Iron Chef USA: Showdown in Las Vegas (2001)

Based upon the Japanese cult sensation, Iron Chef USA carries on the legend of the famed "secret ingredient." Watch the Gourmet Academy, Iron Chef French Jean-Francois Meteigner, Iron Chef ... See full summary »

Directors:

Bud Schaetzle, James Yukich

Writer:

Jay Falk

Stars:

William Shatner, Alessandro Stratta, Todd English

Cast

Credited cast:
William Shatner	...	Chairman
Alessandro Stratta	...	Self - Iron Chef French
Todd English	...	Self - Iron Chef American
Jean Francois Meteigner	...	Self - Iron Chef French
Roy Yamaguchi	...	Self - Iron Chef Asian
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sissy Biggers	...	Self - Field Reporter
Loretta Devine	...	Self - Judge
Kelly Hu	...	Self - Judge
Ron Popeil	...	Self - Judge
Brande Roderick	...	Self
Steve Schirripa	...	Self - Judge

Storyline

Based upon the Japanese cult sensation, Iron Chef USA carries on the legend of the famed "secret ingredient." Watch the Gourmet Academy, Iron Chef French Jean-Francois Meteigner, Iron Chef Italian Alessandro Stratta, Iron Chef Asian Roy Yamaguchi, Iron Chef American Todd English, take on challengers in the Kitchen Arena. William Shatner presides over the culinary clashes.

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Plot Keywords:

cooking show | tv special | remake | 

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Genres:

Reality-TV

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by Iron Chef USA: Holiday Showdown (2001)

User Reviews

Iron Chef USA is entirely too...American

The original Iron Chef was a great thing to behold, both because of the competition and the intertwining of Japanese culture. In the original "Iron Chef" two chefs - usually Japanese - would compete using the main ingredient specified by the eccentric gourmet authority Chairman Kaga. Kaga was a warlord-like character that had specially constructed a cooking arena called "Kitchen Stadium" in his castle where visiting chefs would compete against his Gourmet Academy, led by his several master Iron Chefs. Chairman Kaga himself was a showpiece in flamboyant, heavily decorated coats and jackets. The show had a campy charm that evoked memories of the English-dubbed kung fu movies of the 1970s.

Iron Chef USA is entirely too....American. In typical us-versus-them fashion (Note- everyone who is not "me" is "them") competitors will stoop to anything. The judges seem more like competitors in "The Hollywood Squares" game show of yesteryear than the dignified characters of the original Iron Chef. The Japanese judges would do anything to keep the competitors from losing face in the original, and it was quite comical to see them wrinkle up their faces and try to find something to complement about dishes they obviously found hard to swallow. Making fun of the dishes seems to be the point for the judges in the U.S. version.

In short, skip this entry and hold out for the original "Iron Chef" to come out on DVD some day. It was truly a unique and fun show.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 2001 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Garden Arena, MGM Grand Hotel - 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Larry Thompson Organization, Lions Gate Television, Lionsgate Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Color:

Color