top Chef but I appreciate that it is unique and not just a carbon copy ie Nanny 911 vs SuperNanny.

I love all shows that Gordan Ramsey is on, The F Word, Kitchen Nightmares, Hell's Kitchen. It's weird that he seems to overplay his nastiness in Hell's Kitchen when he is 'a little' more toned down in his other shows. Also, he is so sweet and fatherly with his kids and wife.

As to the contestants this season, they seem to me to be chosen for their weird quirks. Something that would tick of GR. The overweight guy, the whiney woman, etc. I was surprised out of all those supposedly excellent contestants, they can never mesh.

But..I'm hooked.

This is the one program that will make me flip away immediately. I am temperamental myself but Chef Ramsey is just a power mad jerk, doesn't matter how well he cooks or runs a restaurant. This is abuse and talent killing.