Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/26212
Service With a Smile America’s Next Great Restaurant is a tasty treat TV by DEAN ROBBINS America’s Next Great Restaurant (Sunday, 8 p.m., NBC) is a brilliant concept for a reality series, and it’s also brilliantly executed. It searches for entrepreneurs who have a viable scheme for a “fast-casual” restaurant — in other words, the next Chipotle — and takes them through the steps for making their dream a reality. They will hire chefs, design graphics, operate their own food trucks, etc. Guiding them through this pro- cess are four articulate judges with experience in the field, includ- ing Chipotle founder Steve Ells and chef Bobby Flay. In a clever twist, the judges are also the investors who will back the winning restaurant, set to open in May. That’s right — America’s Next Great Restaurant is not only a TV pro- gram, but part of the marketing plan for the new business. Who says U.S. capitalists are running out of ideas? As in Project Runway, Top Chef and other reality series featuring tal- ented professionals, it’s enlightening to hear the judges’ expert critiques. Can the food be served quickly enough? Does the menu involve too many ingredients? Will the cooking be too complicated? In the premiere, howev- er, much of the entertainment value comes from the contestants who don’t make the cut, à la American Idol. We hear from would-be restaurateurs who want to serve “lactation smoothies”; combine a gun shop and a café; and create a male version of Hooters called Peckers. Even some of the contestants who make the cut are questionable. Would you patronize a meatball joint called Saucy Balls? Can’t wait to see the graphic-design concept for that one. Secret Millionaire Sunday, 8 pm (ABC) In this reality series, millionaires go undercover in poor, crime-ridden areas. When they find a person doing something positive for the commu- nity, they give him or her some of their money to keep doing it. Now that tax cuts for millionaires have been extended, and govern- ment services must be cut as a result, Secret Millionaire basically serves as the United States’ social safety net. Let’s hope it gets renewed for fall. The Real Housewives of Orange County Sunday, 10 pm (Bravo) The new season begins on a note of remorse and redemption, as the affluent Orange County housewives vow to change their catfighting ways. “I’m really trying hard not to be negative,” says busty bottle-blond Tamra. “I’m trying to be more soft-hearted, caring and giving,” says busty bottle-blond Vicki. “Every day I wake up trying to do what Jesus would do,” says busty bottle-blond Alexis. Just when Orange County starts looking like a model of civilized be- havior, however, the Housewives get together for a party. Within minutes, they begin ripping into each other like vicious seventh-graders. “All I thought about was throwing wine in Gretchen’s face,” says Tamra, aban- doning her ban on negativity. “Then I thought, no, this bitch is not worth a good glass of wine.” Exactly what Jesus would do if he lived in Orange County? WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MARCH 2-8, 2011 UCW 19 Call 484-6200