Tom Colicchio's Reflection on Past TV Experience: Nearly Quitting After 'Regis and Kathie Lee' Incident (Exclusive)
Discover how Tom Colicchio nearly walked away from TV after a challenging encounter on 'Live With Regis and Kathie Lee' more than three decades ago. Dive into his candid recollection of the 'bad experience' that almost changed the course of his television career.
Tom Colicchio has been a familiar face on reality TV since Top Chef first aired in 2006. However, the Emmy-winning chef came close to quitting television altogether after a rocky start to his onscreen career.
In an exclusive interview with We, Colicchio, 61, shared that his first TV experience was so challenging that he vowed never to do TV again. This revelation came as he promoted his latest series on the Spirits Network, titled Tom Colicchio’s The Pantry.
In 1991, during an episode of [Live With] Regis and Kathie Lee, I, as the winner of Food & Wine magazine's Best New Chef award, was invited to showcase my culinary skills. They requested that I bring a dish, so I prepared a braised red snapper with eggplant caviar sandwiched between layers of fried eggplant, topped with a sauce made from roasted red peppers, lemon, lemon zest, and olive oil.
After setting up my cooking station, I walked through the steps with the producer's approval. However, as I was leaving, I asked two stagehands what time I should arrive on Monday for the show. They casually replied, "Just get here at 8." Following their advice, I arrived promptly at 8 o'clock on Monday, only to be met with the producer's angry tirade for missing the rehearsal. They accused me of jeopardizing the show with my absence.
Unfortunately for Colicchio, missing rehearsal wasn’t the only thing to go wrong that day.
He was setting everything up quietly while the show was happening, but every 10 minutes someone would come by and criticize his work. They kept saying, ‘You’re going to mess this up. I should pull this segment.’ This made him feel nervous and anxious, more than just sweaty. He started freaking out.
Tom Colicchio Thought He’d Never Do TV Again After ‘Bad Experience’ on Regis and Kathie Lee in 1991
Tom Colicchio ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
Colicchio shared a funny moment from when they started the segment, mentioning that the late Regis Philbin was “fumbling with the oven” and checked on the eggplant. Philbin jokingly remarked to Colicchio when he took the eggplant out of the oven, saying, “That’s what happens when you miss rehearsal.”
Colicchio recounted feeling surprised and slightly thrown off when Philbin seemed to blame him, saying, “I’m like, ‘I can’t believe this guy just threw me under the bus.’” Despite the initial confusion, they managed to nail the segment perfectly. Afterward, a producer praised their performance, and Colicchio couldn't help but wonder why Philbin had seemingly blamed him. It turned out that Philbin had simply missed the rehearsal, causing the mix-up.
Luckily for Top Chef fans, Colicchio did not let the incident deter him from pursuing a career on TV.
Tom Colicchio Thought He’d Never Do TV Again After ‘Bad Experience’ on Regis and Kathie Lee in 1991
Charly Pierre, Carla Hall, and Tom Colicchio appeared on the show 'Top Chef.' The picture is by David Moir/Bravo.
"It was a terrible experience," he recalled. "After leaving the set, I swore I would never go on TV again. Yet, here I am, 21 seasons later, still a part of Top Chef. I guess I am doing TV after all."
Colicchio is stepping up his game in the world of reality cooking shows with his latest project, The Pantry. This interactive cooking show, hosted by Colicchio himself, showcases a lineup of renowned celebrity chefs such as Marcus Samuelsson and Kristen Kish. The show, which is part of the Spirits Network series, introduces a unique "buy bar" feature that allows viewers to easily purchase the ingredients and tools used in the show with just a click. This innovative concept enables viewers to follow along and recreate the dishes in their own homes while watching the show.
In a recent interview with Us, Colicchio shared his excitement about this cutting-edge new show, revealing that the idea had been brewing in his mind for about 20 years. He explained, "A lot of chefs, including myself, look for shortcuts when cooking at home. Many of these shortcuts can be found right in the pantry." With The Pantry, Colicchio aims to bring these culinary secrets to viewers, making it easier for them to whip up delicious dishes in their own kitchens.
For more of Colicchio’s at-home cooking tips and onscreen mishaps, check out the exclusive video above.
Tom Colicchio’s The Pantry is streaming now on Spirits Network.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
Editor's P/S:
Tom Colicchio's arduous first television experience on "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee" left him vowing to never return to the small screen. However, he eventually overcame this setback and went on to become a renowned figure in the culinary world through his involvement in "Top Chef." This anecdote highlights the resilience and determination that often characterize successful individuals. Even when faced with significant challenges and setbacks, they manage to persevere and achieve their goals.
Colicchio's latest venture, "The Pantry," is an innovative cooking show that aims to make home cooking more accessible and enjoyable. Its unique "buy bar" feature allows viewers to purchase ingredients and tools used in the show with just a click, enabling them to follow along and recreate the dishes in their own kitchens. This concept is particularly relevant in today's digital age, where convenience and ease of access are highly valued. It also addresses the growing interest in home cooking, as more people seek ways to prepare delicious meals within the comfort of their own homes.
