Page Productions' message to Fans of Triple D

In light of the recent suit and counter suit between Page Productions and Food Network and the concern that Diners, Drive-ins and Dives might have been canceled, I reached out to David Page, president of Page Productions and creator of the show for his comment on the suits, settlement, and specifically Guy Fieri's role in either. And I asked David if he had a message for the fans of the show.

Here is his response, in his own words:

"Dora - you asked me if there was anything I wanted to say to the readers of your site. There is:"

Thank you all.
Thank you for finding DDD.
And for appreciating it.
We worked very, very hard to make this show something special. Good enough was never good enough. And I'm proud of the work my very talented staff did in crafting this show to be so much more than average in every single way - especially in creating an onscreen image for Guy that presented him as someone viewers would see as knowledgeable and likable.

I've been in the business for 40 plus years. Making this show was a true labor of love and the creative high point of my career. Unfortunately, it's over. As often happens when TV creates an instant celebrity, that celebrity turns into someone else. Guy decided he no longer wanted to be produced or directed, no longer wanted my input or expertise to insure that his presentation and the show itself were as good as they could be and would continue growing and improving.

Guy clearly decided that what he needed was a different production company that would allow him to be in control. To that end, over the last year, he began making it extraordinarily difficult for us to produce DDD by canceling shoots, often at the last minute, failing to return phone calls and emails, refusing to schedule necessary voiceover sessions in a timely fashion to allow episodes to be completed on schedule, and simply being incredibly difficult for me to work with. Then, he went to the network and demanded they kick me off the show or he wouldn't perform. So they did.

Perhaps as Guy matures in his career he will come to realize that even Hemingway had an editor. And that actually listening to notes is something that can make a big difference in one's longevity. Along the way he may also learn it isn't good to get a reputation for plundering a production company's budget or for wanting to be surrounded only by sycophants, and he might even adopt more tolerant social views regarding minorities. Or maybe he won't.

As for those e-mails of mine that got printed in various newspapers? They weren't the reason the network did what Guy demanded - they were an excuse. You see, the network was so pleased with my work that they signed a new contract with me for 3 more seasons (12, 13, and 14) only three months before kicking me off the show. The e-mails came later - after I learned that Guy had been colluding with several disloyal staff members in his efforts to take the show away. Those emails were then sent to those staff members expressing my anger at their treachery. Context matters.

Fact is, people are people. They can disappoint you - sometimes to a remarkable degree. At the beginning, Guy and I were friends - close friends. I believed in him, and worked my butt off to help make him a star. To do that, it is essential to emphasize a performer's good qualities on TV and leave the rest on the floor. Frankly, the longer the show went on, the deeper the pile on the floor became. For Guy's sake, I hope he wakes up - soon - and recaptures his soul, his humanity, and his integrity.

But despite the disappointment of losing DDD (and the fun of producing it, and the income it generated for many employees who have now had to be laid off), it's been a real pleasure knowing that we have been able to entertain our viewers.

So, thank you again. And I look forward to attracting you all to our next project. Stay tuned.
David

David, thank you for your message! And may I express my empathy for you in losing a show, a project, which so obviously meant so much to you.

Readers, Page Productions is currently working on new television projects with tons of potential. Visit them online at pageprod.com.

Also to be announced soon: several of the shirts that Guy Fieri wore on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives will go up for auction. More info on that as we receive it!

More from David Page.

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