Fox recently announced a new date for the season premieres of two Gordon Ramsay shows. Both "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef" will kick off their respective seasons on Monday, June 4. They will air again on Tuesday, June 5, and on subsequent Tuesdays throughout the summer. Another Ramsay show, "Hotel Hell," was originally supposed to air in the same week. However, it looks like that show's debut will be pushed back. Is Fox doing the right thing by airing both Ramsay shows back-to-back? After all, some might think it's too much exposure for the cooking legend. However, Fox is doing the right thing by keeping "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef" together. Here are a few reasons why this is a smart move.
It will help "MasterChef" grow.
This will be the ninth season for "Hell's Kitchen," and only the third for "MasterChef." TV networks have long had a habit of building up newer shows by pairing them with more established ones. "MasterChef" is still a fairly new series that is likely to gain viewers before it loses them. Fox knows that if it pairs "MasterChef" with another new summer show, it isn't going to improve its audience. By keeping it with "Hell's Kitchen," the show has a built-in fan base that should grow.
It has worked in the past.
Keeping the two popular cooking shows together on the same night has been a winning formula for Fox in the past. In 2011, both shows managed to pull in stellar ratings, especially for the summer. "Hell's Kitchen" is the better-rated show, which isn't shocking considering it is much more seasoned. However, "MasterChef" has managed to retain most of the viewership that "Hell's Kitchen" generates. If someone is tuning into watch one show, chances are they will stick around for another hour. That might not happen if they air on different nights.
The shows aren't the same.
For those that think that there might be a little too much Gordon Ramsay, consider the fact that "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef" aren't as similar as they might seem. For one, Gordon shares the "MasterChef" stage with two other judges. He might be the star of "Hell's Kitchen," but that isn't the case of both series. Also, "MasterChef" is more about the creative cooking and challenges. Yes, they are both cooking competitions that eliminate contestants until one winner stands; however, the similarities end there. That should hopefully ensure that viewers aren't experiencing overkill.
