Photo by Fox Network
"Hell's Kitchen" contestant Carol Scott
After her last restaurant closed, West Knoxville chef Carol Scott looked for a new adventure - but ended up on a reality show.
She can be seen on Fox's reality show competition "Hell's Kitchen" (starting 9 tonight, WTNZ, Channel 43). Scott is among 15 others who want Gordon Ramsay's approval. If she survives the season, she'll get a chance to run an Atlantic City, N.J., restaurant and get $250,000.
Now working at Peerless, Scott used to be the executive chef at Edison Park, a West Knoxville restaurant that closed more than a year ago. "I had a hard time dealing with that," she says.
The closing spurred her to seek out a way to work for Ramsay in New York. While searching through the Internet, she came upon an application for "Kitchen" contestants. So she applied.
Her application video was done during the closing day of Edison Park. "When I applied, I never expected in a million years that I'd be on," Scott says.
"Kitchen" was shot more than a year ago. All this time, she's had to keep quiet on the outcome.
Peerless will be celebrating Scott's newfound celebrity. The establishment is having a viewing party for her tonight. More such parties are planned as long as she remains in the competition.
"Carol is very assertive. She handles constructive criticism very well," Gary Kalogeros, who is Scott's boss, has said in a previous interview. "She's the type person who can definitely get the job done. I think she can handle herself very well on the show."
Scott and her daughter became "die hard" fans of the show in the third season and would spend Tuesday nights "yelling at the screen" because of contestants' poor choices.
She gets to be on the other end of the matter now.
"My first thought of these people was, 'Oh my gosh! They have 15 other people who are just as obnoxious as me,' " she deadpans.
"I don't know why I didn't see that coming."
Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/. He contributes to "Style" on WBIR, Channel 10, and "The Marc & Kim & Frank Show" on WWST-FM, 102.1.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 3
EducateNow writes:
Wonder how she feels about the fact that Gordon Ramsay's restaurants are in serious financial trouble? Shame, but true.
KTOWNSELLER writes:
Ok guys...
It's awesome we have another local celeb on Fox. Jackie Midkiff on American Idol and Carol Scott on Kitchen. Best of luck!
aguy#276948 writes:
I bet her husband enjoys the breakfasts. She's a very good chef.
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