I, too, love "Hell's Kitchen." I think it's funny how some of these supposed top-notch chefs fall flat on their faces when put under that kind of pressure.

My best guess is that all contestants are required to sign a waiver saying they will not sue GR or the network. They know into what they are getting themselves and should expect the star to insult them if they make a mistake, much along the lines of the fact that NCAA men's basketball players knew what kind of coach they were playing for when they went to play under Bobby Knight.

From what I can gather having watched enough shows where chef's are commanding their kitchens, Ramsay may be a bit more abrasive, but he appears to be the rule as opposed to the exception.

Most chef's are almost fanatical about their cuisine and having it done flawlessly. Our problem is we are weaned on these Food Network/PBS shows where the chef is clearly putting his best most personable foot forward. I would think that if you watched them in their actual kitchens, you'd see an entirely different side of them in the crucible of line cooking. There, their survival depends on having their vision carried out and giving customers an experience that keeps them coming back as opposed to being the friendly face who shows you how to prepare a dish.

Walter,
What chef do you think is the worst offender when the cameras are turned off?
I just got the most funny mental image of Julia Child screaming at underlings back in the day. I'm still cracking up!
What do you think about Emeril, Mario, Paula, and (gulp) Rachael Ray?

well food is of great importance to us all i feel ramsay is a bit ott,,but in reallity he does right as a employer cos no one wants a failing business ,,,exceptionally a well renowned one..but as a owner and taster of finer food...in france,,and world over..i feel people are way too polite to tell establishments the food was not upto pr...so let us all cherish food,,and most importantly..let the chefs commnd the businesses the way they want

Reality tag notwithstanding, Mr.Ramsay is an actor on a TV show. We don't know what goes on behidn the scenes but in terms of what is on camera, I don't see how a hostile workplace environment suit could stick in this situation or in the case of the other shows you mentioned, particularly The Sopranos and SATC. Those two shows make no pretense to reality. Perhaps the FCC could go after them for "obscenity" but that is another issue.

I would think someone like a Bobby Flay.

I can remember Jamie Oliver saying on a show where he was doing a restaurant with all inexperienced cooks, that they were seeing the nice side of him in the training phase. But when it came to actually preparing food for customers, they would think he was a cold b*stard.

So I would think probably Emeril & Mario, being classically trained chefs, would probably be the most demanding in their kitchens.

Emeril has his own catchphrase: "Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance." So you can see where he might be pretty intense in the kitchen.

As for Paula and Rachel Ray, I am sure they are not tolerant of out and out incompetence, but they do strike me as a tad more patient.