• NBC's 'The Restaurant' funded solely by product placement

  July 18, 2003
  Since Survivor first aired on CBS in the summer of 2002, viewers have noted (and sometimes complained about) the continuing number of product placements in the show. Sponsoring products have been incorporated directly into the production, ranging from food rewards to computer "cafes" to SUVs for overnight sleeping. Now, with his new NBC show The Restaurant, Survivor executive producer Mark Burnett has carried that concept one step further.

• Hot British reality show evaluates ... housework?

  June 18, 2003
  Many hit U.S. reality TV shows have their roots in the U.K., ranging from American Idol (a copy of the British smash Pop Idol) to The Mole. However, not every reality show can succeed in both countries. For example, Survivor, the idea of a U.K. production company, was never produced in the U.K. until after it became a U.S. hit, and it then flopped completely there. And its clone, I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!, featuring D-list celebs, remains a U.K. phenomenon despite being a superdud in the U.S.

• NBC's new 'The Restaurant' reality show to premiere July 20th

  June 6, 2003
  NBC has announced that “The Restaurant,” the network's new upcoming "unscripted drama series" (the term "reality TV" just won't cut it any more) will premiere Sunday, July 20 at 10PM ET.

• NBC & 'Survivor' producer Mark Burnett to team-up for new 'The Restaurant' reality show

  April 10, 2003
  Ever dream of working in a hip New York restaurant and starring in a television series at the same time? NBC along with Executive Producers Mark Burnett ("Survivor" & "Eco-Challenge") and Ben Silverman as well as Chef Rocco DiSpirito announce a national open call for all positions at the Manhattan hot spot that the network will chronicle. DiSpirito is now hiring waiters/waitresses, hosts/hostesses, bartenders, sous chefs, kitchen and bussing staff. Only experienced candidates need apply.

• USA Network announces names and profiles of twelve 'Nashville Star' finalists

  February 14, 2003
  The judges have spoken, and USA Network is proud to announce the twelve finalists for Nashville Star, a grassroots nationwide talent search for the next country music superstar premiering Saturday, March 8 at 9:00 PM (ET/PT) on USA Network. The finalists will compete for a recording contract with Sony Music Nashville over the course of the live nine-week series. They will live together in a fully-wired Nashville house where cameras will record their day in and day out quest to become the next great country music sensation.

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