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'Hell's Kitchen 3' Finale: Mary Poppins or The Rock?
Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm just of the opinion that nobody should ever lose a reality cooking competition because of an inept, glorified fry cook named Josh.
[See? Thus far I haven't spoiled the ending on Monday (Aug. 13) night's season finale of Hell's Kitchen. But I'm about to...]
Fortunately, Chef Gordon Ramsay and I were in agreement on this seemingly simple point. On one hand, I actually feel a bit bad for Josh, who was edited into a profile of utter ineptitude. Week after week, face covered in a mixture of sweat and tears, he swore to the camera that no matter what it looked like, he knew he could cook. Instead, we saw him screw up the most menial of tasks episode after episode until he finally suffered the most ignominious of demises, being run out of the kitchen by Chef Ramsay mid-service. Why was he even allowed back for the finale? To test Rock's mettle, I assume.
Chef Ramsay named Rock the winner of the third season of Hell's Kitchen on Monday. He didn't have much of a choice. He just wasn't going to hand over a full, operational resort kitchen to a twentysomething nanny. Even if reality TV is all about wish-fulfillment and even if Hell's Kitchen is as fixed as reality TV gets, Chef Ramsay couldn't let Bonnie's Cinderella story make it all the way to "happily ever after." But first he had to make sure that Rock could handle Josh, which was a trick question at best. I can't help but feel that Josh is probably an expert chef and that he was a plant all season, a test to see how the other contestants would respond to adversity. So Rock encouraged him. And Josh messed up. And Rock challenged him. And Josh messed up. Rock yelled at him. And Josh messed up. Finally, after much anguish, Rock replaced Josh with the nearly-as-bad Vinnie, which had the potential to be like the year that the Red Sox got so fed up with their closer situation that they turned things over to Byung-Hyun Kim, a decision that didn't work out well for anybody.
Rock persevered. He didn't gave Chef Ramsay anything to rave about. Chef could call Julia inspirational and Bonnie improved, but Rock was the one he felt wouldn't burn his kitchen down and really that's all the decision came down to. Chef Ramsay made such a big show of saying that his choice would be based on the comments from the finale dinner service, but did we get any sense of what those comments were? Nah. It was Chef Ramsay's call and I guess he made the right one.
He could have made the same pick without the past two episodes of filler, of course, because nothing in either last week's hour or this one made Rock the winner, but that's just the way summer TV goes.
Other thoughts from the finale:
What'd you think of the finale? Did the right person win? And would you ever eat at a restaurant that employed Josh?
This show is so rigged. Rock picks Josh and Vinnie over Julia (granted she acted bad, but is superior in the kitchen). That tells you Rock is stubborn and is not a leader, picking those clowns for the finale. How could they possibly have served any good food? I hope Ramsey's fall show gets canceled quickly. I've had enough of this guy at least until next summer.
Brian | Aug 13, 2007 10:40:24 PM | #Also wanted to add Ramsey wouldn't have picked Bonnie if Rock's customers had died of food poisoning.
Also, remember in Season 1, comment cards decided the winner between Michael and Ralph, two chefs. Last season and this season, all of a sudden, Ramsey picks the winner (after looking at the cards). Just shows Fox didn't want to gamble with the cards when they already picked the winners (Heather and Rock) in advance.
Brian | Aug 13, 2007 10:43:18 PM | #HELL'S KITCHEN needs to go back to S1 and bring in those types of chefs and backgrounds. This year was a mish-mash of some working chefs with the bizarre and damned. Rock won by default, if anything. They way he was presented: he's not ready for prime time with a restaurant of his own in Vegas. In the finale, there was no leadership quality with either of them, and he was too personalized with the staff. Yes - he was one of them but now he's The Man and he should be The Man. Rock may have his own restaurant and earning $250K in Vegas - and seeing his family right - but the real winner is Julia this season - she emerges with her dignity and I hope she takes up Chef Ramsey's offer and attends to Culinary School on his dime, and maybe, one day, return to Hell's Kitchen.
Glen Bianchi | Aug 14, 2007 5:25:10 AM | #Thank God its over. I agree we need the competition to be more like S1. After Virginia being in the finals last season and Bonnie this season...well..what else can you say.
If I was having these individuals competing to run my place..more emphasis on culinary,food cost and labor relations. Give me a chef!!!
I think this is it for me with this show. There just doesn't seem to be enough of interest to warrant watching it if they are going to keep filming it this way. This season was almost a carbon copy of last year right down ot the finale between the plucky, inexperienced woman with the palate of gold and the experienced favorite.
Season 1 seemed far more honest and additionally, it seemed like we got to see the chefs actially show what they had in regards to cooking. For the finale, the dishes that were presented, looked, quite frankly, pretty boring. What else did Bonnie serve other then some pasta, what were the other 2 dishes. And Rocks crab cake and chicken dish sounded so interesting but, to me, look boring and bland. What was the point of Jasmine rice in that pairing. It like liked just 2 pieces of fried food on a plate. And did his steak actually have a meaningfull side paired with it. His only apetizer that I heard he was serving was "sliders", so boring they chose not to even describe them. Lastly, what were those deserts - a selection of truffles, cookies and a milkshake.
With the other cooking competition shows that are on cable right now (top chef, next food network star, iron chef, throwdown with bobby flay) there just doesn't seem to be enough human interest in this show to justify listening to Gorden Ramsey's well-intentioned, but mean-spirited yelling in this venue. Although, I will check out the other show to see how real it looks, but I was troubled by the promo for it which already seemed to want to highlight the confrontational nature of the show over everything else in the concept.
Good luck to Rock. I'm sure with the hand holding he will get, his restaurant will be a success. He does seem to deserve it and the comment he made about his son was precious and felt like the most unscripted part of the last 2 episodes.
sac | Aug 14, 2007 6:14:48 AM | #Hell's Kitchen this season was so much about ratings it was embarassing.Bonnie was such a child, that any proffessional working for her would question her ablity.How can you lead a kitchen and consider yourself a chef if every other thing that's going on around leaves you dazed and confused. Hell's Kithcen this year was geared towards giving Bonnie more airtime.The camera loved her and Chef Ramesy's show needed her to smile at America.....This season was dissapointing.It was not a competition...it was an audtion for "Real World" the show Bonnie should have been on. Congrats Rock, sorry it was even that close.
kvnashz | Aug 14, 2007 6:52:15 AM | #I think the ending is ridiculous...they only give it to rock because well u know that person never one b4 not fair bonnie shoudlve won
Bob | Aug 14, 2007 7:03:42 AM | #Can't anybody here speak English? Good Lord. To think only a week or two ago, people were criticizing Daniel's writing in this space!
A bit of a stickler | Aug 14, 2007 8:37:40 AM | #God do I hate Rock. I will admit he was one of the best cooks on They all th chef this season so don't deserve a restaurant. It wasn't editing that made them look bad, they just were. As for Bonnie, I would have like to see he win just because I hated Rock that much. Chef Ramsey may come off as a mean jerk but Rock just is and I feel sorry for anyone that will work with him.
brendan | Aug 14, 2007 9:12:55 AM | #I also didn't care for Rock, and Ramsey seemed to present him like some expert all season while talking down to everyone else. When did he really shine after the first couple of weeks? His service teams mostly lost, but he only went up on te block one time, when teamed with the three women.
Brian | Aug 14, 2007 9:35:38 AM | #I was disgusted with Julia's behavior through out last week and this week's episode. To me she recieved the BEST prize possible, if she doesn't take it she's an utter fool.
As for the Rock winning, it really the only possible outcome. Not a great out come, but the real competition (Jen and oh god was his name Brian? I can't remember anymore) was already gone.
Francesca | Aug 14, 2007 9:53:29 AM | #I agree the choices were poor, which helped Rock. I really think Jen should have been in the final, but no way she could win after the garbage incident. Fox likely ordered Ramsey to boot her before the final, so that's why Bonnie went that far.
| Aug 14, 2007 10:13:29 AM | #I think Julia's bad behavior in the finale not only came from the fact that she thought she should have been one of the final two but also that she was the last person chose when Bonnie and Rock chose teams. Then to make matters worse, Bonnie exclaimed how it was good to have the women back together as a team, despite the fact the women almost constantly berated and mocked Julia during the competition ("She's a cook at a waffle house!"). Could Julia have acted better inthe last show? Yes. Do I fauly her for any bad feelings? No.
edonline | Aug 14, 2007 10:36:04 AM | #This show sucked. Rock won for obvious reasons...he's a man of color. I think the whole thing was ridiculous this year. Why couldn't they find real chefs with real abilities who might actually do the job? It's become yet another crazy vehicle for instant celebrity. I'm done...and I loved it the first two seasons.
Peter | Aug 14, 2007 11:31:59 AM | #I loved this season. I wish that people would stop saying that the only reason Rock won was because he was a man of COLOR. Oh please...he was the most consistant contestant this season. Chef Ramsey can see potential in Rock (and also in Bonnie) but let's face it Rock will take the position more serious, and will do a great job. Yes, he is a man of color...AND. That had nothing to do with it. He is a real chef, so PLEASE STOP WHINING! All of you Rock haters that is the only thing that you have on him. And people say that racism is not still alive. (By the way this is coming from a white person.)
colecherry | Aug 14, 2007 1:08:44 PM | #I've watched all previous seasons of HK and have been suspicious all along that it was rigged...now I'm sure of it. Season 1 winner...white, grunge male. Season 2 ...white conservative woman and now this season is a black male.. all perfectly balanced so Fox doesn't get slammed. For next season's winner you won't have to go to bodog.com (who gave Rock away as the winner 2 months ago) just lay your money the asian or black female that gets the nod to compete.
james | Aug 14, 2007 2:40:05 PM | #The worst Fox ending!!! Rock's barely maskable seithing anger and backstabbing was just pathetic to watch. I swore off this show and Ramsey's antics. Just a disgrace! Rock's southern grits and blackeyed peas....yeah, how's that working for you in Vegas?
whatever | Aug 14, 2007 2:43:40 PM | #Rock showed his violence in one episode and his male chauvinism in another, that is what I remember, not his cooking. How anyone could reward that behavior is beyond me. I am so genuinely disappointed in Gordon, that I am done with the show. Also truly disappointed with Julia's pouting on the last show. Jen was the only contestant this season and should have won!
disappointed | Aug 14, 2007 6:49:49 PM | #I think Rock deserved it, black or white, he WANTED it more. for Bonnie it was just airtime, so stop whining and whether you like it or not be happy for someone else. how about we try that? rock was angry but not once did i think he was violent. chef ramsey calls the girls bitches, airheads, stupid fucking idiots, and same with the guys. so dont try to make it seem like oh rock is just so angry and violent, if i had a kitchen full of bitches trying to get over on me i would have done the same thing. period! Rock won, get over it and move on. im in vegas, and i cannot wait to go see his new resturant it opens 4 days before my b-day woohoo!
Tia | Aug 14, 2007 8:09:59 PM | #oh and btw i cannot wait to see the other reality shows bonnie is going to be cast for!
tia | Aug 14, 2007 8:10:52 PM | #The finale was a joke, Rock won this contest a couple of weeks ago. Bottom line is Rock can get the job done. I rather have him run my kitchen than Bonnie. He has a temper, but it's also that kind of behavior that also gives him the skills to get his team fired up. Bonnie surprised me for getting this far, but she's definately not ready to run her own restuarant. She will one day.
Josh is crap. Anyone who hires him is going to loss money because he either overcook stuff or cook many stuff that haven't even been ordered. What's up with that?
And I didn't like Julia's behavior in the finale. She got the best prize she can ever get and she acted like it's the end of the world. I would still like her to come back next season though.
Next season, I would like to see half of the cast that comes in with the talent Rock has, then we're in for a good competition. You can cast a bunch of Bonnie's for the other half, maybe throw in an Aaron or two, but I would like to see stronger competition. Put in a couple of executive chefs. All Rock needed was to finish service and the winner was obvious.
Allen | Aug 14, 2007 8:46:27 PM | #For those of you who say you have had enough of Hell's Kitchen, I'm wondering why you watch it. Even though the finale was obvious, there is a certain drama that we get from reality TV, that obviously we are hungry for. Everyone loves competition. This is why game shows have been on for so many years. Survivor, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance are just some of the competative shows that America is hooked on.
See you all next year in front of the TV watching Hell's Kitchen, season 4.
Judy | Aug 15, 2007 12:56:14 PM | #Congrats Rock. I'm glad you won. I watch the show all the way through and I thought you was the most sufficient. So all of you who have haterade on Rock the hell with you. We are all God's children. Judge and ye shall be judge. Remember that. Thank you Chef Ramsey for picking the best winner.
ginia | Aug 15, 2007 2:23:37 PM | #Thank-you colecherry!Racism is alive and well as evident by many of these comments re hell's kitchens outcome.Rock deserved to win,not because he's black but because he was the best!It's amazing the perception if a black man or woman shows anger he/she is labeled violent,whinny or dangerous.Congrats to Rock.I love you Chef Ramsey!Can't wait for next season.P.S. maybe southern grits and blackeyed peas will be a welcome change in Vegas!
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hey - I am thrilled Rock won! I was routing for him from day one. Rock is awesome!!! I want to go visit him in Vegas :) Also I want to stay at the Green Valley Ranch and try out the booty cleaning bidet for myself! :)
Anne | Aug 16, 2007 6:39:23 PM | #
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