By Nari Kye 

Sleep, the night before leaving for a shoot, is a lost battle.  Every possible disaster scenario goes around and around in my head over and over again.  Since this was my first official Associate Producer gig, I needed everything to go perfectly.  I had to prove to Tony, Chris and rest of the crew I was a valuable asset.  Releases, scenes, chefs, costs then the next thing I know, the alarm goes off and the day has come:  shoot day 1.

By Paul Cabana, Producer

DAY ONE 

First time producer on Bourdain. looking forward to a cakewalk - what could go wrong? (1) Tony’s car to the airport an hour late. (2) he’s pissed. that surly intimidating TV persona? Not so much for TV. (3) Economy Plus should be renamed Business Minus. We’re sitting four across like we’re strapped on a roller coaster. The symbolism doesn’t escape me. (4) I switch seats with Todd who claims he has a phobia of middle seats. Note to self: watch out for The Todd. (5) We arrive in the UK and still haven’t confirmed our key scene, Marco Pierre White. (6) We’re testing new cameras on this shoot and find some big glitches: the big one is the focus ring. It’s way off. (9) Todd and Zach really annoyed. Not exactly a smooth start.

By Rennik Soholt, Producer

Oh the Holiday Show…what an experience!  I feel like it’s been December since the beginning of August.  Let me see, let me see.  Memories.  I remember Tony wearing a bee outfit at Stone Barns, which was perfect.  But this will only be seen by our international audiences.  It’s definitely worth a look-see, if you can, though.  Curling with Tony and Todd?  PRICELESS.  Todd is such a trouper.  I’m starting to think he likes it when we take the camera out of his hand and hand him alcohol.  When IS Toddles gonna have his own show, huh?  Can you say, “spin off?” (But not like “Joey”…I mean, something good).