I have been sitting on the sofa this evening watching TV with Helaine. Mostly it’s been Food Network’s Restaurant Impossible with Robert Irvine. They’re showing back-to-back-to-back episodes.
If you want to figure out the formula of a formulaic show just watch three or four of them without interruption. I’m not suggesting you do this, just if you do
you’ll find the secret sauce!
- Robert finds really bad restaurant
- Robert tries the food
- Robert dislikes the food
- Robert finds all the other things wrong with the restaurant (note to ‘before’ customers, you’re not going to be happy seeing what you were eating)
- Robert browbeats owner
- Makeover
- Restaurant lives happily ever after
Here’s my question. How is this different from Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares on Fox? Isn’t this the same show with a different host, both with British accents.
The show is entertaining, but if I were a restaurateur I’d think twice about subjecting myself to this. Irvine’s criticism is brutal. Of course watching these owners get dressed down is why people tune in.
The problem with reality shows is they setup a problem to be solved and always solve it. Always!
Think about it: cliffhanger right before a commercial break. Do you really think they’re throwing in the towel twenty five minutes into an hour show?
A little free advice. If you ate at any of these restaurants before Robert Irvine got there don’t watch. Really. No, seriously, you don’t want to watch!
Bon appetite.