My computer is refusing to let me read past page 2 of Rocco's blog.

Okay, was finally able to get back into that blog. I like what he said in response to Bourdain and it's interesting that he's had alot of positive comments. (Most say, start cooking again and your rehabilitation will be 95% done.)

I wonder what he's going to say next time?

Very interesting article about Bravo's reality show contestants.

What a great article. Of course, it helps that I've watched every one of those shows. I can't believe Jay's contract would have given Bravo 10% of his business forever, in exchange for the $100K. That's bananas. I wonder if the first-season winner always gets screwed over -- now I'm thinking of Adrianne Curry.

Oh, I don't know. It seems like a standard investment. Any other investor would ask for the same deal-- how does Jay expect to get investors if he wants them to just give him money with no return? I am kind of annoyed with him for complaining about having no money and giving up the 100K.

Oh, I don't know. It seems like a standard investment. Any other investor would ask for the same deal

Really? Huh. One difference with Bravo is that I would have thought the money was a prize, not an investment -- which I guess it is now.

I am kind of annoyed with him for complaining about having no money and giving up the 100K.

Well, I'm sure he thought Everything Would Be Different. Noodle has no idea how to start a business like that.

You notice that there aren't the same strings attached to Top Chef winners -- I'm sure that Jay is the reason that it isn't an investment but rather a prize.

Oh, I don't know. It seems like a standard investment. Any other investor would ask for the same deal-- how does Jay expect to get investors if he wants them to just give him money with no return? I am kind of annoyed with him for complaining about having no money and giving up the 100K

Investment, yes. Prize, no. They bill it as a prize. And even if it was an investment, 10% of the business forever is a bit much.

So, when he gave up the money, he also gave up the mentorship, I assume? Because I was confused when he was talking about how he had no guidance.

However the money comes, investment or prize, I suspect the bigger issue is that a lot of the contestants are eliding the difference between "100k to start your own line" and "your own line."

Frankly, "10% of your business forever" is pretty easy going compared to some of the other reality contracts. American Idol in particular just kind of owns you for a long time. Not forever, but for a while, and completely -- every album you record and every song you write, and anything you do is released or not at their discretion, so if they want to really screw you, they can.

Reading about the AI contract made me never ever ever want to do any of the career-oriented reality shows, like Project Greenlight (which owns your next three movies outright, but won't do much to help you finance) or On the Lot (don't know what their contract says). I'll take the hard way, thanks.