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Hell's Kitchen

(Rated TV-14, Reality TV, Starring Angus Deayton, Mark Durden-Smith, Gordon Ramsay, Where to watch: Fox, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Top chef serves up insults in tense reality show.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The chef uses humiliation and anger to motivate contestants. He also praises success, though much less frequently. Due to the show's competetive nature, contestants are sometimes unsportsmanlike and conniving.
  • Violence:

    The chef pushes plates of food into contestants' chests. Cooks sometimes cut and burn themselves accidently.
  • Sex:

    Female contestants occasionally appear in skimpy bathing suits or dresses.
  • Language:

    The chef's insults are full of foul language, and the contestants curse often as well. All severe cursing is bleeped and mouths are fuzzed over. Words like "hell" and "damn" are frequent.
  • Consumerism:

    Gordon Ramsay is himself a commodity, and sometimes the show plays this up. Shots of his magazine covers and restaurants appear occasionally.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Contestants drink and smoke when they're off kitchen duty.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Hell's Kitchen

Parents need to know that this competitive reality show features a foul-mouthed chef who regularly insults and humiliates the contestants. Those who remain calm under pressure and work through the pain of insults, cuts, and burns are rewarded with an occasional compliment from the raging chef. When out of the kitchen, the contestants drink, smoke, and linger in the hot tub wearing revealing attire.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about work environments. What makes a good or bad boss? What drives employees to succeed -- gentle support or the desire to impress an exacting leader? How would teens react to a boss like Ramsay? How have adults managed a difficult employer? Do different working environments call for different types of leadership? What parallels can teens draw between tough bosses and tough teachers? Does the world of professional cooking appeal to teens or parents?

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Our Members Say

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See all 11 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 5.0

    i love hells kitchen,,,you have to be that way to get people to motivate....

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    One of my favorite reality shows, but not appropriate for kids. Language is too heavy for younger kids, and there's a lot of screaming. There are no good role models.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0

    I really, really love this!

    I've watched it ever since the 1st show, and i really love it

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0

    maybe one of the best shows aside from south park, family guy, and american idol... don't forget the simpsons!

    even thought chef ramsey is mean it is the best show aside from south park, family guy, and american idol... don't forget the simpsons!

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0

    Common Sense, get common sense!

    It isn't "yellow 14" anyway.. I would agree if it is at least "yellow 12"... There are many swears but all bleeped out, and even if it is bleeped out, I can see that chef and competitors use f-word a lot. Occasionally, "the finger" appears, and it is usually for a second or two, and it is blurred quite hard. So parents are strongly cautioned about this show. However, it is rated PG on Citytv and the rating PG guideline is that age 8~13(not sure) may should be supervised so I think if you're over 8, watch it with your parents.

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