1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,280 S1: An old Irish proverb that laughter is the brightest where 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:05,680 S1: the food is the best. I like that one. And 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,600 S1: my special guest today has made an extremely successful career 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,200 S1: of both good humour and good food. Phil Rosenthal was 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,680 S1: the co-creator and producer of that super successful sitcom, Everybody 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:17,560 S1: Loves Raymond. 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:19,200 S2: She's not the one. 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:33,880 S3: I saw something that I have to tell you, because 9 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:35,520 S3: you have to know because I saw it. 10 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:38,600 S2: What are you talking about? 11 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:39,760 S4: What did you see, Ray? 12 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:41,360 S3: Angela ate the fly. 13 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:44,080 S4: What? 14 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:45,479 S2: What do you mean? 15 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:51,120 S3: The fly that was flying around. Angela killed it. It 16 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:53,760 S3: fell on the table. She put it in a napkin, 17 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:55,240 S3: and then she. Yeah. 18 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,170 S1: And they did, didn't they? And that ran from 96 19 00:01:01,170 --> 00:01:04,360 S1: to 2005. The show won. I think it was 15 Emmys. 20 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,160 S1: It was international hit. I'm told it was even made 21 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:11,520 S1: into local versions in countries like Russia, Egypt and even India. 22 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:13,840 S1: We'll talk about that in a moment. But after exporting 23 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,080 S1: one of the most beloved sitcoms to the world, Phil 24 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,479 S1: has spent the last several years traversing the globe, making 25 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,760 S1: a rather different show. It's called Somebody Feed Phil. Now, 26 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:25,520 S1: you might have seen it on Netflix because it really 27 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,640 S1: is one of the most popular food and travel shows there. 28 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,480 S1: Every episode sees Phil travelling to a new location around 29 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,000 S1: the world, sampling the food that they've got to offer, 30 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:38,240 S1: connecting with the locals, exploring different cultures. It's a fantastic program. 31 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,959 S1: The show released its eighth season last year. It is 32 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:45,240 S1: available to watch in, I think, 190 countries or thereabouts. 33 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,280 S1: It's become quite a hit. And in May, here's the 34 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:50,840 S1: good news in May, Phil's going to be travelling around 35 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,600 S1: Australia with his show An Evening with Phil Rosenthal of 36 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:58,000 S1: Somebody Feed Phil. Now this is a tour that's going 37 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:02,400 S1: to feature moderator conversations followed by an audience Q&A. Phil 38 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,360 S1: will be telling all the funny and true stories of 39 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,880 S1: his life, of course, the television career, the whole thing, 40 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,960 S1: but also food, travel, friends and family. Now I'm told 41 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,560 S1: one of the Sydney shows already sold out, so there's 42 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:14,960 S1: a second one on the way. I'll give you the 43 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,799 S1: details in a moment. Phil Rosenthal joins me, though, from 44 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,560 S1: Los Angeles. Phil, thank you for your time. 45 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,359 S5: It's my absolute pleasure. I love Sydney. If you saw 46 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:28,000 S5: the Sydney episode of Somebody Feed Phil, you know how 47 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,480 S5: much I love it and I can't wait to come back. 48 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,919 S1: Well, we're looking forward to having you come back. Uh, now, 49 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,399 S1: I mean, your life story is rather an extraordinary one. 50 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,440 S1: It all began in Queens, in New York. And then 51 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,240 S1: you moved with your parents to New York City. I'm 52 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,880 S1: speaking to you in Los Angeles. But, I mean, you know, 53 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,360 S1: few have done so much in such a short amount 54 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,600 S1: of time. I mean, I was reading through your biography. 55 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:50,239 S1: I don't know, when you sleep. 56 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:51,760 S5: I feel old. 57 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:53,919 S1: You don't look old. 58 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,800 S5: I feel like it didn't. It wasn't a short amount 59 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,040 S5: of time, but it does go fast, I will say that. 60 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,760 S5: But you know, there was a long break in between 61 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,560 S5: Raymond and somebody feed Phil. I thought I was going 62 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,119 S5: to do more sitcoms, but the business changed. I'll talk 63 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,120 S5: all about that when you see me at the show. 64 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,800 S5: But it took many years then to get somebody feed Phil, 65 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,000 S5: because in Hollywood, and I'm sure I'm not speaking just 66 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,480 S5: for Hollywood, people don't like when you change lanes in life. 67 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:21,920 S1: No. 68 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,280 S5: They say, we know you as this. Why would we 69 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,880 S5: like you as that? Right? So it was very difficult, 70 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,480 S5: but I persevered. I think the lesson is if you 71 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,079 S5: make something a priority in your life, you won't stop 72 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:32,919 S5: until you do it. 73 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,120 S1: Well, this is it. I mean, see, food is essential, right? 74 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,160 S1: Without food, none of us go on for very long. 75 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,920 S1: And there's a thousand food shows out there. But yours. 76 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,120 S1: Yours has succeeded where many have. Sort of like a 77 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,080 S1: lot of small businesses sort of come and gone. Yours 78 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:47,320 S1: has succeeded. Um, is it is it that sort of 79 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:52,080 S1: lovely mix of the family story with food as well 80 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,520 S1: as the travel and all of the individuals that you 81 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:56,920 S1: get to meet along the way. There's a good splash 82 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:58,400 S1: of humour through it as well. Of course. 83 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,560 S5: I'd say that's the that's the ingredient that makes the 84 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,920 S5: difference and maybe separates us from the rest is that, 85 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,440 S5: you know, I come from a comedy background. You know, 86 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,920 S5: Raymond was a sitcom that's in my blood. And if 87 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:16,000 S5: you think about it? Somebody Feed Phil is part sitcom. Yeah, 88 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,320 S5: you're seeing a character. I understand that it's me. And 89 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,920 S5: my brother puts me into these different situations. And in 90 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:27,000 S5: the meantime, I'm eating and I'm meeting people, and they 91 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,680 S5: are usually good natured and funny. And I guess I 92 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,279 S5: have a way of bringing out the sunniest side of 93 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,360 S5: them and the funniest side of them as well. And 94 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,320 S5: I just, uh, I'm having a ball with it. And 95 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,720 S5: hopefully that enthusiasm and joy is infectious. 96 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,880 S1: It certainly is. What's what's your for those that haven't 97 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,480 S1: seen the show, what's your food background? Your food story? Uh, 98 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,560 S1: I mean, when you think about Everyone Loves Raymond. Of course, 99 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,400 S1: there was this Italian American family there and they're all 100 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:57,440 S1: eating all the food was. 101 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:57,640 S5: A big. 102 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:59,400 S1: Part, big part of it. I mean, you've got Jewish 103 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,360 S1: background food again, a big part of the culture. I mean. 104 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,320 S5: By the way, it's every culture. Every culture tells me 105 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,159 S5: the same thing. Oh, if you come to my house, 106 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,440 S5: you won't believe how much food we have. Every single 107 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:11,640 S5: culture says the same. 108 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:12,800 S1: They do, don't they? Yeah. 109 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,760 S5: Yes, but that's great, because what does that mean? We 110 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:20,039 S5: love sitting around the table together. We love food. It's 111 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,279 S5: the great connector, which I find. And then in my 112 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:25,480 S5: line of work, I say food is the great connector. 113 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:27,480 S5: And then laughs are the cement. 114 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,680 S1: That's a lovely line for the great connector and laughs 115 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,440 S1: being the cement. You've opened a restaurant. See, when I 116 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,159 S1: said I meant this, I don't know when you sleep, 117 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,320 S1: you've now opened a restaurant. I think November last year 118 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,719 S1: that was started. Named after. Named after your parents. How's 119 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:40,360 S1: that going? 120 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,200 S5: It's so lovely. It really is. It's just a neighborhood diner. 121 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,320 S5: But it seems to have caught the zeitgeist of the 122 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:51,919 S5: city because people, I guess, are craving comfort in today's world. 123 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:56,880 S5: And diners provide comfort food, and the whole place feels 124 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,840 S5: like a hug when you come in. I told the designer, 125 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:01,520 S5: I want it to look like it's been there a 126 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:05,040 S5: hundred years, so it's got all old wood and old 127 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,520 S5: fixtures and antiques and things like this. So when you 128 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:11,320 S5: walk in, you're transported to a simpler, nicer time and 129 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:16,000 S5: then everyone who works there is so charming and sweet 130 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,359 S5: the way you would want it to be in your 131 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:22,719 S5: idealized version of a neighborhood spot where they. They know 132 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,960 S5: you and they welcome you with a big smile. And 133 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:30,279 S5: the food is very good versions of diner classics. And 134 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,880 S5: so the whole thing is designed to feel like a hug. 135 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:38,159 S1: Tell me about that. Because, you know, there's there's this phenomena, right? 136 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:42,159 S1: Once upon a time, uh, the sort of the lamb 137 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,880 S1: shanks and, and the giblets and all these sort of things, 138 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:50,200 S1: which were pretty cheap cuts, uh, were just that they 139 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,360 S1: were the cheaper cuts for the poorer people. And then 140 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:53,960 S1: everybody who had a bit of money had the rump 141 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,160 S1: steak or whatever it was. These days, all of those 142 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,200 S1: old fashioned cheap things now demand huge prices because they're 143 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,600 S1: in vogue. Why? What happened psychologically around the Western world, 144 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,039 S1: as you said, maybe it is that people seek that 145 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:12,000 S1: sort of morsel hug equivalent, but is there a nostalgia 146 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:13,760 S1: or something going on with that sort of stuff? 147 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,120 S5: It's the way of the world. So all of cuisine 148 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:21,680 S5: stems from poor people having to make what they are 149 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:26,080 S5: left with. Great. Not just to feed their families and 150 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:29,960 S5: make it appetizing, but maybe they can make a living 151 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:35,280 S5: if they invent a recipe using this cheaper discarded piece 152 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,840 S5: of meat. And what happens then? The whole world wants 153 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,360 S5: to eat it because it's delicious. That's all it is. 154 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,520 S1: It's pretty simple, isn't it? Let's go back to the 155 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,760 S1: Everyone Loves Raymond days. Because I mean, that, as I said, 156 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,560 S1: was that's where most people would know you from originally. 157 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:52,680 S1: I mean, that was a hell of a successful story. 158 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,280 S1: That was that was one great. Right? I love the idea, though, 159 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,240 S1: that they've made those local equivalents in Egypt and India. 160 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,880 S1: And how did that come about? Did they do the 161 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:02,680 S1: program speak to you or do they? 162 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,640 S5: When Raymond was over, the moment it was over, I 163 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,240 S5: got a call from Russia. Would I like to come 164 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,400 S5: over there and help them turn my sitcom into Everybody 165 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,960 S5: Loves You? And I said, I would help you if 166 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,080 S5: I can bring a camera crew and document this process, 167 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:24,760 S5: because I knew that it would be funny. And sure enough, 168 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:27,120 S5: it is very funny, but not in the ways that 169 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:31,080 S5: I intended. I am the butt of the joke. I 170 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,640 S5: my family loves it because of how much I suffer 171 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,280 S5: trying to get my point across to people who don't 172 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:41,400 S5: want to hear it. I'm. Raymond. I was the boss 173 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,120 S5: and people had to listen to me. And then I 174 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,600 S5: was invited by Russia, and I thought they really wanted my, uh, 175 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,560 S5: knowledge of how to make this show. No. They didn't. 176 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:54,679 S5: So that's a that's a movie that you can see. Actually, 177 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,280 S5: it's called exporting Raymond. 178 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:58,720 S1: I'm going to have to watch that. I haven't seen it. 179 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:02,000 S5: It's a funny movie because of how much I suffer. 180 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:05,319 S1: When you go to, say, Egypt or Russia, though. I mean, 181 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:07,680 S1: where do you where do they find the Ray Romano 182 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,079 S1: of Moscow or the Ray Romano of Cairo? 183 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,720 S5: That's their problem, right? They have to find the the 184 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,680 S5: everyman of that country. And they do. It turns out 185 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,160 S5: that these things are somewhat universal. 186 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:20,640 S1: Yeah. 187 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:25,280 S5: They're not United States specific. Right? What are we dealing with? 188 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,720 S5: A guy and his wife? He's also a dad. He's 189 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,840 S5: also a son. He's also a brother. And he's torn 190 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,720 S5: in all these directions. And they all live in close proximity, 191 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:39,560 S5: so they all weigh in on every topic. That's the show. 192 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,360 S5: It's a very simple premise, but it turns out that 193 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,520 S5: sometimes with the simple premise, you can run nine years. 194 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,880 S1: Yeah, well, it's you make it sound so easy. It's 195 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:52,440 S1: a little more complicated than that, but the premise is straightforward. 196 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:56,640 S5: The premise is easy. The premise is simple. What's hard 197 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:59,720 S5: is to maintain a level of quality that you do 198 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:00,760 S5: not go below. 199 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:02,320 S1: How do you know when to call it a time, though? 200 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:04,520 S1: I mean, that's in the media. A lot of people 201 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,040 S1: don't know when to call it a day. They go 202 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:07,360 S1: on too long. I mean, how do you do that 203 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:07,920 S1: with the sitcom? 204 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,480 S5: Well, I'm a student of television, and I saw a 205 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:13,800 S5: lot of the shows that overstayed their welcome, and they 206 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,319 S5: did it just for money. I got an inkling that 207 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:21,480 S5: we might be running out of stories, and I wanted 208 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,320 S5: to get out before that happened. I wanted to get 209 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,120 S5: off the air before we became lousy. And I did 210 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:31,559 S5: that with the feeling that if we were true to 211 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:35,240 S5: ourselves and we stopped before we did any bad episodes, 212 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,520 S5: maybe we would have a legacy that we would stay 213 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,920 S5: on the air. And sure enough, 30 years this year. 214 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,559 S1: It's amazing. Congratulations. Congratulations. Thank you. Coming to Australia, you've 215 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:47,040 S1: got to go. I've got to go. You're coming to Australia. 216 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,120 S1: Live nation.com is the website for the tickets. I think 217 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,880 S1: the first show is already sold out. But there's another one. Thursday, 218 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,760 S1: the 7th of May at the State Theatre. Just final 219 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,199 S1: word before you go. You're no stranger to Australia. When 220 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:01,000 S1: you come out here, the food culture to go back 221 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,640 S1: to food. I mean, we sort of pride ourselves on that. 222 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,960 S1: Do you find Australia's food cultures up there with the 223 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:06,640 S1: rest of them? 224 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,640 S5: Oh my goodness, it's phenomenal. I love it. I can't, 225 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:11,880 S5: I really I can't wait to come back. And the 226 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,880 S5: restaurants you saw in the Sydney episode where we went 227 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,280 S5: to Sydney and Adelaide, I can't wait to go back 228 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,280 S5: to these places that I love now. And I'm sure 229 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,920 S5: there's new ones in the, in the since we filmed 230 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:24,000 S5: a couple of years ago. Right? 231 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,080 S1: Yeah, there will be there'll be stacks. Those Adelaide markets 232 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,720 S1: are outstanding. Uh, wonderful to speak with you. Thank you 233 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,800 S1: for your time, Phil. We look forward to seeing you 234 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:32,319 S1: when you come out here in a couple of months. 235 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:33,400 S5: I can't wait. 236 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:34,920 S1: Thank you. Ditto. Phil Rosenthal.