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I caught parts of it today. It seems set up in soooo many ways, soooo edited, sooo altered. Sooooo much product placement (worst I saw today was when they showed the American Express Line of Credit thing website.)
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egullet.com forums have an extended thread on this show here, pushing 1000 replies. Several cast members have posted, as have those 2 chefs that were featured in episode 5. Here's what bourdain had to say
June 12 I'm having a lot of trouble separating the ironic from the post-ironic from the sincere regarding last night's experience. The food was good--if actively unambitious. Exactly what you think/hope you're going to get after looking at the menu (see above).I mean, when you see Spaghetti and Mama's Meatballs as the first, most prominent thing on a menu--that's pretty much a defining mission statement, yes? Good meatballs. Fresh fish. The food was decent..Maybe even a little bit better than decent.. In fact--if Rocco was serving the exact same food in a tiny, out-of-the-way, homier location, I'd be unrestrained in my praise for the place. (Rocco's version of Rao's, perhaps)But the decor is very City Island: loud, overlit, vinyl and formica...(the business model seems to be a mix of Carmines and Balthazar)and the TV thing added another dimension of..of..complicity in some crime yet to be identified. (though shooting ends this week). I'm confused. Rocco is an extremely talented chef, an excellent cook, a very bright, articulate--and yes--sensitive guy. I personally like him--and hope he does well in all his ventures. I want to root for him--a capable chef with the world on a string, making moves. But I'm troubled by my dinner last night. A meal shouldn't make you feel implicated in some unnamed felony afterwards...it shouldn't make you stand in front of the mirror looking into the yawning depths of your own dark heart, wondering "Jesus! What have we come to?!" Irony and cynicism should not, I think, be menu items. Television is a treacherous, capricious and hungry bitch-goddess--and I understand well Rocco's interest. He's a chef of significant accomplishment and experience, hitting the age where another 15 years behind the stove offers minimal attraction. A mechanism that offers the possibility of someday kicking back, cranking out cookbooks, running branded operations by remote control is a seductive one. And in Rocco's case, I think, well deserved. Yeah, of course many would prefer to see Rocco chained to his stove at Union Pacific (or their bedposts), but this is naive--even elitist thinking--that insists chefs are "artists" who exist--and should exist--only to feed us and our over-romantic assumptions about "integrity". It ignores the true history and nature of the business since Roman times. That being said, I think ROCCO'S and the show--THE RESTAURANT was a tactical misstep. Anyone who goes on televsion should KNOW--as an absolute truth--that sooner or later, we ALL of us--will find ourselves, making that final, inevitable Winkler-esque approach to the shark-tank. There is rarely a Pinky Toscadero waiting on the other side. One must ask oneself, " Once the beast has been jumped--what will be left?" In my case, I have the luxury of not giving a ****. I was a turn-and-burn utility guy before--and when it all goes hideously sour, I will no doubt be one again. Making television, in my case, is fun . It's a means to an end, an enabling of my travel lust. I had no reputation really to lose. Rocco, on the other hand, had real credibility as a chef. Three stars. The world on a string. Television has its own imperative--to be entertaining enough to get you to sit through the commercials--and then hang around to watch yet more. Rarely does that imperative require that its on camera participants look good, or be portayed fully and honestly--or that at end of the day, when the cameras move on to the next car wreck, that the players be left with a reputation or a career. I root for working class kids made good who after years standing on their feet, working with their hands, put down a big score. But I'm uncomfortable with the Rocco's "theme"; post-ironic red-sauce-Italian.. And putting Mom in the kitchen of the ugliest, least homey restaurant in Manhattan seems crass--akin to making your wife bus tables at Carmine's. Rocco did really good work in his time at Tuscan. The guy can cook. He KNOWS how to make good Italian.The calculated dumbing down of Italian food at Rocco's doesn't wear well in a town where the Batali/Bastianich Posse are serving higher quality--yet still unpretentious--chow only a few blocks away (sans irony). "Irony"--as someone once said--"smells bad." I dearly hope that in the final episode, that we see Rocco look straight at the camera, give everybody the middle finger--and say, "This was a terrible mistake." |
I may have posted this in an earlier thread, but I have to say it again now that he was featured in last night's episode. Anthony Bourdain is a very highly regarded chef, but he's also a tremendous writer. He has written a few fiction books (which I haven't read yet), but his two non-fiction books that I've read are extremely entertaining. <BR>
<BR> "Kitchen Confidential" is a darkly funny look at Bourdain's journeys through working in some less-than-elegant kitchens across his 20-year career, as well as experiences as the head of Les Halles, his NYC restaurant. At one point, I believe David Fincher was considering doing a film of it, but I don't think anything came of it. Still, this is a must-read, even for those who don't have an interest in the restaurant industry. <BR> <BR> "Cook's Tour" is Bourdain's diaries from his visits to various restaurants around the world and his experiences - both good and bad - eating some extremely exotic dishes. The book generally accompanies the show of the same title, generally expanding upon what's seen in the series (on Food Network).<BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060934913/dvdtalk/">Kitchen Confidential</A><BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060012781/dvdtalk/">Cook's Tour</A><BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.leshallesny.citysearch.com/1.html">Les Halles website</A><BR> <BR> |
I finally figured out who Rocco sounds like. He sounds like Seymour Butts (from the Showtime "reality" show: Family Business).
That comedian-wannabe was horrible on stage. Could he pick a worst topic in New York City? The smackdown Rocco went for on the 3 employees (now ex-exployees) was sort of lame. Now, the romance in the kitchen was okay (dunno how spontaneous you can be with a cameraman following you around, though). |
Originally posted by Patman I finally figured out who Rocco sounds like. He sounds like Seymour Butts (from the Showtime "reality" show: Family Business). |
Originally posted by dvdmovie1 I may have posted this in an earlier thread, but I have to say it again now that he was featured in last night's episode. Anthony Bourdain is a very highly regarded chef, but he's also a tremendous writer. He has written a few fiction books (which I haven't read yet), but his two non-fiction books that I've read are extremely entertaining. <BR> <BR> "Kitchen Confidential" is a darkly funny look at Bourdain's journeys through working in some less-than-elegant kitchens across his 20-year career, as well as experiences as the head of Les Halles, his NYC restaurant. At one point, I believe David Fincher was considering doing a film of it, but I don't think anything came of it. Still, this is a must-read, even for those who don't have an interest in the restaurant industry. <BR> <BR> "Cook's Tour" is Bourdain's diaries from his visits to various restaurants around the world and his experiences - both good and bad - eating some extremely exotic dishes. The book generally accompanies the show of the same title, generally expanding upon what's seen in the series (on Food Network).<BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060934913/dvdtalk/">Kitchen Confidential</A><BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060012781/dvdtalk/">Cook's Tour</A><BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.leshallesny.citysearch.com/1.html">Les Halles website</A><BR> <BR> |
Originally posted by cdollaz Is he the one who sounded like a pompous, self-important, arrogant bastard? And for the 3 chefs, they should have just said the truth and told Rocco to **** off. And Pete thinks he's a comedian? -ohbfrank- |
Originally posted by Timber Yeah, that's where you know him from. :) |
so bourdain is liked in the restaurant business? He prefaced his kitchen confidential book by saying he would be scorned for speaking the truth. Was that BS?
supposed ending: Spoiler:
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The best part last night was the badly dubbed marriage proposal. It wasn't even close to matching their lips. If it's going to be that bad, it's probably best to just leave it silent.
das |
Originally posted by Patman That comedian-wannabe was horrible on stage. Could he pick a worst topic in New York City? I never even thought he was funny since he doesn't really do that much funny stuff during the show. |
How could he even think that joke would have been a good idea? The best part last night was the badly dubbed marriage proposal. It wasn't even close to matching their lips. If it's going to be that bad, it's probably best to just leave it silent. Now, the romance in the kitchen was okay (dunno how spontaneous you can be with a cameraman following you around, though). I think whoever is directing this show really really wants to make a non reality based show. They are trying to get it into their control as much as they can, which is why they have all these spontanious New York shots, redubbed stuff, staged stuff, voice overs ect. |
I watched this show last night, thought it was horrible.
I liked the way the "sick out" folks trashed his restuarant, and the main guy Rocco realizes they got out of by trashing his restuarant, so he had to berate them in front of the cameras as they were leaving. What a wuss. |
yet another blog. http://www.uzaytumer.com/id2.html
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Uzay seems pretty cool from what I've seen of him.
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This show is getting on my nerves. That whole kitchen "romance" made me want to puke. It was really lame. And the marriage proposal....what a great way to get on TV!! -rolleyes-
Why in the hell did we have to watch that so-called comedy crap from that guy? He's interesting to watch on the show, but his act was just terrible. I'm wondering what they cut out exactly and how many of the boos were re-edited into the end of the act. Worst part of this show for me was when that girl was "casually" talking to that black waiter, and she said "I'm going to go see [insert unfunny comedian's name here]'s show". It was possibly the worst acting ever. If you're going to re-create parts of the show, please use real actors with name badges of who they're supposed to be playing. (Second worst part, "No paychecks? Ok, then why don't we just go to AMERICAN EXPRESS SMALL BUSINESS and get some credit. AMERICAN EXPRESS, where I go for all my business needs. Also, did I happen to mention that I was just relaxing the other day sipping on a cold COOR's LIGHT while I was managing my AMERICAN EXPRESS account online. Life just doesn't get any better!") Apparently from the previews for next weeks episode there is another marriage proposal and more people complain. |
I also have noticed a hell of a lot of mitsubishis in the cliched New York shots.
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Originally posted by BizRodian I also have noticed a hell of a lot of mitsubishis in the cliched New York shots. |
Originally posted by BizRodian I also have noticed a hell of a lot of mitsubishis in the cliched New York shots. |
Wow, they really are like one big happy family.......
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That little kid from last nite's episode is going to be a really obnoxious adult. But maybe not as obnoxious as the 4 black ladies. Ugh!!!
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Heh, I stopped watching this crap now.
Six Feet Under premiered here last night, against this :) |
What a happy ending to a show with the http://www.mreembroidery.com/aaron/smilies/grouphug.gif at the beach.
:rolleyes: |
Isn't the kid the one that ambushes celebrities and asks them awkward questions? I thought I've seen him before.
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Originally posted by who me? Isn't the kid the one that ambushes celebrities and asks them awkward questions? I thought I've seen him before. But I'm guessing the kid had headshots and an agent long before he walked in to Rocco's; and now he has something for his 'reel'..... |
No, that was a different kid from the one that Ashton Kutcher uses on his "Punked!" show.
The only think missing from last night's show was the whole group sining "Kumbaya" around the fire on the beach at night. Oh, and Gideon is such a waste of space. |
did anyone recognize Pete from American Idol?
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Originally posted by Patman Oh, and Gideon is such a waste of space. |
Much too contrived for a reality show. Those black chicks and the obnoxious little kid made this show almost unwatchable. Only for that hot new blonde....
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Originally posted by Patman No, that was a different kid from the one that Ashton Kutcher uses on his "Punked!" show. The only think missing from last night's show was the whole group sining "Kumbaya" around the fire on the beach at night. Oh, and Gideon is such a waste of space. |
I thought the kid was funny. I can't wait to see how it is changed when the show comes back next year and none of these people are working there anymore.
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Bumping this thread. Anyone else watching the repeats on Bravo?
I missed this show the first time around, so I'm catching up on Bravo. They have shown the first two eps already. They air 9pm on Tuesday (before Queer Eye) and replay thoughout the week. I am enjoying the show so far... |
Originally posted by Jadzia Bumping this thread. Anyone else watching the repeats on Bravo? I missed this show the first time around, so I'm catching up on Bravo. They have shown the first two eps already. They air 9pm on Tuesday (before Queer Eye) and replay thoughout the week. I am enjoying the show so far... |
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