235 replies to this topic

[Jason Perlow]

Frankly I am very concerned about the adaptation aspect into a half hour format on network television, even one as risky as FOX. I think as a feature film or even a miniseries on cable it would be much better. There is just too much sex and adult language/humor I think to put on regular TV.

And the fact that Tony is learning thru back channels and the same media we are about his own book becoming a TV property concerns me greatly. I hope they consult him at least.

[Richard Kilgore]

It's not that uncommon for movie rights to a novel to end up as a script that resembles the novel only in the title.

[jhlurie]

Richard, nobody's saying that IS the case... just that we fear it. The fact that Tony hasn't been contacted is... distressing. Sure they've got no obligation to do so, but it usually plants a seed of integrity for the process.

I dunno. Maybe Tony's answering machine has like... 5000 messages on it and his agent has been trying to reach him for weeks.

I also have concerns about the half-hour format. I don't think there are that many half-hour shows on cable, so that makes me think that broadcast is a more likely target. Which means compromises. Also, even an unvarnished uncut product might inherently suck in a half-hour format. I mean... how much character development do half-hour shows have? And aren't they usually comedies? I mean, Kitchen Confidential may HAVE comedy in it, but is it A COMEDY? Will there be a laugh track? A wacky next door neighbor?

[Kevin72]

Please note that even though Star is best know for "Sex and the City", apparently he started out working for Aaron Spelling, on crappy shows like "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place".

Yes. He has I believe a develoment deal with Fox that has so far yielded several rapidly-cancelled trashy prime-time soap type shows. He was also behind one of the many sitcoms that went through the rotating door of the 7:30 pm (CT) slot on NBC Thursdays. Not a promising track record.

[Timh]

I think any TV version of a real kitchen is like any other reality show, a fake piece of shit for posers and wanna be's. Real kitchens are repetitive, obscene, non-glamorous... everything that they can't show on the tube. The edited stuff is what I would be interested in, but what you'll get is some queer spin on life, an artist and his travails.... ugh! I love Bourdains show , was unimpressed with his resaurant, and felt the book was Jerry Springerish.

[foodie52]

I dunno...I kinda liked the English (ITV) sitcom, "Chef".....

[bloviatrix]

Frankly I am very concerned about the adaptation aspect into a half hour format on network television, even one as risky as FOX. I think as a feature film or even a miniseries on cable it would be much better. There is just too much sex and adult language/humor I think to put on regular TV.

I agree with you on this. I think HBO or Showtime would be a more appropriate venue.

[agbaber]

ugh. This is not what I wanted to see!

[malcolmjolley]

I dunno...I kinda liked the English (ITV) sitcom, "Chef".....

Chef rocked! I would love to know if you can get it on DVD...

Not so much a Darren Star sort of show, though. I think they had Raymond Blanc on one episode or maybe one of the Roux brothers, or maybe both. The one where he buys the illicit Stilton?

Oh well, I hope Bourdain makes a piss-pot of cash from this no matter what. It's hardly like another crappy TV show is going to ruin our lives.

[Singapore]

I dunno. If this is going to be on the same network that brought 'Rescue Me' to the small screen, I'm pretty optimistic that they'll do KC justice.

Bourdain! Quit stuffing that face, get off that bar stool, Mister, and get us a sitrep!

(Geez, I feel like I've just committed sacrilage, or something!)

[QuinaQuen]

I remember another chef once getting his own show........... Emeril on Fox wasn't it???

*imagine snippy tone* That was on NBC...
Great book. Got us pegged all proper like. But will it work as a show on any network?Mr. Bourdain is frightfully conventional at heart as far as his culinary standpoint, and Standards&Practices will certainly dispense with anything else that's even remotely interesting.

[QuinaQuen]

Chef rocked! I would love to know if you can get it on DVD...

Not so much a Darren Star sort of show, though. I think they had Raymond Blanc on one episode or maybe one of the Roux brothers, or maybe both. The one where he buys the illicit Stilton?

Oh well, I hope Bourdain makes a piss-pot of cash from this no matter what. It's hardly like another crappy TV show is going to ruin our lives.

Chef did rock. Would that I had the juice to go off on ignoramus customers like that! A fella can only dream...

[FistFullaRoux]

So now, wait a second. Fox has their hands on projects from Bourdain and Gordon Ramsey?

Someone taking a run at Food Network, maybe??? Doing it the same way they did with The Simpsons. Over-the top characters, raunchy/violent/dysfunctional humor... Maybe they are on to something, folks.

[abbe]

I agree with you on this.  I think HBO or Showtime would be a more appropriate venue.

easy there, killer. they already have their hands full considering their own restaurant-type dealie. thanks anyways

[Seand04]

HBO would be the only way that this would not be a complete and total debacle.
I mean, let's be honest here, a show complete with Sex, Drugs Etc. No way would Fox make it half way descent after putting it through their Mickey Mouse born again filters. Darren Starr created "Mis Match" with Alicia Silverstone that was on for how long? A week? This idea, unless moved to another network with Tony’s supervision, is awful.

[jhlurie]

Okay, just stumbled, Internet accident-like, on this:

http://www.indieprod...ContentID=10798

Jack Bourdain? Who the heck is that?

[Jason Perlow]

The guy who played "Ed" as Bourdain? Thats laughable. He's doesn't look dangerous enough. He'll always be that ulra-sensitve pussy in Ed to me.

I don't think it will last 6 episodes. Network TV can't possibly make it raunchy enough, even on FOX.

These adaptations make me sick. Isn't Kitchen Confidential funny enough without screwing around with it?

[zilla369]

Maybe i read the linked article wrong, but what i thought was going on is that the article was talking about two shows: 1) Half-hour adaptation of KC on Fox, with the main character's name being "Jack Bourdain", and 2) A show starring the guy from "Ed" about a record producer.

In any case, as others have said upthread, i have low hopes for the half-hour format for the KC show.

[jhlurie]

Maybe "Jack" might have even been Tony's suggestion if it's what he was drinking when he wrote most of the book. Or maybe if Mr. B isn't all that much in love with this, we can joke that his idea got "Jacked" (for a good payday, though).

re: the Half-hour format (actually it's 22 minutes). I've agreed in the past, but it also occurs to me that some really funny shows like "Scrubs" and "Arrested Development" use it too. I suppose the key is that a good 22 minute show has to be pretty direct--no fat included--and the humor has to be more situational than character based (thus the name "sitcom").

[Jason Perlow]

Maybe i read the linked article wrong, but what i thought was going on is that the article was talking about two shows: 1) Half-hour adaptation of KC on Fox, with the main character's name being "Jack Bourdain", and 2) A show starring the guy from "Ed" about a record producer.

In any case, as others have said upthread, i have low hopes for the half-hour format for the KC show.

Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't read this stuff before having my coffee in the morning. The guy who played "Ed" as Bourdain is just too much of a stretch, even for FOX.

[zilla369]

Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't read this stuff before having my coffee in the morning. The guy who played "Ed" as Bourdain is just too much of a stretch, even for FOX.

That's nothing - when i first read your post about "Ed" i initially, mistakenly thought somehow that Ed O'Neill (Al from "Married with Children") was gonna be playing Bourdain.

What you said about coffee.

[Jason Perlow]

Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't read this stuff before having my coffee in the morning. The guy who played "Ed" as Bourdain is just too much of a stretch, even for FOX.

That's nothing - when i first read your post about "Ed" i initially, mistakenly thought somehow that Ed O'Neill (Al from "Married with Children") was gonna be playing Bourdain.

What you said about coffee.

Actually, Ed O'neill could probably play Bourdain quite well.

[Jason Perlow]

Nope. Not Ed. "Will" from "Alias"

http://tv.zap2it.com.../...|1|,00.html

I like the actor, but he's not hard core enough to play a believable Bourdain.

http://www.bradley-cooper.com/

[highchef]

Hell, I'm drinking Guiness and eatig Steak and Ale pie in Dublin. This all came as news to me. Still processing it.

I hope you avoided the baliff if you were there for St. Paddy's . I was in Boston, which was safer and has colder beer, coaching my brother in the art of cornbeef and cabbage. cheers! (went there too, very corny, but I was thirsty.)

[jhlurie]

Nope. Not Ed. "Will" from "Alias"

http://tv.zap2it.com.../...|1|,00.html

I like the actor, but he's not hard core enough to play a believable Bourdain.

http://www.bradley-cooper.com/

Given that this is supposed to be the network TV version of Bourdain (aka "Jack") and not the Cable TV version, it might not be an issue.

Actually, once again, I'm thinking that the half-hour format might help. It's easier to be a believable bad boy in a sketch than it is in a detailed painting.

[jesteinf]

Looking at the new shows that Fox announced for its fall season, I came across this:

"Kitchen Confidential" is a comedy about a once-hot cook stuck slinging pasta at a restaurant chain because of his boozing lifestyle. He's given one chance at a job at a top restaurant but has 48 hours to impress 300 people -- including the food critic at The New York Times, a jilted ex.

I was wondering if Bourdain had anything to do with the show. I'd probably be more likely to watch it if he did. But if he did...Fox? Tony, say it ain't so.

[Mayhaw Man]

It would seem that it is from the book, mostly.

And here is our handsome staff. They look better than any krewe I have ever worked with. And they are remarkably clean.

I hope that it's a good show. There hasn't been a good restaurant show on TV since "Frank's Place" went off of the air.

[chezcherie]

"jack" bourdain?....oh, that's sure to throw them off the scent!

[peppyre]

It looks like same premise as the Bravo show about the Vancouver Restaurant scene. "Godiva's"

[Jason Perlow]

including the food critic at The New York Times, a jilted ex.

Like that wouldn't IMMEDIATELY set off huge alarms in the food media as far as conflict of interest goes in real life... Amanda Hesser was roasted after her Spice Market review for allegedly having a friendship with JGV and because he had a blurb on her book jacket... Can you imagine if she was an ex girlfriend or an ex-wife?