Hell's Kitchen (American TV series)

Last updated

Hell's Kitchen
Hells Kitchen title.png
Title card used from 2005–16
Genre Reality competition
Created by Gordon Ramsay
Directed by
  • Brad Kreisberg (seasons 2–5)
  • Sharon Trojan Hollinger (season 6–present)
Presented byGordon Ramsay
Narrated by
  • Jason Thompson (seasons 1–12; 15–present)
  • Roger Craig Smith (uncredited; seasons 13–14)
Opening theme"Fire" by the Ohio Players (seasons 1–18)
Composer David Vanacore
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons23
No. of episodes356 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Production locations
Running time41–44 minutes [1]
Production companies
  • A. Smith & Co. Productions
  • Granada America (season 1–5)
  • ITV Studios (seasons 6–9; 19–20)
  • ITV Studios America (seasons 9–12)
  • ITV Studios Global Entertainment (seasons 13–16)
  • ITV Entertainment (seasons 17–18)
  • ITV America (season 21–)
Original release
Network Fox
ReleaseMay 30, 2005 (2005-05-30) 
present
Related
Hell's Kitchen (British TV series)

Hell's Kitchen is an American reality competition cooking show that premiered on Fox on May 30, 2005. The series is hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who created and appeared in the British series of the same name. Each season, two teams of chefs compete for a job as head chef at a restaurant, while working in the kitchen of a restaurant set up in the television studio.

Contents

A progressive elimination format reduces a field of 20 to 12 contestants down to a single winner over the course of each season. In a typical episode, two contestants are nominated for elimination, with Ramsay then eliminating one of the nominated contestants chosen. The series notably features Ramsay's explosive anger towards contestants, which in reality is heavily dramatized for the benefit of the audience. [2] Hell's Kitchen has been nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards. A chain of Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen restaurants have been opened, inspired by the show.

On March 26, 2024, it was announced that Hell's Kitchen was renewed for a twenty-third and twenty-fourth season, with the twenty-third season, subtitled Head Chefs Only, premiering on September 26, 2024. [3] [4]

Format

Hell's Kitchen is a reality television show that uses a progressive elimination format to narrow down a field of 20 chefs to one single winner over the course of one season. The American version of Hell's Kitchen follows the same format of the British version, although the show is aired on tape delay and not performed live, nor is there audience participation in the elimination of chefs, who are also not celebrities as they are in the British version. The show was initially produced at Hell's Kitchen, a modified warehouse in Los Angeles that included the restaurant, dual kitchen facilities, and a dormitory where the chefs resided while on the show. They are also given knife sets that they get to keep, regardless of their progress. [5]

At the start of each season, Gordon Ramsay breaks the chefs into two teams. With the exception of the first, 18th, and 21st seasons, this puts women on the red team and men on the blue team; each is given a chef's jacket with panels of that color on the shoulders (from seasons 1–18) or around their collar (season 19 onward). The chefs remain on these teams throughout most of the competition, but Ramsay may reassign a chef to the other team if the team numbers are uneven, wishes to experiment, or if he feels the chef will perform better on the other team. Each episode typically includes a challenge and a dinner service, followed by the elimination of a chef, or, under rare circumstances, multiple. When only five or six chefs remain, they are brought into a single common team wearing black-paneled jackets. From this point onward, they compete individually during challenges and work together during services to be one of the final two.

The show's first two seasons allowed contestants from any professional background (such as marketing executives or similar white-collar positions) to apply for the show and compete. This almost always resulted in most contestants who did not come from a culinary-related background getting eliminated early on, while contestants familiar with the industry usually lasted considerably longer. Therefore, a requirement that every contestant have some form of culinary background was adopted, starting in season 3.

Challenges

In challenges, the teams or individual is tasked with a cooking challenge by Ramsay. The type of challenges are varied, including ingredient preparation, meal preparation and taste tests. The first challenge of each season is a signature dish cook-off, giving the chefs an opportunity to show Ramsay their cooking.

Each season typically includes one or more challenges that allows teams to construct several dishes either for a banquet to be held the next dinner service or as part of designing their own menus. Other challenges typically include a "taste it, now make it" task, where chefs must attempt to recreate a dish Ramsay has prepared after tasting it only, and a "blind taste test" where chefs identify ingredients while blindfolded and wearing sound-blocking headphones. Some challenges have been full breakfast or lunch services, where the team completing the service first is declared the winner.

The winner of the challenge is determined by either a scoring system set for that challenge or by Ramsay's and/or guest judges' opinions. The winning team or chef receives a reward (a recreational activity away from Hell's Kitchen and other potential prizes), while the losing team or chefs are forced to do a mundane task, such as cleaning the kitchens, preparing a specific ingredient for the following dinner, having to prepare the food for both kitchens, and sometimes eating something unsavory (such as food waste blended into a smoothie) for lunch.

From Season 19 to Season 21, a high-stakes elimination challenge was conducted before the first dinner service where chefs must create a dish according to a set standard (such as the incorporation of a required ingredient or the making of a certain dish and adding a personal touch to it). The two or three chefs from each team that were deemed the worst performers were asked to present their dish to Ramsay, and the chef he deemed to have the worst dish of the challenge (or had the least amount of realistic potential to improve) was eliminated on the spot without participating in a single dinner service (though, in its final iteration in Season 21, the decision was nullified after the contestant affected by the challenge, Ileana D'Silva, successfully pleaded her case to stay to Ramsay and compelled him to change his mind).

Dinner service

For dinner services, the chefs are expected to work their station (appetizers, meat, fish, or garnish) on the kitchen line to prepare food in coordination with their teammates and to Ramsay's high standards for quality and presentation without his or the sous-chefs' assistance. Dinner service is for about 100 guests (volunteers for the show), with each diner expecting to receive an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. The chefs are given menus and recipe books by Ramsay to study and memorize, which include some of Ramsay's more difficult dishes including risotto and Beef Wellington. The chefs spend several hours before each service preparing their ingredients.

Menus may be customized for a specific dinner service, such as ethnic-themed dishes or plates that resulted from the earlier challenge. Some seasons feature a service allowing for the teams to develop their own menus, which are reviewed by Ramsay for quality and presentation beforehand. Later episodes may feature a private dinner service, where each team must serve a five course meal to 12 guests, with each member leading their teammates to prepare one course. Dinner services may include additional challenges. A chef from each team may be asked to serve a table-side meal for their team, serve celebrities sitting at the kitchen's chef's table, or act as a server for the evening taking and fulfilling orders. After the chefs are on a single black team, the last dinner service before the finale usually has each chef run the pass as a test of their quality control, including deliberate mistakes made by the sous-chefs or Ramsay himself.

During a service, Chef Ramsay demands that all orders for each course for a table go out together, and will send back entire orders if one item is improperly prepared, such as being over- or undercooked or not seasoned correctly, although he may send out incomplete orders to urge the chefs to get it together. While the chefs are in two teams, Ramsay is assisted by two trusted sous-chefs, each monitoring one of the kitchens, demanding the same standards and alerting Ramsay to any issues. Ramsay's goal is to complete every dinner service, but exceptionally poor kitchen performance by one or both teams will cause him to close their respective halves of the kitchen early and send them back to the dorms, thus ending the dinner service immediately (in the first three seasons, poor kitchen performance resulted in the restaurant being shut down and customers leaving hungry; Season 4 onward resulted in chefs being eliminated early and a professional cast of chefs finishing the service instead after complaints of customers not being fed, forced a rule change). Ramsay may also evict individual chefs from the kitchen based on repeated poor performances during a service, though this has largely been phased out in more recent seasons due to stricter experience and industry involvement criteria of potential show applicants, and on semi-rare occasions (once every two seasons on average), may eliminate a chef on the spot. Chefs may also walk out when under pressure from Ramsay, which more often than not will lead to their withdrawal from the show.

Elimination

Once the dinner service is complete, Ramsay gathers everyone in the kitchen, announces which team is the losing team and directs them to select one or two members of their team as nominees for elimination. It is possible that both teams are declared losers or a different number of chefs may be requested for nomination (usually three chefs in such cases). In some cases, Ramsay has named both teams winners but still requires them to each nominate someone for elimination. This is a group consensus, but Ramsay may occasionally name a chef "best of the worst" or "best of the best" on their team and instruct them to choose the nominees; this concept, however, has faded away over time due to the contestants sometimes making nominations based on personal bias rather than kitchen performance. Ramsay has also on some occasions declared that nobody would be sent home but those cases are generally accompanied by a double elimination the following service, a team reassignment or occur after someone has been sent home on the spot for insubordination or exceptionally poor performance.

Ramsay reassembles the teams in the dining hall and stands about ten feet away from the losing team, before choosing a random contestant on the team to announce the nominations. If there is a winning team, they will often congregate at a nearby table by Ramsay during the process. Once all nominations have been announced, Ramsay will beckon all nominated contestants (in addition, he can also void a nomination or nominate other chefs for elimination if he sees fit) from the losing team and ask each of them to explain why they should stay in Hell's Kitchen. After giving these nominees the chance to defend themselves, Ramsay selects one to hand over their jacket and "leave Hell's Kitchen." On rarer occasions, Ramsay can overrule nominations or even eliminate a chef who has not been nominated, which may even include a chef on a winning team.

The eliminated chef is subsequently shown leaving the restaurant through a hallway while providing some last thoughts on the experience (in cases where contestants are eliminated mid-service or otherwise leave the competition in a non-traditional manner, they will often head back to the dorms to retrieve their belongings before their last interview). After dismissing the chefs, Ramsay goes back upstairs to his office. He symbolically hangs the chef's jacket on a sharp hook below their picture in a row with the others, igniting their picture and signaling their departure (in the first season, he simply hung their jacket and the camera would zoom in on the eliminated chef's name). During this scene, there is a voice-over of Ramsay explaining his reasons for eliminating the chef; albeit humorously at times (in the first season, he simply addressed the show's progress on-camera to the viewers). If an eliminated chef has performed exceptionally well, Ramsay may allow them to keep their jacket as a token of their success up to that point, if he sees fit.

Chefs may be eliminated from the competition for medical reasons, both voluntarily and involuntarily. Chefs that violate the competition's rules may be immediately eliminated, mainly during dinner service. Chefs may also exit the competition voluntarily for any other reason; though this is not encouraged, their wishes are ultimately granted (with reasons by Ramsay explained, if applicable).

Once the original field is cut down to either five or six chefs (depending on what Ramsay wishes to do), they are awarded black jackets and assembled into a single team. In the most recent seasons, black jackets are awarded by a series of rigorous individual challenges rather than dinner service, with contestants not receiving black jackets being eliminated. Eliminations continue until the final two contestants are left. In some cases involving the final four contestants, a double elimination will occur to leave the final two. In season 17 and since season 19, a change in the show's format occurred where the final three chefs cooked dishes scored by 5 guest judges, with the chef with the lowest point total being eliminated.

Final service

In the finale, the final two chefs are each given the opportunity to develop their own menus and lead a brigade of former competitors through a full dinner service on their own. In the first five seasons, this included the opportunity to decorate half of the Hell's Kitchen restaurant to their liking. Prior to the dinner service, the two chefs compete in a challenge to prepare their menus, and the winner will earn the advantage of picking their brigade of chefs first. Ramsay will ensure that all menu items meet his standards for high cuisine prior to service, and he and his sous chefs will oversee the service to make sure that his high quality standards are retained, but does not otherwise get involved (as long as he feels the finalist is in control of their brigade), allowing the two remaining chefs to demonstrate their ability to run the line. The finalists are allowed to reassign stations, or even kick their teammates out of the kitchen should they see fit; the latter has happened four times in the show's history, including Ramsay himself kicking one of the brigade members out. On one occasion, a chef had walked out of service under their own accord.

Ramsay uses his own observations and those from the diners and other sources to decide who is the winning chef. He has two doors in his office leading out to the balcony above the Hell's Kitchen seating area. Each chef stands at a door and Ramsay tells them to both turn their handles at the same time. After a commercial break, only the door of the winning chef is unlocked allowing the winner to walk through and be greeted by the crowd below. The winning chef is said to receive two prizes including the opportunity to work as the head chef or executive chef at a restaurant of Ramsay's choosing (with the exceptions of seasons 6 and 7, this has always been in the United States), as well as a cash prize of $250,000. [6] In a similar manner to the voiceover at each elimination, Ramsay has a voiceover to explain his reasons for choosing that chef as the winner. In addition, the winner hangs a picture of themselves alongside the previous winners that is seen at the restaurant's front entrance.

In reality, the winning chef appears to only be guaranteed the cash portion of the prize and an offer to work somewhere within Gordon Ramsay's network of restaurants. Many winners were offered a lesser role than that of head chef at the restaurant billed in their season, while some appeared to take a role completely unrelated to the one described as that season's prize. [7]

Cast

Cast memberSeason
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Executive Chef
Gordon Ramsay Main
Sous Chefs
Blue Team
Scott Leibfried Main
James AveryMainMain
Aaron MitranoMain
James "Jocky" Petrie Main
Jason Santos ContestantGuest Guest Main
Red Team
MaryAnn Salcedo Main
Gloria Felix Main
Heather WestContestant Guest Guest Main
Andi Van Willigan-Cutspec Main Guest Main
Christina Wilson Contestant Guest Main Guest Main
Michelle TribbleContestantContestant Guest Main
Maître d'hôtel
Jean-Philippe Susilovic Main Main
James Lukanik Main
Marino Monferrato Guest Main

Gordon Ramsay is the head chef. Jason Thompson is the narrator. Jean-Philippe Susilovic, a Belgian maître d'hôtel, comes from Pétrus, one of Ramsay's London restaurants and appeared in the first seven seasons. Susilovic was also the maître d'hôtel for the first series of the original British version. James Lukanik replaced Susilovic for seasons eight, nine, and ten. [8] Susilovic returned for seasons 11 and 12, before being replaced on a permanent basis by Marino Monferrato. During Season 21, Marino was away between episodes two and nine, Matthew Childs temporarily filled in for him as maître d'. [9] Each team also has the services of one of two sous-chefs. Season 14 finalist and Season 17 winner Michelle Tribble is the current red team sous-chef, with James Avery returning as the current blue team sous-chef. [10] [11] [12]

Previous sous-chefs were MaryAnn Salcedo, Gloria Felix, Season 2 winner Heather West, Andi Van Willigan-Cutspec, Scott Leibfried, James Avery, Aaron Mitrano, Season 10 winner Christina Wilson, James "Jocky" Petrie and Season 7 runner-up Jason "Jay" Santos. In Season 15, Wilson filled in for Van Willigan-Cutspec (who was getting married at the time of filming but returned for one episode when her reception was one of the themed dinner services for that season). Van Willigan-Cutspec returned in Season 16 but was replaced by Wilson again for Seasons 17–22 for personal reasons.

Production

Broadcasting

The theme song is "Fire" by the Ohio Players. When the American version is broadcast in the U.K., Italy, Portugal and some countries (shown on the table below), it features only the instrumental version. The instrumental version also appeared in the uncensored DVD release for the American version.

Setting

For the show's first two seasons, the Hell's Kitchen restaurant set itself was housed in the former studios of Los Angeles television station KCOP at 915 North La Brea Avenue, in Hollywood, which at one time hosted production of game shows Tic Tac Dough and The Joker's Wild . [13] KCOP was acquired by News Corporation in 2001 and its studios were integrated with those of Fox affiliate KTTV in 2003, leaving the La Brea facility vacant. [14] Originally the studio was put up for sale, but in the end they were retooled for the production of Hell's Kitchen. The dining room area was the location of the former KCOP news studios, and living quarters for the contestants were built behind the restaurant. [15]

Before season three, the Hell's Kitchen facility was moved to Century Studios at 3322 La Cienega Place in Los Angeles. From seasons 4-18, Hell's Kitchen's venue has been located at 8660 Hayden Place in Culver City. [16] According to Arthur Perkins, the soundstage is only open for audience members when taping is taking place. [17]

The first 18 seasons were produced in modified warehouses in Los Angeles which included the restaurant, dual kitchen facilities, and dormitories where the contestants resided while on the show. The nineteenth and twentieth seasons were filmed at the Caesars Entertainment Studios property near the Las Vegas Strip. [18] Seasons 21 and 22 were shot back-to-back in Burbank, California, in what used to be an IKEA building. [12] Seasons 23 and 24 will be filmed at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. [3]

Accusations of staging

The series has drawn numerous online and editorial accusations of staging and dramatic license, [19] mostly due to editing techniques of the producers, who splice together several hours of footage from a dinner service, in order to make certain contestants appear as poor performers, later justifying their elimination. This was most obvious when one episode featured clips showing Amanda "Tek" Moore, who was already eliminated, in the background, still cooking three episodes after her elimination. [20]

Series overview

SeasonOriginal runWinnerRunner-upNo. of contestantsWinner's prize
1 May 30 – August 1, 2005Michael Wray Ralph Pagano 12Tatou in Los Angeles [a]
2 June 12 – August 14, 2006Heather WestVirginia DalbeckTerra Rossa at Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino in Las Vegas
3 June 4 – August 13, 2007 Rock Harper Bonnie MuirheadTerra Verde at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson
4 April 1 – July 8, 2008 Christina Machamer Louis Petrozza15London West Hollywood in Los Angeles
5 January 29 – May 14, 2009Danny VeltriPaula da Silva16Fornelletto at the Borgata in Atlantic City
6 July 21 – October 13, 2009Dave LeveyKevin Cottle17Araxi Restaurant and Bar in Whistler
7 June 1 – August 10, 2010Holli Ugalde Jason "Jay" Santos 16Savoy Grill at Savoy Hotel in London [b]
8 September 22 – December 15, 2010Nona SivleyRussell Kook II LA Market at JW Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles
9 July 18 – September 19, 2011Paul NiedermannWill Lustberg18BLT Steak in New York City
10 June 4 – September 10, 2012 Christina Wilson Justin AntiorioGordon Ramsay Steak in the Paris Las Vegas [21]
11 March 12 – July 25, 2013Ja'Nel WittMary Poehnelt20Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace [c]
12 March 13 – July 24, 2014Scott CommingsJason Zepaltas [d]
13 September 10 – December 17, 2014La Tasha McCutchenBryant Galaher18Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Atlantic City [22] [e]
14 March 3 – June 9, 2015Meghan GillTorrece "T" Gregoire
15 January 15 – April 29, 2016Ariel MaloneKristin BaroneBLT Steak at Bally's Las Vegas [23]
16 September 23, 2016 – February 2, 2017Kimberly-Ann RyanHeather WilliamsYardbird Southern Table & Bar at The Venetian Las Vegas [24]
17 September 29, 2017 – February 2, 2018Michelle Tribble [f] Benjamin Knack [g] 16Hell's Kitchen Restaurant at Caesars Palace [25] [26] [h]
18 September 28, 2018 – February 8, 2019Ariel Contreras-Fox [i] Mia Castro
19 January 7 – April 22, 2021Kori SuttonMary Lou Davis18Hell's Kitchen Restaurant at Lake Tahoe [j]
20 May 31 – September 13, 2021Trenton GarveyMegan GillGordon Ramsay Steak in the Paris Las Vegas [30]
21 September 29, 2022 – February 9, 2023Alex BelewDafne MejiaHell's Kitchen Restaurant at Caesars Atlantic City [31]
22 September 28, 2023 – January 25, 2024Ryan O'SullivanJohnathan BenvenutiHell's Kitchen Restaurant at Caesars Palace
23 September 26, 2024 [32] TBATBAHell's Kitchen Restaurant at Foxwoods Resort Casino [33]
Notes
  1. Season 1 winner Michael Wray was offered the alternative choice of working at Gordon Ramsay in London, but declined the offer in order to be closer to his family.
  2. Season 7 winner Holli Ugalde was refused a UK work permit, and so was awarded the cash prize in lieu of the job at the Savoy Grill.
  3. Season 11 winner Ja'Nel Witt's job offer was withdrawn after she failed a drug test, but she kept the cash prize. Due to a commitment on Witt's job withdrawal, season 12 winner Scott Commings later won the job offer after winning in the next season.
  4. Originally competed on season 9, but left before first dinner service due to illness.
  5. Season 13 winner La Tasha McCutchen and Season 14 winner Meghan Gill shared head chef duties at Caesars Atlantic City.
  6. Originally competed on season 14, finishing third.
  7. Originally competed on season 7, finishing third.
  8. Season 18 winner Ariel Contreras-Fox declined the position at Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen in Las Vegas, preferring not to move her family from the East Coast, but agreed to participate at various of Ramsay's special events (such as the 1-year anniversary celebration of the prize restaurant). [27] [28]
  9. Originally competed on season 6, finishing third.
  10. Season 19 winner Kori Sutton declined the position at Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen in Lake Tahoe for family reasons. [29]

Reception

Awards and nominations

Hell's Kitchen has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Art Direction for Variety, Music or Nonfiction Programming category in 2007, 2008, and 2009. It has also been nominated for two Art Directors Guild Awards in the Television — Awards Show, Variety, Music or Non-Fiction Program category in 2007 and 2008, winning one in 2008. It has also been nominated for a Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer Series.

In 2009, Gordon Ramsay won an Astra Award for Favourite International Personality or Actor. [34]

At the 2011 People's Choice Awards, Hell's Kitchen was nominated for Favorite Reality Show and Gordon Ramsay was nominated for Favorite TV Chef. [35]

At the 2014 Reality TV Awards ceremony, Hell's Kitchen won an award for best new cast. [36] In 2015, Hell's Kitchen won awards for best overall show and guilty pleasure at the 2015 Reality TV Awards. [37]

U.S. Nielsen ratings

SeasonSeason premiereSeason finaleTV seasonTime slot (ET/PT)RankViewers
(in millions)
DateViewers
(in millions)
DateViewers
(in millions)
1 May 30, 20056.80 [38] August 1, 20058.94 [39] 2005 Monday 9:00 p.m.7.04 [40]
2 June 12, 20065.90 [41] August 14, 20069.55 [42] 2006 7.56 [42]
3 June 4, 20078.16 [43] August 13, 20079.68 [43] 2007 8.36 [43]
4 April 1, 200811.85 [44] July 8, 20088.91 [44] 2007–08 Tuesday 9:00 p.m.10.06 [44]
5 January 29, 200910.86 [45] May 14, 20097.37 [45] 2008–09 Thursday 9:00 p.m.8.01 [45]
6 July 21, 20096.09 [46] October 13, 20098.04 [46] 2009 Tuesday 8:00 p.m.7.23 [46]
7 June 1, 20106.22 [47] August 10, 20107.24 [47] 2010 6.51 [47]
8 September 22, 20105.98 [48] December 15, 20105.86 [48] 2010–11 Wednesday 8:00 p.m. (1–10)
Wednesday 9:00 p.m. (11–15)
6.15 [48]
9 July 18, 20115.84 [49] September 19, 20115.94 [49] 2011 Monday 8:00 p.m. (1, 3, 5, 7, 9–11, 15–16)
Monday 9:00 p.m. (12–14)
6.11 [50]
Tuesday 8:00 p.m. (2, 4, 6, 8)6.13 [51]
10 June 4, 20125.46 [50] September 10, 20126.27 [50] 2012 Monday 8:00 p.m. (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 20)
Monday 9:00 p.m. (16–18)
6.13 [50]
Tuesday 8:00 p.m. (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 19)5.60 [51]
11 March 12, 20135.30 [52] July 25, 20135.61 [52] 2012–13 Tuesday 8:00 p.m. (1–10)
Monday 8:00 p.m. (11–12)
Thursday 8:00 p.m. (13–18, 21–22)
Thursday 9:00 p.m. (19–20)
5.08 [52]
12 March 13, 20145.45 [53] July 24, 20145.17 [53] 2013–14 Thursday 8:00 p.m.4.83 [53]
13 September 10, 20144.27 [54] December 17, 20143.60 [54] 2014–15 Wednesday 8:00 p.m.3.77 [54]
14 March 3, 20154.09 [55] June 9, 20153.42 [55] Tuesday 8:00 p.m. (1–13)
Tuesday 9:00 p.m. (14–16)
3.50 [55]
15 January 15, 20163.41 [56] April 29, 20163.13 [56] 2015–16 Friday 9:00 p.m. (1–2, 12–16)
Wednesday 9:00 p.m. (3–11)
3.56 [56]
16 September 23, 20163.37 [57] February 2, 20173.67 [57] 2016–17 Friday 8:00 p.m. (1–10)
Thursday 8:00 p.m. (11–16)
3.48 [57]
17 September 29, 20173.02 [58] February 2, 20183.36 [58] 2017–18 Friday 8:00 p.m.3.13 [58]
18 September 28, 20182.98 [59] February 8, 20193.17 [60] 2018–19 Friday 9:00 p.m.2.78 [61]
19 January 7, 20212.78 [62] April 22, 20212.93 [63] 2020–21 Thursday 8:00 p.m.2.68 [64]
20 May 31, 20212.32 [65] September 13, 20212.23 [66] 2021–22 Monday 8:00 p.m.TBA
21 September 29, 20221.89 [67] February 9, 20232.29 [68] 2022–23 Thursday 8:00 p.m.TBA
22 September 28, 20231.77 [69] January 25, 20242.00 [70] 2023–24
23 September 26, 20241.58 [71] 2024–25

Other media

Home media

Visual Entertainment (under license from ITV Studios) has released the first fourteen seasons of Hell's Kitchen on DVD in Region 1. [72] Season 14 was released on March 15, 2016, and to the Blu-ray format for the first time. [73]

In Region 4, Shock Entertainment has released seasons 1–8 on DVD in Australia. [74]

DVD/BD titleNo. of
episodes
Release dates
Region 1 (CAN)Region 1 (US)Region 4 (AUS)
Hell's Kitchen – Season 1: Raw and Uncensored10April 8, 2008December 1, 2008
Hell's Kitchen – Season 2: Raw and Uncensored10October 27, 2009May 11, 2010February 2, 2009
Hell's Kitchen – Season 3: Raw and Uncensored11August 10, 2010September 21, 2010February 2, 2009
Hell's Kitchen – Season 4: Raw and Uncensored15November 16, 2010November 9, 2010April 1, 2009
Hell's Kitchen – Season 5: Raw and Uncensored15August 30, 2011November 27, 2009
Hell's Kitchen – Season 6: Raw and Uncensored15November 1, 2011April 10, 2012March 9, 2011 [75]
Hell's Kitchen – Season 7: Raw and Uncensored15June 5, 2012May 11, 2011 [76]
Hell's Kitchen – Season 8: Raw and Uncensored15December 4, 2012May 11, 2011 [77]
Hell's Kitchen – Season 9: Raw and Uncensored16August 27, 2013September 10, 2013TBA
Hell's Kitchen – Season 10: Raw and Uncensored20October 8, 2013 [78] October 1, 2013TBA
Hell's Kitchen – Season 11: Raw and Uncensored22April 15, 2014TBA
Hell's Kitchen – Season 12: Raw and Uncensored20September 1, 2015TBA
Hell's Kitchen – Season 13: Raw and Uncensored16November 24, 2015TBA
Hell's Kitchen – Season 14: Raw and Uncensored16March 15, 2016TBA

Video games

On September 11, 2008, Ubisoft released Hell's Kitchen: The Game for the Wii, Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows, and iOS, which features the likeness of Ramsay, and the many important tasks shown in the American version of the show. [79]

On April 2, 2009, Ludia and Social2u released the official Facebook version of the Hell's Kitchen video game. [80]

Related Research Articles

<i>Top Chef</i> American reality competition TV series

Top Chef is an American reality competition television series which premiered on Bravo in March 2006. The show features chefs competing against each other in culinary challenges. The contestants are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry, with one or more contestants eliminated in each episode. The show is produced by Magical Elves Productions, the company that created Project Runway.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (British TV series) British TV cookery reality series (2004–2009)

Hell's Kitchen is a British cookery reality show, aired on ITV, which featured prospective chefs competing with each other for a final prize. Four series aired between 2004 and 2009, three presented by Angus Deayton and the fourth and final series presented by Claudia Winkleman.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 2 Season of television series

The second season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on June 12, 2006, and concluded on August 14, 2006. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Scott Leibfried returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef and Mary-Ann Salcedo returned as the Red Team's sous-chef. Jean-Philippe Susilovic returned as maître d'.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 3 Season of television series

The third season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on June 4, 2007, and concluded on August 13, 2007. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Scott Leibfried returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef and Mary-Ann Salcedo returned as the Red Team's sous-chef. Jean-Philippe Susilovic returned as maître d'.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 4 Season of television series

The fourth season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on April 1, 2008, and concluded on July 8, 2008. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Scott Leibfried returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef and Gloria Felix debuted as the Red Team's sous-chef, replacing Mary-Ann Salcedo. Jean-Philippe Susilovic returned as maître d'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina Machamer</span> American chef (born 1982)

Christina Machamer is an American chef who won in the fourth season of Fox Network's reality cooking show Hell's Kitchen. She was awarded the position of "senior sous chef" at Gordon Ramsay's then-new restaurant at The London West Hollywood, where she earned a $250,000 yearly salary.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 5 Season of television series

The fifth season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on January 29, 2009, and concluded on May 14, 2009. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Scott Leibfried returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef and Gloria Felix returned as the Red Team's sous-chef. Jean-Philippe Susilovic returned as maître d'.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 6 Season of television series

The sixth season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on July 21, 2009, and concluded on October 13, 2009. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Scott Leibfried returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef, and season two winner Heather West returned as the Red Team's sous-chef, replacing Gloria Felix. Jean-Philippe Susilovic returned as maître d'.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 7 Season of television series

The seventh season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on June 1, 2010, and concluded on August 10, 2010. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Scott Leibfried returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef and Andi Van Willigan debuted as the Red Team's sous-chef, replacing Heather West. Jean-Philippe Susilovic returned as maître d'.

<i>MasterChef</i> (American TV series) American competitive reality television series

MasterChef is an American competitive cooking reality television series that premiered on Fox on July 27, 2010. Based on the British series of the same name and produced by Endemol Shine North America and One Potato Two Potato, the series features amateur and home chefs competing to win the title of 'MasterChef'. The current line-up of judges consists of Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Aarón Sánchez.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 8 Season of television series

The eighth season of Hell's Kitchen, an American reality competition television series starring Gordon Ramsay, premiered on Fox on September 22, 2010, and concluded on December 15, 2010. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Scott Leibfried returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef and Andi Van Willigan returned as the Red Team's sous-chef. James Lukanik debuted as maître d', replacing Jean-Philippe Susilovic, who had been serving as director at Ramsay's London restaurant Pétrus. This would be the last season to feature 16 contestants, until Season 17.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 9 Season of television series

Season 9 of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on July 18, 2011, on Fox and concluded on September 19, 2011, with a two-hour season finale. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Scott Leibfried and Andi Van Willigan returned as the Blue Team and Red Team's sous-chefs respectively. James Lukanik returned as maître d'.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 10 Season of television series

Season 10 of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on June 4, 2012, and concluded on September 10, 2012. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Scott Leibfried and Andi Van Willigan returned as the Blue Team and Red Team's sous-chefs respectively. James Lukanik returned as maître d'.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 11 Season of television series

Season 11 of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen and premiered on Fox on March 12, 2013, and concluded on July 25, 2013. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Andi Van Willigan returned as the Red Team's sous-chef. James Avery debuted as the Blue Team's sous-chef, replacing Scott Leibfried, who had a work obligation at Mick Fleetwood's restaurant in Maui. Seasons 1-7 maître d' Jean-Philippe Susilovic returned as maître d', replacing James Lukanik.

<i>MasterChef Junior</i> (American TV series) American competitive reality television series

MasterChef Junior is an American cooking competition involving children from the ages of 8–13 that premiered on Fox on September 27, 2013. It is based on the format of the British series Junior MasterChef.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 12 Season of television series

Season 12 of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on March 13, 2014, and concluded on July 24, 2014. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Andi Van Willigan returned as the Red Team's sous-chef and James Avery returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef. Jean-Philippe Susilovic returned as maître d'.

Hell's Kitchen is an Italian reality television cooking competition and American version broadcast on Fox. The Italian format is broadcast on Sky Uno from 2014 to 2018. It is hosted by celebrity chef Carlo Cracco.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 14 Season of television series

Season 14 of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on March 3, 2015, and concluded on June 9, 2015. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Andi Van Willigan returned as the Red Team's sous-chef and James Avery returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef. Marino Monferrato returned as maître d'.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 17 Season of television series

The seventeenth season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on September 29, 2017, and concluded on February 2, 2018. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while British MasterChef judge James "Jocky" Petrie debuted as the Blue Team's sous-chef, replacing Aaron Mitrano, and Christina Wilson returned as the Red Team's sous-chef, replacing Andi Van Willigan-Cutspec. Marino Monferrato returned as maître d'.

<i>Hells Kitchen</i> (American TV series) season 20 Season of television series

The twentieth season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen premiered on Fox on May 31, 2021, and concluded on September 13, 2021. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and head chef, while Christina Wilson returned as the Red Team's sous-chef and Jason Santos returned as the Blue Team's sous-chef. Marino Monferrato returned as maître d'. This is the last season to be shot in Nevada before returning to California in Season 21.

References

  1. "Watch Hell's Kitchen Online – At Hulu". Hulu . Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  2. Lux, Heidi (January 25, 2024). "Why Does 'Hell's Kitchen' Still Celebrate Toxic Chef Culture?". Eater. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Goldbart, Max (March 26, 2024). "'Hell's Kitchen' Moving To Connecticut Studio For Seasons 23 & 24". Deadline. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  4. "Fox Fall Premiere Dates". Deadline. July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  5. Perkins 2011, p. 7.
  6. Perkins 2011, p. 5.
  7. "Here's What the Winner of Each Season of "Hell's Kitchen" Is Doing Now". Kitchn. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  8. "James Lukanik – Hell's Kitchen on FOX". FOX Broadcasting Company.
  9. "matthew_childs #hellskitchen". Instagram. October 27, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  10. Kevin Slane (January 7, 2021). "Chef Jason Santos is Gordon Ramsay's new sous chef on Hell's Kitchen". Boston.com . Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  11. Alice Perkins (February 12, 2021). "Hell's Kitchen: What To Know About Blue Team's Sous Chef Jason Santos". Screen Rant . Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  12. 1 2 Lambert, Dave (August 31, 2022). "What's Cooking On The 21st Season of Hell's Kitchen, Debuting September 29th on Fox" . Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  13. Reality TV Calendar. June 3, 2007. "Hell's Kitchen — Everything You Want To Know".
  14. Latzman, Darrell. Los Angeles Business Journal. June 30, 2003. "KCOP studio sale is latest chapter in duopoly shifting. (Up Front).(Fox Broadcasting puts television studio facility up for sale)".[ dead link ]
  15. Kaplan, Don. New York Post. June 29, 2005 (TV Wednesday section). "DRESSED TO GRILL; 'HELL' ISN'T A REAL RESTAURANT".
  16. Claeson, Hanna (June 18, 2020). "Where Is Hell's Kitchen Filmed?". Mashed. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  17. Perkins 2011, p. 3.
  18. Keegan, Kayla (December 30, 2020). "The Fascinating Truth About Where 'Hell's Kitchen' Is Filmed". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  19. "Is Hell's Kitchen too fake, even for a reality show?". Aoltv.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  20. "Tek appears in Hell's Kitchen weeks after being eliminated, probably because of editing error – reality blurred". realityblurred.com. September 2, 2009.
  21. Huth, Kelly (May 18, 2012). "Phillipsburg chef to compete on new season of 'Hell's Kitchen'". The Express Times . Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  22. Writer, SARA TRACEY, Staff (June 10, 2015). "Meghan Gill wins "Hell's Kitchen" to head Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill". pressofatlanticcity.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. "Watch Preview Of New Season Of 'Hell's Kitchen' Friday, Jan. 15". RedCarpetCrash. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  24. "FRIDAYS HEAT UP WHEN 18 NEW CHEFS ENTER "HELL'S KITCHEN" ON THE SEASON 16 PREMIERE, SEPTEMBER 23, ON FOX". FOX.com. Fox Broadcasting Company. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  25. "HELL'S KITCHEN Debuts its First All-Stars Edition, Premiering Friday, 8/29 on FOX". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  26. "ROOKIES VS. VETERANS". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  27. Davis, Christopher (June 1, 2021). "What Ariel Contreras-Fox Has Been Up To Since Season 18 Of Hell's Kitchen". Screen Rant. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  28. "Star chef Gordon Ramsay is shown with Ariel Fox, left, and Michelle Tribble at Hell's Kitchen's one-year anniversary party at Caesars Palace on Friday, March 1, 2019". Las Vegas Review-Journal. March 2, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  29. John, Steven (September 3, 2021). "Here's How Kori Sutton's Life Changed After Winning Hell's Kitchen - Exclusive". Mashed. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  30. "FOX Announces Summer 2021 Schedule" (Press release). Fox. April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021 via The Futon Critic.
  31. "Gordon Ramsay HELL'S KITCHEN to open at Caesars Atlantic City". Cherry Hill Courier-Post. March 25, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  32. Michael Schneider (July 16, 2024). "Fox Reveals Fall Premiere Dates, Including the Return of '9-1-1: Lone Star' After Its Strike-Induced 15-Month Hiatus". Variety . Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  33. "First Look At Season 23". Food Club Fox. YouTube. August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  34. "Rose knocks Kidman off ASTRA perch". ABC News. April 20, 2009. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  35. "People's Choice Awards 2011 Nominees". PeoplesChoice.com. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  36. "2014 Winners – Reality TV Awards". Reality TV Awards. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  37. "Winners – Reality TV Awards". Reality TV Awards. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  38. "Prime-Time TV Rankings". Los Angeles Times . June 8, 2005. p. E12 via Newspapers.com.
  39. "Prime-Time TV Rankings". Los Angeles Times . August 10, 2005. p. E10 via Newspapers.com.
  40. "SpotVault – Hell's Kitchen (Fox) – Summer 2005". Spotted Ratings. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  41. "Episode List: Hell's Kitchen". TV Tango. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  42. 1 2 "SpotVault – Hell's Kitchen (Fox) – Summer 2006". Spotted Ratings. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  43. 1 2 3 "SpotVault – Hell's Kitchen (Fox) – Summer 2007". Spotted Ratings. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  44. 1 2 3 "SpotVault – Hell's Kitchen (Fox) – Summer 2008". Spotted Ratings. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  45. 1 2 3 "SpotVault – Hell's Kitchen (Fox) – Spring 2009". Spotted Ratings. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  46. 1 2 3 "SpotVault – Hell's Kitchen (Fox) – Summer 2009". Spotted Ratings. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  47. 1 2 3 "SpotVault – Hell's Kitchen (Fox) – Summer 2010". Spotted Ratings. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  48. 1 2 3 "SpotVault – Hell's Kitchen (Fox) – Fall 2010". Spotted Ratings. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  49. 1 2 "SpotVault – Hell's Kitchen (Fox) – Summer 2011". Spotted Ratings. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  50. 1 2 3 4 "Hell's Kitchen: Summer 2012 Ratings (Mondays)". TV Series Finale. September 12, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  51. 1 2 "Hell's Kitchen: Summer 2012 Ratings (Tuesdays)". TV Series Finale. September 12, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  52. 1 2 3 "Hell's Kitchen: Season 11 Ratings". TV Series Finale. July 27, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  53. 1 2 3 "Hell's Kitchen: Season 12 Ratings". TV Series Finale. July 26, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  54. 1 2 3 "Hell's Kitchen: Season 13 Ratings". TV Series Finale. December 18, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  55. 1 2 3 "Hell's Kitchen: Season 14 Ratings". TV Series Finale. June 11, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  56. 1 2 3 "Hell's Kitchen: Season 15 Ratings". TV Series Finale. April 30, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  57. 1 2 3 "Hell's Kitchen: Season 16 Ratings". TV Series Finale. February 3, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  58. 1 2 3 "Hell's Kitchen: Season 17 Ratings". TV Series Finale. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  59. Welch, Alex (October 1, 2018). "'Masters of Illusion' adjusts down: Friday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  60. Welch, Alex (February 11, 2019). "'Blindspot' adjusts up: Friday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  61. McLennan, Cindy (February 11, 2019). "Hell's Kitchen: Season 18 Ratings". canceled + renewed TV shows - TV Series Finale. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  62. Mitch Metcalf (January 11, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.7.2021". Showbuzz Daily . Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  63. Mitch Metcalf (April 23, 2021). "Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.22.2021". Showbuzz Daily . Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  64. Kimball, Trevor (April 23, 2021). "Hell's Kitchen: Season 19 Ratings". canceled + renewed TV shows - TV Series Finale. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  65. Marc Berman (June 1, 2021). "Monday Ratings: NBC Game Show Small Fortune and Fox's Animal Housebroken Off to Sluggish Starts". Programming Insider. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  66. Mitch Metcalf (September 14, 2021). "Monday 9.13.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily . Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  67. Mitch Salem (September 30, 2022). "Thursday 9.29.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily . Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  68. Mitch Salem (February 10, 2023). "Thursday 2.9.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily . Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  69. Douglas Pucci (September 29, 2023). "Thursday Ratings: The Golden Bachelor Series Premiere on ABC is Top Non-Sports Telecast in Prime Time". Programming Insider. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  70. Douglas Pucci (January 26, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: 'Hell's Kitchen' Season Finale Puts Fox on Top of Broadcast Networks Among Adults 18–34". Programming Insider. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  71. Douglas Pucci (September 27, 2023). "Thursday Ratings: 'Doctor Odyssey' Embarks on Decent Maiden Voyage for ABC". Programming Insider. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  72. "Hell's Kitchen on DVD, Release Info, News at". Tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  73. "Hell's Kitchen – Date for 'Season 14: Raw and Uncensored' on DVD...AND on Blu-ray!". TVShowsOnDVD. Lambert, Dave. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  74. "EzyDVD Search – Hell's Kitchen". ezydvd.com.au.[ permanent dead link ]
  75. "Hell's Kitchen USA – Season 6: Raw & Uncut (4 Disc Set)". Ezydvd.com.au. March 9, 2011. Archived from the original on April 11, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  76. "Hell's Kitchen USA – Season 7: Raw & Uncut (4 Disc Set)". Ezydvd.com.au. May 11, 2011. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  77. "Hell's Kitchen USA – Season 8: Raw & Uncut (4 Disc Set)". Ezydvd.com.au. May 11, 2011. Archived from the original on December 30, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  78. "Hell's Kitchen DVD news: Announcement for Season 9: Raw and Uncensored and Season 10: Raw and Uncensored | TVShowsOnDVD.com". Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  79. "Hell's Kitchen: The Game". Hellskitchenvideogame.com. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  80. "Hell's Kitchen on Facebook". Apps.facebook.com. Retrieved April 24, 2012.