Forgive the unavoidable pun: Kitchen Nightmares has the recipe for success.

Tonight's the American version of the series premieres on Fox at 9pm Eastern. Despite the controversy of the fraud allegations leveled this summer at Ramsay and the show, the show has been given the clear to continue, and so this evening, we'll have our first chance to see Ramsay take on not just the chef, as he does in Hell's Kitchen, but the whole restaurant.

For the premiere episode of Kitchen Nightmares, they've picked a place with some pretty perfect elements.

Ramsay heads to Long Island to help out Peter's. It's run by Peter himself, whom Fox calls a “godfather wannabe” and who appears to be a highly tanned guy who likes to pump up. He's frustrating his staff and his sister, Tina, who is the actual owner.

Peter apparently comes in, takes his paycheck and leaves, and doesn't stay on top of the money they way his sister feels he needs to. His staff appears demoralized and previews show Peter criticizing a server in front of her customers. Peter and the kitchen staff argue so loudly the patrons in the dining room can hear.

The food, obviously, is suffering under the neglect. The chef appears to have given up, stating with defeat that the ravioli they serve comes from “Restaurant Depot.” Needless to say, Ramsay thinks it's terrible, calling the dish “baby food.”

Ramsay first of all orders some turnabout, ordering Peter and his father to work the kitchen. He says that for a place to be successful, the owners and managers have to work harder than their staff. Peter and his dad look like they are not exactly sure what they signed up for…

Whether the restaurants themselves turn business around after the show remains to be seen, but there are two key factors that indicate the show itself will probably be a relative success if it can grab those viewers that won't be interested in shows like Gossip Girl or Private Practice.

First of all, Gordon Ramsay is at the heart of it, and he is a major draw. Of course everyone talks about his explosive temper, but obviously there's something more than chef rage that makes him such a draw. If it weren't for the fact that he is so obvious sincerely passionate about what he's doing, his abuse would be merely obscene. But underneath it all, he seems to sincerely care about getting a good result.

Secondly, everyone loves a makeover show. It's very satisfying to see, as Ramsay puts it someone “[rip] out all the crap” and get things tidied up and running smoothly. Additionally, anyone who's ever had a job probably has had the experience of working some place inefficient and/or run by incompetents, and knows how demoralizing it is. But just as workplace dissatisfaction can spread like a virus, resulting in half-hearted efforts and a lack of dedication, when things turn around and long-running problems are solved, it can turn people around quickly.

If you watch the show tonight, head back here to leave your comments – did you like and will you head back to Kitchen Nightmares for seconds?


- Leslie Seaton, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Fox
(Image courtesy of Fox)