'Hot in Cleveland' Producer Anne Flett-Giordano visits Cleveland For Season 4 Ideas

[Brian Damage]

Cleveland has a new friend and fan in Anne Flett-Giordano. The writer/producer from TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland" wrapped the hit comedy's third season Friday -- and got on a flight here the next day.
Like the characters from the show -- portrayed by Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves -- the five-time prime-time Emmy winner discovered a "city full of great people and food and fun."
"I could use at least two more days here," she said. "I've had the best time. We've been treated like royalty."
She came with friends, Leonard and Pamela Ruggieri, who also were wowed by the town's hospitality and amenities.
It's hard not to have a good time when you have friends in high places: Albert Ratner of Forest City Enterprises and Larry Miller of Global Cleveland made sure the Flett-Giordano party were well looked after. After checking in at the Ritz-Carlton, Flett-Giordano's first stop was to see Hilary Terrano at the Velvet Tango Room, one of Cleveland's poshest cocktail lounges.
"She told us where to go and who to make reservations with," said Flett-Giordano. "She was our guide for food and drinks."
The trip was for business and pleasure. Of "Hot's" eight writers, only two had ever been to Cleveland. Flett-Giordano -- whose credentials include writing for hit programs "Frasier," "Kate and Allie" and "Desperate Housewives" -- has joined that august group.
The trip's business part, she said, was "to look around and get some story ideas," and possibly involve actual settings and local talent, similar to last night's episode featuring Josh Cribbs. The Browns' receiver played himself singing karaoke at Stormi's, the fictitious bar where the characters hang out. He Tweeted that co-star Betty White is "the Best."
"I can't make any promises," Flett-Giordano said, "but I'd like to do more with the Browns. We'll see."
Saturday, the group had dinner at Dante's in Tremont. "We had the tasting menu with wine pairings for each course," Flett-Giordano said, adding she would pay twice as much in Los Angeles for the same.
Sunday, they took in an Indians game and got to see the Tribe beat the Angels 4-0, followed by dinner at Iron Chef Michael Symon's flagship restaurant, Lola. The following day they spent five hours at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, where they were "blown away" by the U2 film "U23D."
"Everywhere we went people were beyond nice. We talked to the people we sat with at the game and then with people at the next table at Lola. We had drinks and darts at Flannery's. Our waiter at Lola was Mark Hoffman, who was so helpful.
"Who knew what a wine town this is? I don't think most people from L.A. would get the idea in their head to go to Cleveland for a vacation, but I'm so glad we did."
Flett-Giordano and her friends toured the Rembrandt exhibit at Cleveland Art Museum. They also heard the Cleveland Orchestra rehearse, and a representative from Forest City took them for a tour of lakefront houses along Edgewater Drive.
The quality of life impressed Flett-Giordano, 55, who lives in Santa Barbara, Calif., and keeps an apartment near the "Hot In Cleveland" set in Studio City.
"We saw gorgeous mansions that were for sale for $500,000. They'd be $5 million in L.A.," she said.
Flett-Giordano expects Cleveland's treasures will get more exposure on the show in the next season, which will resume shooting in August.
"At first the legal department discouraged the writers from showing real Cleveland locations because they worried something might be construed as disparaging. Or one place would be angry that another got too much attention. But they are starting to loosen up about it."
In addition to sending "a love note" to Cleveland, she had some parting advice for her new favorite city.
"Go see that "U2" movie at the Rock Hall," she said. "It's like an amusement park ride. We said we were going to stay for two songs and we stayed the whole 90 minutes."

http://www.cleveland.com/tv/index.ss...er-produc.html

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