TV Chef Gordon Ramsay’s QVC Premiere Coincides With Headlines About Suicide Of N.J. Chef Who Was On One Of His Shows

Potty-mouthed celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay debuted his line of cookware on QVC Thursday, the same day that news of the suicide of one of the restaurateurs he “advised” three years ago was making headlines again in New York City.

It seems like some unfortunate timing to us. Ramsay was in West Chester pitching his 11-piece collection of cookware, QVC’s Today’s Special Value at $120.

And at the same time, the New York Post was writing yet another story, a follow-up, on the suicide of Fair Lawn, N.J., chef Joseph Cerniglia. The young chef jumped off the George Washington Bridge last week.

Cerniglia, who owned the eatery Campana, was in a 2007 episode of Ramsay’s reality TV show “Kitchen Nightmares.” In that installment, Ramsay blasted Cerniglia and told him his restaurant was “about to float down the Hudson,” which the Post said was an eerily prescient comment in light of how the Jersey chef ended his life.

The Post’s story Thursday claimed that married Cerniglia had been playing hide the cannoli with his young pastry chef.

Rupert Murdoch’s tabloid also had a quote from Ramsay about Cernigilia’s death: “Joe was a brilliant chef, and our thoughts go out to his family, friends and staff.”

To see Ramsay with QVC host Jane Treacy check out this video.

Is ShopNBC Expecting A Lawsuit?

Is ShopNBC anticipating a lawsuit?

On Monday the financially ailing No. 3 home shopping network filed an 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission saying that it was entering into indemnification agreements with each of the company’s directors and officers.

“Under each Indemnification Agreement, the Company has agreed to indemnify each director and officer who is involved in any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitration or investigative, in connection with his or her service to the Company, against all losses, claims, damages, expenses (including attorneys’ fees), and liabilities reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding,” the filing said.

“The Company believes that the Indemnification Agreements are necessary to provide directors and officers increased certainty of such protection in the future and to attract and retain qualified persons to serve in such positions,” ShopNBC said.

Mmmm, who might be suing?

BTW, we’re still waiting for word about what ShopNBC’s new name and branding will be?

You Read It Here First: Official Press Release On Mariah Carey And HSN

Here is the official announcement about Mariah Carey coming to HSN — news that we broke over the weekend.

HSN Partners with One of the Greatest Singers of our Time – Mariah Carey – for Exclusive On-Air Launch of her New Holiday Album ‘Merry Christmas II You’

–TUNE IN ON OCTOBER 20th — New album to be bundled with 30-minute DVD featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Carey recording second Christmas album, candid interviews and never-before-seen personal photos and festive Christmas videos —

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept 27, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ — HSN, a leading multichannel retailer, has partnered with one of the greatest singers of our time – Mariah Carey – for the exclusive launch on October 20 of her highly anticipated holiday album, Merry Christmas II You, ahead of its worldwide release on November 2 on the Island Def Jam Music Group.

The album will be bundled with a 30-minute DVD featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Mariah Carey recording her second Christmas album, candid interviews with the artist discussing her inspiration behind the album and reminiscing about the holidays and favorite traditions, footage of her album photo shoot with acclaimed photographer David LaChapelle, interviews with Mariah Carey’s mother Patricia Carey and composer Marc Shaiman, and pictures from Mariah’s personal photo holiday collection.

Consumers will be able to pre-order the album/DVD package beginning September 27 on hsn.com/mariahcarey.

“This album is a labor of love – a gift to those who share my excitement about the Christmas season and want to fill this special time of year with heartwarming, festive and uplifting music,” said Mariah Carey. “This is the sequel to ‘Merry Christmas’ from me II you. On the DVD, you’ll see some exclusive behind-the-scenes moments of the making of this album, which are yours exclusively courtesy of HSN. Hope you love the album and the DVD! Merry Christmas! Love Mariah.”

Merry Christmas II You contains original material and holiday classics, including a re-record of Mariah Carey’s original self-penned #1 Christmas classic “All I Want for Christmas is You,” as well as her new single “Oh Santa,” an undeniable holiday smash destined to top the Christmas charts for years to come.

The new album will also feature holiday classics, including “The First Noel,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Mariah Carey has teamed with superstar producers. Music mogul LA Reid provided guidance and expertise.

Mariah Carey also worked with longtime friend and musical director-producer extraordinaire Randy Jackson to create this new sequel to her first Christmas album. In addition, she collaborated with uber producer Jermaine Dupri (with whom she wrote “Always Be My Baby” and “We Belong Together” among others); Marc Shaiman, the award-winning musical genius, writer and arranger who did the magical orchestration for the entire album; and the critically acclaimed James Poyser of The Roots, who also worked with Mariah Carey on her massive album “The Emancipation of Mimi.”

Merry Christmas II You and the exclusive DVD will be sold on HSN as part of an exclusive value pack for $14.95.
MERRY CHRISTMAS II YOU is Mariah Carey’s 13th studio album, and follows up her worldwide multi-million-selling Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel (released September 2009), her multi-platinum E=MC(2) (2008), and worldwide 10 million selling The Emancipation Of Mimi (2005).

The Emancipation Of Mimi generated three Grammy awards (including Best Contemporary R&B Album), two #1 singles, and countless more honors during its 18-month chart stay.

Soundscan’s biggest-selling album of 2005, Mimi featured “We Belong Together” (Grammy winner for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song) and “Don’t Forget About Us,” Mariah’s 16th and 17th #1 career singles respectively. They tied one of the most enduring chart records in Billboard Hot 100 history, Elvis Presley’s 17 #1’s.

Three years later, Mariah surpassed Elvis when “Touch My Body” (from E=MC(2)) became her 18th #1 Hot 100 hit. “Touch My Body” spent two weeks at the top, Mariah’s 78th and 79th cumulative career weeks at #1, which tied Elvis’ long-standing all-time high of 79 weeks at #1, as calculated by Billboard.

Mariah is now positioned as the only active recording artist in the 52 years of the Hot 100 (which began in 1958) with the potential to surpass the Beatles’ all-time high of 20 #1 hits.

The success of E=MC(2) brought total sales of Mariah’s albums, singles and videos to more than 200 million worldwide, distancing her even further from the pack as the top-selling female recording artist in history.

Busty Diva Mariah Carey is Coming To HSN

Sheboygan, Wis. — We’re on a business trip to the Heartland, and just saw on Colleen Lopez’s Facebook page that Mariah Carey is coming to HSN!

She will be selling her new XMAS CD, Merry Christmas II, in October, and will also be doing a shoe and jewelry collection later this year.

Lopez met with “Mimi” recently at the singer’s home in Beverly Hills, flying there after HSN’s big birthday event weekend in Vegas.

“She was such a doll — sweet, funny, gorgeous and amazingly talented,” Lopez wrote.

We were wondering what you were up to, Colleen, you little minx!

We bet you see some butterfly jewelry from Carey, since that’s a favorite motif of the rings and necklaces that she wears.

You can preorder the CD on HSN.com right now.

As always, there is a Jersey connection. We believe that either Carey’s mom or dad are from Lake Hiawatha, N.J., not far from where we grew up.

CZ King Charles Winston Cancels His HSN Shows

Charles Winston MIA on HSN

Jewelry designer Charles Winston and HSN are having problems.

On Wednesday Winston posted the news that he pulled the plug on his HSN shows this week, but didn’t explain exactly why, on his Facebook page.

“To all my Facebook friends that watch my shows on HSN, it is with deep regrets that I had to cancel my shows scheduled for this week on HSN,” he wrote.

“‘HSN and I have a very stong bond as business partners. I assure you, I shall return with the most amazing CZ jewelry as soon as I get some things in order. This was not an easy dec…ision for HSN or Charles Winston, Inc. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, we have temporarily suspended my show schedule until further notice. Please be patient….I hope to have resolution in the next week or two. Thank you again for your patience and loyalty to HSN and the Charles Winston brands.”

Mmmmm, sounds rather mysterious.

UPDATE: Winston later posted this on Facebook.

“I promise, I am not disappearing,” he wrote. “It is just a little glitch that I need to clear up for the sake of me and HSN. Believe me, they have been more than patient and willing to work with me through this. More so than anyone could expect a client. They have added new meaning to the word partnership in my mind.”

In a later post, Winston says he hopes the issue will be resolved in a couple of weeks.

We have e-mails in to HSN and Winston.

HSN is Winston’s second home shopping venue. He was previously at ShopNBC.

CNN’s Hot Scoop: News Network’s Einsteins Discover That QVC Has ‘Arrived’

Kim Kardashian was interviewed by CNN about selling her new clothing line on QVC

A year ago when we started this blog, Gawker and The Wall Street Journal were still making fun of QVC and HSN (cubic zirconia, yada yada). In fact, Gawker called HSN a purveyor of “useless crap,” we believe the wording was.

Back then we’d already observed that with the economy, and retail sales, tanking, high-end vendors and designers from Judith Ripka to Dennis Bass to Vivienne Tam to Robert Lee Morris had developed lines for home shopping networks.

Well, CNN woke up discovered that fact this month. Here is a clip that Jersey boy Basso, furrier to the stars, posted on his Facebook page Wednesday.

The CNN story on QVC going upscale was shot during New York Fashion Week, and includes interviews with Isaac Mizrahi, QVC CEO Mike George and Kim Kardashian. We also see a tape of host Lisa Robertson at QVC’s pop-up shop at Rock Center.

Jon Klein, wake up your retail reporters, please.

QVC Pats Self On The Back For Its Fashion Week Coverage From New York

QVC put out a press release Tuesday crowing about its Fashion Week programming.

We were actually impressed with QVC’s efforts, from its pop-up shop in Rock Center to its “reporters” roving all over the city.

Here is QVC’s spin:

QVC CELEBRATES RECORD-SETTING NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (September 21, 2010) – QVC celebrated its largest New York Fashion Week presence with live programming from its first NYC pop-up location in Rockefeller Center featuring a consumer shop and broadcast studio.

Designed to offer consumers the ultimate QVC shopping experience, the pop-up store showcased a selection of QVC’s most exciting brands. From September 10 – 15, products ranging from fashion, beauty and jewelry to home and electronics were featured and the store served as a location for personal appearances by a selection of QVC’s favorite personalities and brands. The store also enabled shoppers to play with QVC’s latest interactive shopping platforms, from its smartphone and iPad apps to desktop and TV widgets.

The QVC pop-up store opened its doors to the public on Friday, September 10 at 6 PM (ET) to mark the second annual Fashion’s Night Out (FNO). QVC’s President and CEO Mike George and President of U.S. Commerce, Claire Watts were joined by Isaac Mizrahi and Kristin Chenoweth for the pop-up shop’s ribbon-cutting celebration. Just minutes before, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour visited to sign copies of the September issue with Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers.

Even QVC CEO Mike George popped up for the network's programming from Rock Center

As the exclusive multimedia retailer for FNO, QVC made the event accessible to more than 98 million U.S. homes with its largest ever broadcast and multimedia event. Live from the NYC pop-up location with special programming throughout the city, the broadcast – Fashion Night’s Out SM – Live from Rockefeller Center – featured the successful debuts of K-DASH by Kardashian and Janie Bryant MOD. Some of QVC’s most popular designers unveiled their latest collections for the fall ’10 season.

“We were thrilled to bring Fashion’s Night Out to our customers live from NYC,” said Watts. “Our viewers really responded to the unique insider experience we were able to provide.”

Customers were invited to “Keep on Shopping” with Isaac Mizrahi immediately following the FNO broadcast at 12 AM (ET). Live from his New York studio, Mizrahi introduced his Today’s Special Value® (an item offered at an exceptionally low price – good for that given day, until 11:59 PM (ET), unless it sells out sooner). The ISAACMIZRAHILIVE!™ quilted lamb leather jacket sold out with only 45 minutes of presentation time. QVC aired two additional live remotes from Mizrahi’s studio at 2 PM (ET) and 6 PM (ET) featuring new fall items from his lifestyle brand.

In addition to the successful FNO and ISAACMIZRAHILIVE! broadcasts, QVC also gave viewers a front row seat at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week – Live from Rockefeller Center on Saturday, September 11 at 10 PM (ET) and Wednesday, September 15 at 10 PM (ET). Live from the NYC pop-up location, QVC kicked off the September 11 show with its first-ever eight-minute runway show. Fashions featured on the runway were then presented during the broadcast, including Anonymity by Julie Chaiken and new designs from some of QVC’s premier designers, including Lori Goldstein, Dennis Basso, Isaac Mizrahi, Bradley Bayou, Marc Bouwer and Janie Bryant.

Iconic Hollywood stylist Rachel Zoe also returned to unveil her latest collection and debut her first faux fur Today’s Special Value® on Wednesday, September 15. QVC posted a sellout with more than 25,000 units ordered. In addition to the Today’s Special Value offer, several other items from Zoe’s collection sold out, including a faux fur toggle coat with wingcollar, feather print scarf with twistedfringe, wrap shawl with fringeand patch pocket vest with sequin trim.

“Our Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week broadcast continues to resonate with our viewers,” Watts adds. “Once again, we were able to deliver accessible fashions from esteemed and emerging designers, direct from the industry’s most respected event.”

Once again, QVC lent its support to the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in its fight against breast cancer. QVC offered Vogue-designed Fashion’s Night Out CFDA T-shirts on air, on QVC.com and at its pop-up location in New York City. During the September 10 broadcast, Vogue’s Sr. Market Editor, Meredith Melling Burke, appeared on QVC to talk about the Vogue-designed T-shirt. Since its debut, more than 4,000 have been ordered. Net proceeds from the sale of this T-shirt, sold exclusively through QVC, benefitted “Fashion Targets Breast Cancer,” the charitable initiative of the CFDA Foundation, Inc.

Ex-ShopNBC Host Charla Rines Does Stint On Australia’s TVSN For Isomers

Former ShopNBC host Charla Rines, who did duty at EmVee TV a few months ago, has another new gig.

On her Facebook page Tuesday Rines wrote, “Getting ready for my first show on TVSN in Australia as the Isomers spokesperson! Tune in at 8:30 eastern — www.tvsn.com.au.”

Isomers is an anti-aging line that Rines often did presentations on when she was on financially ailing ShopNBC, which unceremoniously canned her early this year.

By the way, Rines had told us that she auditioned for this season’s “The Apprentice,” which features professionals who got laid off as part of the recession (we should have auditioned for that show, too). We think she would have been great.

Did HSN Celebrity Chef Todd English Share His Oysters With Four Blonde Beauties?

Usually it’s the New York Post’s Page Six gossip column that taunts HSN vendor/celebrity chef Todd English, but on Tuesday the New York Daily News jumped on that train.

English, a ladies man who got a lot of bad press when he left his bride-to-be Erica Wang at the altar a year ago, has been spotted by Page Six with plenty of babes since then.

And the News’ gossip column, Gatecrasher, reported that English “isn’t one for subtlety when it comes to his playboy lifestyle.”

English was seen sharing a meal with “four young blonde beauties” at Flex Mussels, an eatery in the West Village, the News said.

And what he was dining on? Oysters. We guess when you’re 50 and you’ve got a flock of chicks to entertain, you need the oysters.

You’ll have to read the News to see the snarky remark it made about English’s oysters.

Get Your $750 Boots Here On HSN

$750

Wow, HSN is really going upscale. You ready to shell out more than $700 for a pair of boots?

On Monday night the home shopping network was featuring shoes and boots from upscale designer Donald J. Pliner, whose wares can be found in store like Saks and Nordstrom.

$450

A pair of tall boots were selling for $750.

They made the shorter pair of peep-toe suede boots, priced at $450, look like a bargain.

Hey, they are gorgeous boots, and they are on Flex Pay, but paying almost $1,000 for a pair of boots seems a bit much for us.