BRAVO'S NEW DOCU-SERIES "WELCOME TO THE PARKER" TURNS SPOTLIGHT ON FIVE-STAR CELEBRITY HAVEN -- THE PARKER PALM SPRINGS RESORT, PREMIERING JULY 26 AT 11 PM ET/PT
BRAVO'S NEW DOCU-SERIES "WELCOME TO THE PARKER" TURNS SPOTLIGHT ON FIVE-STAR CELEBRITY HAVEN -- THE PARKER PALM SPRINGS RESORT, PREMIERING JULY 26 AT 11 PM ET/PT
"I Have No Problem Being The Bad Guy As Long As It Brings The Hotel To The Next Level," Said Samir Chraibi, Hotel Manager.
NEW YORK � June 28, 2007 � What does it take to maintain a pristine reputation and meet the impossible demands of an A-list clientele at one of the nation's top five-star resorts? Bravo goes inside the luxurious world of the Parker Palm Springs hotel in the new docu-series "Welcome to the Parker," premiering Thursday, July 26, at 11 PM ET/PT (immediately following a new episode of "Hey Paula" at 10 PM). The series moves into it's regular 10 PM timeslot the following Thursday, August 2. Each one-hour episode follows the inherent drama, exhausting lives and complicated relationships between the top-notch hotel staff and their exacting and sometimes very particular guests.
There's never a dull moment at this retreat for the rich and famous -- whether Parker designer Jonathan Adler demands a full-time "pillow fluffer" to maintain the hotel's lush d�cor, or an over-the-top food critic puts everyone in a tizzy, or a group of Hollywood insiders trash the hotel's most expensive suite with a tricycle and too much beer.
"Bravo continues to create the kind of docu-drama series that our viewers crave," said Frances Berwick, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production. "This time we're pulling the curtain back on the culture of high class hotels and taking a look at the unique personalities that work and play at The Parker."
www.BravoTV.com will present a micro-site built around "Welcome to the Parker" that features blogs from hotel staff featured on the show, as well as bios and short histories. Additionally, the site will feature video extras that include previews of coming episodes, extended scenes not shown on air, and synopsis clips of each episode. The popular photo galleries will feature photos of famous hotels, films set in hotels and episodic galleries of each episode. Bravo Digital will introduce the interactive "No-Tell Hotel" feature, wherein viewers can submit their best or worst hotel stories via text or online, and Bravo will post them to the site.
The Parker's hard-working staff must keep the hotel's sterling reputation intact and is comprised of colorful personalities. Meet The Parker staff:
�Samir Chraibi & Thomas Meding, The men in charge: Thomas, the General Manager and German hotelier who knows what he wants and gets it and Samir, a 6'6" Moroccan former pro basketball player turned hotel manager, run The Parker. Together they preside over the estate with a combination of military precision and European suave, while scrutinizing every detail.
�Michael Crawford, Host of mister parker's Restaurant: Michael runs the ultra-chic hotel restaurant mister parker's. Dashing and looking like a young George Hamilton, he's the consummate host and ensures the right mood and tone for the restaurant. But don't expect to get a table there if you don't have a reservation weeks ahead, unless he takes a shine to you.
�John Federbush, Chief Concierge: John prides himself on the fact that he can get anything for anyone in the desert, and he does it with a smile. His unconventional familiarity with guests is both tolerated and encouraged at the Parker. His reputation as a "hugger" is just part of the package, even if it makes Samir squirm.
�Lynne Dibley, HR Director: Lynne, an outspoken, brash, former stand-up comic, trains new employees and is their best ally and sometimes worst nightmare.
�Rocio Varela, Executive Chef: With just one kitchen at The Parker to service Norma's restaurant, mister parker's, all room service, poolside dining and every banquet, meeting and wedding The Parker hosts --- it's no surprise that a woman like Rocio presides over the organized chaos. At the center of this hurricane, Rocio � a no-nonsense woman with standards higher than Thomas and Samir's and a passion for perfection � holds court and commands attention.
�Michael Twomey, New Catering Sales Manager: Michael � new to The Parker and the hotel business � has both people skills and flair for presentation which make him a natural at the job. Michael's wit has quickly made his presence felt, but he has a lot to learn, and learning on the job is never easy.
�Andrea Higgins, Sales: Andrea is an unflappable veteran of the hotel business, but that doesn't mean it's her whole life. A self-professed "social butterfly," she works to support her social life and takes each new crisis and complaint with a grain of salt. Her tricks of the hospitality trade are constantly being put to use to bail out newbie Michael Twomey, her closest friend at The Parker.
�Nathan Lourn, Room Service Waiter: Nathan's just trying to make a living in Palm Springs, but working in room service places unusual and unexpected demands. Guest requests come at all hours, and they want everything imaginable and then some. Not an easy job, but Nathan gets a kick out of the unique insight he gets into the private doings of The Parker's well-heeled guests.
The Parker Palm Springs is a happy chic estate known for laid-back relaxation. The hotel sits on 13 acres of landscaped property and gardens with a natural backdrop of desert and mountains.
"Welcome to the Parker" is a production of snackaholic in association with Bravo. Belisa Balaban and Ted Skillman are Executive Producers for snackaholic. Frances Berwick, Amy Introcaso Davis and Shari Levine are Executive Producers for Bravo.
Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts, entertainment and pop culture with original programming, acclaimed drama series, movies, comedy and music specials, and by showing a whole different side of celebrities. Currently available in more than 84 million homes, Bravo is known for breaking exciting new personalities, shaking up the way we look at style, media, fame and Hollywood, pulling back the curtain on the creative process, and making influential and inventive original programming. Its critically acclaimed original programming includes the Emmy-nominated "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List," 12-time Emmy-nominated "Inside the Actors Studio," "The Real Housewives of Orange County," "Top Chef," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, "Queer Eye," and the four-time Emmy-nominated hit competition series, "Project Runway."
Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBC cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit www.bravotv.com.
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