Category: Television

Dharma Initiative Test 3 Is Up and Running

ATTENTION ALL RECRUITS
RE: DEXTERITY AND ATTENTIVENESS EVALUATION
IS NOW LIVE

Namaste.

I am pleased to announce the release of the third assessment in the Dharma Initiative’s Volunteer Recruitment Program is available at www.dharmawantsyou.com

This new test will assess your ability to negotiate a defined space while avoiding objects of increasing velocity.

With two tests now complete I have begun compiling individual Volunteer Assessment Dossiers for release at the end of the program. The results thus far are extremely encouraging. Indeed, they are far above expectations. I feel confident you will continue to produce excellent results in the coming weeks.

Sincerest congratulations to you all.

Namaste.

Hans Van Eeghen
Head of Recruiting
The Dharma Initiative

Kitchen Nightmares 2008 Season Premiere


Kitchen Nightmares returned Thursday with a two hour recap on how the old restaurants from last season were doing this year. The narrator is still, well, narrating, but Gordon Ramsay talked directly to the camera too. This very much like the English version of the show, Ramsay’s Kitchen nightmares. They really need to let Ramsay take over all the narration.

Kitchen Nightmares Restaurant Updates

Finn McCools – Buddy had a heart attack (!) but besides that, they took Ramsay’s advice because of that they were able to turn the restaurant around. Gordon tried the food, and liked it.

The Olde Stone Mill Steak House – The restaurant is still open, and doing much better than before Gordon first arrived. They’re keeping up with the bills, and things are getting better. They have many customers during the week and a wait on weekends. There’s even a favorable write-up in the New York Times. Dean and Barbara (the owners) seem much happier too. The NY Beef Industry Council even presented an award to Dean while Gordon was there.

The Mixing Bowl Eatery – The business has improved, and the restaurant made the Top 20 in Long Island in 2007. No more signs or coupons. Word of mouth is driving the business. Billy and Lisa are much happier, and are happy they didn’t sell the business, which they were thinking of doing when Gordon was first there. Gordon presented them with a plaque with his seal of approval.

Dillon’s (now renamed Purnima) – Business is up. The consultant Gordon brought, Vikas, is still there, and the place is spotless. A COMPLETE turnaround from what it originally was like. They’re making between $18,000 and $20,000 a week.

Campania – The business is busy and “things are going easier”. Joe, the owner/chef, says that the number of customers have doubled. The bills are being paid, and everyone is happy. They’re selling a LOT of meatballs too. The mayor and deputy mayor presented Joe with an award, and declard February 13,2008 “Campania Ristorante Day”. Gordon even walked out with an order of meatballs!

Peter’s – Gordon didn’t revisit Peter’s, but they’re still around and doing well. Not sure why Gordon didn’t come back personally.

DirecTV HD TiVo DVR Announced For 2009

Engadget is reporting that DirecTV and TiVo have announced they’re working together to bring a DirecTV HD TiVo DVR to DirecTV subscribers.

About a year ago, in August 2007, DirecTV and TiVo announced they’d be doing upgrades to the old DirecTV Tivos that were still in service, but not being sold anymore. That update was set for January 2008. I took this as a good sign, and that possibly DirecTV was going to start marketing TiVos again. Fast forward to 2008. DirectTV does the upgrade, and in January buys ReplayTV. No sign of new TiVos. Fast forward to now, and the announcement today.

This is a BIG, big thing. I’ve owned a ReplayTV, TiVo, and a Dish Network DVR, used the current DirecTV DVR, and TiVo wins hands down.

I’m disappointed that this won’t happen until the second half of 2009, but very, very happy that it’s going to happen.

If I were Dish Network, I’d be worried.

Don LaFontaine, King of Voiceovers, Dies at 68

CNN is reporting that Don LaFontaine, the guy who did voice overs for movie trailers and many commercials has died. He’s “the voice” you’d recognize immediately when you heard the words “In a world….” at the beginning of those trailers. Over 5000 movie trailers, and 350,000 commercials. 60 Minutes did a piece on him several years back, while he was being chauffeured around to various jobs.

Don LaFontaine’s website.

Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Nightmares Returns On Sept 4th


TV Squad is reporting the first episode of Kitchen Nightmares won’t be of a new restaurant, it’ll be going back to the places Gordon Ramsay tried to save last year.

This is similar to what they have done on “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares”, the British version of the show. The main difference is in the American version, all the restaurants will be show, while in the British version they do a long recap of a single restaurant, and spend the last few minutes talking about what happened since the original filming. They rename these shows “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmare’s Revisited”.

Should be interesting to see how well they fared – or didn’t.

Season 2 starts Sept 4th, 2008.
Via TVSquad

New Dharma Test – Broad Spectrum Knowledge Analysis

Just got this:


ATTENTION ALL RECRUITS
RE: BROAD SPECTRUM KNOWLEDGE ANALYSIS IS NOW LIVE

Namaste.

I am pleased to announce the release of the second assessment in the Dharma Initiative’s Volunteer Recruitment Program.

This new test is a broad-spectrum knowledge analysis.

It is a multiple-choice test covering a range of topics.

YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT AT THIS TEST WILL BE THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL BE RECORDED AGAINST YOUR OVERALL TEST RESULTS.

THE TEST WILL BE TIMED – DURATION WILL BE FACTORED INTO THE FINAL RESULT.

Be prepared before embarking on this assessment – there will be NO SECOND CHANCES.

I would also like to encourage recruits to take the opportunity to earn extra “Dharma” points. These points WILL contribute to your overall test results and the eventual position you will be assigned within the Dharma Initiative.

I trust you will find these new tasks sufficiently challenging and will embrace the opportunity to grow the Dharma Initiative.

I look forward to reviewing your results.

Hans Van Eeghen
Head of Recruiting
The Dharma Initiative
www.dharmawantsyou.com

(And thanks to Andy who also sent this in)