Kitchen Nightmares

For the original UK version of this show, see Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.
Kitchen Nightmares
Genre Reality television
Based on Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares
Developed by Daniel Kay
Directed by Brad Kreisberg (season 1–2)
Jay Hunter (season 3–6)
Glenn Taylor (season 7)
Starring Gordon Ramsay
Narrated by
Composer(s) David Vanacore
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 7
No. of episodes 92 (including revisits)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Production company(s)
Broadcast
Original channel Fox
Picture format HDTV 1080i
Audio format Dolby Digital 5.1
Original run September 19, 2007 – September 12, 2014
External links
Website

Kitchen Nightmares is an American reality television series formerly broadcast on the Fox network, in which chef Gordon Ramsay is invited by the owners to spend a week with a failing restaurant in an attempt to revive the business.[1] It is based on the British show Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.

The show premiered Wednesday September 19, 2007. On June 23, 2014, Ramsay announced he was ending the series.[2]

Production

The show was produced by ITV Studios America[nb 1] and Optomen, in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions,[4] with Arthur Smith, Kent Weed and Patricia Llewellyn serving as executive producers.

In the UK, the series is broadcast under the name Kitchen Nightmares USA and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA on Channel 4, which also produced the original UK version. Reruns, along with the British series, are frequently shown on BBC America.[5]

Series overview

Season Episodes Originally aired
Season premiere Season finale
1 10 September 19, 2007 December 12, 2007
2 12 September 4, 2008 January 15, 2009
3 13 January 29, 2010 May 21, 2010
4 14 January 21, 2011 May 20, 2011
5 17 September 23, 2011 March 30, 2012
6 16[6] October 26, 2012[7] May 10, 2013[8]
7 10 April 11, 2014[9] September 12, 2014

Episodes

Season 1: 2007

The first season focused on restaurants in the southern California and New York City areas.

No. in
series
No. in
season
Restaurant Location Original air date
11"Peter's"Babylon, New YorkSeptember 19, 2007
22"Dillon's"New York, New YorkSeptember 26, 2007
Restaurant was renamed Purnima during production
33"The Mixing Bowl"Bellmore, New YorkOctober 3, 2007
44"Seascape"Islip, New YorkOctober 10, 2007
55"The Olde Stone Mill"Tuckahoe, New YorkOctober 17, 2007
66"Sebastian's"Toluca Lake, CaliforniaNovember 7, 2007
77"Finn McCool's"Westhampton, New YorkNovember 14, 2007
88"Lela's"Pomona, CaliforniaNovember 21, 2007
99"Campania"Fair Lawn, New JerseyNovember 28, 2007
1010"The Secret Garden"Moorpark, CaliforniaDecember 12, 2007

Season 2: 2008–09

Season two included episodes in the upper-midwestern United States as well as New York and California.

No. in
series
No. in
season
Restaurant Location Original air date
11"Revisited: Gordon Returns"N/ASeptember 4, 2008
Revisit of Finn McCool's, The Old Stone Mill, The Mixing Bowl, Dillion's, Campania, Peter's.
121"Handlebar"Mount Sinai, New YorkSeptember 11, 2008
132"Giuseppi's"Macomb Township, MichiganSeptember 18, 2008
143"Trobiano's"Great Neck, New YorkSeptember 25, 2008
154"Black Pearl"New York, New YorkSeptember 25, 2008
165"J Willy's"South Bend, IndianaOctober 30, 2008
176"Hannah & Mason's"Cranbury, New JerseyNovember 6, 2008
187"Jack's Waterfront"St. Clair Shores, MichiganNovember 6, 2008
198"Sabatiello's"Stamford, ConnecticutNovember 13, 2008
209"Fiesta Sunrise"West Nyack, New YorkNovember 13, 2008
2110"Santé La Brea"Los Angeles, CaliforniaNovember 20, 2008
2211"Cafe 36"La Grange, IllinoisJanuary 15, 2009

Season 3: 2010

The third season was originally scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, January 27, 2010,[10] but it was postponed to Friday, January 29, 2010, due to the State of the Union address.[11]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Restaurant Location Original air date
231"Hot Potato Cafe"Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaJanuary 29, 2010
242"Flamangos"Whitehouse Station, New JerseyFebruary 2, 2010
Restaurant was renamed The Junction during production
253"Bazzini"Ridgewood, New JerseyFebruary 5, 2010
264"Mojito"Brooklyn, New YorkFebruary 25, 2010
275"Lido di Manhattan"Manhattan Beach, CaliforniaMarch 4, 2010
286"Le Bistro"Lighthouse Point, FloridaMarch 11, 2010
297"Casa Roma"Lancaster, CaliforniaMarch 12, 2010
This episode was produced as part of season 2, but not aired until season 3.
308"Mama Rita's"Newbury Park, CaliforniaMarch 19, 2010
319"Anna Vincenzo's"Boca Raton, FloridaMarch 26, 2010
32"Revisited No. 2"N/AApril 9, 2010
Revisit at Santé La Brea and Giuseppi's
3310"Fleming"Miami, FloridaMay 7, 2010
3411"Sushi-Ko"Thousand Oaks, CaliforniaMay 14, 2010
35"Revisited No. 3"N/AMay 21, 2010
Revisit at Handlebar, Casa Roma and The Black Pearl

Season 4: 2011

In May 2010 the Fox network announced the return of Kitchen Nightmares for a fourth season. The fourth season aired from January 21, 2011 to May 20, 2011 on Fox.[12]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Restaurant Location Original air date
361"Spanish Pavilion"Harrison, New JerseyJanuary 21, 2011
372"Classic American"West Babylon, New YorkJanuary 28, 2011
383"PJ's Steakhouse"Queens, New YorkFebruary 4, 2011
Restaurant was renamed PJ's Grill during production
39"Revisited No. 4"N/AFebruary 11, 2011
Revisit at Mojito, The Junction (fka Flamangos) and Bazzini
404"Grasshopper Also"Carlstadt, New JerseyFebruary 18, 2011
415"Davide"Boston, MassachusettsFebruary 25, 2011
426"Down City"Providence, Rhode IslandMarch 11, 2011
43"Revisited No. 5"N/AMarch 18, 2011
Revisit at Le Bistro, Anna Vincenzo's and Lido di Manhattan
447"Tavolini"Bridgeport, ConnecticutMarch 25, 2011
458"Kingston Cafe"Pasadena, CaliforniaApril 15, 2011
469"La Frite"Sherman Oaks, CaliforniaApril 29, 2011
4710"Capri"Eagle Rock, CaliforniaMay 6, 2011
4811"Zeke's"Metairie, LouisianaMay 13, 2011
4912"Oceana"New Orleans, LouisianaMay 20, 2011

Season 5: 2011–12

In March 2011 the producers of the show announced a casting call for a fifth season.[13] The fifth season premiered on Friday, September 23, 2011 and ended on March 30, 2012.[14]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Restaurant Location Original air date US viewers
(million)
501"Blackberry's"Plainfield, New JerseySeptember 23, 20112.65[15]
512"Leone's"Montclair, New JerseySeptember 30, 20112.85[15]
523"Mike & Nellie's"Oakhurst, New JerseyOctober 7, 20113.45[15]
534"Luigi's D'Italia"Anaheim, CaliforniaOctober 14, 20113.38[15]
54"Revisited No. 6"N/AOctober 21, 2011
Revisit at Down City, Classic American and Davide
555"Burger Kitchen, Part 1"Los Angeles, CaliforniaNovember 4, 20113.04[15]
566"Burger Kitchen, Part 2"Los Angeles, CaliforniaNovember 11, 20112.99[15]
577"The Greek at the Harbor"Ventura, CaliforniaNovember 18, 20113.75[15]
588"Michon's"College Park, GeorgiaJanuary 13, 20122.89[15]
599"El Greco"Austin, TexasJanuary 20, 20123.14[15]
60"Revisited No. 7"N/AJanuary 27, 2012
Revisit at Spanish Pavilion, Kingston Cafe, Capri and La Frite
6110"Park's Edge"Atlanta, GeorgiaFebruary 3, 20123.08[15]
6211"Spin-A-Yarn Steakhouse"Fremont, CaliforniaFebruary 10, 20123.30[15]
6312"Charlie's"La Verne, CaliforniaFebruary 17, 20123.31[15]
6413"Cafe Hon"Baltimore, MarylandFebruary 24, 20123.03[15]
6514"Chiarella's"Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaMarch 23, 20123.02[15]
6615"Zocalo"Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaMarch 30, 20123.05[15]

Season 6: 2012–13

In February 2012 the Fox network announced it renewed Kitchen Nightmares for a sixth season, which premiered on Friday, October 26, 2012.[6][7]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Restaurant Location Original air date US viewers
(million)
671"La Galleria 33, Part One"Boston, MassachusettsOctober 26, 20123.07[16]
682"La Galleria 33, Part Two"Boston, MassachusettsNovember 2, 20122.90[16]
693"Mama Maria's"Brooklyn, New YorkNovember 9, 20122.99[16]
704"Ms. Jean's Southern Cuisine"Wilkinsburg, PennsylvaniaNovember 16, 20122.56[16]
715"Barefoot Bob's"Hull, MassachusettsDecember 7, 20122.84[16]
72"Revisited No. 8"N/ADecember 14, 2012
Revisit at Cafe Hon, Chiarella's and Leone's
736"Olde Hitching Post Restaurant & Tavern"Hanson, MassachusettsJanuary 25, 20133.15[16]
747"Levanti's Italian Restaurant"Beaver, PennsylvaniaFebruary 1, 20132.43[16]
Restaurant was renamed Levanti's American Bistro during production
758"Sam's Mediterranean Kabob Room"Monrovia, CaliforniaFebruary 15, 20132.56[16]
769"Nino's Italian Restaurant"Long Beach, CaliforniaFebruary 22, 20132.42[16]
7710"Mill Street Bistro, Part 1"Norwalk, OhioMarch 1, 2013N/A
7811"Mill Street Bistro, Part 2"Norwalk, OhioMarch 8, 2013N/A
7912"Yanni's"Seattle, WashingtonMarch 15, 2013N/A
8013"Prohibition Grille"Everett, WashingtonApril 26, 2013N/A
Restaurant was renamed Prohibition Gastropub during production
8114"Chappy's"Nashville, TennesseeMay 3, 2013N/A
8215"Amy's Baking Company"Scottsdale, ArizonaMay 10, 2013N/A
Because of the level of conflict with the restaurant owners, Ramsay leaves the restaurant without finishing, a first in Kitchen Nightmares' history.

Season 7: 2014

Season 7 was originally set to premiere on February 28, 2014, but was delayed until April 11, 2014.[12]

No. in
series
No. in
season
Restaurant Location Original air date US viewers
(million)
831"Return to Amy's Baking Company"Scottsdale, ArizonaApril 11, 20143.07[17]
Ramsay himself does not return to Amy's Baking Company (instead presenting the episode from the set of Hell's Kitchen), though a new, specially-recorded interview with the owners is conducted by local reporter Ana Garcia.
842"Pantaleone's"Denver, ColoradoApril 11, 20142.90[17]
853"Old Neighborhood"Arvada, ColoradoApril 18, 20142.99[18]
864"Kati Allo"Queens, New YorkApril 18, 20142.56[18]
875"Mangia Mangia, Pt. 1"Woodland Park, ColoradoApril 25, 20142.84[19]
886"Mangia Mangia, Pt. 2"Woodland Park, ColoradoApril 25, 20143.15[19]
897"Zayna Flaming Grill, Pt. 1"Redondo Beach, CaliforniaMay 2, 20142.43[20]
908"Zayna Flaming Grill, Pt. 2"Redondo Beach, CaliforniaMay 2, 20142.56[20]
919"Bella Luna"Easton, PennsylvaniaMay 16, 20142.42[21]
92"Revisited No. 9"N/ASeptember 12, 20141.82[22]
Revisit at La Galleria 33, Olde Hitching Post and Prohibition Gastropub

Lawsuit

In September 2007, a case was filed by Martin Hyde, the former general manager of Dillon's, against Ramsay for allegedly staging disasters and hiring actors to trick the viewing audience.[23] The case was dismissed and went into arbitration.[24]

Reception

Ginia Bellafante of the New York Times found Ramsay's teaching methods and high standards "undeniably hypnotic" and commented that "the thrill of watching Mr. Ramsay is in witnessing someone so at peace with his own arrogance."[25] Doug Elfman of the Chicago Sun-Times said the show is "a very entertaining public service" that "will make you laugh, make you sick and make you think".[26] Randy Cordova of the Arizona Republic found Ramsay "just as blustery and foul-mouthed here as he is on Hell's Kitchen. But he is also oddly endearing, mainly because he genuinely seems invested in the fate of each restaurant".[27]

Critics have commented that Fox's adaptation of Kitchen Nightmares strayed from the strengths of the original Channel 4 series. Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune said, "Leave it to Fox to take something the Brits did pretty well and muck it up". She added, "Never mind the cooking; this edition of the show appears to be more interested in playing up the family dramas at the restaurants Ramsay visits".[28] Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times commented, "Whereas the British Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares is fundamentally a food show — it has interesting things to show you about how a restaurant runs and a kitchen works, the wonders of local markets and what you can make from them if you're Gordon Ramsay or willing to follow his instructions — the Fox edition emphasizes mishap, argument and emotional breakdown almost to the exclusion of cuisine".[29]

See also

Notes

  1. The company was formerly Granada America and was re-branded in May 2009.[3]

References

  1. "FOX Broadcasting Company – Kitchen Nightmares TV Show – Kitchen Nightmares TV Series – Kitchen Nightmares Episode Guide". Fox.com. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  2. Weinstein, Shelli (June 23, 2014). "Gordon Ramsay to End 'Kitchen Nightmares' Series in U.S. and U.K.". Variety. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  3. "Granada America gets ITV rebrand". Variety. May 27, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  4. "About the show". Kitchen Nightmares. FOX Broadcasting Company. 2011. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  5. "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares". BBC America. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Hibberd, James (February 2, 2012). "'Kitchen Nightmares' renewed by Fox". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Matt Webb Mitovich (October 4, 2012). "Fox Bumps Touch to Midseason; Kitchen Nightmares Returns to Fill Friday Gap". TVLine. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  8. Kondology, Amanda (March 12, 2013). "FOX Announces New Season Finale Dates for 'New Girl', 'The Mindy Project', 'Kitchen Nightmares' and 'Touch'". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  9. "(KN-610) "Return to Amy's Baking Company"". Listings – Kitchen Nightmares on FOX. the Futon Critic. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  10. "Breaking News – Exclusive: "Nightmares" Gets Post-"Idol" Showcase". TheFutonCritic.com. October 27, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  11. "Breaking News – Exclusive: FOX Confirms State of the Union Plans". TheFutonCritic.com. October 27, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Shows A-Z – kitchen nightmares on fox". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  13. "WTVT: "'Kitchen Nightmares' casting call"". March 15, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  14. "Official Kitchen Nightmares website". fox.com. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 "Kitchen Nightmares: ratings updated | canceled + renewed TV shows". TV Series Finale. May 13, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8 "Kitchen Nightmares: latest ratings | canceled + renewed TV shows". TV Series Finale. May 17, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Bibel, Sara (April 14, 2014). "Friday Final Ratings: 'Shark Tank,' 'Last Man Standing', 'The Neighbors' & '20/20' Adjusted Up; 'Grimm', 'Hannibal' & 'Blue Bloods' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Kondolojy, Amanda (April 21, 2014). "Friday Final Ratings: 'Last Man Standing' & 'Shark Tank' Adjusted Up; 'Hannibal' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  19. 19.0 19.1 Bibel, Sara (April 28, 2014). "Friday Final Ratings: 'Hawaii Five-0', 'Blue Bloods', 'Last Man Standing' & 'Shark Tank' Adjusted Up; 'Grimm, 'Hannibal' & 'Dateline' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Kondolojy, Amanda (May 5, 2014). "Friday Final Ratings: 'Shark Tank' Adjusted Up; 'Dateline', 'Grimm', 'Unforgettable' & Hannibal' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  21. Kondolojy, Amanda (May 19, 2014). "Friday Final Ratings: 'Shark Tank' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  22. Bibel, Sara (September 15, 2014). "Friday Final Ratings: '48 Hours' Adjusted Up; 'Dateline' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  23. Hines, Nico (June 20, 2007). "Gordon Ramsay's lawsuit nightmare". The Times (London). Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  24. Cornell, Kati (August 10, 2007). "TV Chef Out of Frying Pan". New York Post. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
  25. Bellafante, Ginia (September 19, 2007). "To Perk Up a Restaurant, Add Luster Where Lacking". The New York Times. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  26. "Something's rotten in our restaurants". Chicago Sun-Times. September 19, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  27. "Fox cooks up delicious 'Nightmares'". Arizona Republic. September 19, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  28. "Another helping of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay". Chicago Tribune. September 17, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  29. Critic, Television (September 19, 2007). "'Kitchen Nightmares': Mishaps and emotion are main courses". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
General references

External links

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