Some of our readers have pointed out in the comments section of the Hell's Kitchen episode reviews that Chef Gordon Ramsay shouldn't pick any of the contestants to be the winner, because they aren't talented enough. I think some of them clearly aren't executive chef level yet, though I think some of them could be away from the weird pressures of reality TV. The winner of the show gets $250,000 and the executive chef job at the new London West Hollywood. Unlike other seasons, this winner will actually work as the head of one of Ramsay's own restaurants, so there is a lot riding on this.
But what if he didn't pick a winner?
This rarely happens on reality TV. I think it might have happened on an episode of The Bachelor a season or two ago, when the guy actually didn't pick one of the women to be his true love? I'm wondering if we get down to the final two and Ramsay looks at them and says "I just can't pick one of these people to run my new restaurant." Of course, this all depends on what Ramsay's contract with FOX says and the realities of the business end of things, though I would bet that Ramsay actually has a lot of control.
My guess is that he actually will pick a winner. He'll probably even give the prize to the winner. It is his restaurant after all, and if he doesn't feel comfortable with Corey, Bobby, Jen, Petrozza, or Christina being put in charge right away, maybe he or one of his other chefs can stand by their side for 6 months for some training. Or maybe it will be temporary. Heather, the winner of season two, was made "senior chef" at Terra Rossa, not "executive chef" as the prize said. She's also no longer with the restaurant, and the owners say it was a one-year contract.
What's your guess? Will Ramsay stick to the plan of rewarding the winner or change things as a last episode shocker? (Here's an update on how other winners fared, in season one, season two, and season three.)
Update (slightly SPOILER-ISH): As Base says in the comments below, the London West Hollywood opened this week. Here's info on what the winner will do there.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-05-2008 @ 2:20PM
Alicia said...
He'll pick someone... but they will be gone before too long.
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6-05-2008 @ 2:29PM
lorenzo said...
i bet in the contract that the contestants sign it says somewhere that ramsay holds the right to buy out the winners one year contract when the show is over and just give the winner his/her one year salary he/she would have earned.
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6-05-2008 @ 2:43PM
ratphink said...
I expect the tease for the final episode to be exactly the same it's been every week. "And Chef Ramsay does something so shocking it's never been done in the history of Hell's Kitchen." And hopefully, it's not pick a winner.
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6-05-2008 @ 3:11PM
Maggie said...
They are ALL losers. Especially Bobby
6-05-2008 @ 2:46PM
h8rain said...
I know I am not the only one who has mentioned this, but it still makes me smile to see I help inspire an article ("smiles").
I would not put it past Fox to not declare a winner for shock value/ratings. More realistically though, he will pick someone, and probably just fire/buyout their contract if they don't perform in the real world to his standards.
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6-05-2008 @ 3:07PM
Tinabeana said...
From what I have seen on Chef Ramsey, I think it is safe to say that he is no fool. He is even more brutal in BBC's Hell's Kitchen, but personally I like the guy. In any case, IMHO there is not a one qualified candidate amongst this group.They are not of the caliber to be an executive chef at one of his restaurant's. Maybe sous chefs? I say "no deal" happening.
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6-05-2008 @ 3:38PM
Base said...
Its already been announced here in Los Angeles with the opening of his new restaraunt that the winner will indeed just get the job as a "sous chef" and not the executive chef. Someone else more qualified ( I can't think who exactly at the moment) has been announced to have that job as the place just opened this past week.
Not sure if this is a reflection of the show or if it was always the plan all along.
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6-05-2008 @ 5:17PM
dt3 said...
yeah but how credible is an article that mentions LA Galaxy star david "beckman" was present at the opening... i mean really... beckman... F
6-05-2008 @ 3:39PM
Danielle said...
Personally, none of them deserve to be an executive chef. Im thinking one of them might work w/ him instead.
Hmmm..thats interesting that Heather only had a one year contract. I didnt know Rachel Brown was killed!
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6-05-2008 @ 3:44PM
dt3 said...
it really is an interesting conundrum... the more ramsey yells, the meaner he is the more the ratings of this train wreck will increase. At the same time though the more he yells the less likely that an actually talented chef would consider going through the nightmare that this production must be
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6-05-2008 @ 4:19PM
Corey said...
Clearly he'll have to pick someone. And that someone will just be a figurehead for publicity because these "chefs" suuuuckkkk. There's no way Ramsay is letting one of these rejects be the executive chef of his first restaurant in LA. Unless he's going to combine Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares into one primetime special where he fixes his own restaurant that's been run into the ground by Jen the fry cook!
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6-05-2008 @ 5:26PM
shetaan819 said...
Bobby has been very consistent throughout,....it'd be hard to imagine him not being picked unless he does something completely crazy in the upcoming weeks....nevertheless, its possible Ramsey really doesn't feel he or anyone else is still executive chef level....
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6-05-2008 @ 6:43PM
Malren said...
Gordon is losing - or may have lost - his skill with and love for food. He's treating himself like a brand and not a chef. Everything about this new place is everything he preached against on TV for years. He just doesn't seem to care anymore.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/523965 - it;s not looking good.
And another great has fallen.
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