Gordon Ramsay's newest series, "MasterChef," debuts : Promises more of the same

Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door. Or—build the same mousetrap ... and expect the same result.

Forgive my cynicism, but how many Top Chef knockoffs can the American TV viewing public endure? For that matter, how many more episdoes of Top Chef can they endure?

Never mind. Tonight, at 9 p.m. on FOX, come hell or high water, Gordon Ramsay will host the first episode of MasterChef, a "new" reality series that involves competition among cooks, followed by a formal judging by a panel of "experts" (since Ramsay is one of
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If there is a difference between this undertaking and its seemingly bajillion predecessors, it is that the "talent" in MasterChef is comprised of home cooks. Call it Top Chef home edition?

According to a writeup at the TV blog Monsters & Critics, each cook will "present their [sic] signature dishes to the three judges—Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Graham Elliot—in the hopes of being awarded the coveted MasterChef apron, which guarantees them a spot in the next round of competition." MasterChef apron? Say, that is different! 

Should you be interested, M&C has more on the show, including several recipes (one for "funeral potatoes") and a conversation with the three series judges.

A 30-second promo for the series follows.

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