Hell's Kitchen- WTH is this Popular?!

[Classic Speedy]

In case you were unaware, Hell's Kitchen, the newest reality series on Fox, is getting fairly healthy ratings. The week of June 27-July 3, it ranked 14th (tied with a few other shows) with an average of 7.1 million viewers.

But how are people sucked into watching this? The commercials are the most unpleasant thing I've ever seen, rivaling The Swan in unpleasantness. Seriously, it's a guy shouting obscentities at his chefs. I'd think the last thing people would want to do after an 8-hour work day is watch a perfectly normal (or gasp! Even friendly!) person get a tirade in their face.

It baffles me as to how people would want to watch this purely from the ads, because all they advertise is the head chef's rants and people snapping. Atleast with Simon Cowell, he's got a calm demeanor even when dishing out insults. And I can see the intrigue in that, because you never know which way he's gonna go. But this seems to be in the same as Boot Camp- mindless, incessant yelling even when people are trying their best. (Yes, I know he's trying to get people to crack under pressure so they're eliminated, but it doesn't make it any more unpleasant, and if it's ALL yelling, there's no tension)

So what's the appeal of a show like this? Do people enjoy watching others crapped on for their hard work? If so, that's morbid. The reality TV sub-genre of insults has gotten way out of hand- atleast in earlier shows like Weakest Link, the insults had some wit and dry humor. But this is too much.

[Youko Recca]

No idea, but reality shows need to vanish in general. I saw a bit of it, and really, such a poor replacement for the awesomeness of 24. If I want someone shouting, it's going to be Jack, and because he needs to find someone who knows the location to a bomb or something.

Luckily, the coming Fall season looks to be an overall happy time for TV.

[Lord Dalek]

I guess people are just waiting for the episode where the entire staff walks out on Ramsey.

I know I am.

WATCH COOKING UNDER FIRE DARNIT!

[The Landstander]

Honesty, I kinda like it. http://landstander.superloo.us/emot-gonk.gif

It's not high class entertainment and I generally don't like reality TV but this has some odd likability to it. I saw the first episode because my sister watched it and I kept up with it. Also Ramsay is overplayed on the commercials; he's really only bad when people actually screw up.



http://landstander.superloo.us/emot-gonk.gif

[Kury Wagner]

I personally haven't seen any of it because I have absolutely no interest in doing so. It looks so absurd... and not the good kind of absurd.

Luckily, the coming Fall season looks to be an overall happy time for TV.I can't wait for Bones.

[Classic Speedy]

Also Ramsay is overplayed on the commercials; he's really only bad when people actually screw up. Which brings me back to my original point- it baffles me why people are drawn into this from those commercials, even if the show doesn't actually consist of 100% yelling. I mean half the time the commercials don't even emphasize the contest element of the show- it's all about Ramsay's outbursts and the chef's reactions.

From your post, you said that you watched because your sister did, so that's a completely different story.

[Bearpod91]

It was interesting seeing him yell at cooks who make a bad dish. I always wanted to go to the chef and yell at him for making a bad meal and here is this show with someone doing that for you.

But then you get this thing where they get chosen off...which is kinda stupid but its always funny to see someone cry while cooking a steak for some classy people who are really actors...or at least I think they hire actors to be the customers on that show.

And that butler guy...whats his name? Hes like the person you think might be normal then he shows his wierd side...lol "wierd side".

I give this show a 7/10...for seeing bad chefs get yelled at by a big grade A chef...

Its like Surviver except you have to cook good to surviver...no wait, you have to cook GREAT to survive.

[Fone Bone]

It looks like complete and utter trash. Of course it's going to be popular.

[SimpsonGuy100]

Hell's Kitchen is part of a growing range of FOX shows that were stolen off of the British TV companies ITV & BBC.

Gordon Ramsey was the evil chef that starred in both the british and american versions. Gordon basically is so famous in the UK because like Simon Cowell, he is getting payed for being an a**h***. He also starred in another British TV crude such as "Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares" which is not a reality gameshow, but it's just him shouting tarrets at innocent people so they can help make his London restraunt a success. What an idiot.

I agree it is absolutely awful programming and I already know that because ITV has such awful entertainment such as HK, FOX natually want to suck up shows off of the other side of the pond because there Animation/Comedy Sunday Lineup is too good.

American Idol was the first show FOX stole off form the UK, then this and then they stole BBC's "Stricly Dance Fever" from us and changed the title to "So You Think You Can Dance?".

FOX aren't the only station to steal off of us. NBC made a US version of ITV's "Hit Me Baby 1 More Time" with Vernon Kay, they also made a US version of "The Office" which is being commisioned onto UK BBC Channel "BBC Three" right now and ABC have made a US version of Channel 4's "Wife Swap".

[Kylewayne]

Come on, Chef is not like this in real life. He is hard on those people because one of them will get to be his understudy and he will help them open uip their own restaurante. He has to be taugh on them and make them realize that being a well known "Chef " and running a restaurant isn't in fact that easy. He is drilling them for the future. Whomever survives has what it takes.

I personaly love that show. It's kinda interesting to see what people do and say when they are at their wits end. I think Micheal or Elsie will win this. I know Micheal is a bit of a sleaz who sabotages his team members stuff to stay in the game ><

[SimpsonGuy100]

Well, who knows. Maybe FOX actually made an improvement on an crud show after all!

[Clayface]

I'm one that loves the show as well. I'm not sure what drew me into it in the first place, because I don't remember if I saw the commercials and decided to watch it, or if I just stumbled across it one night while channel surfing. But whenever it's on, I tune in now. I love cooking, and I love competition shows. This is both, so it keeps me interested.

As to why it's popular when the chef is so unpleasant, I suspect it's much the same as the Howard Stern phenonmenon:


The average person listens to the radio for about 17 minutes.
The average Stern fan listens for about 1 hour, 15 minutes. Most given reason why: "I want to hear what he'll say next."
The average Stern hater listens for about 2 hours, 45 minutes! Most given answer why: "I want to hear what he'll say next."

That's certainly one of the reasons I watch - to see what Chef will say (yell) next. It's like watching boxing - it can be ugly and mean, but it's fascinating as well. It's also the classic underdog scenario - the weaker, everyday man (chef) fighting the powers-that-be and dealing with the crap to win out in the end (there is a winner in the end afterall).

[Mr Cat Dog]

When Hell's Kitchen aired over here for the first season, everyone really enjoyed it. They loved Ramsay's blunt honesty albeit the overuse of the f word, but it was after 9:00 so the censors didn't care. But this year it returned and it was a ratings flop. The second time, it was done with Gary Rhodes and Jean Cristophe-Novelli, who were crap compared to Ramsay.

But... if it works with you guys, they might keep Ramsay for another series.

[Lord Dalek]

American Idol was the first show FOX stole off form the UK, then this and then they stole BBC's "Stricly Dance Fever" from us and changed the title to "So You Think You Can Dance?".
Actually you're thinking of Dancing With The Stars, which sports a clearly visible Lambie/Nairn BBC logo at the end and is on ABC.

EDIT- nevermind that's a ripoff of Strictly Come Dancing. Darnit, why can't you people come up with more creative names for your franchises???

[Natey]

popular becasue itsa inteence show. and some people like cooking or people like seeing people getting cheweds out.thats what i think

~Nate~

[Master Moron]

Hey, it's summer. There's nothing better on a Monday night in the summer. I mean, look at the crap ABC is airing Monday night. The Scholar is the single worst reality show I have ever seen. I just want to punch all of those ********s on the scholarship committee. Actually, I want to punch the contestants too. I mean, how can kids this smart be so freakin' stupid. They're playing the game like morons. Caryn, the dumbest player in Survivor history, could outsmart these guys.

At least the contestants on Hell's Kitchen aren't as dumb as the morons on The Scholar.

[Jaguar]

I like the show, too. Of course, he's unpleasant to people. They made a mistake! You can't nicely tell someone, "This meat is undercooked and it can cause sickness, so you *MAY* want to go back and start this table again, 'kay?" For the contestants to be able to run their own restaurant they have to deal with high pressure. Also, it does have a strange likability, somewhat similar to the "My Big Fat Obnoxious..." series.

[Damien]

Love this show. You'd probably enjoy it more if you've ever worked in a kitchen.

[NozeNuggets]

Would you have said "WTF"?

[SilverKnight]

It looks like complete and utter trash. Of course it's going to be popular.To quote...well, someone, "You win the thread."

[Classic Speedy]

Would you have said "WTF"? No, because then the corny pun wouldn't work. Get it? Hell's Kitchen- Why the Hell is this Popular?

[Lord Dalek]

No, because then the corny pun wouldn't work. Get it? Hell's Kitchen- Why the Hell is this Popular?More imprortantly, the mods also don't alow "WTF?" in thread titles.