logo
Restaurateur Keith McNally on why he regrets "almost everything"

Restaurateur Keith McNally on why he regrets "almost everything"

CBS News5 days ago
Restaurateur Keith McNally hates New Year's Eve – he doesn't like being told to have a good time. "I don't like to be forced to enjoy myself," he said.
The "least hospitable man in hospitality," as he calls himself, is not a big smiler, either. "Inside," he explained.
It doesn't seem to have hurt. Over 40 years, he's opened some of New York City's most popular restaurants, among them The Odeon, Balthazar, and Pastis – institutions almost as well-known as some of the bold-face names that frequent them. But McNally himself has never been much of a publicity hound, even less so after suffering a stroke in 2016. "Naturally I'm a bit embarrassed to be on TV talking like this—who wouldn't be?" he said. "But it's good for me to do it, because it gets me free of my embarrassment. Actually, I'm embarrassed talking about embarrassment!"
But the British-born McNally has largely overcome his embarrassment in a new memoir, "I Regret Almost Everything." "The drawback for me with most memoirs [is], if you're not embarrassed by what you write, you've probably not spoken the truth," he said. "If you don't cringe over every word, it's not the truth."
The hardest part to write, he said, was about his suicide attempt, "because my kids. I didn't want to leave them at all."
That suicide attempt was two years after his stroke. He was found by his younger son, George. "He was supposed to not find me," McNally said. "Like most teenagers he would sleep until noon. But that day he woke up early, at 8:00 o'clock."
"You expected him to be sleeping later, he woke up early, he saw you?" I asked.
"Yeah, the bastard just woke up early and saved my life!" he laughed.
McNally might joke about it now, but the father of five was suffering with an immobile right arm (he was right-handed), back pain, and aphasia (which causes his slurred speech), and his second marriage was falling apart. But as he writes, some sobering words from a doctor made him reflect: "He said that children who lose a parent to suicide were far more likely to kill themselves than the children of parents who don't. That stopped me in my tracks."
Because he had such trouble communicating verbally after his stroke, McNally began using social media. "I was so embarrassed by my speech and the way I looked, I didn't go to my restaurants for one year," he said. "I was ashamed. But eventually I realized, nothing to be ashamed about. So, not only did I admit it wasn't a bad thing, but I went in on Instagram."
McNally went viral in 2022 with a post criticizing former late-night host James Corden for allegedly being rude to the waitstaff at Balthazar. But now, McNally confesses in his book he isn't so sure calling out Corden was fair. He wrote: "For someone who's hyperconscious of humiliation since suffering a stroke, it now seems monstrous that I didn't consider the humiliation I was subjecting Corden to. I felt like I'd hit the jackpot of a slot machine and thousands of gold coins were spilling out in front of me. That night I ended up with over 90,000 followers. I was intoxicated with self-righteousness."
"Uh-huh, it's true," McNally said. "But afterwards, I felt really bad."
Corden later apologized. But the 73-year-old McNally has continued creating a stir online. Take this recent post he wrote about his friend, ABC News' Diane Sawyer, describing a weeklong affair the two had in the 1970s. The story made news … except that it was completely made up.
I said, "Some people say, 'Listen, Keith, you know, it's really not cool for you to be sharing this.' And so, did you enjoy that back-and-forth with them?"
"Yes. Yeah, I'm afraid, I did, yeah," he laughed.
"And I wonder, do you think that the stroke – I don't know, is that, does that …"
"Say what you think," said McNally.
"Well, is it that you feel a little trapped inside of yourself?"
"No," he replied. "I've always been a little like this inside. But since my stroke, and now on the outside."
McNally grew up in the East End of London, one of four children born to Jack, a dockworker, and Joyce, a house and office cleaner. The family had little money. "I got angry inside at my parents," he said, "because we had no books in the house, no pictures on the walls. But they couldn't help it. They were working class who grew up with nothing."
McNally says he didn't eat in a restaurant until he was 17. "Most of the time, when we were on a holiday, we would go to the restaurant, they would look the prices outside, and then she'd go, 'Not for us.'"
And yet, when McNally moved to New York City in 1975 as an aspiring filmmaker, he made ends meet by working in restaurants. "I didn't eat asparagus until I came here," he said. "And the next day, I went to the doctor because the smell of my …"
"That was so pungent from eating the asparagus?" I asked.
"Yeah, I thought I was sick! So, I went to the doctor. He said, 'What'd you eat last night?'" McNally laughed.
"You know what? You gotta put that in the paperback," I said.
In 1980, McNally opened his own restaurant, The Odeon, in the neighborhood of Tribeca, in what had been a no-man's land. An immediate sensation, it established certain McNally "musts," such as the importance of having a hamburger on the menu. "I don't like hamburgers much myself," he said. "But it's a sign of snobbery not to have a hamburgers."
McNally prides himself on putting his staff above even his diners. Some of his employees have been with him for over 30 years. And ever since returning to work post-stroke, McNally has come to appreciate how they feel about him. "I had to talk to my staff and was really nervous," he said. "They were really kind. In the end, kindness is really essential."
I asked, "The stroke lifted the veil on what they thought of you?"
"Yeah, yeah," McNally laughed. "They made me feel good."
READ AN EXCERPT: "I Regret Almost Everything: A Memoir" by Keith McNally
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.
For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@nami.org.
For more info:
Story produced by Kay Lim. Editor: Carol Ross.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

And Just Like That EPs Tell All About That Taylor Swift Needle Drop, Why It Was Perfect for Carrie's Big Moment
And Just Like That EPs Tell All About That Taylor Swift Needle Drop, Why It Was Perfect for Carrie's Big Moment

Yahoo

time4 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

And Just Like That EPs Tell All About That Taylor Swift Needle Drop, Why It Was Perfect for Carrie's Big Moment

Turns out Carrie Bradshaw is like every other woman alive: She leans on Taylor Swift to help her get through a breakup. This week on And Just Like That…, Carrie said goodbye to her longtime love Aidan after she realized he'd never get over her affair with Big all those years ago. And after they decided to split up, we heard Taylor Swift's beautifully melancholic song 'How Did It End?' on the soundtrack as Carrie took all the Virginia postcards off of her fridge, got dressed up and met her girlfriends for drinks. (The lyrics even center on a recently ended relationship, with the opening line: 'We hereby conduct this post mortem…') More from TVLine And Just Like That EPs Admit to Hesitating Over Carrie and Aidan's Big Decision: 'Are We Making a Mistake?' Washington Black's Sterling K. Brown and Ernest Kingsley Junior Revel in the 'Brotherhood and Mentorship' Hulu's Historical Drama Gave Them Outlander Spinoff Cast on Why Blood of My Blood Makes Claire's Journey in the Original Series Even More 'Tragic' Swift herself signed off on the inclusion of the song, executive producer Elisa Zuritsky tells TVLine, crediting showrunner Michael Patrick King with sealing the deal: 'That was a Michael Patrick King production, right out of his brain. It was shortly after her newest album [The Tortured Poets Department] was released, and he knew of the song before I did… He was right there on it with that song.' The song really fit the resilient mood of that final scene with Carrie, too, fellow EP Julie Rottenberg points out, and the writers used it as inspiration: 'It was helpful, once [Michael] shared that idea with us, to think about that song in writing it, and to make sure that that last scene felt not just tragic, but empowering and maybe freeing. That she always has her friends, and this isn't the end. It might be an end, but life goes on.' What did you think of the Taylor Swift song — and Carrie's big breakup? Tell us in the comments! Best of TVLine Yellowjackets' Tawny Cypress Talks Episode 4's Tai/Van Reunion: 'We're All Worried About Taissa' Vampire Diaries Turns 10: How Real-Life Plot Twists Shaped Everything From the Love Triangle to the Final Death Vampire Diaries' Biggest Twists Revisited (and Explained)

Ben Stiller to Explore His Parents' Legacy in New Documentary, Set for October Release
Ben Stiller to Explore His Parents' Legacy in New Documentary, Set for October Release

Yahoo

time4 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Ben Stiller to Explore His Parents' Legacy in New Documentary, Set for October Release

Stiller called it a "great honor to celebrate" his parents, adding that he has "come to know them in new ways through the making of this film" Ben Stiller is bringing his parents' story to life in a personal new project. The 59-year-old actor and director is joining forces with Apple Original Films to direct and produce a documentary titled Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, which will chart the lives of his famous parents Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. 'I feel very fortunate to be partnering once again with the incredible team at Apple TV+, this time on a project that is very personal to me and my family," Ben said in a statement. "It's exciting to finally get to share it with audiences; and a great honor to celebrate my parents, both as I knew them growing up, and as I've come to know them in new ways through the making of this film.' Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost will premiere in select theaters on Oct. 17, before coming to Apple TV+ on Oct. 24. Ben's film explores his parents' "impact on both popular culture and at home, where the lines between creativity, family, life and art often blurred," per Apple's logline. Jerry and Meara worked as a comedy act before pursuing solo careers in the 1970s. Jerry went on to star in hit projects such as The King of Queens and Seinfeld. As for Meara, she appeared in Awakenings in 1990, and several TV shows, including Archie Bunker's Place, Oz and Sex and the City. Both stars shared the screen with Ben over the years, with all three appearing in 1995's hit Heavyweights. Meara joined forces with her son on 2006's Night at the Museum, and Jerry's final acting projects involved collaborations with his son in 2016 on Zoolander 2 and the animated TV movie Zoolander: Super Model. After meeting a year prior, Jerry and Meara tied the knot in 1954. They welcomed their daughter Amy Stiller in 1961. Four years later, they gave birth to Ben. Anne died at 85 in May 2015. Jerry followed almost exactly five years later in May 2020 at 92. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Appearing on the Today show after his father's death, Ben expressed joy that his parents were able to reunite in the afterlife, saying, "They found each other and they were there for each other." He continued, "Not to get too sappy, but I feel like they're connected again." During a June 2024 appearance on the Hey Dude…The 90s Called! podcast, Ben said that he had "amazing memories" with his parents, recalling time spent no sets and "going with my parents whenever they would go out and do, you know, do nightclubs or go to see them in the theater." He added that he "loved" being on set with his parents, explaining how much he enjoyed "just to see the behind-the-scenes of what they were doing. I realized pretty young that I loved directing and movie making and was fascinated by that and wanted to learn about that." Ben previously worked with Apple TV+ on Severance. He is an executive producer on the show and has directed several episodes. Read the original article on People

'Vanderpump Rules 'Teases First Glimpse into New Season After Casting Shakeup: 'Help Wanted'
'Vanderpump Rules 'Teases First Glimpse into New Season After Casting Shakeup: 'Help Wanted'

Yahoo

time4 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

'Vanderpump Rules 'Teases First Glimpse into New Season After Casting Shakeup: 'Help Wanted'

Bravo first announced 'Vanderpump Rules' was being rebooted for season 12 — with a new cast joining Lisa Vanderpump — in November Vanderpump Rules is getting ready to raise the bar! On July 25, Bravo released a teaser on X for the upcoming 12th season, eight months after they announced they were rebooting the series. In the clip, Lisa Vanderpump is seen hanging up a "Help Wanted" sign at SUR as she says in a voiceover, "The faces may have changed... but my rules, they've stayed the same." The video then transitions to show the phrase, 'It's time for a shift.' While no release date has been confirmed, the clip also teases the new season will be 'coming soon.' 'New shift. Same rules. #PumpRules Season 12 shakes things up soon,' the caption reads. The teaser comes after Bravo confirmed in November that a new cast would be joining SUR and TomTom owner Vanderpump, 64, for season 12. The new cast includes a 'close-knit SUR-vers who are as complicatedly involved with one another as their iconic predecessors,' the network announced in a press release at the time. However, no names have been announced. 'The last 12 years of filming have been an extraordinary run full of laughter, tears and everything in between,' Vanderpump said in the release. 'I can't thank enough those who have shared their lives. How I love you all. In the restaurant business, one shift always gives way to another. Cheers to the next generation of Vanderpump Rules.' Alex Baskin, executive producer of the show's production company 32 Flavors, added: 'What a thrill it is to build on the legacy of this series by doing it all over again. With profound appreciation for the original group and their iconic run, we can't wait for the audience to see a dynamic new group of co-workers and friends make their way through life together." Vanderpump Rules premiered in 2013 with stars Kristen Doute, Scheana Shay, Jax Taylor Tom Schwartz, Katie Maloney, Tom Sandoval, Stassi Schroeder, Peter Madrigal, Mike Shay, Laura-Leigh, Frank Herlihy and Ariana Madix. Over the years, cast members have come and gone, with others like Brittany Cartwright, Lala Kent and Rachel Leviss joining the series. After the reboot was announced, a source close to the situation told PEOPLE that the legacy cast learned about the decision one day prior to the news going public. 'They're understandably upset that it's all coming to an end, but no one was necessarily surprised,' the insider said at the time. 'It's more relief that they finally have an answer.' Since 'there were so many fractions' among the cast following the season 11 reunion, the source revealed that Bravo felt they needed to move on with a new group. 'There had been a long pause in production, and nothing had really changed among the cast since the reunion,' the source added. 'Everyone was still stuck in their feelings and refusing to bend. The network felt there was no path forward with the group in that capacity.' A second source noted that money did not play a factor in Bravo's decision to start fresh, noting that the network opted for a reboot before discussions of salaries even began with the former cast members. "It was completely driven by creative," the insider explained. "There weren't any negotiations happening between the cast and the network where money was even discussed." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Vanderpump Rules seasons 1-11 are available to stream on Peacock. Read the original article on People

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store