Comments on: Has Gordon Ramsay gone soft in the US? http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:57:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Lee Whiteside http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2576384 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:18:20 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2576384 The US Kitchen Nightmares definitely tries to be more like the standard reality show with all the interview bits with the locals. In a couple of the earlier US shows, Gordon was seeming more like Dr. Phil in resolving relationship issues (even arranging for a marriage in one of the episodes). Watching the UK episodes in their original unedited form is a lot more fun. Also worth checking out on BBC America is The F Word, Gordon's magazine show. The US Kitchen Nightmares definitely tries to be more like the standard reality show with all the interview bits with the locals. In a couple of the earlier US shows, Gordon was seeming more like Dr. Phil in resolving relationship issues (even arranging for a marriage in one of the episodes). Watching the UK episodes in their original unedited form is a lot more fun. Also worth checking out on BBC America is The F Word, Gordon’s magazine show.

]]> by: Mike Thompson http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2575940 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:02:43 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2575940 Being a big of Ramsey's UK Nightmares, I just started watching the US version. It's barely the same show. Background music, heavily edited camera shots, decor makeovers(?) - the UK version is far more entertaining, and much less contrived. The question I have is, "Why change it?" Does the US audience need all the bells and whistles? What does the US adaptation say about the US viewing audience? Being a big of Ramsey’s UK Nightmares, I just started watching the US version. It’s barely the same show. Background music, heavily edited camera shots, decor makeovers(?) - the UK version is far more entertaining, and much less contrived.

The question I have is, “Why change it?” Does the US audience need all the bells and whistles? What does the US adaptation say about the US viewing audience?

]]> by: James http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2575495 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:17:15 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2575495 Paul: Agreed, there was some utter gold in the captions and talking heads that popped up over the videos. Paul: Agreed, there was some utter gold in the captions and talking heads that popped up over the videos.

]]> by: Augie De Blieck Jr. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2573294 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:55:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2573294 Chris - the "Hell's Kitchen" DVDs offer the uncensored audio track option. The "F" word is still banished from network television. Not such a bad thing, really. Chris - the “Hell’s Kitchen” DVDs offer the uncensored audio track option. The “F” word is still banished from network television. Not such a bad thing, really.

]]> by: Paul O'Brien http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2573269 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:39:14 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2573269 Rock Profile IS very good, but it's worth remembering that they were intended as links between videos for the long-defunct UK Play channel. Since the videos can't be cleared for DVD release, you're not really seeing it the way Lucas and Walliams intended. Rock Profile IS very good, but it’s worth remembering that they were intended as links between videos for the long-defunct UK Play channel. Since the videos can’t be cleared for DVD release, you’re not really seeing it the way Lucas and Walliams intended.

]]> by: Rich Johnston http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2572852 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:18:12 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2572852 The case for Little Britain USA: Mr Doggy, revealing further and more hideous layers to the dog owner's repressed self hatred, and the loveless married couple, as poignant as they've ever done. Although for people who want the best of Lucas and Walliams, may I recommend their Rock Profile DVD. Awful impersonations of rock stars turned into living characters and a certain familiar Lou Reed looking after the socially challenged Andy Warhol... The case for Little Britain USA: Mr Doggy, revealing further and more hideous layers to the dog owner’s repressed self hatred, and the loveless married couple, as poignant as they’ve ever done.

Although for people who want the best of Lucas and Walliams, may I recommend their Rock Profile DVD. Awful impersonations of rock stars turned into living characters and a certain familiar Lou Reed looking after the socially challenged Andy Warhol…

]]> by: Chris Rice http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2571565 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:02:39 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2571565 Just to add insult to injury, they now show the US edition of Hell's Kitchen over here (the UK version only had Ramsay for the first series, followed by Gary Rhodes, Jean Christophe Novelli & Marco Pierre White- the latter two of whom my girlfriend finds just as tasty as Ramsay...). It has one enormous advantage over the US broadcast edition though - it's entirely uncensored, so we get the full glorious foulmouthed flow of both Ramsay, and the wonderfully bitchy contestants. The same goes for Breaking Bad - why on earth is that censored in the 'States? Just to add insult to injury, they now show the US edition of Hell’s Kitchen over here (the UK version only had Ramsay for the first series, followed by Gary Rhodes, Jean Christophe Novelli & Marco Pierre White- the latter two of whom my girlfriend finds just as tasty as Ramsay…).
It has one enormous advantage over the US broadcast edition though - it’s entirely uncensored, so we get the full glorious foulmouthed flow of both Ramsay, and the wonderfully bitchy contestants.
The same goes for Breaking Bad - why on earth is that censored in the ‘States?

]]> by: michael http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2570395 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:39:24 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2570395 Maybe he's just getting tired. Old. He has like 18 shows and multiple restaurants you know. ;) Maybe he’s just getting tired. Old. He has like 18 shows and multiple restaurants you know. ;)

]]> by: Jeff Morris http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2570042 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:28:16 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2570042 Ah, Gordon. One afternoon I turned on the TV to BBC America to find Gordon in full flaming fury; my daughter, two rooms away, heard the near-continuous bleeps and yelled, "WHERE'S GORDON AT THIS TIME?" Now if you really want perverse pleasure viewing, try "How Clean Is Your House?" My daughter and I STILL can't watch the "bird lady" episode, it was so revolting. Ah, Gordon. One afternoon I turned on the TV to BBC America to find Gordon in full flaming fury; my daughter, two rooms away, heard the near-continuous bleeps and yelled, “WHERE’S GORDON AT THIS TIME?”

Now if you really want perverse pleasure viewing, try “How Clean Is Your House?” My daughter and I STILL can’t watch the “bird lady” episode, it was so revolting.

]]> by: The Beat http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2569519 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:44:47 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2569519 Oh Ramsay is Ramsay no matter what, I just miss those spots where he goes into the back and puts on his chef's shirt and turns to the camera and says "These sods don't know a curry from an ashtray..." or whatever. His adlibs are way funnier than any scripting. It's also possible he doesn't have time to do as much work on this show, what with all the other stuff he's got going on. Oh Ramsay is Ramsay no matter what, I just miss those spots where he goes into the back and puts on his chef’s shirt and turns to the camera and says “These sods don’t know a curry from an ashtray…” or whatever. His adlibs are way funnier than any scripting.

It’s also possible he doesn’t have time to do as much work on this show, what with all the other stuff he’s got going on.

]]> by: Chi Kong Lui http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2569488 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:36:05 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2569488 If you think Gordon is being held back, you must have missed the Maine Lobster epside where he repeatedly dressed down one of the owners. I haven't seen the two episodes in question yet (DVRed), but my wife and I love the show and Gordon's potty mouth may be bleeped, but its not being edited out. Through out dinner services he always goes out the back and gives his take on how things are going. If you think Gordon is being held back, you must have missed the Maine Lobster epside where he repeatedly dressed down one of the owners. I haven’t seen the two episodes in question yet (DVRed), but my wife and I love the show and Gordon’s potty mouth may be bleeped, but its not being edited out. Through out dinner services he always goes out the back and gives his take on how things are going.

]]> by: Ali T. Kokmen http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2569231 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:20:23 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2569231 I confess than I enjoy KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (but greatly prefer the U.K. version) but if it's food-related reality TV you're looking for, I gotta recommend the Food Network's new series "The Chef Jeff Project." Chef Jeff Henderson grew up in L.A., got involved in drug dealing, and went to prison for 10 years. In prison, he discovered cooking, and began to turn his life around. After his release, he worked his way up to become an executive chef at top Las Vegas restaraunts. He now has his own catering firm and in "The Chef Jeff Project" he's hired six at-risk young men and women to work there. If they complete the program, they'll receive scholarships to culinary school. It's not a competition show--the hires aren't going to get voted off--but it's filled with drama and heart. With its self-evident virtues, this show is like the reality TV industry doing penance for all the horrid pseudo-celebrities and trashy dating shows foisted upon us. And, frankly, I can't understand why more folks aren't fascinated by it. If you've got Food Network, give it a watch. I confess than I enjoy KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (but greatly prefer the U.K. version) but if it’s food-related reality TV you’re looking for, I gotta recommend the Food Network’s new series “The Chef Jeff Project.”

Chef Jeff Henderson grew up in L.A., got involved in drug dealing, and went to prison for 10 years. In prison, he discovered cooking, and began to turn his life around. After his release, he worked his way up to become an executive chef at top Las Vegas restaraunts. He now has his own catering firm and in “The Chef Jeff Project” he’s hired six at-risk young men and women to work there. If they complete the program, they’ll receive scholarships to culinary school.

It’s not a competition show–the hires aren’t going to get voted off–but it’s filled with drama and heart. With its self-evident virtues, this show is like the reality TV industry doing penance for all the horrid pseudo-celebrities and trashy dating shows foisted upon us. And, frankly, I can’t understand why more folks aren’t fascinated by it. If you’ve got Food Network, give it a watch.

]]> by: Augie De Blieck Jr. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2569147 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:17:32 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/07/has-gordon-ramsay-gone-soft-in-the-us/#comment-2569147 This season of "Kitchen Nightmares" began with an hour special of Ramsey going back to several of the restaurants he helped last season, all of which were doing well. Some lost an employee or manager or two. There was a restaurant or two last season that ended with a voiceover telling us the owners sold out a month later and ran screaming, too. Some of the successes had more to do with "Gordon Ramsey Was Here!" than with actual restaurant quality, I fear. That makes them novelty restaurants, which never end well. The restaurant in nearby Fair Lawn, NJ is shipping their meatballs out around the country. Weird. Do people think the "fresh" food will age well in shipping? I haven't seen the British version of the show, but I'd like to someday. (I don't think my cable system has BBC America.) This season of “Kitchen Nightmares” began with an hour special of Ramsey going back to several of the restaurants he helped last season, all of which were doing well. Some lost an employee or manager or two. There was a restaurant or two last season that ended with a voiceover telling us the owners sold out a month later and ran screaming, too. Some of the successes had more to do with “Gordon Ramsey Was Here!” than with actual restaurant quality, I fear. That makes them novelty restaurants, which never end well. The restaurant in nearby Fair Lawn, NJ is shipping their meatballs out around the country. Weird. Do people think the “fresh” food will age well in shipping?

I haven’t seen the British version of the show, but I’d like to someday. (I don’t think my cable system has BBC America.)

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