Firing up Hell’s Kitchen
Ladies and gentleman, we’ve finally reached the part of Hell’s Kitchen when Gordon Ramsay stops yelling so much and actually gives the contestants kudos for all their hard work.
In other words, it’s time for the finale.
Season 11 of the still-well-watched culinary boot camp led by angry Chef Ramsay will come full circle on Thursday, when the final two chefs return to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where the competition started back in March.
The winner of the show will be there to stay, since he or she will become the new head chef of the chic (i.e. pricey) Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill located slot-side at Caesars.
After a season of strong personalities, three aspiring chefs were left standing at the end of last week’s episode: 31-year-old Houston executive chef Ja’Nel Witt, 27-year-old chef de cuisine Jon Scallion from York, Penn., and 26-year-old butcher/cook Mary Poehnelt from Belchertown, Mass.
Ramsay announced last week that Poehnelt would be one of the finalists, but whether she’ll be up against Witt or Scallion will remain to be seen until the start of tonight’s two-hour cook-off.
Poehnelt and her cringe-inducing voice made it further than most expected, but she proved herself to be a strong leader last week (if you thought the sound of Ramsay shouting orders was bad ...). While Witt and Scallion are equally passionate, we’re banking on Scallion’s artistic edge to keep him in the game.
Famed chefs David LeFevre and Sang Yoon are expected to judge Thursday’s finale cooking challenge, which will be followed by a potentially life-changing dinner service for which the final two will have to prepare menus and execute with the help of previously eliminated (and possibly sabotage-seeking) contestants. (Fox, City – 9 p.m.)
We don’t yet know who will get America’s vote to go up on the block on Big Brother, but we can still have fun pointing and laughing at villains /current nominees Aaryn Gries and Kaitlin Barnaby — one of whom may be sent home on tonight’s live eviction episode. (CBS, Global – 10 p.m.)
SNL cast members Maya Rudolph, Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen and Amy Poehler reunite for Hollywood Game Night — the show where gaming dreams come true as average folks play with celebs for a chance to win $25,000. (CTV – 8 p.m., NBC – 11 p.m.)
Tonight on Motive, Det. Angie Flynn (Kristin Lehman) faces a case involving a well-respected pediatrician, who may soon become renowned for something other than pediatrics. (CTV, ABC – 10 p.m.)