#312: Phil Rosenthal - Writing Your Own Ticket

Phil Rosenthal is the award-winning creator, executive producer, and host of “Somebody Feed Phil,” as well as a two-time New York Times Best Selling Author and soon-to-be restaurant owner. “Somebody Feed Phil” – one of Netflix’s most popular food and travel shows – has garnered a cult-like following and released its eighth season on June 18th in 190 countries.

The Emmy-nominated series is Netflix’s longest unscripted series and combines Rosenthal’s love of food and travel with his unique brand of humor and has become must-see TV for foodies, restaurateurs, travelers, and armchair enthusiasts all over the world. Rosenthal has been nominated for a 2024 Critics’ Choice Real TV Award, after winning Critics Choice Real TV Awards in 2022 and 2021 for “Best Travel/Adventure Show” and “Male Star of the Year” on behalf of the series. He also garnered a 2022 James Beard Award nomination for “Visual Media—Long Form.”

Currently, Rosenthal has embarked on his highly anticipated third US live tour –  An Evening With Phil Rosenthal “Of Somebody Feed Phil” – in over 25 North American cities August-October 2025. On tour, Rosenthal shares insights into his 40-year entertainment career, while incorporating his love of food, storytelling, and humor to audiences. He also invites special guests to be moderators on stage, ranging from local celebrities to famous chefs. The North American tour comes after his second European tour, which was received with resounding praise from fans across Europe.

Up next, Rosenthal will also make a significant mark in the culinary world with the 2025 opening of his diner, Max & Helen’s, in Los Angeles. Named after his parents, who were beloved series regulars in “Somebody Feed Phil,” the dishes will not only be elevated by great ingredients but the brilliance of Executive Chef Nancy Silverton.

Following a resounding call from fans, Rosenthal created a companion book to the series, “Somebody Feed Phil The Book” which was released in the US on October 20th, 2022, via Simon Element (an imprint of Simon & Schuster). It immediately landed on the New York Times Best Seller list, which then led to a UK release in January 2023 and a multi-country tour selling out venues across the globe. To expand on this, Rosenthal is set to release a second cookbook in the series, “Phil’s Favorites,” available for pre-order now and releasing on November 4th, 2025 in the US and November 6th in the UK.  It is more than just a cookbook; it’s a celebration of food, family, and friendship incorporating recipes from his family and friends including Judy Gold and Anna Romano.

In 2024, he released his first children’s book, "JUST TRY IT: A Phil and Lil Book," co-written with his daughter, Lily on March 5, 2024. The hilarious children’s picture book about a food-loving dad encouraging his picky eater daughter to just try something new. This once again put Rosenthal on the New York Times Best Seller list, leading to his second national book and live tour, both of which packed bookstores and theatres from coast to coast, including a sold-out crowd at The Beacon in New York City. Up next, they will launch its companion book, “JUST TRY IT: SOMEPLACE NEW!,” about an encouraging dad easing his daughter’s worries about staying at Grandma’s for the first time.

Rosenthal has further expanded his love of humor, food, and human connection through a podcast called “Naked Lunch.” Launched in May 2022, his podcast is live on Stitcher, SiriusXM’s mobile app, and wherever podcasts are available. Co-hosted with his friend and longtime Rolling Stone journalist David Wild, each episode of this weekly talk-show podcast features a special, world-renowned guest to discuss what’s going on in their lives – “an informal meeting of wits, minds and hearts” – while eating lunch from some of Phil’s favorite local LA eateries. 

In 1995, Rosenthal created the hit CBS comedy “Everybody Loves Raymond” which premiered the following year. He served as the showrunner and executive producer for all nine years of the show's very successful run, which ended in 2005. During its original run, the show was nominated for over 70 Emmy Awards, and won 15 awards, including two for “Best Comedy Series” in 2003 and 2005. Rosenthal won the 2002 Writers Guild Award for “Excellence in Television Writing” for his “Italy” script. After the series wrapped, Rosenthal penned a book on the art of comedy and the making of a sitcom classic. YOU’RE LUCKY YOU’RE FUNNY: HOW LIFE BECOMES A SITCOM was published in 2007 via Penguin Publishing Group. His early writing credits include the comedy series “DOWN THE SHORE” and “Coach.”

Rosenthal also co-wrote “America: A Tribute to Heroes,” the 9/11 telethon which aired on all four networks in September 2001, for which he won a Peabody Award and an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Writing.” Rosenthal then went on to write, direct, and star in his first feature film for Sony Pictures. EXPORTING RAYMOND, the true story about the attempt to turn “Everybody Loves Raymond” into a Russian sitcom, was met with critical acclaim upon its release in October 2010. In 2015, Rosenthal embarked on a new journey by creating his first travel food series “I’ll Have What Phil’s Having.” This PBS documentary series, which is the precursor to “Somebody Feed Phil,” received two Taste Awards and won the 2016 James Beard Award for “Best Television Program, on Location.” In October 2020, Rosenthal launched Somebody Feed the People, an initiative of the Rosenthal Family Foundation that supports organizations making an impact and building community through food. This inclusive and non-partisan initiative partners with organizations across the U.S. that address food access and insecurity, support chefs and restaurant workers, create employment pathways, and strengthen the health of our food systems. This foundation is ongoing yearly.

Rosenthal continued his philanthropic efforts in 2022, serving alongside Katie Couric and Jeff MacGregor as an executive producer of the documentary FOR LOVE AND LIFE: NO ORDINARY CAMPAIGN. The film follows Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya, a couple battling ALS and leading a revolutionary movement to help victims of the disease around the world. “For Love and Life” went on to win awards at the SXSW Film Festival, the Chicago International Film Festival, and the Virginia Film Festival. 

We chat about executives trying to sabotage him, writing what you want, gratitude, Somebody Feed Phil, Everybody Loves Raymond and almost quitting twice, writing, crazy story as a security guard, creating your own ticket plus plenty more!

Check Phil out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phil.rosenthal/

Book (Phil's Favorites): https://philrosenthal.store/books/

Website: https://www.philrosenthalworld.com/

Tour dates/ shows: https://www.philrosenthalworld.com/media

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PhilRosenthalWorld

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philrosenthalofficial/

Max and Helens Restaurant (California): https://www.instagram.com/maxandhelens/

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