Pajiba

My niece and I watch Toddlers and Tiaras

And half the comment got lost in the shuffle - I think it had a stroke when it read someone actually does watch the show, even if we play who get's pregnant by 14, kills her family in a murderous rage, has no prayer of not becoming Britney during the crazy years, etc. It's a car wreck waiting to happen for those of us who hate NASCAR.

Robert Irvine has serious gay face.

I prefer Tabatha taking over. She cares more than Gordon Ramsay in general.

He's really Rennering that poor shirt, isn't he?

Every once in a while I think how nice it would be to run a restaurant. Then reality kicks in and I remember what it was like to actually run one (family business) and I think what the fuck are you thinking.

and the ESPY's are dumb too!

The problem with shows like Restaurant Impossible, Kitchen Nightmares, Restaurant Makeover and the other clones that involve revamping other failing small businesses is that what ails them isn't something that a new coat of paint or streamlining of menu or product will be able to fix. Most of these people are inept at running a business to begin with. For some they have no education on business management, for others it's the inability to evolve with the times and situations and for still others it's sheer stubbornness and stupidity. This isn't something a camera crew, a renovation on the cheap and a TV host telling them the ugly truth usually in the ugliest way possible for a few days is going to rectify. More often than not, those that participate on such a show are all but guaranteed the kiss of death. Not because the show dooms them, but because they were most likely on the way out anyway. Take a look at the restaurants that were featured on theses shows and see how many of them survived long enough for their episode to air let alone if they are still in business now. More have gone under than have been saved. Small businesses in general face a steep climb just to survive in the first place. Even if you know what you're doing, you can still fail. But for many of these restaurants on these shows, it is not only an exercise in half-assed futility, but for most of them it is more accurate to call the show "How NOT to Run A Restaurant."

There are so many really good restaurants anymore that, as you note, even simply good ones can and do fail. And with that many options, the ones that suck don't have a prayer. (And what's interesting to watch with Ramsey is, I believe, that it genuinely pains him to see these people literally butchering food. The man has a passion.)

Anyway, in spite of McDonald's, there's never been more good food more widely available and at reasonable prices, ever, than right now.

(And now I see the Ramsey franchise is going to kick out "Hotel Hell" this fall. I'm a sucker for these things, I'll watch 'em all.)

It would be interesting if Restaurant Impossible followed-up with the participants a year or so later (instead of a few months later).

That show's host can be such a lunkhead...he treats those people so unkindly.

Ah, just for you - the NY Times published an article on this very subject today:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07...