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FinaleWatch: 'Hell's Kitchen'
So, Hell's Kitchen all came down to this one, final night (I know, it always comes down to the final night, but go with me on this one). It was age versus beauty, semi-competence versus pseudo-competence, man versus woman, and the winner would truly get to take all. Unfortunately for Petrozza and Christina, it was Matt and Jen who took center stage this evening with their incompetence, leaving our two finalists to mop up after them.
Picking up right where the last episode left off (after the necessary "last time on Hell's Kitchen"), Petrozza was left with the choice of Jen or Matt for his team. I don't know who I would have opted for, but Petrozza went with Jen. Not surprisingly, but certainly horrifically, Jen stated in her one-on-one with the camera that she was chosen second to last because of how strong a leader she was and the finalists didn't want her to outshine anyone. Jen was right when she told Petrozza he needed to be far more prepared and clear than he was, but that didn't really mitigate her crazy.
The other final pick, Matt, was beautifully handled by Christina. He was all huffy with her right up until she lied to him about how he, Matt, was the inspiration for her risotto. It was a lie, it was clearly a lie from the moment she uttered it (and Christina confirmed as much to the camera), it couldn't have been anything but a lie, but Matt bought it. Matt just isn't the smartest of men.
During the prep for dinner service, things got truly weird. Jen asked Ramsay for a letter of recommendation. Seriously. She asked Ramsay for a letter of recommendation, either it was a setup, or she's delusional. He must have said no, because she then began sulking and it became pretty apparent that she wasn't going to giving it her all during service.
On the other side Matt was goofing around, singing, doing funny voices, and just being Matt. It was pretty typical of him, but certainly less harmful than Jen's attitude. Matt can, for the most part be ignored and worked around, Jen always makes sure to be at the center of everything, particularly when she's not wanted.
Thankfully though, Matt and Jen faded into the background briefly as Ramsay tasted Petrozza and Christina's menus. Ramsay seemed to like both of the menus and gave some valid pointers. Handicapping the battle based on what he said after sampling the menu, the edge seemed to go to Petrozza, whose food was far more ambitious than Christina's. Of course, that also meant that it would be far easier for Petrozza to crash and burn during service..
There was also a moment tonight before service depicting the requisite fear on the part of the contestants that the restaurants wouldn't be finished on time, painting wouldn't be done or booths wouldn't arrive. But, as we saw when Ramsay examined the restaurants, everything was finished and beautiful. I don't understand why the producers bother with the worrying scene, we all knew the restaurants would be finished and open on time.
During service, astoundingly, the first appetizers went out without incident. Well, for Christina's red team they did, Petrozza had to send back Bobby's first bunch of appetizers. Bobby happily fixed the problem, something that a bunch of other chefs in the kitchen wouldn't have done with nearly as good an attitude.
By the time the fixed appetizers went out though, Matt was goofing around in the red kitchen, unable to make a salad. I'll give him this - he always manages to surprise me with his incompetence. He can take the easiest task and make it difficult in a way that would impress Maxwell Smart (the original).
Matt though, as I said above, can be worked around and the red kitchen did their best to make that happen. On the blue side, Petrozza's group hadn't bothered to do enough prep work and ran out of ingredients for two of his three appetizers. Petrozza actually had Bobby come up with a solution (a lobster risotto) rather than doing it himself. Later, he asked for helping plating food from Ben and Jen. I'd take away points for that sort of thing if I were scoring.
Ramsay probably did too if he was really paying attention, but he may have been busy listening to Matt curse and complain under his breath. After Matt sent up raw monk fish not once, but twice, Ramsay was ready to step in and boot Matt from the kitchen. He practically begged Christina to show Matt the door, and while Christina was displeased with Matt's performance, she seemed hesitant to fire the incompetent man.
Somehow, Christina managed to get cooked food out of Matt and dinner service was completed in both kitchens (not that there was ever any doubt that the last bit would happen).
To be honest, I was rooting for Petrozza before the episode started, but figured that it would be Christina who would go home with the prize. Her long term potential is much greater than Petrozza's. Petrozza might be a better chef right now (and I tend to think he is), but Christina has always seemed poised for something better (FYI, I wrote this paragraph prior to the episode airing and Ramsay saying the bit about Christina having better potential. You don't have to believe me, but it's true).
When it came down to it, Ramsay voted on the potential rather than the right now, and Christina won the competition. I wish her well. I wish Petrozza well too. I even wish Bobby, Corey, Ben, and Louross well.
Matt and Jen? Well, they're always welcome to read The TV and Film Guy's Reviews, but that's as far as I'll go.
BEST SEASON EVER!! MATT IS ONE CRAZY GUY. I WOULNDN'T BE SURPRISED IF HE KILLS SOMEBODY ONE DAY! BUT JEN!! JEN IS JUST AN EVIL B*#&H!!!
JC | Jul 8, 2008 10:55:07 PM | #JC- Spot on
barock | Jul 8, 2008 11:18:06 PM | #This is the problem with Hells' Kitchen. The two finalists don't even cook in the last episode, yet the incompetent boobs take center stage.
How many times was Christina up for elimination in this show? At least 4 or 5 times, while Petrozza was never on the block.
Bad pick by Ramsey. Christina was seerving raw food as late as last week. Ugh.
Belmont | Jul 8, 2008 11:26:45 PM | #Christina deserved it, and I can not wait to eat at her restaurant, and would be the only reason I would ever go to L.A. You go girl!
Zac | Jul 8, 2008 11:30:51 PM | #I do find it amazing that Christina and Corey turned out to be the best of friends after absolutely despising each other for half the season.
Pat | Jul 8, 2008 11:44:25 PM | #Jen was REALLY unpleasant to watch and listen to.
I think Chef Ramsey thought that Christina would be better 'eye candy' than Petrozza.
I think it was a tough call.
Ironically Ramsay himself spoiled the finale. When it leaked that he had downgraded the job from Executive Chef to Executive Sous Chef, I knew it had to be Christina. No way someone like her struts into a restaurant and runs it. She could barely run a 13 (?) table room.
Petrozza's downfall was picking Jen then not handling her appropriately. Plain and simple he should have fired her and I think Ramsay was waiting for both of them to fire their "problem child". Christina actually worked around her problems while Petrozza seemed to want someone else to make them go away or he just ignored them. Ramsay picked the right person if you ask me.
Rasmsay's Shirt | Jul 9, 2008 3:36:27 AM | #LOL...I figured from the start that it was time for a woman to win, but I seriously felt that Petrozza was better qualified for the job, and besides, it would be nice to see an older person win once in awhile! I was disappointed, but hey, I'll never eat at the restaurant, so I guess its fine.
donnab | Jul 9, 2008 4:28:21 AM | #Ramsey's reasoning was rather telling; he felt that Christina had more potential for a long term run (does that mean he was taking Petrozza's age into consideration? That's a no-no in the business world). It also sounded to me that he was admitting Petrozza was the better chef, but Christina would grow into one and last longer. And of course, let's not forget Gordon does seem to pick the young blondes (recall last season when the cheftestant said that Ramsey was sweet on the blonde up for elimination).
Anyway, one lst thing: after Christina was names the winner and the camera panned all around, showing Bobby, Matt, etc., shaking hands and congratulating, was Jen even there? I never saw her once, and as much as the camera focused on her during the finale, she was never shown. I place even money she left before the announcement, especially seeing the Ramsey may have said no to the letter of recommendation and that she did not want to see anyone else win but her.
Cynic | Jul 9, 2008 5:47:18 AM | #Out of a sorry bunch of hack cooks, only Christina has the "potential" not to be a hack. The right choice by Ramsay of course.
arggie | Jul 9, 2008 6:05:00 AM | #It was the same as last season's finale, Rock vs. The Nanny, except Gordon made the right decision this time. However, it was only the right decision because the job was downgraded.
Gordon has a real problem... the show's premise is finding "The Next Great Chef (TNGC)" to run one of Gordon's new restaurants but Gordon's seen the previews for "Kitchen Nightmares" and he doesn't want his new restaurant to have a starring role. None of the characters from the past two seasons are ready to be "TNGC". They may have talent but they don't know anything about running a restaurant, or a diner, or a cafe, or a bistro, or a sandwich vending machine. HK needs to either vastly upgrade the talent or drastically downgrade the job offer. Perhaps next year will see Matt competing for the head busboy job at Gordon's premiere hash house in Hoboken.
I'm sure that of the original 15 there were 2 or 3 that Gordon was mildly interested in hiring, while the rest were just filler material to test the real contestants. I wonder who they were since they obviously didn't make the final four.
Chris | Jul 9, 2008 6:11:00 AM | #Christina or Petrozza. I think it's was the lesser of the two evils. It came down to the fact Christina is green enough to be trainable and could easily be told what, where, when and she'd jump for the next 12 months.
| Jul 9, 2008 6:35:08 AM | #Not a bad finale. One of the few times I didn't really know who to root for because I liked them both. Reminded me ALOT of the season of The Apprentice, when the black guy (sorry can't remember his name) won, but the girl was totally his equal and Trump almost offered her job as well, till the winner pulled out his "This is not the Apprenti" line. I was actually hoping Gordon would have given an opportunity to Pertozza. This season was interesting, for the most part it was the most overall incompetant cast, but may have given us the most talented finalists. I was really hoping they would have let the waffle house cook from last season come back for another shot this season, but that didn't happen. They need to do a big 2 hour, Hell's Kitchen where are they now show.
realgenius | Jul 9, 2008 7:10:10 AM | #Petrozza should have one. Christina won because Chef Ramsey is keen on blondes. Petrozza if you read this "You Rock" you were the better of the two and deserved it. As for Jen, take an exlax and get the s&^^ out. Act like a professional and not a crybaby
Anne | Jul 9, 2008 7:27:47 AM | #I also thought about the age discrimination thing when Ramsey was talking at the end.
The executive sous chef thing makes sense, since Petrozza could not do that job. That also allows HK to keep promoting the bogus "executive chef" title during the episodes.
Belmont | Jul 9, 2008 7:52:11 AM | #Josh, don't fault Petrozza for asking for help, he didn't until Gordon insisted he do so. He said that he had his brigade, he needed to use them. And I don't think he should be lose points for that. A good manager (and isn't that essentially what a chef is?) doesn't do everything by himself, and he knows how to get the best out of his people.
This is the first season I've watched HK, and one thing I didn't like was Gordon's active commentary during the final service. I think he should have just observed and let each contestant rise and fall on his/her own. But overall I did enjoy the series.
Beth | Jul 9, 2008 9:22:19 AM | #Wow. Jen. Hard to believe. I have no doubt whatsoever that if Ramsey had told Jen a letter of recommendation depended upon how well she did in the final service, she would have done great and Petrozzi would have won handily. Even though I wanted Petrozzi to win, I am glad Ramsey had the good sense not to do that, because it would have been terribly unfair to Christina.
Jack | Jul 9, 2008 9:29:13 AM | #I wished they had delved into the lack of prep and running out of ingredients a bit more. Whose job was it to make sure there were enough ingredients? Of course Jen would duck responsibility ("They" should have made sure there was enough.) But Bobby ran short, also, and he surely was doing his best for Petrozzi. I can only conclude it was Petrozzi's fault, and if so, 1) He deserved to lose for that reason alone, and 2) That point should have been made more clearly.
Mike | Jul 9, 2008 9:35:51 AM | #The four top contenders in order were:
1) Corey
2) Ben
3) Bobby
4) Petrozza
Only one made it to the final 2, and none of them won. In the end, Gordon Ramsay's "decisions" were based soley on dramatic purpose and not true talent. They need a higher level of contestants and I think the producers need to stop playing with the results. This isn't Big Brother for god's sake, it's a cooking competition.
cms | Jul 9, 2008 10:02:11 AM | #A few last observations:
1. Is the only reason Gordon kept Jen and Matt around so long to insure they would generate sufficient loathing to insure a "dramatic" finale? (Jen bitching and Matt slouching: now that's what I call entertainment!)
2. Do the producers hire actors to play these wackos, or do they just cross their fingers that some will apply to be contestants on the show. (Upon reflection, I'm sure the latter. It's cheaper to bring in real psychos, then pay actors to play them. And "cheap" is one of the show's mottos.)
3. Was it really that close between Christina and Petrozza for Executive (sous) Chef? Yes, okay maybe (maybe) Petrozza is a slightly better chef than Christina, but he SHOULD be considering that he is TWENTY YEARS older than her. At the rate she is going, Christina will surpass Petrozza in talent in about two weeks…
4. The season is over and I still can't get over the fact (fact?) that Jen is 24 years old. 24 years old? Yeah, like in her delusional world, where she is also the queen of the universe!
5. Glad the hysteria is over.
I was rooting for Petrozza, I honestly think he is the better chef and commander in the kitchen, but knew Christina would probably win because she's young & single. That's the perfect recipe to mold the chef you want running your kitchen.
Trish | Jul 9, 2008 11:28:58 AM | #Does anyone know what Petrozza is doing now? I know he was let go from his job in NC. Hope he lands on his feet at a good job.
lbrn | Jul 9, 2008 12:12:21 PM | #I could tell Christine was going to win. In the ads promoting the finale, I could see more red jackets celebrating. Also, when they showed the doors on the restaurant side, Petrozza's was straight while Christine's was tilted.
I liked them both, but I would have liked to have seen a jazzier menu from Christine - but she was smart to plan only what she thought the previous contestants could produce.
lbrn -- I have read that Petrozza did get another job working in catering at Winthrop University.
Beth | Jul 9, 2008 1:01:36 PM | #Huge disappointment, the ending! I feel like I wasted so much time watching that show!
Kayla | Jul 9, 2008 2:59:01 PM | #
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