Anthony Bourdain

Host / Writer / Producer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-and-a-half-hour Archive interview, Anthony Bourdain (1956-2018) talks about getting into cooking as his profession and discusses his early cooking influences. He describes writing the books "Kitchen Confidential" and "A Cook's Tour" and how the latter led to his first television series, appropriately called A Cook's Tour. He recounts, in detail, writing, producing, and hosting his show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and explains the impact the program had on his career and on other television cooking shows. Bourdain recalls his stint writing for the HBO drama Treme and talks about his CNN series Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown - for which he traveled to several exotic locales. He discusses his feelings about "celebrity chefs" and his own celebrity, and concludes by giving advice to aspiring food writers and television hosts. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on August 14, 2015 in New York, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"The celebrity chef phenomena, this cult of personalities, has been very good. Great business for me, but also for cooking in general because people care what the chefs think now."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Anthony Bourdain on the Haiti episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
04:51
Anthony Bourdain on writing for the series Treme
06:13
Anthony Bourdain on working with Iggy Pop on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
02:02
Anthony Bourdain on turning his interest in food into a profession
03:35
Anthony Bourdain on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
04:12
Anthony Bourdain on how food can be political
04:30
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on television he watched growing up 
On turning his interest in food into a profession; on his early cooking influences; on his "New Yorker" article and how it impacted his career
On his books "Kitchen Confidential" and "A Cook's Tour" and how the latter led to his television show; on his first TV series A Cook's Tour; on his show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
On the production, specific episodes, and writing of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
On specific episodes of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations; on how food can be political; on entering people's homes to film his shows; on eating with his hosts
On the technical crew of his shows; on the impact of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the end of the show, and moving to CNN; on dealing with censorship issues and notes from the network

Chapter 2

On writing for the series Treme; on the series The Mind of a Chef; on "celebrity chefs" and dealing with celebrity
On working with Iggy Pop; on the music used in his shows; on returning to cities he visited before on his shows
On using social media to promote his shows; on the fan feedback on his shows; on his various awards and Emmy nominations
On being a storyteller and what he loves about his work; on fatherhood; on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
On his production company Zero Point Zero; on his future and the things he likes doing best; on his proudest career achievements
Shows

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

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Anthony Bourdain on his show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
03:52
Anthony Bourdain on the production of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
03:28
Anthony Bourdain on specific episodes of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
03:25
Anthony Bourdain on the writing of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
03:53
Anthony Bourdain on the Haiti episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
04:51
Anthony Bourdain on the Beirut episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
06:56
Anthony Bourdain on the impact of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the end of the show, and moving to CNN
03:54

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

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Anthony Bourdain on returning to cities he visited before on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
03:17
Anthony Bourdain on doing research for Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
01:51
Anthony Bourdain on his favorite episodes of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
02:03
Anthony Bourdain on working with Iggy Pop on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
02:02

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Anthony Bourdain on his various awards and Emmy nominations
01:30

Mind of a Chef, The

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Anthony Bourdain on the series The Mind of a Chef
04:04

Treme

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Anthony Bourdain on writing for the series Treme
06:13
Topics

Advice

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Anthony Bourdain on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
04:12

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Anthony Bourdain on the impact of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the end of the show, and moving to CNN
03:54

Emmy Awards

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Anthony Bourdain on his various awards and Emmy nominations
01:30

Fame and Celebrity

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Anthony Bourdain on "celebrity chefs" and dealing with celebrity
05:35

Memorable Moments on Television

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Anthony Bourdain on the Haiti episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
04:51
Anthony Bourdain on the Beirut episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
06:56

New Media

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Anthony Bourdain on using social media to promote his shows
01:36

Pop Culture

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Anthony Bourdain on "celebrity chefs" and dealing with celebrity
05:35

Television Industry

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Anthony Bourdain on the impact of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the end of the show, and moving to CNN
03:54
Anthony Bourdain on using social media to promote his shows
01:36
Anthony Bourdain on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
04:12
Professions

Hosts

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Anthony Bourdain on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
04:12

Television Chef

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Anthony Bourdain on advice to aspiring writers and television personalities
04:12
Genres

Drama Series

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Anthony Bourdain on writing for the series Treme
06:13

News and Documentary

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Anthony Bourdain on his first TV series, A Cook's Tour
02:44
Anthony Bourdain on hosting Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
40:18
Anthony Bourdain on the series The Mind of a Chef
04:04
Anthony Bourdain on hosting Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
20:06

Service Shows

View Genre
Anthony Bourdain on his first TV series, A Cook's Tour
02:44
Anthony Bourdain on hosting Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
40:18
Anthony Bourdain on the series The Mind of a Chef
04:04
Anthony Bourdain on hosting Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
20:06

All Interviews

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