When Kitchen Nightmares was canceled in 2014, it was because Gordon Ramsay was so over filming the series. However, he changed his mind later on.
Gordon Ramsay’s reality show Kitchen Nightmares was immensely popular when it debuted in 2007, so it came as a surprise when it wasn’t immediately renewed for season 8. The British celebrity chef received a lot of recognition for his intense approach to cooking and unmatched passion for his craft. Gordon’s heated attitude in the kitchen brought an undeniable level of entertainment to the screen, as he used his expertise to help restaurant owners keep their establishments open.
While Gordon has a multitude of successful shows, Kitchen Nightmares featured restaurants that needed makeovers in terms of their menus, services, and staff. Instead of focusing on specific cooking techniques or ingredients, the award-winning chef used all of his business savvy to help eateries turn profits. While this was a noble goal, and Gordon sometimes succeeded (according to Imdb, Kitchen Nightmares has an 80 percent failure rate, so many restaurants don’t stay open), he eventually tired of filming the series… at least, for a while.
Gordon Ramsay Axed Kitchen Nightmares
Gordon Ramsay Stopped Enjoying The Series
Gordon pulled the plug on Kitchen Nightmares, putting the show on the chopping block. Typically, television networks dictate whether shows will be renewed based on ratings. However, in this case, it was entirely up to the chef, and he had his reasons. Gordon reached his boiling point after an experience at a Kitchen Nightmares restaurant made him want to walk away from the series. As per Entertainment Weekly, Gordon said:
I canceled my own show on Fox, Kitchen Nightmares . I woke up in the middle of the south of France after filming a week with a British guy I wouldn’t trust to run my bath, let alone my restaurant. Because he was running a ski resort, he felt like he could take advantage of all those customers because there was nowhere else to eat. He was giving me sh*t for telling him the truth and I thought, “I’m done.”
Dealing with someone who wouldn’t listen influenced his decision to cancel the show. They filmed for a week, after which the chef had his show-altering epiphany. Without Gordon, the show is unlikely to resonate, so what he says goes. Gordon’s a charismatic hothead and people tune in to see his meltdowns. However, he has a softer side.
Gordon feels for people in trouble and sincerely wants to help them. He’s been very compassionate on the show, especially when homes may be lost and children may be affected. The different sides of his personality are the show’s magic ingredient.
The Revival Of Kitchen Nightmares Was Fascinating
Kitchen Nightmares Season 8 Had The Usual Drama
Kitchen Nightmares returned on September 25, 2023, after almost a decade off the air. When the brutal chef decided to close the door on the popular show, he took a break for three years and came back with another hit show, 24 Hours to Hell and Back. Season 8 featured a host of exciting episodes.
At the time, canceling Kitchen Nightmares felt like the right thing to do, but its 2023 return was welcome. Unlike Gordon’s other reality shows, it isn’t focused on the element of competition, so it’s a great change of pace. Kitchen Nightmares eschews the cutthroat world of reality competition in favor of another challenging milieu – the restaurant business. In America, 30 percent of restaurants fail, as per the National Restaurant Association.
The challenges of making a restaurant successful are real whether a camera crew follows the action or not – that’s why the series is diverting. Gordon breaks down eatery owners psychologically in order to rebuild them as smarter, more dedicated business operators. His tried-and-true “boot camp” style initiates quick changes. However, as the show’s failure rate has shown, sometimes, those shifts aren’t enough to change an eatery’s fate.
Restaurant owners should try and change things when what they’re doing isn’t working. They need to research local markets, look at which restaurants are succeeding, and implement new strategies. Some restauranteurs who appear on Kitchen Nightmares waited too long to get help.
As per Collider, at least three establishments featured in Kitchen Nightmares season 8 are still open. They are: Bel Aire, In The Drink and Bask 46. While it’s fun to watch Gordon try to break the bad business habits of owners, some things, such as a lack of common sense and inability to pivot, can be ingrained.
Gordon Ramsay Got Food Poisoning More Than Once
Eating Kitchen Nightmares Food Was Dangerous
Restaurant owners who’ve veered into incompetence for an array of reasons, from depression to money woes and beyond, were one factor in Gordon’s decision to bail out on the series for a while. Another issue was the fact that sampling the eatery’s “delicacies” was harmful to his health. While filming the show, as per Gordon at X, he’s had to deal with food poisoning, indigestion and more. He’s eaten some disgusting things and paid the price. On shows like Hell’s Kitchen, where cooks are motivated to please him, and ingredients are fresh, the risk of contamination’s much lower.
Kitchen Nightmares season 9 hasn’t gotten the official green light. However, there’s always the chance that the series will return for another installment. Gordon’s star quality drives the onscreen action, and if he’s willing to film the show again, there will be viewers. Gordon’s built an empire based on his work ethic, plain talk (including professionalism) and years of restaurant industry experience.
