Sort of Like a Train Wreck...

I have to believe he's a very nice man, but this is the face that most often invades Kitchen Nightmares...Poor dude's going to give himself a stroke!

I make no bones about it.  I HATE reality television.  While others are content to watch endless hours of The Bachelor, or American Idol, I'd much prefer a drama or comedy with an actual plot, as opposed to contestants dying for their 15 minutes.  The only reality show I do watch; religiously mind you, is Top Chef mostly for the food: I do have a soft spot for all things food.  Of course this was all true, until a much too lazy Sunday and a marathon on BBC-America.  

You see up until this past Sunday, I was content to despise Gordon Ramsay for all that he stood for.  He's coarse, brash and much too big for his britches.  He screams randomly and crudely at chefs, managers and owners alike.  He has about a gillion restaurants, that surely must survive on his star-power alone.  Someone who's this concerned with how he looks, can't actually cook, can he?  Oh and his random fascination with changing into his chef's coat in the middle of taped interview is just odd.  

But for some reason, I had no other possible reason to turn on the television, and therefore left it on BBC America just as the Kitchen Nightmares marathon was starting.  Holy Moly!  I now understand why they call reality television a train wreck.  It's because you really can't look away.  It's impossible!  Yes most of the show is bleeped out due to his love of the F-bomb.  Yes, you really can't understand how restaurant owners can be so utterly and completely stupid, and still matter to function in everyday society.  Yes you begin to think if idiots like this can own restaurants, so can you.  And, most of all, you wonder why you're watching it in the first place, just as you're sucked into yet another nightmare.

Though the cramming seems to have been educational; I've learned a few things other than I apparently have no taste in television anymore.  He's not as daft as he seems.  Yes, he needs to have his mouth washed out with soap, but he really does seem to know what he's talking about.  His knowledge of food, recipes and how restaurants should run is off the charts.  And I could be way off, but the restaurants seem to need any help they can get, so they may as well get some help from someone as rich and experienced as he is.  So I suppose, Gordon Ramsay isn't so bad.  I wouldn't want him near any of my future children; as I wouldn't want his potty-mouth to wear off on them.  But,  I'd really like him to cook me a meal sometime.  Just please don't yell at me, Gordon, I'm a big wimp...

PS: I've also learned that the episodes taking place in Great Britain are infinitely better than those here in the States. Gee, I wonder why that is...