Gordon Ramsay is a busy man. He owns 17 restaurants and stars in multiple TV shows. Yet, somehow, the chef had time to accept another challenge for the good people at Fox.
His new show, “24 Hours to Hell and Back,” is familiar, yet a little different. This time Ramsay is on the clock.
In “24 Hours to Hell and Back,” Ramsay tries to rescue a trash restaurant, run by people who may or may not have a clue, from going entirely kaput. However, Ramsay must accomplish this in 24 hours, a challenge he, surely, cannot overcome.
Yes, obviously, he can. He is Gordon Ramsay, after all.
Fox claims the time limit is necessary because in the social media age a restaurant can sink overnight. It may also have something to do with Ramsay not wanting to hang out in an awful restaurant any longer than he must. Who could blame him for that?
Each “24 Hours to Hell and Back” episode starts with Ramsay dining incognito at a horrible restaurant. After an inevitably disappointing lunch, Ramsay reveals himself to surprised staff and diners. Within minutes, Ramsay’s team is tearing the dining room apart. Meanwhile, the chefs are retrained in a massive truck called “Hell on Wheels.” Since there is no time for shenanigans, Ramsay steamrolls anybody standing in his way.
Ultimately, it is up to the owners to carry on with Ramsay’s alterations after he leaves. Many restaurants revert to their old terrible ways immediately. Some updates are positive, while others are not. Only 17 out of the 77 restaurants featured on Ramsay’s masterpiece “Kitchen Nightmares” remain in business today. So, these dumps on “24 Hours to Hell and Back” might be unsalvageable regardless of how long Ramsay stays around.
The pace is quick and steady throughout, and most of the contrived drama that was common on “Kitchen Nightmares” has mostly been eliminated. This, along with slick editing, makes the show smooth and easy to watch.
Few people entertain me like Gordon Ramsay. I am guaranteed enjoyment whenever he yells at someone. “24 Hours to Hell and Back” delivers that, so the show gets a thumbs up. Ramsay’s commanding presence and perpetual disappointment make “24 Hours to Hell and Back” an enjoyable watch. Nobody else could pull this show off.
Fox ordered a second season of “24 Hours to Hell and Back” after the premiere drew 3.67 million viewers. The show airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on Fox. In addition, each episode is available on Hulu.