Hell’s Kitchen – Reality?
I figured it was only a matter of time before a reality show pulled a stunt worthy of a Bull call. I didn’t expect Hell’s Kitchen to have the honor of being the first. However, I’ve got to Call Bull for the opening episodes of the show’s sixth season.
It is no secret that reality shows often have to re-shoot scenes and do some elementary staging to maintain a certian production quality and to increase the entertainment value of the program. We’d like for a reality show to be 100% real, but we’ll usually forgive a lot as long as the integrity of the show and its premise aren’t compromised.
In my opinion, Hell’s Kitchen has now crossed the line and moved far away from it’s origins.
For those of you who’ve never seen the show, let me explain what it’s all about. The producers bring together a group of aspiring chefs who are hoping to catch their big career break. Through a series of contests and butt-chewings by the world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsey, the number is pared down until a winner is chosen. The prize is an Executive Chef position at a world class restaurant (usually at a big casino). The winner’s salary in their new gig is usually around $250,000 a year. We’re not talking the deli up the street here; these are five star restaurants. That’s what makes some of their candidates unlikely choices for such a contest.
As a former television producer I fully understand the need for a wide diversity of candidates on a show like this. Clashing personalities and styles make for good TV. Plus, we Americans just like to root for the underdog. You have to pick some longshots and see if they step up to the plate (so to speak).
This season, however, I’m afraid that was no longer good enough. Unless I’m badly mistaken, this year there are at least two actors playing the roles of aspiring chefs. I could be wrong, but it just seems too staged and certainly worthy of a Bull Call
Let’s start with Louie. Supposedly, Louie owns and operates a diner in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. I’m sure the country is full of great chefs who own diners and dream of their chance to manage a five star restaurant.
Louie doesn’t strike me as one of them. The first sign that Louie might not be a legitimate contender showed up at the first challenge. Each chef was asked to create his or her signature dish for Chef Ramsey. Most of the dishes were exotic gourmet originals that would fit nicely on any fine dining menu. Louie, on the other hand, tried to impress one of the world’s great chefs with Biscuits and Gravy.
Later on, in the same episode, Louie screws up and gets thrown out of the kitchen and off the show. That creates a vacancy and, as luck would have it, a popular contestant from last season who had to leave for health reasons just happened to be in the restaurant and available to step right into Louie’s shoes. What were the odds? If Louie isn’t an actor, then he was chosen to be on the show just to be a prop and the butt of jokes.
There there’s Joseph, the Sous Chef from New York. While the whole Louie ordeal is going on, Joseph seems like a legitimate contender for the prize. He’s got a little attitude, but you’ve got to have that if you’re going to compete for any serious prize.
Then all of the sudden he goes nuts. Chef Ramsey asks him a simple question about which of his teammates should be eliminated. Joseph refuses to answer and then starts raving "I ain’t no bitch" over and over again. When Ramsey asks him what the heck he’s talking about, he throws off his jacket and charges at the host. He gets right up in Ramsey’s face ready to fight.
Some may claim this is just a case of a guy cracking under intense pressure. I know there will always be hot-heads who lash out when things get tough. It’s just a way of coping for some usually driven by deep insecurities, etc. However, there are factors about this situation that just do not add up.
You can bet a show like this does some phychological screening on its candidates before putting them on to the show. That should weed out the nutcases. No sane person is going to throw away the chance of a lifetime after only a couple of days of pressure.
I guess the bigger issue for me, though, is the fact that Joseph was able to get close to Chef Ramsey with an "I’m going to kill you" look on his face. Fox has a lot invested in Gordon Ramsey; he is one of their strongest franchises. If someone was heading toward Ramsey and there was even the slightest real risk to him, security would be there in a heartbeat. There’s no way that Fox would put their star in immediate danger. At the very least, we’d see Ramsey glancing off screen with a "What should I do" look. It’s almost like he knew what was going to happen.
We Call Bull!!!!
i live in fitchburg and this guy does own a diner. I think they just put him on to create the vacancy for the other contestant. I wouldn’t hold anything against him, I would hold it against fox
August 9th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Hey John I totally agree! Andy and I thought the same things on this one! Good job. I really like the site.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:28 pm