Gordon Ramsay’s Live Nightmare

Published on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, by keithlaidlaw / Edit Post

Billed as "the biggest cooking event America has ever seen," Gordon Ramsay's Cookalong Live on Fox last night was certainly an exciting televisual challenge. But the toughest part wasn't keeping up with the pace of the onscreen culinary endeavours (as we were encouraged to do at home), but to endure Ramsay's weirdly uncomfortable agitation for more than a few minutes. What was wrong with the man: Hasn't he ever cooked and talked at the same time before?

Granted, he was juggling a stack of studio guests and multiple live satellite/Internet feeds from around the country while simultaneously demonstrating how to knock together a three-course dinner in less than 60 minutes. But he's also a Michelin-starred chef who has (presumably) endured far more stressful cooking environments than this. The nonexpert guest participants seemed positively laidback next to Ramsay's bouncing bundle of nerves.

You could put it down to first-time jitters, except El Gordo has already done a whole series of similar shows for Channel 4 in the UK. Maybe it was just the strain of making it through a live broadcast on American TV without losing his temper and dropping the F-bomb. Or perhaps Ramsay just needed to pee really, really badly. Regardless, his performance was possibly the most uncomfortable thing to appear on TV since Glenn Beck went public with his experiences of hemorrhoid surgery.

Watch a clip from last night's show, featuring guest LeAnn Rimes:

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POST A COMMENT |5 Comments

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  • Ramsay seems to have the hoarse voice that Rachael Ray developed. He should slow down and do less talking otherwise his voice is going to go. I wouldn't worry about his businesses. Yes he may make less but far more than most of us.

  • From that clip he seemed fine. I guess if anything he's not used to cooking where he isn't in total command. Think about it where ever he cooks he is in command work, home, his shows. So put him in a situation where he has to be cordial he's a little out of his element. Kind of like being on Leno, he's trying to play along and get the meal done in 5 minutes. He's not used to that kind of stuff....+READ

    From that clip he seemed fine. I guess if anything he's not used to cooking where he isn't in total command. Think about it where ever he cooks he is in command work, home, his shows. So put him in a situation where he has to be cordial he's a little out of his element. Kind of like being on Leno, he's trying to play along and get the meal done in 5 minutes. He's not used to that kind of stuff. Throw on top of that, the meltdown of his empire due to the economic downturn, the man is going bankrupt. Out of his element and stressed. I like his dishes, style and from what I've read a genuinely nice guy.-COLLAPSE

  • Glad it wasn't just me wondering what was up with the G Man. Even his voice didn't sound right. Had to be just a case of nerves.

  • uuuuunnn

  • The nightmare was Ramsay's childishness.