Phil Rosenthal, Host of “Somebody Feed Phil”
Today, my guest is Phil Rosenthal, a television writer and producer who is best known as the creator, writer, and executive producer of the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, whom I met at a live event at The Battery in San Francisco.
Everybody Loves Raymond was nominated for over 70 Emmy awards, and won 15 awards, including Best Comedy Series in 2003 and 2005.
After Phil won the 2002 Writers Guild Award for Excellence in Television Writing for his Everybody Loves Raymond script, "Italy," Phil created the six-episode television series I'll Have What Phil's Having and in 2018, Netflix premiered a reworked version of the show, titled Somebody Feed Phil.
Phil currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress Monica Horan (who played Amy on Everybody Loves Raymond), and their two children.
In this candid conversation, Phil shared the real stories behind his transition from creating Everybody Loves Raymond to hosting his own food and travel show, and his philosophy on fun, exploration, and making travel accessible.
1. The Italy Epiphany. Phil revealed that the inspiration for his travel show actually started during an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. After learning that Ray Romano had never been to Europe and had no interest in other cultures, Phil specifically wrote an episode set in Italy to change Ray's perspective. Watching Ray personally experience that cultural awakening made Phil realize he wanted to do the same thing for other people.
2. The Anti-Bourdain Approach. When pitching his new show, Phil openly described himself as being exactly like Anthony Bourdain, but "afraid of everything". Recognizing that Bourdain was a "superhero" who would sleep in jungles and get tattoos from Borneo tribesmen, Phil wanted to create a show for the people sitting on the couch who admired Bourdain but wanted a much more comfortable, less extreme travel experience.
3. Sticking to "Earth's Greatest Hits." Believing the world would be a better place if more Americans traveled, Phil deliberately focuses his show on accessible locations, which he calls "earth's greatest hits," like Italy, France, Australia, and England. By showcasing comfortable destinations where English is frequently spoken and the food is recognizable, he hopes to gently encourage his audience to expand their minds and try traveling themselves.
4. The Essential Element of Fun. For Phil, having fun is a strict requirement for his career, a rule he carried over from his days running a sitcom writers' room. He travels with his brother, his son, and occasionally his wife and daughter, making the production a deeply joyful family affair. While he is currently in a "mentor stage" helping others with their projects, he has no plans to abandon his food and travel show because of the beautiful connections it allows him to make around the world.
