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'Survivor' Meets Millionaire, and a Show Is Born
Sun Oct 19, 2:56 PM ET Add Top Stories - The New York Times
By ABBY ELLIN The New York Times
IF there's one thing Mark Burnett, the executive producer of "Survivor" and "The Restaurant," has learned in his decade in television, it is this: never let an opportunity slip away.
He put that principle to work when, one night last year, he found himself shooting the "Survivor" finale at Wollman Rink in Manhattan. Donald Trump, who happens to own the place, was there for the event, and though they had never met, Mr. Burnett walked right up and introduced himself.
Mr. Trump, sitting in his office on the 26th floor of the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, recalls the moment. "Mark came up to me and said, 'You know, I was selling T-shirts on Venice Beach and I read "The Art of the Deal," and it had a very profound effect on me.' " The approach worked. "I said to myself, 'Boy, this guy's really smart, because he's trying to get to me and he's saying just the right things.' And he said, 'I really want to see you about an idea.' "
Sun Oct 19, 2:56 PM ET Add Top Stories - The New York Times
By ABBY ELLIN The New York Times
IF there's one thing Mark Burnett, the executive producer of "Survivor" and "The Restaurant," has learned in his decade in television, it is this: never let an opportunity slip away.
He put that principle to work when, one night last year, he found himself shooting the "Survivor" finale at Wollman Rink in Manhattan. Donald Trump, who happens to own the place, was there for the event, and though they had never met, Mr. Burnett walked right up and introduced himself.
Mr. Trump, sitting in his office on the 26th floor of the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, recalls the moment. "Mark came up to me and said, 'You know, I was selling T-shirts on Venice Beach and I read "The Art of the Deal," and it had a very profound effect on me.' " The approach worked. "I said to myself, 'Boy, this guy's really smart, because he's trying to get to me and he's saying just the right things.' And he said, 'I really want to see you about an idea.' "