Apr 10 2009
Hell’s Kitchen–Season 5; Down to the Final 5
I’d forgotten how much I loved Fox’s chef competition show, Hell’s Kitchen (which airs on Thursday nights)! The show is led by world-class chef Gordan Ramsay, who has quite a list of accomplishments. The often VERY vocal head chef takes a group of competitor chefs (this season started with 16) through a series of challenges and evening dinner services, splitting the group into the male and female teams. Each show, a contestant (sometimes 2) is eliminated, depending on who was put up on the “chopping block”.
Chef Ramsay is an amazing character, and always hysterical to watch. He knows how to break a person down, though, and doesn’t take any kind of crappy service in his kitchen–which has led to many people being told to “piss off” and leave the show in the middle of dinner service, right from the kitchen!
In the end, 1 contestant remains, and gets the prize–this season consisting of $250, 000, and the head chef position at Atlantic City’s new hotel and casino-the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa.
The competition has been a great fun to catch up on this season, because of all the different personalities. I love how the chefs have to mix teamwork with trying to win individually.
There were some really bad characters this season–who seemed like they’d never even stepped into a kitchen before (like Colleen, who swore she was a cooking school instructor, and who Chef Ramsay said had great attitude, but who seemed clueless in the kitchen, and waay below par)…Or who snuck through eliminations–but who everyone hated and wanted gone (Lacey–who whined and complained and tried to play the victim on every episode. She was traded to the men’s team, and they ended up hating her too! They kept having to pick up her slack. Finally, when she had no idea how to cook meat, and screwed up the dinner service one episode, Chef Ramsay finally screamed her out of the kitchen, to everyone’s happines!).
Now, there are only 5 contestants left: Andrea , Ben, Robert, Danny and Paula. I am currently rooting for either Danny or Paula–both of whom haven’t screwed up really too much, and neither of whom runs their mouth or is cocky. They both have been more of the silent strong type, and seem to let things roll off their backs. Andrea is good too, but she’s had some screwed up services, which have cost the team. Robert is cute and does pretty well, but he has a bit of an attitude. And Ben just talks too much, heh. He’s screwed up pretty bad as well, though he can obviously cook. But I think he’s one of those people that thinks they’re better than they are.
The main reason I love this show so much is chef Ramsay. He’s a wonder. What makes him a great TV personality for the show as well, is that when you watch him screaming and cursing in someone’s face at their mistakes, you would never think he’s the kindhearted guy he is in real life. That’s why I love seeing him on challenge rewards, when he’s out of Hell’s Kitchen, and enjoying himself. Or when he deals with children, or a serious problem of a contestent. Then he’s all heart, and soft spoken. A nifty guy.
There have been some great rewards on this season so far, and some ridiculous loser “prizes”! I look forward to seeing what happens with the Final 5, and who comes out on top!
