HUGE fan of Gordon Ramsay. Watch all his shows religiously, and very often. It's the sort of trashy tv that feels like it's not, really. Gordon's personality really carries the shows he is in... this one is... really...
First things first, all his shows are obviously at least somewhat scripted, and I get that. But it just does so many ridiculous things and expects the audience to believe it, things like Ramsay making the "patrons" who were eating there "by chance" not go home and wait 24 hours so they can come back and test the waters. He even tells them to let their families know! It's way too ridiculous, even by reality tv standards. About the 24 hours... I'm really not sure. I think it could be possible with a lot of backbreaking work but all the kitchens shown so far were absolutely filthy, the second one having a very bad rat infestation... I can believe a 24 hour renovation, maybe even a quick culinary crash course for chefs who have lost their spark... but being able to resolve things like infestations so fast is jusy yucky!
Another point I'm sure people would agree with is the fact that the sheer grossout in this is overkill. There's enough gross stuff shown in one episode to fit a whole season of Kitchen Nightmares! Seriously, it's THAT BAD. I watch the show online so I've resorted to tabbing out for most of those segments... and they are LONG. Like 10-15 minutes. We get it, the kitchens are in bad shape. This time could have been better used to show the renovation process. I seriously don't want to see rat carcass again.
Now for the owners... oh man. Every single one is more depressing than the next. I wouldn't call it exploitive, because I guess the show wants to "help", but it really just makes the show so unfun. First guy's brother dies and it kills his drive, second guy has his wife cheat on him with a 19 year old leaving him with three(!) kids to care for, third guy's son was SHOT and MURDERED and the guy is clearly disassociating the entire episode. Like, downright hard knocks depressed. Everyone is constantly crying and it's such a bummer. The episodes like this on KN were the worst for me, so all the episodes being that cranked up to 11 is so... unenjoyable. These people need more help than just with their businesses...
Here's the most important gripe: Ramsay. Man does he take the back seat in this. Him dressing up is pretty fun, but no one is over surprised he's there (cause the show is pretty scripted.. and to be honest all the episodes are so similar from wait staff behavior to how owners act im sure its 90% scripted). He is so drowned out by all the grossout, depressing owners and stupid gimmicks. Seriously. It feels like he was forced to do this show. Maybe if they showed him directing the renovation more... if only... he doesn't even intervene during the cooking lesson! Some random chick, bless her soul, does it... but yeah this show is a MESS. If it gets renewed for a new season I'll be mystified. It's so so so SO soulless.
First things first, all his shows are obviously at least somewhat scripted, and I get that. But it just does so many ridiculous things and expects the audience to believe it, things like Ramsay making the "patrons" who were eating there "by chance" not go home and wait 24 hours so they can come back and test the waters. He even tells them to let their families know! It's way too ridiculous, even by reality tv standards. About the 24 hours... I'm really not sure. I think it could be possible with a lot of backbreaking work but all the kitchens shown so far were absolutely filthy, the second one having a very bad rat infestation... I can believe a 24 hour renovation, maybe even a quick culinary crash course for chefs who have lost their spark... but being able to resolve things like infestations so fast is jusy yucky!
Another point I'm sure people would agree with is the fact that the sheer grossout in this is overkill. There's enough gross stuff shown in one episode to fit a whole season of Kitchen Nightmares! Seriously, it's THAT BAD. I watch the show online so I've resorted to tabbing out for most of those segments... and they are LONG. Like 10-15 minutes. We get it, the kitchens are in bad shape. This time could have been better used to show the renovation process. I seriously don't want to see rat carcass again.
Now for the owners... oh man. Every single one is more depressing than the next. I wouldn't call it exploitive, because I guess the show wants to "help", but it really just makes the show so unfun. First guy's brother dies and it kills his drive, second guy has his wife cheat on him with a 19 year old leaving him with three(!) kids to care for, third guy's son was SHOT and MURDERED and the guy is clearly disassociating the entire episode. Like, downright hard knocks depressed. Everyone is constantly crying and it's such a bummer. The episodes like this on KN were the worst for me, so all the episodes being that cranked up to 11 is so... unenjoyable. These people need more help than just with their businesses...
Here's the most important gripe: Ramsay. Man does he take the back seat in this. Him dressing up is pretty fun, but no one is over surprised he's there (cause the show is pretty scripted.. and to be honest all the episodes are so similar from wait staff behavior to how owners act im sure its 90% scripted). He is so drowned out by all the grossout, depressing owners and stupid gimmicks. Seriously. It feels like he was forced to do this show. Maybe if they showed him directing the renovation more... if only... he doesn't even intervene during the cooking lesson! Some random chick, bless her soul, does it... but yeah this show is a MESS. If it gets renewed for a new season I'll be mystified. It's so so so SO soulless.