Damned to Hell’s Kitchen
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,” (Truman). This old English proverb could not be a more suitable slogan for FOX’s hit television series, “Hell’s Kitchen” starring celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay (“Hell’s Kitchen”). Since 2005, the show has been renewed for thirteen successful seasons, becoming progressively more uncensored. Ramsay, 48, is best known as the ‘Angry Man of British Cuisine’ (Lyall). Yet his seemingly uncontrollable anger hasn’t held his career back in any way, in actuality it has only contributed to his great success. A holder of 14 Michelin stars, he is one of the most successful celebrity chefs worldwide (“Gordon Ramsay”). A household name, Hell’s Kitchen is not for the intimidated viewer. But are the satanic undertones of the series what makes it entertaining and intriguing?
It is irrefutable the series is heavily influenced by devilish imagery and shocking behavior. As London’s most distinguished and notorious chef, Ramsay has allowed himself to embrace a much darker side of himself for the sake of entertainment and success (Lyall). Over tea at Claridge’s restaurant he commented on his TV persona, ‘’When there’s no adrenaline flying high and there’s very little pressure created, you don’t get results,” (Lyall). But it is unquestionable Ramsay ‘lays it on thick’ for the cameras. Comparing a single episode of Hell’s Kitchen to any interview Ramsay has done, there is an enormous difference in character. Extremists may call it satanic possession, but rationalists know it is much more heavily weighed on projection sales and marketing strategies than it is about religion.
Advertisements dedicated to the production of the television series borrow heavily from religious imagery. Season 9 uses the slogan ‘Hell’s Angel’ for their poster advertisements, featuring Ramsay with a halo emblazoned in flames, while Season 10 features chef Ramsay embellished with devil horns and a pointed tail along with the slogan “devilicious”. The title of the series itself is blatantly religious, evoking satanic and devilish imagery for any audience. An intriguing connection to the series’ title is to the Church of Satan. Prior to the show’s production, Peter H. Gilmore, the high priest of the organization moved its headquarters to Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan (“Church of Satan”). Although the correlation is purely in namesake, it is a bold link that is unavoidable when researching the T.V series on any search engine.
The language emitted from Gordon Ramsay has left contestants of Hell’s Kitchen dumbfounded, offended, and at times spiritually broken. His crude language not only incorporates curse words, but specific and cruel attacks on his victims. It is the severity of his words and their deliverance that consistently shocks the audience, keeping them coming back season after season. The same shocking quality can be found in the religiously influenced film, The Exorcist. There is a definitive parallel between chef Gordon Ramsay and Regan, the possessed victim of a devil from the film. With an uncensored string of swearing in a possessed, violent tone, both characters curse those who get in the way of them fulfilling their goals. Although this is not a claim that chef Gordon Ramsay is possessed by the devil, the acting he produces on Hell’s Kitchen exhibits satanic qualities.
Works Cited
“Church of Satan.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 May 2014. Web. 08 Nov. 2014.
“Gordon Ramsay.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 June 2014. Web. 07 Nov. 2014.
“Hell’s Kitchen.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 June 2014. Web. 08 Nov. 2014.
Lyall, Sarah. “The Terrible-Tempered Star Chef of London.” NYTimes.com. The New York Times Company, 23 Feb. 2005. Web. 08 Nov. 2014.
Truman, Harry S. “If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Get out of the Kitchen.” Wiktionary. Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Nov. 2013. Web. 08 Nov. 2014.
