Yes, that IS me being man-handled by Donnie Wahlberg in an episode of CBS’ TV show “Blue Bloods”.
So how does something like this happen? Well, if you live in or near New York City and you want to be on Blue Bloods or several other NY area productions you can sign up with Central Casting NY (https://www.centralcasting.com/ny/). Then when the TV production folks need to fill non-speaking roles, called “background” and “extra”, Central Casting can hook you up. No experience needed. These jobs are available in other areas such as Philly, Georgia, Virginia, LA and others but my info is primarily based on my experiences in NY.
It just so happens that my very first background job was playing a cook for a show called, “Elementary”. Since then I’ve done lots of these jobs. I’ve been a waiter, FBI agent, pedestrian, auto driver, police officer, all sorts of roles. Another of my Chef roles was through a different agency for a production called “The Marvelous Mrs Maisel”.
Chef Hacker’s TV World Premiere
Funny thing about me now being a TV Chef…..One of my first restaurant jobs was at a place in central New Jersey called, “The McAteers”. I was about 17 years old and working the “line” and as a prep cook. Back then there was a TV food critic called Bob Lape who used to showcase restaurant dishes. For some reason when he wanted someone from McAteers to make a dish on TV, my boss, Felix, selected me. The dish was called “Fillet of Sole Vladimir” which we made by rolling the sole and poaching it along with tiny mushroom slices and shrimp in a white wine bechamel.
When filming day came I showed up at the studio with my mise en place and prepared the dish in front of the camera. I was surprisingly calm and in-charge, almost as if I’d been broadcasting my whole life. Ah, the hubris of youth. After that, I would not return to the small screen, or any screen, until almost 40 years later!
I’ve not been doing background work for a while as I have been focused on my Chef Hacker Kitchen duties. Also a lot of production work has been curtailed due to Corona virus. However, I love being on set and I know I’ll be working again before too long.
You can do this too. The only skill you need is being able to follow directions. The hours are long, the pay is low and the commute is generally terrible but as long as you don’t mind that or having to arrive early, sometimes by 5AM, in “holding” (the place near-by the filming “set” where you will be spending most of the day) you might enjoy it and maybe you will get yourself some good stories to tell. The Central Casting link above can help you get started.
If you get cast or have been cast as a Chef or anything else, reply to this post so we can share it with the Chef Hacker Kitchen family.