Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Marky Mark’s cooking up new TV project

Donnie Wahlberg, mom Alma, chef Paul...
Photo by Matt Stone
Donnie Wahlberg, mom Alma, chef Paul Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg open Wahlburgers last night in Hingham. 
 
By Gayle Fee And Laura Raposa With Megan Johnson / Inside Track
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 -
It was a family affair at the Hingham Shipyard last night where Hollywood sibs Mark and Donnie Wahlberg joined their chef bro, Paul, as they threw open the doors of their new burger joint, Wahlburgers.
“It’s a lot of fun and we’ve brought a lot of the old neighborhood with us,” said former Dot rat Donnie, who stars in CBS’ “Blue Bloods.”
“Obviously, we’ve had success with Alma Nove (the three boys’ upscale eatery across the street),” he said. “But this is something that is a little more fun and a little more of the spirit of the family. You can have a drink, some fries, a shake or a frappe. And the government cheese — just like we had as little kids.”
“And the onion rings are great,” added clan matriarch Alma Wahlberg.
There was talk of a Wahlburgers reality show, but Mark reported that Paul is “apprehensive.”
“He’s a real working chef, he’s in the kitchen cooking,” said “The Fighter” tough guy. “This is my brother’s dream, and he’s obviously concerned with the idea of doing a reality show. Because when he hears ‘reality show’ he thinks ‘Jersey Shore.’
“But I think of it as a docudrama,” said the Tinseltown producer. “I think it is very compelling. It’s about someone trying to build a real business, and he’s very passionate, and nothing makes for better TV than that.
“I told him ‘I’ve been very successful in the television business so far and you’re very, very successful in the restaurant business. So why don’t you trust me like I trust you?’ ”
Now, Paul is starting to warm to the idea, said Marky, adding that they plan to shoot a “sizzle reel” soon and bring it to HBO, which has right of first refusal on Mark’s TV projects. If the cable network passes, they’ll continue to shop it.
Burger-lovin’ boldfacers made the scene such as Dan Paille of the Boston Bruins , Patriotstight ends Rob and Dan Gronkowski and corner back Kyle Arrington, Red Sox [ slugger David “Big Papi” Ortiz and teammate Kevin Youkilis and Olympic hockey hero Mike Eruzione. We also spotted Mark’s big screen alter ego “Irish” Micky Ward.
Inside the 120-seat retro modern burger joint there’s a Wahl of Wahlbergs complete with childhood snaps of Alma’s nine kids, prom pics (!) and photos from the original NKOTB and Funky Bunch days. Now, that’s worth the price of admission ...
And speaking of Mark and “The Fighter,” it appears his falling out with director David O. Russell won’t put the kibosh on the star’s plans for a sequel.
“I’m still doing ‘The Fighter 2’ — hopefully sooner rather than later,” Mark told the Track.
He said the script is being written and he’d like to begin shooting by the end of next year.
“I’m not getting any younger,” he groused.
 


 

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