(S02E10) I think there should be a new rule imposed in the land of reality TV: no more two hour season finales! Seriously, they're sooooo annoying and tedious, because they just rehash everything that has happened and contain all the same predictable twists and turns that we see in other seasons (or, in some cases, other shows). Of course, maybe we could have knocked the season finale of Hell's Kitchen down to about 90 minutes if they just took out the trivial asides and the damn 11 minute opening summary of every single episode from this season. I mean, if you watch the show, you already know everything that happened. I doubt someone is going to tune into the show 10 episodes in and say "hey, I wonder who will win Hell's Kitchen?"
And then, in the second hour, they have a recap of what happened in the first hour! Gah. But I'm getting ahead of myself. It's down to Heather and Virginia...
Virginia and Heather get a visit from loved ones. Heather's parents show up, while Virginia gets a visit from her husband and mom. Heather is incredibly emotional, but that's really no surprise since Heather has become more and more emotional as the season has progressed. Don't really understand what that's all about.
Chef Ramsay brings the two women to Las Vegas to show them the town and the Red Rock Casino. He also has a challenge for them: make their signature dishes and ask 20 customers who's is the best. This being reality TV, micraculously, it's split 10-10. It comes down to one guy and his decision. He picks Virginia's Chicken over Heather's sea bass. Really odd, some of these food challenges, because what if you get customers who simply don't eat fish, especially sea bass, or simply don't like chicken? Whatever. Ramsay takes the two women to the top of the building to show them the view, then he pushes them both off. No, actually he gives them tickets to London so they can come visit him and he can show them the place where he started as a chef.
The three of them go back to Hell's Kitchen, and it's time to pick their teams for the final service. For some reason, Virginia picks Tom and Giacamo along with Keith. She explains that she wants to surprise everyone by picking people who aren't strong. Great people skills there Virginia. Heather picks Rachel (of course), and Sara, who hates her. Garrett is left last and goes to Heather's team.
In a really creepy moment, Keith and Tom say they won't work well unless Virginia guarantees them money. She seems shocked, but really can't articulate why it's so wrong, so instead she decides to give them $1000 if they win. Weird moment for sure.
Then there's a commercial for another damn Simon Cowell reality show, Celebrity Duets, and I really want to kick in my television.
Ramsay goes around and critiques the menus of both players and gives tips. Then he checks out the restaurant designs. Heather has a giant screen that would be too big at a football stadium. Her colors are light, sophisticated, but Ramsay doesn't understand the wipe off grafitti boards. He thinks that ruins it a bit. Virginia's waterfall seems to be finished. She has a desert/ water theme (though I don't really seem to see the desert part). Ramsay thinks it's cozy and well-lit (because ladies like to be well-lit, he says).
A few minutes before service, Ramsay reminds them that tonight, these people aren't their friends, they're workers. I really don't think they have to worry about the friend part. The captains address their teams.
Service beings and Ramsay tells Heather that there's a very imporant customer in the restaurant tonight (if I was Heather, I'd say "all of the customers are important chef"). It's the President of Red Rock Casino and his wife, but Ramsay doesn't tell anyone that.
Both teams are having quality control problems. A dish comes back to Heather cold and flavorless, and Virginia sends back food before it even goes out. It's funny how the losers are complaining about having to work hard and not getting anything for it. Um, don't they know how this show works?
Oh, and Tom acts very Tom-ish: first he stands around waiting for something, then he complains that he's a certain age and people are telling him what to do, like his ex-girlfriend, and then he cuts himself. It's like having Andy Dick's character from NewsRadio as one of your chefs. He doesn't seem to be sweating into the food, which is a good thing I guess.
Oh, wait, he starts sweating when he comes back and walking slow. Ramsay tells him to move his fat ass. To the camera, Tom says "I am what I am...and I'm not a bad looking guy." Huh?
Virginia has an entree returned to her, and realizes she has run out of snapper. Keith laughs at this. Great team member.
Service ends. Ramsay congratulates them both. They go back to the dorm and each says she thinks the other won. Ramsay tells them to come upstairs. There are two doors. Each player gets a key. The door that opens wins the game and the multi-million dollar restaurant at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas. And the winner is...
Heather!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-14-2006 @ 10:42PM
Deloris Nelms said...
Thank God he finally picked the right one. Virginia was a mess the whole time, she did not deserve to be one of the final two, it should have been Keith and Heather and then it would have made for a good finale. I am happy with the results!!!
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8-14-2006 @ 11:10PM
MrsEldubya said...
Funny how that wipe off graffiti board is now permanently displayed in the new Red Rock's restaurant. Guess it wasn't so bad.
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8-14-2006 @ 11:18PM
Obed said...
Well if you have over 90 mintues of a show and the NETWORK wants to start the new season of Prison Break as well as the new show Vanished NEXT WEEK.
THEN YOU GET A 2 HOUR FINALE!!!
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8-14-2006 @ 11:52PM
me said...
I, myself have been in the business for 15 years and I was sooooooooo sick and tired of hearing Heathers belly-aching and tears upon tears upon tears (blech!) Although Heather executed a more stable and stern voice in the kitchen, she really didn't win any challenges. I was just so sick and tired of her crying every show, I almost changed the channel every time she was interviewed...Virginia, was very sweet, did get her point across, (sometimes eventually). On the other hand, she did not have a strong voice or command-hand, BUT she did win most of the challenges, and was the most creative. I believe that a strong palette and sense OF TASTE (which Heather DID NOT HAVE and WILL NEVER HAVE) should have been the prevailing winner...what will win in the long run? Getting your food out on time and having a okay or so-so meal and menu, or food taking a bit longer and come out having people say it was "the best they've ever tasted?" Virginia, your menu will win in the long run! Kudos to you, Virginia! You were my favorite from the beginning and I know your success will be great and run far! Good luck!
P.S. Chef Ramsey-you hard minded f*ck! This show would not be without you! Looking forward to next season!
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8-15-2006 @ 12:23AM
Maggie said...
I think Heather was an annoying pain in the ass and does not have the skills to run a Las Vegas restaurant. Virginia wasn't that much better but I would have preferred her to win. I thought Keith should have gone all the way but he acted like a complete dick, and as for Tom... there are no words to for that tool. Overall... none of the contestants were anything special, I hope next season (if there is one) they will pick more talented contestants like the winner of the first season.
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8-15-2006 @ 1:03AM
opal said...
i am very happy for heather, they picked the right one thats for sure, i have been cooking since i was 16, heather did great, good luck heather good going.
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8-15-2006 @ 1:34AM
me said...
By the way Keith, I think you are a two-faced back stabbing piece of s*it...hopefully you will not get any job offers because you lack personality, loyalty and commitment. Why should anyone PAY you to baskstab and smirk behind their backs? Let alone "help them" out in the kitchen and cook? You'd just sit there with the "duh" look on your face and blame everyone else for your screw-ups. You failed all by yourself, of course you needed excuses as to why Virginia was still around...so make up some lame rumors to take the heat off yourself...As for Tom? Need I say more? How the hell did you ever get on this show to begin with? You fat sweaty disgusting piece of lard...Who told you that you were good looking? Your mother, or your grandma? Find a grip on life, including another job trade, the teens who work in McDonalds are more talented then you!
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8-15-2006 @ 1:41AM
hessian said...
Maggie - season 3 is already booked. (As is another season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE)
I'm curious how the producers managed to alter the program to make up for the unexpected loss of one of the chefs early on in the run.
Perhaps if that had not happened, the two hour finale would have had a bit more content...
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8-15-2006 @ 1:44AM
hessian said...
Also - I LOVED the end credit sequence - FIRE, mashed up with sound bites from Gordon Ramsey. I'd love to hear more of that!
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8-15-2006 @ 1:52AM
Lee R said...
First, to all the people that post, we have no idea what these people go through, they have serious balls to do what they do and go out and try to succeed. And to critisize Chef's choices, is complete disrespect for his talent and passion. I for one, trust his decision considering his fame and fortune as a CHEF.
Congratulations to all the contestants and to Heather, I think you have creativity and professionalism. You have proved that you are willing to work and grow as a person and a chef. May Vegas treat you right!
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8-15-2006 @ 2:27AM
Jeff said...
Heather was the least incompetent of all the contestants, so she was the logical choice. Hopefully, the next season of competitors will be more thoroughly vetted as chefs worthy of an executive chef position.
My favorite quotes from dum-dum Virginia:
"I have a new skin on life." (Is that like an outlook?)
"That was my theme the whole time." (After changing her mind and deciding not to let Ramsay send her home vs Sara.)
"I thought I would pick the worst of the chefs so I could help make them better." (Her pathetic attempt at motivating her finale team.)
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8-15-2006 @ 2:45AM
scott said...
Think that I read where Red Rock Vegas had NINE restaurants...
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8-15-2006 @ 4:45AM
Brent McKee said...
Oddly enough I think that there was a reason for them to have a two hour finale and a recap at the start of the second hour - syndication. Now before you laugh, I know that the first season of Hell's Kitchen has been repeated at least once on Food Network in Canada, and I would assume that there are other foreign markets that have seen the show after it was shown on broadcast TV in the US. And of course something like the Food Network isn't going to clear a two hour time slot to show a seamless finale for the show. The same thing holds true for a show like The Amazing Race.
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8-15-2006 @ 6:03AM
Marti said...
I thought Heather deserved to win. She worked HARD in that kitchen! Running here, running there, giving directions to people even when she'd burned her hand so bad she had to hold it in cold water.
Keith was a jerk. No wonder Virgina ran out of food - every time they showed Keith, he was stuffing food in his mouth!
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8-15-2006 @ 9:36AM
Chef P. said...
I thought the guys from season one were hacks. Season two was twice as bad! Heather was the best of the worst. I imagine that if they only cast talented, competent chefs, Gordon wouldn't have anything to yell about.
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8-15-2006 @ 9:46AM
PP said...
Was this a show about personality or who could scream louder or about cooking? Virginia had the talent and just because she lacked self confidence and could not curse she lost! I think that Chef did not choose her so he could date her later.
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8-15-2006 @ 10:04AM
TuckerKatt said...
Very strange selection of incompetent fools this season. Last season the 2 finalists were both good chefs with good leadership skills and the ability to stay calm under pressure. This season it seemed like at least half of them had never cooked anything beyond cup-o-noodles and microwave popcorn.
Keith still should have won the whole thing but given the final 2, Heather was the best choice...but all that crying is not going to cut it as a head chef.
Heather's grafitti was bizarre and out of place, as was the massive video screen showing her. She hadn't seemed like an egomaniac the whole season. Her design looked nice otherwise but the grafitti was awful.
Virginia's line about picking the weakest people was classic. Keith's extortion was great -- hey why not, he had nothing to lose at that point (and nothing to win, either). Tom is a whiny, butterfingered idiot. He also seems to think everyone should believe he is the greatest chef ever, not because he has given them any reason to think that, but because he says so.
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8-15-2006 @ 11:28AM
Sam Goldman said...
"Although Heather executed a more stable and stern voice in the kitchen, she really didn't win any challenges."
I remember her actually saying during the show that while Virginia is better at challenges, she was better at the service. I happen to agree, and thus think that Heather was the better choice, since made-for-TV challenges usually don't actually happen in the kitchen.
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8-15-2006 @ 8:52PM
Dale Birmingham said...
Virginia should have won. Heather is a trailer trash cook who can cook a mean burger and fries and that's about it. Virginia had absolutely no animosity towards any of the others and they all reminded me of the ugly step sister (and brothers) so her demeanor and overall personality should have carried her through to the win. Heather deserves to win alright, right in the middle of nowhere, Red Rock is perfect.
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8-16-2006 @ 2:40AM
Brent McKee said...
PP: The show isn't about personality, or who can shout loudest, or cooking. It's about who can run a kitchen in a restaurant, and in a way that involves all three. Yes, Virginia has a great pallette (and should quit smoking if she wants to keep it) and an excellent ability in crafting and analysing dishes. The trouble is that she is terrible on the line and if the show on Monday was any indicator horrendous at running a kitchen. And incidentally that includes "hiring" - the selection of people who are working for her; who has first choice in each round and picks Tom and Giacomo. If she can't manage a kitchen with the Three Stooges (and Mary Ann) what hope has she got managing a big restaurant with 10 or 20 underlings. From the very beginning of the series Heather was energetic and working hard with her team. She deserved to win.
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