Summer TV Going to Hell?

There was a time that the Summer TV Schedule was a wasteland - reruns and Harlequin movies. After the solstice, networks roll out more uninspired reality TV (Age of Love) and feed some fan's guilty pleasures (Big Brother 8) . Cable, understanding that no matter the weather, viewers will watch quality programming, air new episodes of hits like Entourage beginning in July.

Ever-mindful that American Idol debuted as summer filler and has become the most popular TV show in America, network execs continue the quest for the next breakout.
Don't Forget the Lyrics and Singing Bee , two Karaoke game shows hosted by Wayne Brady and Joey Fatone respectively, look like passing fancy...no endurance.

Here's one we're eating up. Andrew and I are setting the clock to watch Chef Gordon Ramsay berate the candidates on

	Twelve aspiring chefs are vying to become Head Chef at the Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas. Ramsay never says it, but if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, is an essential premise. It's compelling TV.

We occasionally watched episodes over the past 2 seasons of the show, but this season, we're hooked! The opening sequence promises viewers that "one contestant has had enough and takes on chef Ramsay"; cut to an ambulance pulling in; cut to a chef running out of the kitchen into the dining room; cut to Ramsay yelling, "You almost killed him!" Flash a shot of flames from a pan on the burner jumping to the ceiling. "He would've died!" Ramsay yells at one hopeful.

Chef Ramsay's not all huff and gruff, cuss and criticism. Instead of sending Melissa home in Episode 5, he moved her onto the Blue Team, offering her a second chance. He saw that she had adequate kitchen skills, but her dictatorial leadership style was an obstacle her team couldn't overcome. She was a weak link after switching teams and was sent packing in Episode 6.

Flipside Those Karaoke shows may generate a little more interest now that Korea Banned Karaoke Bars (Reuters, July 11, 2007) . North Korea's security agency has ordered all karaoke clubs to close because they represent a threat to society. From the Ministry directive, this measure is required: "to squarely confront those who threaten the maintenance of the socialist system."

Andrew and I are both pleased that Julia's in the final 6. In the early episodes, she was put down by others because she lacked fine-dining experience (before Hell's Kitchen, she worked in a pancake house). She won't make it to final cut, but Julia has a positive attitude, works hard for the team and is willing to learn.

We both pick Rock and Jen to be in the final two.

Hell's Kitchen -

Monday at 9:00 p.m.

Tags: [Hell's Kitchen] [Fox Broadcasting] [Citytv]
[Food Network] [Reality Television] [Chef Ramsay]
[Karaoke] [American Idol] [Big Brother]
[Wayne Brady] [Joey Fatone]