"The Restaurant" Reality Show Season 1

Jason Perlow · August 23, 2003

But, according to Variety, NBC has been fielding offers from several celebrity chefs who would like to throw their aprons in the ring.
Bourdain ... ?

Uh, no.

Gifted Gourmet · August 23, 2003

Wow...the show is garnering an average of 8 million viewers.

It would seem to me, and I am not in the business of television programming, that NBC is more than satisfied to "rest on its laurels" and declare "The Restaurant", as the French are likely to say, un succes fou .... witness the decision to look for yet another "vehicle" for food lovers ... and the general population as well ...

For a summer replacement, it has done precisely what the objective was, namely, to find a viewing audience and "watch the numbers" to determine whether or not such programming is viable in the more competitive fall or spring season ...

And as for the 'quality'? Not everyone is particularly concerned with that and to sell Coors, Mitsubishi cars, and American Express, just how much 'quality' is required? Truly discriminating viewers can always retreat to the "intellectual safety" PBS ostensibly provides...

What may seem elitist to some is simply the reality of life today ... "reality television", no matter how crass and annoying, will remain until the numbers show it unprofitable, unsaleable, and the sponsors are off to yet another jackpot ...

Gifted Gourmet · August 23, 2003

Bourdain ... ? Uh, no.

I'll second that opinion, Jason!

As much as we would absolutely cherish the idea of a Bourdain show, this just ain't his type of vehicle ... he is far too intelligent to put his name on something over which he is ultimately unable to exercise some large degree of control over the final product ... and I think he is a very wise person to maintain his own standards ... I think he probably manages the details of "A Cook's Tour" quite closely, and for that he has my respect ...

Edited August 23, 2003 by Gifted Gourmet (log)

Bux · August 23, 2003

I don't think he comes across as manaical. For 2 million dollars I would act stupid on TV also. The scene when the little light bulb in his head went off and he said "captain service" sent me and my friends into gales of uncontrolled laughter.

Speaking of assaying the effects of the show outside eGullet--well someone raised that issue and another sent a questionaire to his friends--Mark, have you noticed an increase in sales for Coors light, or been subliminally influenced to recommend a Coors light? Now there's an image I find amusing.

I tend to agree with you. I think he's being paid enough to risk losing his previous reputation. That's a pretty good salary for one just changing careers. Two million bucks beats a midlife crisis as motive.

Every post here increases his value to NBC.

Mabelline · August 23, 2003

There's just to me the self-image thing to deal with.Those of us who are only exposed to the "Eatlitists" by virtue of pbs, fnw, mags etc., have built it up that he was somehow more mature,controlled, and food-driven then he turned out to be on the tube. Now that I've watched that crap production, I wouldn't walk across the street to spit on him if he was on fire. :cool:

jfd666 · August 23, 2003

But, according to Variety, NBC has been fielding offers from several celebrity chefs who would like to throw their aprons in the ring.
Bourdain ... ?
Uh, no.

Good.

bourdain · August 23, 2003

Never. Ever.

dmk7 · August 23, 2003

Never. Ever.

Good. It's good to know that some people refuse to whore themselves on national television.

jhlurie · August 23, 2003

according to Variety, NBC has been fielding offers from several celebrity chefs who would like to throw their aprons in the ring.
So now not only has Rocco jumped the shark, he's just the ramp someone else will drive up over to jump the shark.

It will probably be fun to try and predict who these people are, but also probably a bit of a bummer. I just hope Bourdain is working on his pal Ripert, who seemed a bit enamoured of the concept when Rocco was doing it, to STAY THE HELL AWAY. :wink:

tommy · August 23, 2003

Never. Ever.
Good. It's good to know that some people refuse to whore themselves on national television.

:laugh: :unsure:

tanabutler · August 23, 2003

So how old is this Rocco guy? In human years, not emotionally.

Jinmyo · August 23, 2003

33 or 34.

Gifted Gourmet · August 23, 2003

So how old is this Rocco guy? In human years, not emotionally.

His age has probably less to do with his inclination to get into this program than the lucative offers extended by NBC, possibly even American Express ... then too, very possibly, some publicity agent probably told him that this was the "ideal vehicle" for him to become more widely known ... not his Mitsubishi ...

in any event, he fell for the idea, however it was presented and the rest, as they say, is history ... coulda been worse, he could have been in a potboiler like "Gigli" which would have left him careerless but then he'd have JLo, about whom something appeared earlier in this thread ....

ah yes, mediocrity ...ain't it grand? As Albert Brooks said in "Broadcast News", the devil will come to you, not in a red horned suit with a tail, but as mediocrity, and will slowly devour your soul, or some words to that effect ... I still remember that after many years ... mediocrity as the antiChrist ... hmmmm? :unsure:

Edited August 23, 2003 by Gifted Gourmet (log)

Gifted Gourmet · August 23, 2003

Never. Ever.

Ah...... Finally, someone who won't sell out ... and remains true to his vision of whom he chooses to present to the public .... Tony Bourdain, you are indeed not only an inspiration, but a "classic" every sense of the word ... thank you!

tommy · August 24, 2003

i think rocco is 36.

tanabutler · August 24, 2003

I thought he looked like a baby.

bilrus · August 24, 2003

Never. Ever.
Ah...... Finally, someone who won't sell out ... and remains true to his vision of whom he chooses to present to the public .... Tony Bourdain, you are indeed not only an inspiration, but a "classic" every sense of the word ... thank you!

I wonder if our friend Tony ever thought when he got into the "public realm" that he would be held up as a paragon of virtue, class and restraint?

elyse · August 24, 2003

Never. Ever.
Good. It's good to know that some people refuse to whore themselves on national television.

tommy, that's EXACTLY what I was thinking.

Jinmyo · August 24, 2003

Never. Ever.
Ah...... Finally, someone who won't sell out ... and remains true to his vision of whom he chooses to present to the public .... Tony Bourdain, you are indeed not only an inspiration, but a "classic" every sense of the word ... thank you!
I wonder if our friend Tony ever thought when he got into the "public realm" that he would be held up as a paragon of virtue, class and restraint?

Oh, certainly.

Tony B hung himself arms akimbo on rabbit ear antennas and fibre-optic cable to save TV from its sins.

(I like my Bourdain neat, not with a splash of cream.)

tanabutler · August 24, 2003

I like him messy. :wink:

Nick · August 24, 2003

Tony, you gotta bring out one of those Ken/Barbie doll things so your fans can get you just like they want. Neat, messy, classy, virtuous, restrained..........

Gifted Gourmet · August 24, 2003

i think rocco is 36.
I thought he looked like a baby.

Perhaps that little "zit" on his cheek during the closeups?

I have clothes in my closet older than Rocco ...none of which is particularly significant in the overall picture ... his age probably belies his really fine cooking skills at Union Pacific which, in fact, did help to build his reputation ... the awards he got there were genuine and no doubt deserved ...

all this other stuff will probably work against his public image but, in the long run, he may be able to overcome his newest, blackest press reviews, move on to other things ... however, will he be able to find a monied, wealthy backer who did not see "The Restaurant" ?? Time will tell ....

I like him messy.

Re: Tony Bourdain ... again ... Tana, I think he will be fine whether messy or clad in his best tux ... it must be those incredible vibes he gives off .... but, primarily his writing and cooking skills ultimately prevail over his appearance ... sometimes ... sex sells, it has been said ....

Edited August 24, 2003 by Gifted Gourmet (log)