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Mark Burnett to produce new 'The Restaurant'-like 'The Casino' reality series for FOX
December 15, 2003
Although the producers of NBC's The Restaurant decided to team back up with chef Rocco DiSpirito for a second season of the restaurant-based reality show, that apparently hasn't stopped one of the producers -- namely Survivor titan Mark Burnett -- from pursuing a previously reported "spin-off" concept of the program, a casino-set version of the program entitled (predictably enough) The Casino. But if you believe Burnett, the new show apparently has no connection to The Restaurant, and he and his new production partner "conceived" of the show independently.
Rocco DiSpirito returning for NBC's 'The Restaurant' sequel
November 15, 2003
Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito, the star of NBC's The Restaurant, will apparently be returning for the sequel to the hit summer reality series after all. In a recent wide-ranging interview with Australian's The Melbourne Age newspaper, Mark Burnett, executive producer of the series, announced DiSpirito's return, which was previously considered questionable. "You're hearing it from me now," Burnett told The Age, "Rocco is returning. I haven't actually [previously] told any journalist that."
USA Network begins auditions and sets schedule for second 'Nashville Star'
October 23, 2003
USA Networks announced Tuesday that the second edition of its reality-talent show Nashville Star will begin airing on March 6, 2004, in the same Saturday night at 10 PM (ET/PT) time slot (which, to put it politely, is not a desirable slot).
'The Restaurant' plans midseason return to NBC, but is chef Rocco on the menu?
September 30, 2003
Is it the concept that makes a hit, or is it the star? In the case of NBC's The Restaurant, the network and the producers disagree -- even though the show has been renewed and a new six-episode season is scheduled to begin as soon as the February 2004 sweeps.
Report: 'The Restaurant' producers said to be planning a 'The Casino' spinoff
September 9, 2003
Will the producers of NBC's "The Restaurant" be taking a gamble on a casino spinoff as their next behind-the-scenes docu-drama project? According to Hollywood sources, that seems to be the case.