<p>I used to watch the show but got tired of it so I haven’t seen how they have changed budgets et al. Dislike the rantings of Robert. Have not done a survey of who is/isn’t successful after the boost from the show. I dislike the other reality shows that show the bad side of things. Some people should not be in the restaurant business or should get out if they don’t evolve with the times. So many stupid decisions made- and I don’t always like the redos. I also wonder how much of the renovation problems in the reality shows are staged for trying to improve ratings, sigh.</p>
<p>Local TV stations do weekly bits on restaurants who have failed inspections- the names vary with networks. </p>
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<p>This has been an eye-opener to H because his dad ran a business that didn’t do nearly as well as it could have. When H hears Chef Robert admonishing the stubborn business owner for stupid practices, H realizes that his own dad’s stubbornness was his business’ worst enemy. Some people just have blinders on when it comes to obvious good business practices. I almost think some of it is genetic. lol In one of the shows, the owner worked an ungodly number of hours, but he wasn’t working smart. </p>
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<p>Absolutely! </p>
<p>I wish these shows had been on a long time ago for DH’s sake. He’s a small business owner who has been blinded to the shortcomings of employees, refused to listen to my concerns about his employees, and has paid the price for doing so. I end up gritting my teeth when we watch these shows now and he’s so quick to say that people should be fired…that’s not how he’s operated.</p>
<p>On the show, Mystery Diner, there was an episode where a couple (ex-spouses!) who are running a restaurant. The woman kept telling the man (her ex-H) that she had been hearing that some of the recent new-hires (ex-H hired) were doing bad things. The ex-H refused to believe her, so she contacted Mystery Diner to come in. At the beginning of the show, the ex-H was extremely adamant that his ex-wife was very wrong, jealous, etc. Well, the cameras and microphones showed that these two girls were stealing tips, cheating a contest so their friend would win, drinking on the job, etc. </p>