Phil’s eatin’ it uP
PHIL Rosenthal is a naturally funny and enthusiastic guy — two traits on display in his new PBS series, “I’ll Have What Phil’s Having.” Premiering Monday night at 8 (on Ch. 13), it showcases the “everybody Loves raymond” creator — and selfprofessed foodie — as he travels the globe sampling different cities’ culinary fare.
rosenthal says the show’s genesis was a two-part episode of “raymond” (the CBS sitcom’s Season 5 premiere) where ray Barone (series star Ray Romano) and his entire family traveled to Italy to visit a cousin. “It took five years to get the money from CBS to go film in Italy and it was one of our best episodes,” says rosenthal. “And what happened to ray the character happened to ray [romano] the person — he really was transformed by this act of traveling to another country. And I thought, what if I could do this for other people — and I’m the one showing them?
“So [‘raymond’] is over and a year or two goes by and I get a call from russia. Would I like to transform my sitcom into a russian sitcom called ‘everybody Loves Kostya’? We filmed the whole thing and made a documentary, ‘exporting raymond,’ that started streaming on Netflix. PBS saw this, they called me in and said, ‘We love this and we love the idea of you going places.’ I said, ‘So does my wife,’ ” says rosenthal (cue the rim shot). “I said, ‘What about a show where I go to the greatest cities on earth and I show people where to eat?’ They said, ‘We’ve been looking for years for a travel and food show with humor. Where would you like to go? We’re giving you six hours on the air.’ Sometimes God smiles on you.”
In the series, rosenthal visits cities including Tokyo, Barcelona, florence and LA. (In Tokyo, he eats insects and also barbecued eel, complete with heads — “leaving with my teeth and trachea intact,” he says of the crunchy delicacy.) “I’ve got the next 25 episodes lined up and I’m ready beyond that,” he says. “I can keep going. It’s a big world out there — someone’s gotta eat it!”
rosenthal is also working with his pal David Wild on a new online talk show for fandango called “Naked Lunch.” “It’s us talking with our friends about things that interest us,” he says. “It’s a simple show, only a few minutes ... frankly, it’s something I can film during lunch.”
Last, but not least …
ForMer NfL quarterback Kurt Warner gueststars on Wednesday’s Season 2 opener of the Nickelodeon series “Bella & The Bulldogs” (8 p.m. with stars Brec Bassinger and Coy Stewart). “I had such a blast,” he says. “It was really fun to see the tables turned, having ... Bella as the team’s quarterback. And I think the show has an overall positive message that kids, including my own, can relate to” ... “The real” (11 a.m./ Ch. 5, 1 a.m./BeT) spiked 33 percent in women 25-54, nationally, its opening week vs. the same week last year with hosts Adrienne Bailon, Tamar Braxton, Loni Love, Tamera Mowry–Housley and Jeannie Mai ... CUNY TV exec (and former “Good Day New York” eP)
Gail Yancosek has formed Gail Yancosek Consulting in conjunction with Carol Anne Riddell and Susan Iger ... “rachael ray” producer Bianca Brunette, NY1 publicist
Nikia Redhead and publicist Susan Blond. Just sayin’.