So here they are.
Gordon Ramsay:
When I watched Hell's Kitchen years ago when it first came out, I was entranced. My mom and I watched it together usually for the first couple of seasons. This guy was hilarious, he was so cruel but I loved it. I started seeking out more from him. I watched his first TV entry 'Boiling Point' and saw how much heart he had to cooking and the industry. And then I watched the UK version of Kitchen Nightmares (the US version came out not too long afterward) and I saw how much he cared for people. Gordon was a tough perfectionist, but much like a drill sergeant, he does it to break people down and build them up stronger. This is seen a lot more in Kitchen Nightmares than in Hell's Kitchen and even then, a lot more in the UK version. It's also worth noting that Ramsay has built up a huge number of young chefs. He has a staggeringly small turnover rate in his restaurants, a high satisfaction rating and when he originally left the Aubergine restaurant, almost all the staff followed him and they had to temporarily shut down. Maybe these people just like abuse, or more likely, they know how much he cares and supports them and works to make them succeed.
Malcolm Tucker: (Played by the brilliant Peter Capaldi)
Malcolm is the newest addition to the lineup and probably the one that is the most different from the others. He is a bit more self-centered than the others. But his harshness and temper is a drive for the greater good. He is fighting to bring the country in the right direction. He is a true 'master of his universe' and knows where ALL the bodies are buried. He's a manipulator, he yells, he shouts and boy does he swear. But he does all this because he's protecting something he deeply believes in.
Gregory House: (Played by the wonderful Hugh Laurie)
When I went from CVS to Sam's Club, I shifted from a more Gordon Ramsay approach to a Greg House one, mainly because swearing and flipping out wasn't really acceptable, so my frustration took the form of more snide comments and sarcasm. However, House still has many similarities, he has a best friend and a team of people that he cares deeply about, even if he doesn't show it. His sarcasm hides his emotional pain, it keeps him separate from people. I think back to when House and Cuddy first got together and House said "Cause I'm the most screwed up person in the world" he probably isn't, even in that fictional universe, but I could identify with the sentiment and the feeling, and finally finding someone who will accept you for all your many faults.
Jeff Lewis (Flipping Out):
Jeff Lewis has been 'Flipping Out' for eight seasons. He has OCD and he isn't afraid to let people know what bothers him. He has issues with boundaries and professionalism. But over those eight seasons he's been on an incredible journey where he's actively tried to improve himself. I can identify with a lot of his struggle. He comes to love his staff, especially his core staff (Jenny, Zoila) like family, he even goes so far as to buy them cars, plastic surgery and get involved in their weddings. However, he also says some things that are incredibly inappropriate as well. As I've gotten closer to my now former co-workers, I can understand the blurring of colleagues and family in a way that I never could earlier on. He flips out still and he demands perfection, but his staff stay loyal to him because of the deep love that they all share.
I have been called a jerk or an ass more times than I can count, but many people have also said that I have a big heart as well. I find that these men above, both real and fictional, have helped me come to terms with and reconcile both of these sides. You can be tough, hard, sarcastic and even ruthless to achieve a greater good, protect what and who is important to you and help build up the people you care about. As long as you also show your heart from time to time.
