1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: I am all in again. 2 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 2: Let's do. 3 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: Luke's Diner with Scott Patterson an iHeartRadio podcast. Hey Everybody, 4 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: Scott Patterson, I'm all in podcast, one of one productions 5 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio Media. iHeart Podcast Luke's Diner. One on one interview 6 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: with the one and only and it's a special treat today. 7 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: A mister Phil Rosenthal who made the world laugh with 8 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 1: Everybody Loves Raymond. He created it and now makes us 9 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 1: all hungry with his hit show Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix. 10 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: Phil travels the globe using food as a bridge to culture, 11 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: connection and joy. He's a James Beard Award winner, a 12 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: champion of restaurants, and someone who turns strangers into family 13 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: one bite at a time. Phil and I are going 14 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: to be discussing season two, episode ten, the brace Bridge Dinner. 15 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 1: We saw foods of the nineteenth century like rolls, roast chicken, rice, 16 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: and green beans, but today we're taking it back to 17 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: the twenty first century and straight you Phil, welcome, Thank you, 18 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: love you, and van very accomplished. So you created the 19 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: show and you were you were the. 20 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 2: Showrunner absolutely and I stayed all nine years and then 21 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 2: when we decided it was enough, already we had two 22 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 2: hundred and ten episodes. We'd said everything we wanted to say, 23 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 2: and you know, there's this old show biz actium you 24 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 2: should get off the stage before somebody says, hey, you 25 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 2: should get off the stage. And I'm a student of TV, 26 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: and you know, there were shows that I was trying 27 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: to emulate, like Mary Tyllamore, which I think is the 28 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 2: high water mark of camera sitcoms. 29 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and they. 30 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 2: Did seven years, I believe, and said we're leaving now, 31 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 2: and we did nine years, and they were going to 32 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 2: back up the truck. But you know what, right, it 33 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 2: doesn't pay. It doesn't pay to take that money, because 34 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 2: that's people always our short term goal. You know, they 35 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 2: think you got to grab this nap. But I truly 36 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 2: believe that by leaving before we became lousy, that the 37 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 2: show had a more lasting value. And so next year 38 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 2: we're on TV thirty years. 39 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: And all those syndication deals and it's still on the 40 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: air and people can can watch it. 41 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 2: I believe it's on Peacock and Paramount Plus and IFC 42 00:02:55,440 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 2: and TV Land and local stations and around the world. 43 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 2: So we couldn't be luckier. But we really feel right 44 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 2: there were two factors to the longevity of the show. 45 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: One was pre planned, actually both were pre planned. The 46 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 2: first was, don't make so many topical jokes. Don't have 47 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 2: jokes that will date the show. The only thing that 48 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: dates the show maybe is the the you know, clothing 49 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 2: and hairstyle, maybe right. But other than that, it's a 50 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 2: you want to be timeless, not timely. Yes, and that 51 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: I learned from shows like Mary and Taxi. You know, 52 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 2: to me, the thing that makes all the family, which 53 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: is another one of the shows I tried to emulate. Certainly, 54 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 2: they were topical because they were dealing with the politics 55 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: of the dead right, But what makes the show endure 56 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 2: are the personal family relationships that are evergreen and completely universe. 57 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: M Yeah, beautiful stuff. Yeah. I think you and I 58 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: grew up in the same era. 59 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: I think so. 60 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: I think you're born nineteen sixty. I'm a little bit 61 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: older than you are. 62 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 2: You don't look it. 63 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I know, I'm sixty six. 64 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 2: And listen, you got one year on that's not. 65 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: But you know, one of my favorite shows from that 66 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 1: time period was and I ended up in an acting 67 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: class with her at Carnegie Hall and it just was 68 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: It was as surreal an experience to be with her 69 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: in that acting class and Louise Lasser. Oh, Mary Hartman, 70 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: Mary Hartman, that's unbelievable and just and I mean just 71 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 1: the fact that that show even got a chance, you know, 72 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: normally just brilliant Norman, right is he? 73 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 2: Is he? 74 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: Your guy? Is Norman Lear is the guy. 75 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 2: I say that TV, all of TV history can be 76 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 2: divided in. 77 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 1: To B N and A N before Norman after you. 78 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 2: Got it, because all the Family really changed everything. Before 79 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 2: all the Family shows were kind of silly, yeah, and 80 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 2: kind of you know, fantastical by dream of Genie. Did 81 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 2: you know that big, high concept things, very entertaining show 82 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 2: and it took him three tries to get it on 83 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 2: the air? 84 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 1: Right? 85 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: Film three pilots and uh here it is that changed 86 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: not just TV but America. And you couldn't do that 87 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: show now, mm hmmm, right, Certain certain presidents might have 88 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: a problem with this type of show criticizing. By the way, 89 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: at the time Nixon, he was on Nixon's enemies list 90 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 2: for that really, Yeah, for criticizing daring to criticize the 91 00:05:55,440 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 2: president of the United States for exicizing free speech familiar 92 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,160 Speaker 2: Oh boy, Yeah, Well, let's not go there. 93 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: Now, well, we can add Phil Rosenthal to the list 94 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: of greats who have brought something quite unique to the 95 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: American culture TV culture, and you had, you know, this 96 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 1: gift of Ray Romano. When you first saw him? Did 97 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: you first see him in a stand up situation? 98 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 2: I first saw him. He had been a stand up 99 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 2: for twelve years. I never saw him until he got 100 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 2: a break. He got to do six minutes on David Letterman, 101 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 2: and that very appearance. After six minutes, Letterman said there 102 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 2: should be a sitcom for that guy. 103 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: Right. 104 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 2: Letterman had to deal with CBS. They set about looking 105 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: for writers to create a show for Ray, and that's 106 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: how we met. He was going blind dates with different 107 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 2: writers in Hollywood. I don't think I was his first choice. 108 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 2: In fact, I'm sure I wasn't. I think he wanted 109 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 2: somebody from Friends, which was the hot show at the time, right, 110 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 2: And I was coming off of writing for a Coach, 111 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 2: which I think is admittedly not as hip or cool 112 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 2: as Friends. But turns out the Friends guy couldn't make it, 113 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 2: and I got the gig so nice. 114 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: And Letterman was he was tough in the beginning, right, 115 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: I mean his I mean that was that was a 116 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: gauntlet that you had to go through to get through 117 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: that interview with him, because he was merciless if you 118 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: weren't sharp and on it and making him laugh. I mean, 119 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: he was tough on people. 120 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 2: It was the strangest interview I've ever had. I went, 121 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 2: and so I go to New York. They say, got 122 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: to meet now that you know Ray likes, you got 123 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 2: to meet Letterman. Okay, through it to meet Letterman the 124 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 2: show and I go up to the sixth floor I 125 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 2: believe it was, and they go in his office and 126 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: his office is facing the wrong way. In other words, 127 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 2: when you open the door to someone's office, the desks 128 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 2: is facing you right right. How about you enter the 129 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 2: office and now you're behind his desk. He's facing the 130 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 2: wrong way. Very odd. You know mafia people, they don't 131 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: have their back to the door. No, no, no, he did. 132 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 2: Maybe he wanted to be taken out. 133 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: I don't know us, that's certainly, But how. 134 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 2: About this for weird. He says, have a seat and 135 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 2: gestures for me to sit behind his desk. I said, 136 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 2: not behind the desk. He said, absolutely behind the desk, 137 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,839 Speaker 2: and I sit there. No one offers to take my coat. 138 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 2: I had come from outside in the winter. I'm sitting 139 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 2: here with my coat in my arm and he and 140 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 2: two of his producers from Worldwide Pants are sitting to 141 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 2: sit me. And I said, the first thing I'd like 142 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 2: to do is throw you all the hell out of 143 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 2: my office. And this is a laugh. You just laughed 144 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 2: ten times more than they left. The comedy people who 145 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: are as cool as these guys are, they laugh. 146 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: Like this when you say something, right, that's it. 147 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 2: Letterman was leaning a chair up against one wall where 148 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 2: the stereo was and I mentioned this because the entire meeting, 149 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 2: heavy metal music was not just playing lasting oh gosh, 150 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 2: and they did not turn it down. 151 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 3: Wow. 152 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 2: I didn't know if this was you know, between sitting 153 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 2: me behind the desk and having this music playing. Was 154 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:56,079 Speaker 2: it a test of wills? Was it a test of 155 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 2: whether I had the fortitude to endure hardship or or 156 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 2: awkward circumstances, because it certainly was awkward, and I just, 157 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 2: you know, put my head down. And they asked, so, 158 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 2: what's the what's the show going to be? And I said, 159 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 2: I think I want to base it on Ray's actual 160 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 2: life and what I don't know about the personalities from 161 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 2: his family. I'm going to fill in with the characters 162 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 2: from my family, so I know what I'm writing about, right, 163 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,559 Speaker 2: And they kind of nodded like this, and then he 164 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 2: gave me these words of advice, just don't embarrass us. 165 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:31,679 Speaker 2: I said, that's nice. Said, that's what I tell my 166 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 2: kids when I drop them off at school. So I left. 167 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 2: They had greeted me as if I had the job already. 168 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 2: They just wanted to like make sure. But after I 169 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 2: got a call from my agent saying, congratulations, you passed 170 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 2: the audition. That was the That was a meeting, and 171 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 2: I guess maybe all that stuff was a test. I 172 00:10:55,080 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 2: don't know, right. In the nine years that followed, I 173 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 2: spoke to David Letterman a grand total of five minutes. Really, yeah, 174 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 2: but he did call to congratulate us, you know, when 175 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 2: we got picked up the second season. He even did 176 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 2: a top ten list for our rat party, which was great, right, 177 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 2: you know about Raymond. And then and then at the end, 178 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 2: he was very sweet and very generous in his praise 179 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 2: for the show. I think he was very proud of 180 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 2: the show actually. And then I got a chance to 181 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 2: call him when he was going off the air, and 182 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 2: you know what, I called him maybe two days before 183 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 2: he went off the air, I left a message. That's 184 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 2: all I wanted to do, was leave a message to 185 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 2: thank him for my great opportunity, right and how how 186 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 2: much I loved him and the sh He called me 187 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 2: right back and we talked for twenty minutes. 188 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:54,599 Speaker 1: Oh nice. 189 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 2: He couldn't have been nicer. And I've seen him since 190 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,040 Speaker 2: and he's so kind and nice. I think having a 191 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 2: kid actually softened him. I'll do it right, And now 192 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 2: he literally looks like Santa Claus and he's just you know, 193 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:12,959 Speaker 2: he's a freaking. 194 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 1: Icon, one of the great stand up comedians. 195 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and also change TV. 196 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, he did, He really did. 197 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 2: So it was an honor to, you know, be under 198 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 2: that ages and just be associated with him in any way. 199 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 1: Would you ever get back into the business in a 200 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: real way with a new show or are you done? 201 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,959 Speaker 2: Yes? I would, but if the business doesn't seem to be. 202 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: There anymore, it doesn't or doesn't. 203 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 2: After Raymond, after graduating from that experience nine years, I 204 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:00,719 Speaker 2: wrote another sitcom. I thought, that's what I'm been put 205 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:04,959 Speaker 2: on earth to do. Everybody wanted me to and then 206 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 2: nobody bought it. And then I wrote another one and 207 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 2: nobody wanted it, and I'm like, what's going on? And 208 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 2: they said, well, you know your style of sitcom, it's 209 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 2: not really what they want. I said, what do they want? 210 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, what do they want? 211 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 2: They want friends? Everybody wanted friends. They wanted the young, 212 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 2: hip edgy show. I said, well you got the right 213 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 2: guy and mister hip and Edgy. So I just knocked 214 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 2: around for years, frustrated trying to write sitcoms. 215 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: So they don't want family, no generational, they don't want that. 216 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 2: And it's stupid because the building blocks of television has 217 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 2: always been the well made family sitcoms. There wouldn't be 218 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 2: another family sitcom after Raymond until Modern Family. 219 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: Five years later, right right? 220 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 2: And it had to be modern right right, It had 221 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 2: to tick all the boxes right for Actually, I guess 222 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 2: they would call it hip and edgy because they had 223 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 2: a gay couple, they had a Latina mixed marriage, they 224 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 2: had you know, multi generation was it was very cleverly 225 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,559 Speaker 2: done and fantastic. But that's what it took to get 226 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 2: another family sitcom. Name the last great one after that. 227 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 2: That's twenty five years ago, right, God? 228 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: Is that long ago? Modern Family started? 229 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: They just don't value them. And I believe I know why. 230 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 2: I think it's because executives themselves personally want to be 231 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 2: associated with young, hip and edgy, yeah, and not the family. 232 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 2: So what did I do? I had this dream of 233 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 2: doing a travel from and so I switched lanes, which 234 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 2: you know, the business. They don't really understand or want 235 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 2: that because that's a tougher sell. We know, he's the 236 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 2: sitcom guy. Okay, now you're going to be in a 237 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 2: travel show. You have no business doing that. And it 238 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 2: took me ten years to get really yeah. And I 239 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 2: first started on PBS. The show was called I'll Haboohil's having. 240 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 2: I did six episodes on PBS. We did very well, 241 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 2: but then they couldn't afford to do the show anymore. 242 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 2: And then thank god, this new company called Netflix was 243 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 2: coming along and they liked it. 244 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: Ah, okay, all right. 245 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 2: And then we changed it to Somebody Phil. 246 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: That's such a great title. 247 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 2: See, it's so great. I love the title too, because 248 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 2: it cannotes someone who needs to be taken care of. 249 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: Yes, somebody feed Phil. I mean right there, it's vulnerable. 250 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 2: It's you get to get you understand my character. You know. 251 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 2: I sold the show with one line. This is the 252 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 2: long I'm exactly like Anthony Bourdain if he was afraid 253 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 2: of everything. 254 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: That's great. I mean, you can't lose. You just can't lose. 255 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: That's so good. All right, So let's get into this 256 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: a little bit. This show you've eaten in all these 257 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: incredible places all over the world. Yes, you know, you're 258 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: talking a little bit about why the why you did this, 259 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: But really, I mean it was this. It was this 260 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: frustration with the business uh and and and not being 261 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: able to get something made after winning so many Emmy 262 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: Awards that you just decided like, Hey, I'm just going 263 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: to do my thing, and I want to travel. I 264 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: want to combine everything I love or a lot of 265 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: things I love, and do my own show and control 266 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: my destiny pretty much and be my my own sort 267 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: of boss. And you know that kind of thing. Is that? 268 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: Is that how it came about. 269 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 2: I was having such a hard time that I thought, 270 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 2: if I'm going to knock my head against this show 271 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 2: business wall, why not pick a spot in the wall 272 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 2: that I would really like? So my ideal show is 273 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 2: this what you're seeing now. We're the longest running show, 274 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 2: by the way, original series on Netflix. Eight. This is 275 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 2: the eighth season that coming in, and I think it's 276 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 2: because I followed a dream that ten years it took 277 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 2: to get it. And I'm not exaggerating ten years. Was 278 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 2: it worth it? Yes, because look at me now, I'm on, 279 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:43,479 Speaker 2: Luke Stunner. 280 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: You really made it. 281 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 2: I've made it. That's how I feel. 282 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 1: Well. You don't just bring anybody on. 283 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,679 Speaker 2: I'm not kidding. I think you know the fact that 284 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 2: anyone would want to talk to me about my career. 285 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 2: I feel incredibly lucky, incredibly lucky. That's what drives everything 286 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: when you wake up and the baseline is gratitude. You're 287 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 2: in a good place. Right, So look what I get 288 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 2: to do. 289 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:11,959 Speaker 1: How do you think I feel twenty five years in 290 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: and this like phenomenon of a show? Just keep growing 291 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: and growing. And that's right. I wake up every day 292 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: on how did this happen? This is so great? 293 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 2: Yeah? But what I tell listeners or any any audience 294 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 2: that I run into, or any person who asks how 295 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 2: do you do it? If you make something a priority 296 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 2: in your life, you don't rest until it happens. 297 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: Right now. 298 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 2: That's not to say there's anything wrong with finding another 299 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 2: priority and saying I'm dumping that first idea, right right. 300 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 2: You know, for example, having a family, Okay, but I 301 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 2: didn't care about my family. 302 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: No, I. 303 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 2: Had a priority. One was family and one was the show. 304 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 2: And now guess what I get to combine both. The 305 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 2: family comes along with me. Right, that's beautiful, right, So 306 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 2: that that's really nice. They can't come on every episode, 307 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 2: although I wish they could, because they have something called 308 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 2: their own lives. Right, But I love doing it with 309 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 2: my wife whenever she can. The audience loves her, and 310 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 2: the kids are cute too. 311 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 1: I have to stay right, let me ask you this, Yeah, 312 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:43,400 Speaker 1: how do you pick the restaurant? Yeah, or food stops 313 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 1: for the show? 314 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 2: Yeah? I google best place to eat Amsterdam? Right, And 315 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 2: I'm not kidding. And then I just don't go by 316 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 2: one review. I start pruss referencing. You know, when you 317 00:19:55,160 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 2: google anything, not to plug Google, but any engine, a 318 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 2: lot of stuff comes up, not just their recommendation, but 319 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 2: all the links to all the let's say, local magazine influencers, 320 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 2: Instagram things, reviews of all kinds. And when a restaurant 321 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,880 Speaker 2: starts popping up several times, maybe there's something there. Now, 322 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 2: I do have something that maybe you don't have, which 323 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:26,120 Speaker 2: is a production company in New York and they used 324 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 2: to be Bourdain's production company, and so they have fixers 325 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 2: literally all over the world because he was on for 326 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 2: eighteen years. And so I'll send them my little list 327 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 2: that I'm thinking of and they'll say, oh, that's not 328 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 2: the best pancakes in Amsterdam, this is the best, right. 329 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,399 Speaker 2: And then we do something that I love, which is 330 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 2: we leave room in the schedule. When we're shooting. We 331 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:56,160 Speaker 2: shoot for a week in each place. We leave room 332 00:20:56,160 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 2: in the schedule for serendipity, for the fine stuff. 333 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: Right. 334 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 2: Usually we'll be doing a scene with a chef and 335 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 2: they'll recommend another place and we'll check that out right 336 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 2: if it sounds fantastic, and you know what, those are 337 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 2: my favorite things. That's most spontaneous. That's a lesson for 338 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 2: life too. If you're going on vacation, don't over plan. 339 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:24,200 Speaker 2: Be in the moment. How many times does this happen 340 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 2: where you know you had a reservation somewhere in Europe 341 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 2: and you didn't get there, you got there late, where 342 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 2: it's raining you can't get there, or other places closed 343 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:36,439 Speaker 2: suddenly for no reason. Right now, what, let's just go 344 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 2: in here. It's not we're tired, We've been traveled for 345 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 2: eighteen hours. Let's just I'm just hungry. Let's just eat. 346 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 4: You go in meally your life, right, that happens right, sure, 347 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 4: so I love that. 348 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 2: That's how we do it. 349 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: That's how you do it, man. Yeah, and you're in 350 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: production right now on No, see, you're not right now. 351 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 2: I'm on this publicity tour for season eight, which comes 352 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,200 Speaker 2: out the eighteenth, June eighteenth. 353 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 1: Okay, June eighteenth, Netflix the Tops on Netflix June eighteenth, 354 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: that's coming up. Yeah, everybody should check it out. 355 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 2: I got a clarterdam Hamstersterdam Tablisi, which is the former 356 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 2: Soviet Georgia where they invent did wine seven thousand years ago. 357 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: Ah. 358 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 2: Wow, Wild Australia. We do Sydney and Adelaide. In this 359 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 2: episode we go to Manila and the Philippines. We did 360 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 2: two shows in America, Boston and Las Vegas, and Guatemala 361 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 2: and San Sebastian and the Basque Country in Spain. 362 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:46,120 Speaker 1: You're all over the place, all over the world. That's fantastic. 363 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 2: It is fantastic. 364 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: It's fantastic. If you were to come into a Luke's diner. Okay, yes, yes, 365 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,119 Speaker 1: they don't exist yet, but we're working on it. 366 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 2: Good. I'm working on a diner myself, you know, are 367 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 2: you really? Yeah? I'm going to open a diner this song. 368 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:02,360 Speaker 1: Oh that's fantastic. 369 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 2: Good for you. I love diners. I was inspired by 370 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,239 Speaker 2: a diner in Biddeford Main when we shot the main 371 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 2: episode called the Pales Diner. And it's a very simple diner, 372 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 2: the one in Biddeford. It was just elevated by great 373 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 2: chefs coming in and using fantastic ingredients, but nothing fancy. 374 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:28,199 Speaker 2: It's still bacon and eggs, waffles, bacons, burger, but the 375 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 2: best of those things I ever had. I said, oh 376 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 2: my god, I want to do something like this in 377 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 2: my neighborhood where I live. And I got a great 378 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 2: chef to go in with me. And her name is 379 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 2: Nancy Silverton. Have you heard of her? 380 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:43,919 Speaker 1: I know, I'm sorry I have not. 381 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:48,120 Speaker 2: Oh. Oh, she's invented Lebray a bakery, oh gosh, and 382 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 2: Moza in La. She's a spectacular chef. 383 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:54,640 Speaker 1: That's fantastic. And so that's an. 384 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 2: I'm naming after my parents, Max and Helens. 385 00:23:57,359 --> 00:23:58,159 Speaker 1: That's beautiful. 386 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 2: Thank you. But tell me about Lukes di Well. 387 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:02,360 Speaker 1: I want to ask you if you were to come 388 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 1: into the diner. Yes, what would you order? 389 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 2: I would order breakfast. I love a diner breakfast. I 390 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 2: love eggs or punts. I love a soft scramble like 391 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:20,679 Speaker 2: my father. My father lived for very soft scrambled eggs. 392 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: I'm a soft scramble guy. I just had, Yes, I 393 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: just had myself. I have it every morning. I love it. 394 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:30,159 Speaker 4: It's great and good for you. And and he he 395 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:34,919 Speaker 4: would ask my mother, my eggs, lovey? Are they fluffy? 396 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 4: I've been making you eggs for sixty years. You think 397 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 4: I'm just checking. 398 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 1: They gotta be fluffy? 399 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 2: Man on his tombstone and I am not kidding. On 400 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 2: his tombstone, it says, are my eggs fluffy? 401 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 1: Come on? That's beautiful. That's beautiful. 402 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 2: And next his tombstone is hers, and it says, I'm 403 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 2: listening the opera, which was her preod occupation. 404 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:07,479 Speaker 1: Oh man, I wish we had more time. Will you 405 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: please come back? 406 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 2: What have you want? But wait, you were gonna You're 407 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,679 Speaker 2: gonna tell me something, or you were saying, if I 408 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,359 Speaker 2: come into Luke's Diner, what my order is? 409 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 4: Yeah? 410 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: You just said you love breakfast. You just said pancakes 411 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: and all that. 412 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,239 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, I thought we were going to talk more 413 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:25,640 Speaker 2: about that diner. But that's okay. Uh I. I can't 414 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 2: wait for your diner. I'm a student of diners. 415 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: Now, I know me too, right, do you. 416 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 2: Have a go to in LA? Where are you? Well? 417 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:39,640 Speaker 1: No, I'm outside of La now. Yeah, we got out 418 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 1: and you know, the middle of COVID so you know 419 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:46,400 Speaker 1: we wait, we're out. We're out more towards the beach. Okay, yeah, 420 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:49,360 Speaker 1: we we We got out in the wide open spaces. 421 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 2: That's great. 422 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: Is there a diner, Not that I have found as yet, 423 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 1: but there will be. 424 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 2: You know, they're disappearing from America, Yeah, not for long. 425 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 2: With that is you lose a sense of community. 426 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 1: Yes, I agree, one hundred percent. 427 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 2: And with the loss of community, maybe you lose the country. 428 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 2: So I'm going to solve everything diner. 429 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 1: Yes, Hey, we do what we can, right, And that's 430 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 1: an important piece of it, right there. 431 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 2: You think globally and act locally. 432 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 1: That's right, brilliant. Please come back, Phil, please, please please. 433 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: I think we're just scratching the surface of the conversation here, 434 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:35,399 Speaker 1: scratch and and we'll we'll a lot more time next time. 435 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,959 Speaker 1: So everybody watch. Somebody feed Phil out now on Netflix 436 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: season eight. What a guy, what a talent. Thank you, 437 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 1: and to the best fans on the planet, remember we 438 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 1: appreciate the downloads, keep the cards and letters coming, and 439 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:55,199 Speaker 1: remember where you lead, we will follow. 440 00:26:55,520 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 3: Stay safe, everyone, dot. 441 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody to forget. Follow us on Instagram at I 442 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:32,920 Speaker 1: Am all In podcast and email us at Gilmore at 443 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio dot com.