Wahlburgers: Serving Up A Slice Of Reality

Rasha Drachkovitch knew he had the makings of a savory dish, but
the recipe proved more rewarding than he anticipated.  The producer
behind successful reality series including “Lock Up” and “Pit Bulls and
Paroles” read an article highlighting Donnie Wahlberg’s involvement in
the opening of a  Massachusetts restaurant managed by his brother Paul.
 Drachkovitch saw an opportunity to create a new kind of celeb-reality
show: focusing on talent at the height of their fields collaborating on a
new family business venture.

Drachkovitch brought his idea to Mark Wahlberg, who’s initial
reaction was skepticism.  Wahlberg wanted to avoid immersing himself and
his family members in an exploitative debacle.  Drachkovitch invested
time in persuading Mark that the content of the show would be respectful
and his privacy would be protected.    The objective of the show would
be to present viewers with a “peek behind the curtain” at the mechanics
of creating a business while maintaining strong family bonds.  As
Wahlberg warmed to the idea, he encouraged Drachkovitch to visit Boston
and meet the family.

“Knowing a star’s bio is one thing; once I got to spend time with the
family it became so much more and resulted in a really wonderful
experience,” said Drachkovitch.  “Sitting with Alma (Wahlbergs’mother)
and looking through their family scrapbook, I got the sense of a mother
struggling to feed her nine kids.  They grew up in a tough part of
Boston and experienced some trouble in their youth.  How did the family
survive?  Beyond that, how did they succeed?  The restaurant is a
journey down memory lane.  They’ve embraced their past and have each
other’s backs.”

Nestled in a refurbished seaport in Hingham, MA, is Almanova, the
Wahlberg’s high-end Italian restaurant.  Its name is structured by
melding mother Alma’s name with the Italian numeric for the family’s
nine siblings.  Here, Drachkovitch witnessed Paul’s dedication to the
food his restaurant serves.   With the opening of the inaugural
Wahlburgers, a burger joint nestled city-corner to Almanova,
Drachkovitch discovered Paul’s attention to craft remained intact. 
“He’s a nose-to-the-grindstone, one burger at a time kind of guy.”

Before cameras could roll, Drachovitch and his team had to coordinate
shooting schedules around Donnie’s New Kids on the Block touring
schedule and shooting schedule for “Blue Bloods” along with Mark’s busy
film schedule (Mark shot six movies through the course of the first
season’s production.)   Once there was enough footage to cut together
for a reel, Drachkovitch  shopped the project and found a network that
supported his vision.

“It was a good relationship with A&E from the beginning.  Upon
viewing the sizzle reel, they zeroed in on Alma and Paul and less on the
A-list, red carpet activities.  They really pushed us to explore the
relationships,” said Drachkovitch.  “They had cracked the family code
with ‘Duck Dynasty,’ and halfway through production I learned (Duck
Dynasty) was the lead in.  It was exciting but I had to wonder, ‘Will
that audience find the same connection?’”

Two years after his initial idea, “Wahlburgers” is holding strong in
the ratings and finding a solid audience.  Drachovitch has particularly
enjoyed watching the responses to elements in the show that get posted
on social media.  Audience members had strong reactions to an episode
where Donnie brings his new girlfriend, Jenny McCarthy, home to meet his
mother for the first time.

“The message boards were lighting up.  Fans were saying, ‘That’s my
Donnie!  Don’t mess with my Donnie!’  When Alma called Donnie ‘Baby
Donnie’ that became the third highest trending term that night,” said
Drachovitch.  “It’s a sweet spot, taking normal, everyday things, like
shopping for a birthday present, and putting them against a high profile
family.  Everyone can relate to the challenges they are going through –
the Wahlberg’s just happen to be a famous family.”

Drachkovitch has enjoyed the experience of producing the series  in
Massachusetts.  The show benefits from the state’s production tax
incentive and  majority of the crew has been sourced from the excellent
local crew base.   With the aid of the production community, they were
able to successfully set up shop within a month.  As the Wahlburger
business grows, new dining locations will spread not only in MA (a prime
location is set to open by Fenway park in the near future) but
throughout the US and the world.   Five Wahlburgers are set to open
through Philadelphia and airport hubs will see their burgers coming
soon.  Next season will see the Wahlberg clan and their closest friends
traveling to China for the scheduled opening of a Beijing Wahlburgers. 
While the elder Wahlbergs are set on a world domination plan,
Drachkovitch has a soft spot for the meticulous Paul, who will
relinquish some quality control as the chain spreads outside their home
state.  What excited Drachkovitch the most about the production’s future
is presenting an entertaining and heart-felt family series fans will
grow increasingly attached to with each passing episode.

“TV is a fast business – this show took two years to get up and get
running.  I took time and care working it out; there were lots of moving
parts with big stars and a big network, “ said Drachkovitch.  “Overall,
to be able to put on the air something I feel really confident about
and to have people feel moved is a truly wonderful thing.”

To learn more about “Wahlburgers”, please visit:

http://www.aetv.com/wahlburgers