I love Kitchen Nightmares. I kinda wish it didn't have such a drama angle to it though. The BBC version is more focused on the restaurant and its food than the people who run it.

And omigod, did I miss it or was there no shirtless Gordon Ramsey shot?! *gasp*

The Dee Snider thing was a bit odd. Totally cool that he helped promote a restaurant, but it was kinda cheesy at first.

We don't have cable, so I guess I'll have to find it on Hulu tonight. I love all of his shows!

I watch this, but I really love his BBC version. I find him a bit too mean on the American version, but Gordon Ramsey is so endearing on the BBC version. He comes off as really caring about the restaurant and the people.

Jude- the show is on fox so you should be able to catch it. Was it just my family or was the wife drunk during the talk with Gordon? I wish there would be new British episodes on BBC America. I like that version better.

Party, I totally agree with you — it's so uplifting to see him transform any restaurant (and the lives of the people who are involved with it). Interestingly enough, I went to the Handlebar's website to check it out, and it looks like they cut some of the more "gastropubby" menu items out (like the bangers and mash that I saw on display last night).

I like that the BBC version has Gordon narrating, not talking away from the camera like he does on "our" version. And yes, he seems more caring in the original. Maybe they think Americans prefer our shows smattered with cussing and anger. Verily? He didn't have his shirt off. I know he does on just about every epsiode of the BBC one, when he puts on his chef coat. The waitress last night was cute-gushing about how good he looks for his age, and that she'd say something stupid if she took his order. I probably would, too. But man, those owners had some clothes on I haven't since 1986!!

I watch the one on BBC America. I'm not a fan of the American version. Maybe it has something to do with the lack of cursing, Or maybe it's just my obsession with all things U.K. Either way, the American version is iffy.

I meant lack of "unedited" cursing.

mswender - I thought the wife was drunk too!

I really didn't know how he'd pull that one off last night, I mean really. It was a disaster - hehehe "Disaster! A disaster!" But Gordon always seems to get the job done.

I agree about the BBC version - I guess they think we Americans like everything IN YOUR FACE and over the top. Which I guess is pretty true for the most part.

mswender - I thought she was, and the husband was red-faced the whole time almost...not exactly the classiest group of people, anyway. I like the BBC version better too, but I like Gordon no matter what, he's good TV to me.

Must agree - wife looked high to me and yes, no bare breasted Gordon and BBC version is much nicer. I do watch both and enjoy Gordon so I'll take what I can!

Yup! Love this show, but I don't like Hell's Kitchen- it reminds me of a low-budget Top Chef.

This is actually the first time I've watched this show; I only did this time because this restaurant is actually right around the corner from me and I've been going there for a few years now. It was kind of...skeevy, actually, to see how dirty it had gotten. The old owner was a really nice guy, and they had a good chef a while back (very cute, too ).
But I can say that the food is much better than it used to be, of a better quality and yes, reasonably priced. It's really a cozy place to hang out and eat. The potato chips they serve you when you are first seated are pretty good and the salmon is great!
I remember driving by it when they were filming and thinking "what the heck is that?" Lol, didn't realize what was going on. But Gordon Ramsay definitely made the place so much better than it used to be.

I'm wondering why noone mentioned the freaking ungrateful and unprofessional chef. She was just dogging the bar like crazy. I think the two owners need to get rid of the old staff and hire new staffs.

WTF was up with Dee Snyder?! That was so uncalled for!

The "chef" should have been replaced. Honestly, no matter how well things turned out at the end of the episode, considering her cooking "skills," it seems like the restaurant will end up being an epic fail anyway.

I really wanted to punch the whiny, excuse-happy owner.

And I think the wife was drunk the entire episode. I think she's the kind who starts her day off with a couple of Bloody Marys and some prescription painkillers for breakfast.

I did like the love the owners seemed to have, though.

i caught part of it but not the whole thing since i was out and forgot about it. i LOVE watching gordon go into a place and try to make a change and get faced with SOOO MUCH push back by the families. it's definitely hard to hear why your business is failing especially when gordon's so brutally honest, but if you think about it, he's really telling you the things that you need to know if you want to turn a profit again.

I love this show and was able to tivo it last season and watch it during the day while on maternity leave, but I just don't have that kinda time now.

"I agree about the BBC version - I guess they think we Americans like everything IN YOUR FACE and over the top. Which I guess is pretty true for the most part."

For those who complain about Gordon being meaner in the US version an interview he gave with tvguide explains it.

Quoting from the article at : http://www.tvguide.com/news/kitchen-gordon-ramsay/070723-01

"I thought I found some sh--holes in Britain, but nothing will ever compare to the places I encountered in the States. I can't wait for the viewers to have access to what I encountered. What dumbfounded me was the way some of the chefs take advantage of the customers."

"WTF was up with Dee Snyder?! That was so uncalled for!"

How was it uncalled for? He is a motorcyclist, lives in the area, he saw a charity opportunity. You can buy the bike btw. It's auction ends in like nine days.

"The "chef" should have been replaced."

If you watch the British show several chefs were like that. They either shaped up and transformed or were fired later or quit to work someplace where they just put stuff in a microwave.

Thanks for the link knfan. It's kinda silly the way they don't spell the "nasty" words. I guess it's just a copy of the printed version - I don't read TV guide, I have a cable guide.

It was a joke, knfan. His sudden guest appearance just seemed random and funny to me.