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Magical Elves

Bobby Flay Joins Cast of America's Next Great Restaurant
News

Bobby Flay Signs On to NBC Restaurateur Show

Today there's more intel on NBC's restaurateur reality TV show, formerly titled United Plates of America.
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Today there's more intel on NBC's restaurateur reality TV show, formerly titled United Plates of America. Variety reports that the competition, which will air next season, has a new name, America's Next Great Restaurant, that's perhaps more fitting of the show's premise than its old title.

In addition, Bobby Flay has signed on to be one of the five restaurant and business leaders who will be a judge, mentor, and investor to the contestants. On the new program, which is casting right this moment, industry insiders like Mesa Grill owner and Iron Chef Flay will help a winning chef or aspiring restaurateur open a new eatery.

NBC hasn't had too much success in the food reality series department: 2003's The Restaurant, starring Rocco Dispirito, was a flop; last year's The Chopping Block with Marco Pierre White was canceled after just three episodes. Still, this is a completely new premise, and having Bobby Flay star certainly can't hurt. What do you think? Does the show sound like it has the ingredients for success?

United Plates of America Coming to NBC
News

Top Chef Producers to Create NBC Restaurateur Show

From Magical Elves, the producers of Bravo's Top Chef, Top Chef Masters, and the soon-to-air Top Chef: Just Desserts, comes yet another reality TV show, tentatively titled United Plates of America.
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From Magical Elves, the producers of Bravo's Top Chef, Top Chef Masters, and the soon-to-air Top Chef: Just Desserts, comes yet another reality TV show, tentatively titled United Plates of America.

Unlike its sister productions, United Plates will air on NBC. The premise: aspiring restaurateurs compete in a number of challenges involving the restaurant's concept, cuisine, management, and marketability. The judges' panel will include wealthy investors in the culinary and business world.The prize is being called "among the biggest in reality show history" — the winner will receive a restaurant chain that opens in four locations across the US — funded by the investors themselves. "It's a culinary competition that anybody can take part in," said executive producer Dan Cutforth. "All you need is a great idea for a restaurant."

Finally, a different foodie reality TV concept. This show could be wildly captivating and educational, because the average American viewer doesn't have an inkling of knowledge about the operations behind a restaurant. I would definitely tune in to check out the show. What about you?

Judge Blocks Project Runway's Move to Lifetime
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Judge Says Project Runway Can't Move to Lifetime

Don't expect to see Project Runway on Lifetime anytime soon.
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Don't expect to see Project Runway on Lifetime anytime soon. Today, a judge ruled in NBC's favor and blocked the show's move from Bravo to Lifetime. According to an NBC statement:

The overwhelming evidence demonstrated that The Weinstein Company violated NBC Universal's right of first refusal to future cycles of Project Runway. After hearing all of the evidence, the court issued an order prohibiting The Weinstein Company from taking the show or any spinoff to Lifetime.

No statement from Lifetime yet, but I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, it's unclear what this means for any future seasons of Project Runway on Bravo. The last report from Lifetime was that casting had been done for season six with new producers Bunim/Murray, and the show would start airing in January.

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Project Runway's Producers Stick With NBC, Not Lifetime
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Project Runway's Producers Stick With NBC, Not Lifetime

Lifetime stole Project Runway from NBC — so now, NBC has stolen back the show's producers.
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Lifetime stole Project Runway from NBC — so now, NBC has stolen back the show's producers. Magical Elves, the team behind Runway, Top Chef, and Step It Up and Dance, has just signed a deal with NBC that gives the network and its cable channels the first shot at any projects the company develops. The producers can also work on existing NBC projects.

So, if Project Runway does indeed make the move to Lifetime this Fall (a decision that's still being challenged in court), it will have a new production team. Not sure what that means? Well, consider the difference between Runway and, say, the first season of Top Design, which largely fell flat. The producers are responsible for the entire feel of the show — which is making Lifetime's claim that they'd deliver the same Runway we know and love seem a little doubtful.

Meanwhile, there have been reports of other changes on the Lifetime version of the show, including the news that the show will film part of its sixth season in LA and a new rumor that Marie Claire could replace Elle as the show's magazine partner. I'm not saying change is bad — shows can start to get a little stale after five seasons or so — but I don't think I'd want to see Runway be drastically reimagined. Color me officially worried. How about you?

Meanwhile, season five of Runway is still set to air this Summer on Bravo, so we might be all worn out by the time Lifetime finally gets its crack at the show anyway. Too much of a good thing?

NBC and Source

Sarah Jessica Parker, Project Runway Producers Pitch Reality Show for Artists
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SJP Pitches Reality Show for Artists

Apparently, guest-starring on Project Runway wasn't enough reality TV for Sarah Jessica Parker.
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Apparently, guest-starring on Project Runway wasn't enough reality TV for Sarah Jessica Parker. Fresh off her judging stint on that show, she's teamed up with Runway's producers to pitch a reality competition show about artists.

The show, which doesn't have a title yet, would find 12 artists facing off in challenges to create art in various forms — "from painting and photography to sculpting and interior design," according to Variety. Artists would rate each other's work and be brought before a panel of expert judges. SJP herself is expected to remain mostly behind the scenes, though the producers say it's not impossible that she'd appear on camera.

Art seems a little obscure for a reality show, but — as one of the producers pointed out in the Variety story — I suppose I would have said the same thing about fashion before ProjRun came along. Do you think you'd be interested in watching this show? And does SJP have enough art-world cred to pull it off?

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