Years ago I read a book written by Phil Rosenthal, the executive producer of Everybody Loves Raymond.

I don’t remember it exactly (I recently looked it up and the title was not what I remembered…I have a hard time remembering what I read and have taken notes but I think this book was pre-note-taking) but it was mostly talking about his experience on the show and essentially was all about his leadership style.

I was impressed - he sounded like someone I would love to work with. Thinking about it recently has made me want to re-read the book.

And when someone at work recently talked about this Netflix show, Somebody Feed Phil, I knew I should check it out.

I gave it a shot while the family was away and was barely five minutes in when I knew I’d love it.

It’s different than other shows I’ve written about this year because I’m only a few episodes in - and there are enough episodes that I don’t think I’m going to finish it before the end of the calendar year - and I don’t want to.

I just want to throw on an episode every so often and sit and enjoy it when I have nothing else going on.

I don’t want to binge it.

It’s kind of a slow-moving show.

Sometimes that’s an insult, but in this case it’s not - each episode is about 55 minutes or so, and it feels like 55 minutes.

There’s a lot happening, but it’s all good.

So good. Good in quality of the content but also good in the way it makes you feel - wholesome good.

The gist is Phil travels to some place, and experiences the place through the people and the food.

There are beautiful experiences throughout.

I’m learning about other cultures. I’m seeing food I’ve never heard of that I would now like to try.

I’m not a huge traveler, but this is the first time I’ve watched something where someone goes to the other side of the world and I actually thought, “Oh, I could see how I would enjoy that.”

In a current climate where there is so much rhetoric about why you shouldn't like different people, this show is all about what’s to like about different people.

I think a lot of people discovered this show during the pandemic - which makes sense. It’s a feel-good show that could be comfort television during a not-feel-good time.

It dates back to 2018 but the most recent season is from 2025…so I have a lot to catch up on.

I’m looking forward to sinking my teeth into the rest of the episodes.

And maybe some day trying some of the food I’m learning about.