Hell's Kitchen (American season 1)


This article contains contestant information and episode summaries from the first season of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen. Season 1 aired starting on May 30, 2005 and concluded on August 1, 2005. Michael Wray from Fort Collins, Colorado, won the first season of Hell's Kitchen, thus winning his own restaurant in Los Angeles named Tatou. This was the first season where the teams were not separated by gender at the start, which wouldn't happen again until season 18. This was also the only season where Ramsay addressed the show's progress on camera to the viewers, rather than just a voice-over explaining eliminations.
The show was taped in Los Angeles at KCOP, in a converted former television broadcast facility that previously hosted shows such as The Joker's Wild and Tic-Tac-Dough in the late 1970s to mid-1980s.

Sous chefs and Maître d'hôtel

The 12 contestants were initially divided into the Blue team and the Red team, but not based on gender as in all the following seasons. The contestants were:
ContestantAge OccupationHometownResult
Michael Wray27Professional ChefFort Collins, ColoradoWinner
Ralph Pagano36Professional ChefLivingston, New JerseyRunner-Up
Jessica Cabo26HeadhunterHuntington, New YorkEliminated before Finals
Elizabeth "Elsie" Ramos40Mother of SixMaywood, New JerseyEliminated after 8th Service
James "Jimmy" Casey25Purchasing SupervisorWilliston Park, New YorkEliminated after 7th Service
Andrew Bonito24Office AssistantLivingston, New JerseyEliminated before Black Jackets
Christopher "Chris" North35Executive ChefYorktown Heights, New YorkEliminated after 5th Service
Mary Ellen Daniels27BartenderBelmont, MassachusettsEliminated after 4th Service
Wendy Liu32Account ManagerMillburn, New JerseyEliminated after 3rd Service
Jeffery "Jeff" LaPoff28Finance ManagerOrange, New JerseyLeft during 3rd Service
Jeffery Dewberry33Pastry ChefStockbridge, GeorgiaEliminated after 2nd Service
Carolann Valentino33Server's AssistantDallas, TexasEliminated after 1st Service

Contestant progress

Each week, the best member from the losing team during the latest service period is asked to nominate two of their teammates for elimination; one of these two is sent home by Gordon Ramsay.

Episodes

Each episode consisted of a challenge with a reward, a service, and an elimination.