"The Restaurant" Reality Show Season 2

[mags]

I wonder if Drew the Intern was aware of how completely he was cast as the villain -- the one character EVERYBODY could loathe -- and to what extent his loathesomeness was created for dramatic effect.

[TrishCT]

You know I didn't need to see Rocco in bed with his (now ex) girl friend...

But hey, where can I buy one of those school kids' soiled tee shirts...? Ebay?

[jhlurie]

I wonder if Drew the Intern was aware of how completely he was cast as the villain -- the one character EVERYBODY could loathe -- and to what extent his loathesomeness was created for dramatic effect.

Short of some producer actually feeding him words, that really stupid stuff really did come out of his mouth. The question I'd ask is whether he's just some jerk kid with no judgment or self-awareness, or if he's yet another person who popped up on the show angling for his 15 minutes--who deliberately acted like a chucklehead to get screen-time.

As far as editing goes, I can't see how his behavior could be a product of it. Too much of his odyssey of idiocy was caught in his own words, and very little of it seemed like it could have been taken out of context.

[Lesley C]

I think I'm watching too much of this show because I'm starting to get the hots for Jeffrey Chodorow. Then again, that might just be an adverse reaction to Rocco's ego, unpressed shirts, bad hair, and spare tire.

And, boy, Mamma, isn't looking so nice anymore.

[Atomic Lunch]

All right, if nothing else sums up the story that NBC is telling, it is their "previously on The Restaurant" text. It took me three times listening to the tape to transcribe this, so you'd better all appreciate it!

Last summer chef Rocco Dispirito fulfilled his life's dream…

despite an impossible deadline set by owner Jeffrey Choderow…

Rocco met the challenge head on…

he built the restaurant in five short weeks…

but they did make it…

Rocco was willing to do whatever it took to make his restaurant successful…

despite some initial setbacks…

Rocco's became one of New York City's busiest restaurants…

but six months later his priorities have changed…

Rocco's spending more time doing publicity than running his own restaurant…

the result: he's becoming a familiar face…

and his new cookbook is flying off the shelves…

but the restaurant that was once so close to his heart is in jeopardy…

forcing owner Jeffrey Choderow to step in and take control…

now Choderow sent an army of consultants into Rocco's to take charge…

instead of cutting costs with Jeffrey’s team, Rocco dug in his heals and fought back in his own way

I know that some of the FOH staff said in their websites last season that Rocco was a dick and Laurent was really cool, and the editing gave the opposite impression. So, how close to the truth do we think the story is this year?

[uzayt]

You have to keep watching. she is even worse later, we pull one of the oldest restaurant pranks on her. Very funny. She gets sent my way for training, and I can train a wet paper bag to serve, and this girl is just not able. Very cute, but not meant to work in a restaurant. I thought tonite was pretty entertaining. That Drew guy needs to get his ass kicked. how annoying. So I guess no show next week, they are saving us for May Sweeps. Hope everyone is well.

[jhlurie]

Thanks Uzay, although I'm not positive we are talking about the same girl. The girl tonight, who was kind of a lousy server was fairly new, right? But there's been another girl on for several episodes, who the editing at least suggests doesn't do much except serve Chodorow's crowd and easedrop, and then report back to the rest of the FOH staff. She doesn't seem malicious or anything, but they've rarely shown her doing anything except gossiping. You may not be in a position to talk about this, but I'm wondering if she was ASKED to do that by the producers of the show.

[bloviatrix]

Re Drew: can someone please explain to me how someone who is 20 can have 15 years of restaurant experience? I guess he defines experience as eating at Mickey D's.

[Blondie]

Salon has an interview with "Reality TV's Intern from Hell".

[Atomic Lunch]

Thanks for the link, Blondie. Interesting reading. It confirmed what I already believed about that kid. Although he was likely a dream come true for the producers, I doubted that they selected him for his assholism. He's just a 20 year old.

I don't really remember what I was like when I was 20, but the last few 20 year- olds I've dated have been pretty insufferable. They have that "I've got the whole world figured out, why isn't anyone as worldly or as smart as me? I've got all the answers, and I'm enlightened. By the way, mom, could you send me another check?" attitude.

So you take some cocky kid who thinks he's king of the world, put him on TV, let him sit at the grown-up table with the decision makers, there's a good chance he'll be an instant prick.

Quoth the schmuck:

But now my name is in every major newspaper in the U.S. I'm like, I'll be as bad as you want me to be. If I knew all I had to do was be a dick, I would've done that five years ago, because now I'm getting all this publicity.

Clearly the attitude of someone who doesn't understand the long-term ramifications of reputation.

Re: his 15 years comment, according to the interview, his parents have a restaurant in suburban PA. After 15 years of hanging around his parents restaurant in an idyllic little PA town, being put into an NYC restaurant was like marinating himself in chum, then going to swim in the shark tank. Poor little bastard had no idea what he was getting himself into.

Hey, if he learns a lesson from all this, good for him, he'll be better off. I have little sympathy for him, but maybe the experience will help him. Maybe some day he'll be a real person doing real good in the world. Or maybe he'll be in porn movies with the other child stars.

[Seattlegirlychef]

Did anybody catch the previews for the next show, something about 'who's the hottie? oh, he's Rocco's replacement'? The camera pans to a tall, dark and handsome guy sitting at one of the booths. If I'm not mistaken LAST WEEK they teased us with the same 'replacement' gag and showed a nerdy, bushy haired 30-something attempting to saute pasta. ...getting desperate???

Edited April 27, 2004 by Seattlegirlychef (log)

[ingridsf]

I'm probably going to get flak for this but Mama is working my last nerve. Like everybody else, I wasn't expecting her to do much but be on her own kid's side and make the meatballs. But give me a break. If I routinely huffed my way out of business meetings while holding many peoples' livelihoods in my hands, Mama Ingridsf would have taken me by the ear, marched me down to the kitchen I claimed I wanted, and told me to take off the asshat and get to work.

There was a spirited (DiSpirited?) discussion elsewhere recently about children in restaurants. A common opinion was that, as difficult as some children can be, we need to remember that it's the parents who are accountable. Yeah, I know, Rocco's 36 but I'm talking emotional intelligence here.

As for tonight's show, that gossipy waiter was Carrie, who earned an asshat of her own (from the Spring '04 Vapid Collection) for her shrieking endorsement of getting "hot girls on the floor." Alrighty then. Carrie...You're fired. Heh.

Fair employment, shmair employment -- such an UNHOT concept.

Did enjoy seeing Rocco's dorm room and Chowdorow's Fortress of Ultimate Darkness.

[mags]

Did enjoy seeing Rocco's dorm room and Chowdorow's Fortress of Ultimate Darkness.

LOL! Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. The Hasty Pudding club vs. Darth Vader.

[Jinmyo]

Well I for one don't care about his legal shenanigans, though I'm sure you will all blast me for thinking that way. I think he's a great chef, never looses sight of the average cook and a likeable cad with a boyish charm to boot!

So there. I said my piece!...hey, what's a girl to do anyway. He's cute and SEXY

It's not so much that I just disagree as I find myself astonished.

Rocco looks like a bloated, paunchy coke freak to me.

But perhaps that's just me.

[hillvalley]

Well I for one don't care about his legal shenanigans, though I'm sure you will all blast me for thinking that way.  I think he's a great chef, never looses sight of the average cook and a likeable cad with a boyish charm to boot!

So there.  I said my piece!...hey, what's a girl to do anyway.  He's cute and SEXY 

It's not so much that I just disagree as I find myself astonished.

Rocco looks like a bloated, paunchy coke freak to me.

But perhaps that's just me.

I agree. He's completely slimy and gross.

Take a shower, get a shave and go back down into the kitchen.

[paul o' vendange]

Well I for one don't care about his legal shenanigans, though I'm sure you will all blast me for thinking that way.  I think he's a great chef, never looses sight of the average cook and a likeable cad with a boyish charm to boot!

So there.  I said my piece!...hey, what's a girl to do anyway.  He's cute and SEXY 

It's not so much that I just disagree as I find myself astonished.

Rocco looks like a bloated, paunchy coke freak to me.

But perhaps that's just me.

It is most definitely you, Jinmyo. He is not a bloated, paunchy coke freak.

He is a puerile, whining ninny. Let's keep it straight.

Paul

Edited for comedic effect.

Edited April 27, 2004 by paul o' vendange (log)

[Barb48]

You know I didn't need to see Rocco in bed with his (now ex) girl friend...

But hey, where can I buy one of those school kids' soiled tee shirts...? Ebay?

Shit!...Rocco in bed with a girl, and I missed it... Now that's SEXY!

[Lesley C]

For anyone who caught Jamie Oliver's restaurant reality show Jamie's Kitchen a while back, it's interesting to compare it to The Restaurant.

Jamie worked with a bunch of slackers while continuing to tape his own show, promote his books (in the UK, US and Japan), make breakfast for his child, be there to oversee construction of his restaurant (and pour much of his own cash into the project) and get to the hospital when his wife gave birth both times. He's also a hell of a lot more appealing than Rocco and, unlike DiSpirito who I’ve only seen pour salt into pasta water thus far, Oliver seems quite passionate about his craft. The man was at his restaurant behind the counter more often than not and the food he was churning out was a whole lot more appealing than that red-sauce nightmare at Rocco's. Oh, and I think Jamie Oliver is a good decade younger than Rocco.

I went in watching the Oliver show thinking of JO as a pampered British TV chef with a massive ego, and came out at the end of the show thinking he was a pretty OK kind of guy.

Rocco on the other hand, had this great reputation of one of New York's top chefs. After this show, I really wonder whether they'll ask him to pose on the cover of Gourmet with a fish over his shoulder again.

So my advice now to Chodorow is to get in touch with Oliver (apparently he's looking to move to the States) and get him at the masthead of Rocco's -- fast. He's cuter, younger, a better cook, and far more responsible.

[saultime]

About that Drew kid, when he kept saying, "all I want is respect--if I get respect, I'll give it" all I could keep thinking is ON WHAT GROUNDS?

Respect is something you earn, not something you are entitled to from the get-go. He clearly didn't give anyone a reason to respect him.

He really, really came across as a little rich shit who's never had to work a difficult job in his life, and has always been able to run to daddy if his boss gives him a hard time. Chadorow really hit the nail on the head when he said "this was probably the first time you've been pushed." Crash & burn.

I kept wondering what Tony Bourdain would have done to that kid. If he had read KC first, maybe he wouldn't have done so bad...

[Atomic Lunch]

I kept wondering what Tony Bourdain would have done to that kid. If he had read KC first, maybe he wouldn't have done so bad...

I know I tend to gush effusive about Bourdain (not as bad as some of the people on his Food Network MB, though) but I was thinking the same thing. Say what you will about KC, it is an important read if you want to get in the biz. First time I burned the hell out of my hand, I remembered the book and didn't bitch about it. Intern boy might have adopted a much different attitude if he'd read up.

For anyone who caught Jamie Oliver's restaurant reality show Fifteen a while back, it's interesting to compare it to The Restaurant.

You know, I was thinking the same thing myself. I'm sure Rocco was crying into his pillow that "I'm working so hard to promote my book and RoccoWear, I can't be everywhere at once..." But Oliver really did pull it all off. And, I might mention, with a MUCH better attitude.

For most of Jamie's Kitchen, I was thinking "tough shit, you're fired," but he never gave up on those kids. While his wife was having a DAMN BABY! He made a heroic effort look like just another day on the job. Rocco seems to think that going to his job should be considered a heroic act.

[Callipygos]

unlike DiSpirito who I’ve only seen pour salt into pasta water thus far...

Actually, about that -- I was always under the impression that salting pasta water was A Bad Thing. Yes? No? A Your-mileage-may-vary thing?

[Jinmyo]

unlike DiSpirito who I’ve only seen pour salt into pasta water thus far...

Actually, about that -- I was always under the impression that salting pasta water was A Bad Thing. Yes? No? A Your-mileage-may-vary thing?

No, it's not.

[Lesley C]

No, salt in pasta water a good thing, an essential thing.

[JPW]

unlike DiSpirito who I’ve only seen pour salt into pasta water thus far...

Actually, about that -- I was always under the impression that salting pasta water was A Bad Thing. Yes? No? A Your-mileage-may-vary thing?

Salt good, oil BAD

[Jinmyo]

unlike DiSpirito who I’ve only seen pour salt into pasta water thus far...

Actually, about that -- I was always under the impression that salting pasta water was A Bad Thing. Yes? No? A Your-mileage-may-vary thing?

Salt good, oil BAD

Right.