Gordon Ramsay's F Word (BBC America)

GORDON RAMSAY'S F WORD follows the very animated and world-renowned chef Ramsay as he bounds from stove to stove -- offering cooks criticism of both the friendly and not-so-friendly kind -- and out into the dining area, where he schmoozes the high-profile guests drawn by the restaurant's glitz and good eats. Food critic Giles Coren makes regular appearances to team up with Ramsey and a rotating panel of experts to discuss a host of issues facing the food industry, including fad diets, recent dietary health scares, and labeling guidelines. The series plays up the reality angle by featuring two young chefs who are vying for a job at one of Ramsay's many restaurants. The two learn at the side of their celebrated mentor, accepting his advice and attempting to win him over with their own culinary creations. At the end of the episode, one chef is selected as a new addition to Ramsay's staff.

While F Word is undeniably an entertaining choice as food shows go, viewers who tune in hoping for helpful tips from Ramsay will be disappointed, since very little time is actually spent cooking (and Ramsay does virtually none of it). Instead, the focus is on Ramsay's gregarious personality and the celebrities who come to visit. The only time instruction is given is when Ramsay visits the home of a culinary-challenged female fan to walk her through making a meal. And he does dirty up his apron a bit when he matches cooking wits with his celebrity guests, who have included the likes of Sharon Osbourne and Joan Collins.

The main concerns here are Ramsay's occasional tendency toward foul-mouthed language and his mercurial personality. But it's unlikely the subject matter will entice many teen viewers in the first place -- this is definitely adult-targeted television.