Archive through August 25, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: The Restaurant (ARCHIVES): Archive through August 25, 2003

Reader234

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 09:51 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Just saw an ad for Access Hollywood, Mama (Rocco's)et el are going to be on today - 8-20!! I'm sure it will have some mention of the health code "violation"... more tap dancing for good PR

Realfan

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 01:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Rocco nauseates me. Between this guy and the chicks on Cupid, I am really turning off these reality show contestants who are obviously after fame and fortune. They seem to think that no matter how they act, because they're on a TV show we will love them. (Throw Erin and Rob from FLOM into that pile, too.) If they think we, the viewing public, are going to buy into what they're selling, they've completely underestimated us. I am so not impressed with Rocco.

Scorpiomoon

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 04:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I just saw the Access Hollywood piece. Thanks, Reader.

Rocco said (joked?) became a chef for the sex. I had to laugh when he said that because the women who have been on the show who have been throwing themselves at him aren't exactly the "supermodels" Rocco told Billy Bush chefs get to...ahem...spend time with.

The thing about this piece that also stood out: Rocco, "Mama" and Billy Bush were all wearing gloves as they made meatballs. I have never seen anyone in the kitchen wearing gloves and I always wondered about that. I guess Rocco is taking those health code violations seriously!

If you didn't see the piece you would have been shocked. "Mama" actually spoke articulate sentences! I think she spoke more during this interview than she has for the entire show. Usually she just kind of mumbles. It was odd to hear her speak clearly! She said Rocco was a good cook and a "beautiful" person.

One more episode left. I will miss show. It's been fun to hate it.

Ocean_Islands

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 04:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Why don't you go to NYC and hate the real thing?

Scorpiomoon

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 05:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
OI, I'll be in NYC in about a month. I should call and make a reservation. Thanks for the idea. :)

Roteach

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 05:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Rocco was also on Extra. He said mamma made the meatballs, an uncle made the sausage and two aunts made the pasta. Then he went to his grandmother's house and showed the room where they all had meals. He went into the walk in pantry and opened a jar of pasta sauce and stuck his finger in. He said that now he had to take the jar home. I don't know if I will miss the show when it is off the air, but I won't miss the last episode.

Scorpiomoon

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 08:27 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Roteach: Did you happen to notice with both the AH and Extra interview the reporters kept on describing this show as "hit" and talking about it as if it was some sort of phenomenon? It was such a joke.

Yankee_In_Ca

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 09:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
To be honest, most TV critics have lauded the show -- which I still to this very second cannot understand. And I think the ratings have been pretty good for summertime.

(Shakes my head in resignation... because this show DISGUSTS me! Oh, yeah, I've said that before...:))

Yankee_In_Ca

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 09:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Access Hollywood is also NBC, by the way...

Jhezzie

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 09:58 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ya know, Food Network has an excellent, behind the scenes show about big restaurants called "Into The Fire." I think it's on Friday nights. I catch it every once in a while and it's the real deal.:)

Gina8642

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 10:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I believe the show has been consistently in the top 20 - I'm sure they are happy with those ratings.

Scorpiomoon

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 11:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ok, ok...I didn't know it was truly a "hit". I always got the sense it was more a "cult hit" and the reason why Rocco was doing the media rounds was to make it more of a "mainstream hit".

My mistake. :)

Yankee_In_Ca

Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 01:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Here are some of the latest articles from today.

Did you guys know that the Gideon arm mishap was staged (they say it happened, but there weren't any cameras there so they staged it)?? It's in the end of the third paragraph of this story:

Newsday Article (Scroll down and click on the story titled "Credible or Half-Baked?)

Here's an article about the show's popularity (but oh, no, that photo is scary to me!!): New York Post Article

Here's a Business Week article about the product placement: Business Week Article

Here's an interview with Gideon: Miami Herald

Scorpiomoon

Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 02:32 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks for the links YIC. I loved reading these articles. Man, I think I am obsessed with this show.

I just have to point out a few things:

In the Newsday piece Rocco says:

""Would I do this exact thing again? No," said DiSpirito, who grew up in Jamaica and New Hyde Park. "I'd consider it under completely different circumstances," such as a documentary."

Geez that's funny because in the NY Post article:

"NBC is hungry for a sequel to its summer reality hit "The Restaurant" - and has reached out to series star Rocco DiSpirito, who's definitely interested."

This from the Newsday restaurant review:

"Our dinner for four took nearly three hours."

Wow. Is it just me, or is that not completely inexcusable?

How about this:

"Mark Burnett, the creator of this show and the mega reality hit "Survivor," said that if people think the fire was staged, "they're idiots. The whole show was unscripted. Every story line was organic and raw." He put a lot of cameras in place and "had faith" that a story line would emerge. It did."

Oh please! Does Burnett think we're all totally stupid?

Scorpiomoon

Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 02:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
P.S: I just came from Lola's Web site (the bartender who was "given" the Vespa). It was an interesting read.

Lola's Web site

Yankee_In_Ca

Friday, August 22, 2003 - 12:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Here's one for you, Scorpiomoon:

"NBC's infomercial slopfest" USA Today

Short mention, but hey, I liked the line... Last 4 paragraphs of the article are slamming the show, too.

Scorpiomoon

Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 07:55 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, now that this show is over, I think I can openly admit: I think I have a crush on Rocco. :)

I'm not going to deconstruct the finale, but man, I spent half the time laughing hysterically and other half rolling my eyes and groaning.

That little boy who was flirting non-stop was a freakin' riot!

Melfie1222

Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 10:55 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Scorpio.... Rocco is an <MK>, and I have had a crush on him from just about the start.

So is it really over? I haven't read all the news things... I've had the impression all along that it was just a one-shot thing, the 6 or however many episodes they filmed already, and that was it... but then earlier this weekend I heard a promo for it on NBC and they called it the "season finale"??? Are they going to try and bring it back?

Roteach

Monday, August 25, 2003 - 06:27 am EditMoveDeleteIP
The little boy who was flirting used to be on the Rosie O'Donnell show. She'd have kids on at the holidays and he'd be there cracking jokes and acting just as he did last night.

Realfan

Monday, August 25, 2003 - 09:39 am EditMoveDeleteIP
It's official. Rocco is skeevy beyond skeeve. I can't stand him. He makes my skin crawl. He sure loves talking about his--ahem--parts, and in a restaurant where people are eating?!? Ugh. He thinks he's God's gift, and if he scmoozes enough, he'll make everyone love him. What a sad attempt to become a "celebrity chef."

Skeeviest moment of all? His "joke" that the woman would have to sleep with him on her wedding night! I can't believe he said that. He thinks he's so charming, but he's someone I wouldn't want coming anywhere near my food.

This whole show has been a real suck-fest. So much of it was staged. That brazen kid last night was awful. I didn't find his come-ons in the least endearing. He reminded me of those ever-so-cute-and-precocious characters that used to populate sitcoms. You just wonder about his parents who must encourage him, and are consequently rearing a playboy womanizer. Again, ugh.

One thing's for sure--I'll never buy a Coors Light, a Mitsubishi, or have an AmEx account. OR eat at Rocco's.

Ocean_Islands

Monday, August 25, 2003 - 10:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
LOL

Jagger

Monday, August 25, 2003 - 10:34 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I liked this show, it was very fast paced and interesting to see how they delt with different situations. I have not watched last nights episode yet but I'm hoping it was exciting as previous episodes.

Kellsma

Monday, August 25, 2003 - 10:54 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I thought last night's show was terrible. I agree, the little kid was embarassing. I would not be proud if he was my son. Rocco did say he would be back for us to see how he is doing one year later so I assume we will see the show again next summer.

I was disappointed with last night's show. The promos kept saying, see who is leaving and who is staying. I did not see anyone leaving last night. Did I miss anything? So much time was spent last night on the ladies with the birthday dinner and the couple getting engaged. Not so much on the "restaurant".

Warrenn

Monday, August 25, 2003 - 11:28 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I've never felt more uncomfortable watching a show in my life. The kid with the sexual innuendos, the awkward (staged?) couple getting engaged, the 4 women fondling Rocco and the waitor. Ugh. Creepout city.

Maybe this is what happens when you have ordinary people in a reality show who were not cast for the part. They end up overacting so much it just gets weird.

Scorpiomoon

Monday, August 25, 2003 - 12:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I can understand why you guys are so appalled by this show. But come on! This show was horrible right from the beginning!! Didn't anyone experience a moment when you just knew and accepted this show was the worst ever and enjoyed it for the train wreck it was--kind of like watching a really bad B horror movie?

Damn it! I knew that kid was too good to be true! Thanks for the heads Rotech. :)