I have been fascinated by this show from the 1st episode I saw (I never watch Hells Kitchen, although I know Ramsey is the potty-mouthed British chef).
I am glad they dispensed w/ showing Ramsey shirtless--he's no Ty from Extreme Home Makeovers. It could be just because I don't find him that attractive, but still, something about a chef w/o his shirt on is a little unappetizing.
I've also noticed that if you look closely some of the unhappy customers in the beginning are also featured in the "relaunch", and are then much more satisfied. Is this on purpose? Are they inviting these particular people to come back after it's been redone? Or are they ACTORS, who are brought in to emphasize the contrast in the before & after?

I'm also floored that some of these "nice" restaurants microwave their food. Are you kidding me?!

Ok, last night's episode, w/ the NJ Italian place--I really think some of the "customers" were plants or actors or something. The one table that thought their food was "terrible", and then how Ramsey spoke to the woman (telling her she was "talking out her ear", and referring to her as "the old bag" as incoming customers walked by)--who talks to a customer that way?! And she took it WAY better than I think most people in that situation would've (let a chef talk to my grandmother that way--she'd have cussed HIM out & probably left w/o paying)! That just makes me think some of that was staged.

Except that Ramsey has become a celebrity. If they recognized him then being cussed out by Ramsey would be more than acceptable and she ended up on television--she had to know the cameras were filming this; I expect they had to ask her permission or post something for the customers to know they might end up on TV. Fro some people the price of being called names is worth appearing on TV. Look at reality TV, people do the dumbest things just to be on TV.

Anyone watch the season finale last night? I thought it was
decent. Some of the earlier episodes were stronger in my
opinion. All in all, a pretty good season. In terms of
entertainment, I would have to rank it right up there with
Hell's Kitchen. The advantages of this show over HK were
the different restaurants we saw every week, and the
variety of the business practices and the staff. But like
HK (and most reality shows), many of the scenes were
staged, as claimed in the lawsuit.

But Ramsay is a star and I am looking forward to HK:

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/fox-d...r-idol-6064.php

The next edition of HK is coming in April 2008 in a time
slot after 'Idol'.