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Archive through May 30, 2004

The TVClubHouse: Other Reality Shows: Archives for 2004-1: The Restaurant II: ARCHIVES: Archive through May 30, 2004 users admin

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Gemma120in2002
Member

07-05-2003

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 8:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think that maybe Mark Burnett needs to have talks with the food network about continuing this show. Maybe he should follow a new chef starting out in the business at his first job. That would be interesting.

Rupertbear
Member

09-19-2003

Friday, May 28, 2004 - 3:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's an interesting piece on the show:

http://www.joeschmo.com/index/index.php

'Sandwiched' between American Idol & The Bachelor.

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Friday, May 28, 2004 - 3:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's the piece Rupertbear linked to for those who don't want to deal with pop-ups (even if you have a pop-up stopper they still come up!):

Is this merely admitting a mistake? Or is it appeasing a superstar producer? Or were there other forces at work behind the scenes?

Daily Variety reports that NBC Universal TV Group president Jeff Zucker told reporters on a conference call that his network had "made a mistake" by pulling The Restaurant from NBC's Monday-night schedule during May sweeps, which end tonight. Zucker's comments, which Variety dubbed "a rare moment of candor for a network executive," reflect the fact that the ratings for the shows NBC aired as replacements, reruns of Crossing Jordan and Law and Order, performed even worse in the ratings than the first three episodes of The Restaurant, and reality shows usually build audience toward the finish.

Said Zucker, "We made too quick of a decision on that. Under some pressure from stations that were not pleased with the lead-in [for local news] Monday at 10, I buckled. I regret that I didn't keep The Restaurant on in that time period." While the remaining shows will air, they have been exiled to Saturday night -- traditionally a reality TV graveyard.

We find ourselves more than a little perplexed by both Zucker's actions and his comments. In particular, we note that the show's ratings were significantly below NBC's Average Joe series and a little more than 10% below the prior season's average of 7.8 million viewers. The premiere drew just 6.8 million viewers; the second show rebounded to 7.4 million, a gain of 10% from the premiere; but, after a one-week preemption, the third show dropped back to 6.7 million, which led to NBC's action.

From an after-the-fact view, cancelling The Restaurant was clearly a mistake. However, if Zucker believed that the show had potential for significantly better ratings, it wouldn't be buried on Saturday nights in its return -- or exiled to NBC's Bravo network for a full re-airing of the series, which was originally supposed to be on NBC. So why the rare public mea culpa?

We can only think of two possible reasons: (1) Zucker wants to make nice to "superproducer" Mark Burnett or (2) "affiliate pressure" wasn't the determining factor that ultimately led NBC to pull The Restaurant in the first place, and so the apology is directed to the affiliates.

Theowl
Member

09-28-2000

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 3:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Don't forget, tonight is the next 2 episodes, starting at 8/7 central. Last show is next Sat.

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 4:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just came here to remind everybody about the 2 shows on tonight (saw it on my cable guide).

But I see Theowl has beaten me to it!

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 6:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Re: The first episode:

This show is so bad it ROCKS!

Just when you think it couldn't get even more lame, we get this episode.

I don't even know where to begin.

Why is it that every one of Jeffrey's staff come across as arrogant and rude? And why is it that they always seem to turn to mush when they are around Rocco?

That scene when Rocco and Jeffrey were arguing contained some of the most bizarre editing I have ever seen. Cutting between Rocco and Jeffrey bickering and that Italian chef making Rocco a pizza? WTF?

And has Rocco even spent five minutes with that visiting chef since he picked him up at the airport during the first episode?

And speaking of pizza...Rocco's solution was to make everyone pizza? Pizza? I know he was making up for the inconvenience of the fire, but whenever they show Rocco taking charge, it's always so idiotic.

And don't even get me started about the three therapists counselling Rocco and Jeffrey...

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 6:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Re: Second episode:

<>
I would be shocked if this restaurant was still open at the end of the year.


<314>

Broxi
Member

03-11-2004

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 7:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I also could not believe the way things went down {based on what we were shown}. I for a while thought Jeffrey was sort of strong arming Rocco. But after watching tonight.... I now believe Rocco is getting what he deserves. What really made me sort of choose sides was what happened with Tony! Unbelievable.

I in some ways wish there was more than one episode left.....cause I really would like to see who is going to win the Restaurant.

P.S. when Rocco and Jeffrey sat down with those 4 people {the table with the psychiatrists/counselors/therapists} I hope their meal was paid for!!!!!

Demeter
Member

08-05-2001

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 7:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I don't know if they ever got to the point of having a meal!

I thought it was funny when Rocco complained that Tony should have been on top of the expenditures. Talk about pot calling the kettle black.

I give him credit though, he knew himself well enough to know he's a narcissist.

I think that is actually what his downfall has been. He found someone to finance the business and spent the other guy's money without any consideration and then got caught up in the "limelight" rather than running the business.

I actually like this show and I'll be sorry to see it end next week.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 7:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Tony was the only one doing the job that needed to be done!!! Rocco is coming off like the biggest a$$ ever!!!!!

Gemma120in2002
Member

07-05-2003

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 7:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I couldn't believe that! Sitting down with the psychiatrists and getting free 'couples therapy'!

How about the second show! Rocco spends a token amount of time on the line, then he goes upstairs and plays grab-a** with the customers, asking one woman "Are those real?" Unbelievable! Did anyone else want to gag after he took that pizza dough off of his head and slapped it on what looked like a panini machine? OMG!

The way Tony was treated was inexcusable! He was fired because Rocco felt threatened, plain and simple. How callous Rocco was when Tony came to the meeting. Rocco was signing his cookbooks, and didn't even look up to acknowledge Tony when he came into the room. Imagine how Tony felt, to be given a raise in the evening by one employer, only to be fired the next morning by the other employer. Rocco deserves everything he gets from this show.

Broxi
Member

03-11-2004

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 7:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Gemma.... I thought the same thing about the second show. When he put the pizza dough on his head...then put it in the panini machine, saying this will be a hairy pizza....I about gagged. Makes me really want to EAT there. Maybe the NYC health inspectors will see that and get him on the next inspection.

I cringed when he asked that woman if those were real! Was not shocked he yet again grabbed some ones butt He is always doing it! When this played out I thought....If she were an employee that would have been sexual Harassment.

Even Laurant who I think is is a bit of a brown-noser...looked annoyed and disgusted with Rocco at that point.

Wendo
Member

08-07-2000

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 8:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have no sympathy for Rocco whatsoever. He appears to be the most incompetent chef/owner I've seen.

I feel sorry for Jeffery. How frustrating to work with someone like Rocco.

I agree with the rest of you, how Tony was treated was atrocious. Further, I don't understand WHY he was fired.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 9:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Absolutely Wendo!!!!!!!!!!

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 9:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The thing about Tony being fired that irritated me was: Tony was so thoughtful and respectful of "Mama". On more than one occasion, I saw him taking care of her and being so kind. It's more than I've seen come from Rocco.

And I'm assuming family loyalty comes first with these people, but I was disappointed that Mama seemed to not give a crap that Tony was fired (judging from the footage we saw).

I know this is just a reality TV show and we don't know the whole story. But man, what goes around comes around. And I hope, one day, someone will humble Rocco and put him in his place.

The pizza dough on the his head thing was absolutely disgusting.

With there being five trillion restaurants in NYC, why would anyone choose to stay working at Rocco's? Just to be on TV?

By the way, did anyone ever notice Rocco never seems to talk to men unless he absolutely has to?

Tishala
Member

08-01-2000

Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 10:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ever since I realized I know Jeffrey, even in passing, I have tried to avoid this thread because...well, I really like his wife and I didn't want to read bad things about him. But after tonight, I can't imagine how anyone could be mean to him. Rocco looks to his staff, and I think tho the audience, like a rank amateur. I can't imagine him being more inept in dealing with people (oh yes I can. I worked for a guy who was worse than him once) or being more unaware of his limitations--that shrink session, to my mind, showed how astute Jeffrey is because he actually acknowledges limitations, whereas Rocco seemingly cannot.

I don't get grossed out by the food stuff, personally. I worked at a pretty fancy place for about six months and, although I'm not one of those restaurant insiders, I know how gross the innards of that business can be. But to have the chutzpah to flaunt your filth so openly, so proudly, as Rocco does, is just unimaginable to me.

What really gets me, though, is the celebrity chef phenomenon, which is like the celebrity hairstylist phenomenon. Rocco, we have come to learn, is not even the best chef on his staff, but he is a huge name (and was pretty big before the show, including guesting on Food Network and martha Stewart's show) because he is attractive and he has a schtick. Poor Tony is just too humble and he doesn't have a schtick down or the social graces that might be requisite to have his name "on the awning." Oh well. I loved tonight's episodes. I guess I really needed a reality TV fix.

Lori
Member

04-18-2003

Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 9:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Rocco is a <>. No work ethic whatsoever. He fires Tony...takes over for about an hour and then leaves? My God...his elderly mother works harder than he does. Furthermore there is nothing attractive abount him, imo, his hair always looks greasy and he looks like he needs a good shower.


<314>

Madelane
Member

08-20-2001

Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 11:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I wanted to mention that seriously one of my favorite things about this show is the theme song. I never fast-forward through it. Maybe that's why they did a second season, so as not to waste the great song. Too bad it has the word Rocco in it, or they could replace him easily.

Anyway I agree with everyone about Rocco being a jerk. I laughed out loud in embarrassment when he asked that girl if they were real. I have never seen anything more amazing than that fight they were having in the first episode.

And I actually liked the editing of the guest chef making the pizza because of the payoff when he came to give it to him, heard them yelling at each other, and spun around and fled.

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 11:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Madelane: I know what you mean about the theme song! I like it too. For me, the theme song is my favorite part of the show. Thanks for bringing it up. :-)

Demeter
Member

08-05-2001

Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 12:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I had never really paid attention to the theme song until this last episode. I was enjoying it as I was thinking about what a great job they do with the opening promo. Very much a Burnett format.

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 1:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Tishala, even with the known editing, I'll just let you know that I think both Jeffery and his wife came off looking very good!! From what I recall on the episode with Jeffry's wife, she was trying to be nice without getting into details to explain her husbands position, imho she did a much better job than I would have - I would have gone overboard, but then that's why she came off as classy, again, imho!!

Jeffrey, even when Rocco baits him, he doesnt rise to the occasion, which makes me see why he (Jeffry) is making money...

Rocco was almost obsessed with the changing of the bar stools, but never addressed those calling cards that cost what $1 or more a piece?

And get rid of that bartender!! I cant imagine what his bosses think when they see that foolish footage.... and I also cant imagine why you'd want to continue to work there...

So any smoking gun revelations? is Roccos still drawing a crowd???

edited to add smoking gun April 6 archived article....

The Smoking Gun

Curlyq
Member

07-10-2002

Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 1:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Last night was my first time watching this season, and I have to say I think they're both being ridiculous and they're both contributing to the chaos. Who on earth was that horrible red-haired woman? Did I understand Jeffrey correctly that she and her cohorts aren't getting paid for their work?

Jeffrey clearly used Tony to throw down the gauntlet with Rocco when he made a point of telling the customers "This is the man who's cooking your food." He was little Toto, exposing the man behind the curtain. He made sure Rocco could see him telling the customers he was replaceable, and perhaps was sticking it to him for not being in the kitchen himself. The next thing we see is Rocco getting rid of Tony. They both had a hand in that firing.

Tony may be a great cook, but those people need a reality check. It's no coincidence that all their customers always happen to have cameras on them when they come to dinner. They're coming because they hope to meet Rocco. The pizza schtick was just a way to entertain the crowd. Great chef or not, he's the draw. I have no doubt all those women who get hit on by Rocco are showing up there for that very purpose, and he knows it.

Rocco meanwhile needs to either fish or cut bait. It seems like he's not really interested in the restaurant, but is hanging on to it for his mother's sake. His heart and mind are clearly elsewhere. He has other restaurants, and I noticed when he was on The View the plug he gave was not for Rocco's but for one of the others. I think he needs to take his name off the awning and put his attention where his heart is.

When he asked that woman what she was doing later I was hoping she'd say "I'll still be here, waiting for my appetizers."

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 2:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
He's clearly not interested in it, but loves the attention. So why not admit it, work an agreement with Jeffrey that allows him his freedom to do all the other stuff that he loves, but yet he comes into the restaurant to schmooze, do PR and leave, keep Tony as the cook and Mama has a place to be needed also. Rocco's ego has gotten too big to see that there is a way to win this situation for everyone.

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 3:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Did they show the final 2 eps last night or is there one more new one next Sat???

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 3:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ok, I just wrote this really long post theorizing about this show. Then I went to the SG Web site and read the court papers...

"Law and Order: Tiramisu Unit". LOL! That's a good one.

Thanks for the link, Reader234.