By Rebecca Henely
An Astoria restaurant and its busty, attractive waitresses are set to broadcast in homes across the country.
Last week, Canz-a-City Roadhouse, a group of three restaurants similar to the international chain Hooters, was offered a contract to create a reality show.
“The show aims to give viewers a behind-the-scenes view into the inner workings of the successful ‘breastaraunt’ by following the sometimes-complicated lives and always entertaining times of the management and staff,” according to a release from Todd Shapiro Associates, which represents Canz.
The chain began on Long Island three years ago, but its Astoria location opened in 2010. Astoria is also the home of the chain’s owner, former Minor League baseball player Tim Lorito. In the restaurant, comely women dressed in tight black tank tops and high-cut blue jean shorts serve typical bar food fare such as soups, sandwiches and burgers plus more than 100 types of beers in cans.
The Canz reality show will be produced by Irwin Entertainment. The Los Angeles-based company has produced reality shows such as “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” and “Sober House” on VH1 and the extreme sports show “All Jacked Up” with actor C. Thomas Howell on Country Music Television. Shooting is expected to begin in fall 2011 at the earliest.
An employee at the Astoria Canz said filming for the show will take place in Astoria, plus its Long Island locations in Westbury and Patchogue.
Todd Shapiro Associates said Canz has plans to eventually expand into a national chain and has recently hired 25 former Hooters waitresses to work at Canz.
“The formula for its success is simple: great comfort food at great prices, lively environment for dining and watching sporting events, a huge assortment of domestic and hard-to-find imported canned beers and the most attractive and attentive staff anywhere,” said the public relations company.
Astoria, home of film studios Silvercup and Kaufman Astoria, has been a popular location for filming TV shows and movies since the early 20th century.
The Marx Brothers’ earliest films “Cocoanuts” and “Animal Crackers” were filmed at Kaufman, and popular TV shows “Sesame Street” “30 Rock” and “Fringe” are filmed in Astoria. The neighborhood was also featured recently in the film “Blue Valentine,” which netted star Michelle Williams a Best Actress Oscar nomination.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
