Critic Reviews

Not everyone dreams of opening a fusion bistro or perfecting a vol-au-vent, but many feel that they had a tougher time learning their trade than younger, mollycoddled and overly entitled upstarts. And for those, The Chopping Block cuts just right.

As reality shows go, the concept isn't bad: Two teams with four couples each operate restaurants across the street from one another in New York. But Chopping Block botches the introductions in tonight's premiere.

This new effort from NBC is literally a chop off the old block.

Enjoyable only if you enjoy watching people - and networks - making fools of themselves.

The show has seasoned reality TV talent behind it, so it's a surprise to find The Chopping Block structurally jumbled, with hardly any time spent introducing the contestants.

For the good raucous fun we seem to want in our "reality" food shows, Chopping Block isn't yet something most Americans are likely to order.

Though perhaps slightly more rational than his Fox counterpart, who's increasingly becoming a caricature of himself, White's given to ponderous pronouncements that make every decision on The Chopping Block sound like a matter of life and death.

The glowering White--with his brooding eyes, tennis shoes and Three Stooges' Larry Fine haircut--is more pretentious and irritating than most.

White tries way too hard to live up to his meanie rep (he did train Gordon Ramsay, after all), but instead he looks and sounds ridiculous, delivering predictable, bitchy sound bites, all while sockless in checkered Vans.

A maddeningly empty hour in which hapless schmoes endure insults and temper tantrums from a pompous clod. It's enough, as the British say, to put you off your food.