or


[03/18/08 - 11:23 AM]
NBC Turns Up the Heat with 'The Chopping Block,' New Cooking Competition Series Starring Super Chef and Original Bad Boy of British Cooking Marco Pierre White
The eight couples chosen to participate will arrive in Manhattan hoping to fulfill a single dream - to open their own quality restaurant.

[via press release from NBC]

NBC TURNS UP THE HEAT WITH 'THE CHOPPING BLOCK,' NEW COOKING COMPETITION SERIES STARRING SUPER CHEF AND ORIGINAL BAD BOY OF BRITISH COOKING MARCO PIERRE WHITE

Opinionated Chef/Restaurateur White and Panel of Judges Will Put Eight Couples Through Weekly Elimination Challenges Until One Winning Pair Realizes Their Lifelong Dream Of Opening Their Own Chic Manhattan Restaurant

BURBANK - March 18, 2008 - NBC will feature celebrated chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White (UK's "Hell's Kitchen") in a new original cooking competition series "The Chopping Block," in which the British Michelin star chef will offer neophyte hopeful chefs/restaurateurs working in couples a chance to compete in America's greatest restaurant challenge for their chance to open their own Manhattan restaurant. The series is being produced for NBC by Granada America.

The announcement was made today by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.

"Everyone flirts with the idea of what it would be like to own their own restaurant," said Plestis. "Our series will expose all of the unseen pitfalls, the behind-the-scenes madness and utter exhaustion that accompanies the passion, art and business of a new restaurant all under Marco's watchful and critical eye. In the end, one couple will be totally thrilled - but their real challenge will have just begun."

Dawn Airey, ITV's Managing Director of Global Content added: "We are delighted to be partnering with NBC on this dynamic new series. This is a perfect example of how a global content business should work. We have married some outstanding UK talent, nurtured by Natalka Znak of ITV Productions in UK and our own network, with an original format created by David Barbour and Julian Cress of our Los Angeles based office, Granada America, to create what I am sure will be a globally successful format."

The eight couples chosen to participate will arrive in Manhattan hoping to fulfill a single dream - to open their own quality restaurant. The controversial and unpredictable White represents their best chance as one of the world's most notable chefs and restaurateurs.

"I am lucky enough to have realized my dream and I will never achieve anything greater than 3 stars Michelin," said White. "What excites me today is creating opportunities for others to fulfill their dreams and visions. The great thing about 'The Chopping Block' is that it gives couples this amazing opportunity to change their lives forever and the interesting bit for me is seeing who appreciates this and takes full advantage of it."

The heat is on when White ushers the couples - split into two teams of four couples each - to two empty restaurant spaces, side-by-side, in the middle of Manhattan. There, they are afforded less than a week to accomplish a multitude of tasks, including: a design and makeover of the space, planning a menu and generating buzz-worthy publicity to ensure a crowd. Both establishments will open at the same time and will be competing for the same customers each night - as well as against 26,000 other restaurants in the world's busiest (and hungriest) city.

A panel of judges will be assigned to observe the chaos that inevitably unfolds on opening night. The next morning, after the dust has settled, White will return with the reviews. The worst-performing restaurant's operators will have to plead their case - because one couple will be sent packing.

Subsequent episodes will test the remaining contestants on their restaurant and culinary skills, such as concocting a signature dish, preparing freshly killed game, handling a wedding reception and how savvy they are with four of the world's classic cuisines - French, Asian, Italian and Mediterranean. Ultimately, each episode concludes as the weary wannabe chefs face the critics - and Chef White. One couple per week will be asked to turn in their aprons and go home.

The challenges grow more intense until the grand finale where one couple will make a lasting impression that will allow them to realize their lifelong dream and open their own chic Manhattan restaurant.

Born in Leeds, UK in 1961 the son of a local chef and Italian mother, White trained with Michael Lawson, Albert Roux, Nico Landenis, Pierre Koffmann and Raymond Blanc before opening the restaurant that won him two Michelin stars, Harveys. He then went on to win three stars at the Hyde Park Hotel and the final accolade was to keep these stars and win five red knives and forks - the ultimate accolade for in dining service and the only restaurant in Britain to be granted this honor, at The Oak Room. His restaurants in the UK included The Canteen, Mirabelle, Quo Vadis, Criterion, Marco Pierre White at the Hyde Park Hotel and The Oak Room.

He inspired a generation of super star chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Mario Batali and Heston Blumenthal and made it his mission to raise standards of cooking and service.

White retired from the kitchen in 1999 and handed back his three Michelin stars. He was persuaded to go back into the kitchen by ITV Productions for series three of the UK's hit reality show "Hell's Kitchen" and proved that his fiery passion was still burning brightly.

"The Chopping Block" is produced by Granada America. David Barbour and Julian Cress are the executive producers.





  [march 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· CHOPPING BLOCK (NBC)
· HELL'S KITCHEN (FOX)





[10/03/25 - 02:17 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting '25 MLB Wild Card Series
Across eight games, the MLB Wild Card Series is averaging 4.4 million viewers, up 65% from last year.

[10/03/25 - 12:37 PM]
BET+ Sets October 23 Premiere for "Carl Weber's The Family Business" Season 6
The 10-episode season will premiere with two episodes, followed by one episode weekly, with the finale on Thursday, December 18.

[10/03/25 - 12:07 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues to Shatter Records - Growing Two Weeks in a Row Since Season Premiere for First Time Since 2005
Plus: "High Potential" hit a season high in Total Viewers (4.24 million), growing by double digits over the show's comparable third episode from last fall.

[10/03/25 - 10:57 AM]
Legends, Champions and Icons of October Highlight FOX Sports' Postseason Broadcaster Lineup
FOX Sports begins its Postseason coverage Saturday, October 4 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One as the New York Yankees face the Toronto Blue Jays.

[10/03/25 - 10:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Gold Rush" Returns with High-Stake Risks and Land Fury on Friday, November 7 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
With only a few short months to mine, top bosses and rising underdogs collide in a race to claim new ground, move more dirt, and strike it rich.

[10/03/25 - 09:12 AM]
FOX Nation Secures Exclusive U.S. Rights to Docuseries "Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar"
The acclaimed series will make its anticipated U.S. debut on FOX Nation on Monday, October 6.

[10/03/25 - 08:02 AM]
TNT Sports to Be Exclusive Home of 2025 NLDS & NLCS
Both best-of-five NLDS series begin Saturday, October 4.

[10/03/25 - 08:01 AM]
TNT Sports Sets BIG EAST Men's College Basketball Schedule for Inaugural 2025-26 Season
TNT Sports' regular season BIG EAST men's basketball schedule will feature 40 appearances by St. John's, UConn, Creighton, Xavier, and Marquette, programs that each clinched berths in last season's NCAA Men's Tournament.

[10/03/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "27 Nights" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a woman is admitted by her daughters to a psychiatric clinic for her carefree ways, an expert must judge if she is ill or simply wants to enjoy life.

[10/03/25 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Steve" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.

[10/03/25 - 03:02 AM]
Miguel Herran Will Play Poli Diaz in "El Porto the Vallecas," the New Film by Daniel Calparsoro for Netflix
Inspired by true events, the film follows the life of Policarpo "Poli" Díaz (Miguel Herrán), a young man from Vallecas who, despite a childhood marked by poverty and family violence, became a boxing legend in 1980s Spain, even fighting for the world lightweight title.

[10/03/25 - 03:01 AM]
Netflix Honors Jane Goodall with Posthumous Release of "Famous Last Words" Docuseries Following Her Passing
The series showcases reflective interviews with some of the world's most influential cultural figures, who agreed to sit down and discuss their legacy, and give their final words, with the understanding that it would only be shared with the world after they passed.

[10/02/25 - 04:09 PM]
ESPN Delivers the Most-Watched WNBA Semifinals Ever
Game 5 between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces averaged 1.8 million viewers, peaking at 2.1 million.

[10/02/25 - 03:01 PM]
Video: "Twisted Wonderland" - Trailer - Disney+
Your favorite villains reimagined in ways you've never dared to dream.

[10/02/25 - 02:51 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting Day One of MLB Wild Card Series
Coverage of Red Sox versus Yankees averaged 6.5 million viewers, peaking at 9.9 million.