FOX premiered its third show featuring Gordon Ramsay, MasterChef, Tuesday night. The series had a strong lead-in: Ramsay’s first FOX show, Hell’s Kitchen. He’s the chef known for his tough exterior and passionate, some might say vulgar, insults. Ramsay routinely screams in the faces of the chefs under his tutelage on Hell’s Kitchen - so fans were no doubt expecting to see a tough, fiery chef during the MasterChef premiere.

What they got was a gentler, kinder Gordon Ramsay. He slipped into the role of motivator for MasterChef, sitting at the head of a panel of three judges (the other two are tough-as-nails restaurateur Joe Bastianich and four-star chef Graham Elliot). Talented home cooks came before the panel to present their dishes. Some dishes were met with disdain, but Ramsay didn’t scream “donkey” at a single contestant. He dispensed hugs, smiles and encouragement with ease - far removed from the furious chef mien he wears for Hell’s Kitchen, which aired the same night.

The passion of the home cooks was touching. They shared personal stories and their favorite recipes with ease - some to great success, some to epic failure. A few of them received aprons, signifying that they are now under the tutelage of the judges. And frankly, we can’t wait to see what happens next. MasterChef is a keeper, which was a foregone conclusion. Any show with Gordon Ramsay in the lead seems destined for reality TV success.