Hell’s Kitchen Season 2 - Show 2 - Summary

This is a continuation of the Hell’s Kitchen intro to this 2-hour opener.

Interestingly, Chef Ramsay’s started off the two teams as women (red team) against men (blue team). But as usual, he’s merciless. He particularly seems to dislike older men and large men. He’s less mean to visible minority contestants.

Chef Ramsay gets rid of the weakest links, so to speak, right up front. I can understand, having worked in busy kitchens, that he wants people who really can handle the bustle. It’s to their benefit for inexperienced contestants to leave early.

Consider that in the second episode (which was shown up here in Canada as part of the two-hour opener), two of the contestants ended up in the hospital. One went home for good; the other returned later.

Not surprisingly, Chef Ramsay is not as insulting as in the first episode. He’s still mean, but in an almost subdued, scripted manner. This is actually unexpected, considering that on both the opening night and the second night, patrons pretty much picked up and left.

His picks to go home in the first two episodes, aided by one “leader” from each defeated team, were not at all surprising. More obvious, in fact, than in the first season.

The most surprising thing of all, when he let the second contestant go, is that he said, “You’re too much of a sweet guy/gal. Sweet guys/gals don’t make it in a kitchen.” Truer words were probably never said, in respect to the restaurant industry.

My own experience in four years is that it takes a certain type of person to be a line cook and a certain type of person to later become a chef/ executive chef. Unfortunately, if you can’t hack it as a line cook, you’re likely to make it as a chef - unless you buy your own restaurant.

What I’m wondering is how long Chef Ramsay can milk this whole reality kitchen TV scheme. No doubt this season is going to have far more viewers than last.

Tags: curryelvis, curry elvis, hell’s kitchen, reality tv, gordon ramsay