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May 27, 2012

Hell's Kitchen: Day One (season premiere)

by Bob Sassone, posted Jan 29th 2009 10:02PM

Hell's Kitchen

(S05E01) "Who cooked the diapers?" - Chef Ramsay

So, another year, another group of supposed chefs, battling to see who gets $250,000 and a position at a top restaurant. This season it's the head chef position at the Borgata in Atlantic City. First off, can we talk about the names of some of the contestants this season? The players this season include J, LA, Ji, and Coi.

J? LA? Ji? Coi? Those aren't even names, they're Scrabble words. Luckily, we have a Charlie, a Ben, and a Danny to balance things out.

This season, we don't get to know the contestants before they arrive at Hell's Kitchen (except for a scene of the contestants being picked from the group of finalists). There's no video of them making the trip to L.A. and no disguises by Chef Ramsay to infiltrate the group. After a roundup of the previous seasons (and a big preview of this season), we get a promise that this is going to be the best season of the show ever (I think they say that every year) and go right into this season's action with the cooking of the signature dishes.

Actually, the signature dishes are a little surprising this season. Ramsay finds a lot of them tasty and edible, even if one of them is "the worst dish he's ever tasted." There are a few that just don't cut it (the quote above should give you a hint), and he doesn't have nice things to say to Colleen, who actually teaches people to cook for a living (she also teaches "manners"). There is the inevitable exaggerated scene of Ramsay spitting out the food because it tastes like it was cooked by the devil himself, but he calls the group the best he's seen on the show yet, based on the first dishes.

Of course, things deteriorate from there at the dinner service. Food is sent out raw, chefs argue with each other, chefs don't know what they're doing at their stations, Ramsay screams about someone's risotto (there's always a bad risotto). At this point, if you go to Hell's Kitchen, you should probably bring a snack in case you're not served, which is a definitely possibility.

There are a couple of people who could have been voted off tonight (really Colleen...putting sugar in a dish instead of salt and then trying to serve it?), but at the end, Ramsay makes the right decision and gets rid of Wil. At one point, Wil walks back and forth not knowing what to do/cook next and clearly isn't up to the rigors and pace of Hell's Kitchen.

I didn't think I'd watch this show again this season, but to quote that Hotels.com commercial where the guy squeezes shampoo on to his head, "It's working ... oh, they got me ... it's working!"

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Janice

I'm an avid fan of Hell's Kitchen but this season's first two episodes really left me in astonishment. Like Colleen, who's allegedly a cooking instructor that charges $300 a session but seems incapable of teaching herself to cook! Then there's Lacey, who should called Lazy because she's way too lazy to be a teamplayer. And then there's Ji, she has become my favorite on this season and she really showed incredible dedication, talent, and gumption as she endured her way throughout the task with no complaints despite her injured ankle (due to a slip in the wet part of the kitchen). Lacey and Colleen were both summoned for elimination but at the last minute, Ji volunteered for herself to be ousted from the game because she thinks her injury would be a hindrance for the team. What she did was really noble, and I hope that they would bring her back to the show. I found that she has a web site, http://www.chefji.com with photos and you can email and even vote as to whether to have her back to the show.

February 08 2009 at 8:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mb

Someone brought up a very good point: Don't any of the contestants watch the previous seasons in order to prepare? More importantly, don't they know what not to do to p!ss off Gordon?

It's funny because I'm also listening to an audio version of Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. And he basically says that he only wants chefs that follow the recipes consistently (e.g. don't change anything in the recipe like Colleen did twice) and don't have an attitude.

Lacey and Seth amaze me, because working on a kitchen line should be a prerequisite (although it's possible that the producers hand-pick a few noobs to single out early).

This show is awesome, and one of the only reality shows I actually watch (and love). So glad it's back.

January 30 2009 at 8:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike

"I also teach manners" - the look on gordon's face was priceless. I feel bad for Jean-Phillippe when he has to bring back food and complaints from the customers.

So what can be so shocking next week? Gordon fires everyone?

January 30 2009 at 3:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jessica

I like this show, but it is on during CSI and Grey Anatomy - both shows I record and watch. I will be happy reading your recaps and opinions. Though, I may watch one episode to see if my thought that Hell's Kitchen picks some of the ugliest contestants - uglier than any other reality show.

January 30 2009 at 2:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jessica's comment
Brent McKee

I'm lucky that my cable company gives (gives?) me an east coast and a west coast feed for all of the American networks. so I can watch or record up to four shows that air up against each other.

I think you may be on to something about "ugly" contestants, though I'd use the word "homely" rather than ugly. Of course this is probably because the show doesn't select contestants based primarily on looks but on ability. If they chose on looks, Ramsay wouldn't even qualify for it.

It's also the show with the greatest risk of causing cancer just by viewers watching the contestants smoking. Ramsay is a non-smoker (he knows smoking destroys the palate) but most of the wannabes are out there puffing away at the least excuse. Give them props in the reality department for that at least.

January 30 2009 at 3:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JD

You didn't say anything about the most annoying bitch Lacey. The FIRST DAY, the FIRST FEW HOURS, she can't take it and is out eating and smoking a cigarette????

She make a comment about this happening everywhere she had worked and blames it on the other women in those places. :why,why,why:

January 30 2009 at 10:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mj

The power failure was great. Although if the stoves worked, they could have continued to cook. Flashlights, anyone? No emergency generator? Colleen needs to go. She isn't a chef, but teaches it?? Ripoff!!! Wonder if her business will suffer, now? Lacey didn't know how to work a line? Did she not watch this show at all? I am so happy this show is back!!!!

January 30 2009 at 9:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brent McKee

It should have been Seth, and if Robert had stuck with his offer to replace Will on the block, it would have been Seth. Still, expect Colleen and Seth go soon (though I'm also not liking LA and Lacey - particularly Lacey). I also expect Giovanni to go quickly too.

January 30 2009 at 6:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matt

Wil was a bit befuddled but had the heart to cook and serve. It should have been Seth.

January 30 2009 at 5:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sarah

That is my favorite commercial! "Ohh, its working!"

I'll still watch this season. The number of good signature dishes should prove interesting in whether the season will be just like the rest.

January 29 2009 at 11:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Donna

Bummer!!! I didn't realize Hell's Kitchen began tonight. I forgot all about it. I watch so little television, that I have to literally put reminders into my datebook when a show starts up again (like this one). Oh well, I guess I need to write it down for next week so I won't forget again.

Well, thanks for getting me caught up on my missed show, at any rate.

January 29 2009 at 11:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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