Dinner for Five is a television program in which actor/filmmaker Jon Favreau and a revolving guest list of celebrities eat, drink and talk about life on and off the set and swap stories about projects past and present. The program seats screen legends next to a variety of personalities from film, television, music and comedy, resulting in an unpredictable free-for-all. The program aired on the Independent Film Channel with Favreau the co-Executive Producer with Peter Billingsley.
The show format is a spontaneous, open forum for people in the entertainment community. The idea, originally conceived by Favreau, originated from a time when he went out to dinner with colleagues on a film location and exchanged filming anecdotes. Favreau said, "I thought it would be interesting to show people that side of the business". He did not want to present them in a "sensationalized way [that] they're presented in the press, but as normal people". The format featured Favreau and four guests from the entertainment industry in a restaurant with no other diners. They ordered actual food from real menus and were served by authentic waiters. There were no cue cards or previous research on the participants that would have allowed him to orchestrate the conversation and the guests were allowed to talk about whatever they wanted. The show used five cameras with the operators using long lenses so that they could be at least ten feet away from the table and not intrude on the conversation or make the guests self-conscious. The conversations lasted until the film ran out. A 25-minutes episode would be edited from the two-hour dinner.
Best Episodes of Dinner for Five
Ron Livingston, Kevin Pollack, Sarah Silverman, Rod Steiger
S1 Ep4
8.2
29th Apr 2002
This episode was taped at the Saddle Peak Lodge, Calabasas on November 19, 2001.
Jon's guests are:
Ron Livingston, actor, Swingers, Office SpaceKevin Pollack, actor, The Usual Suspects, AvalonSarah Silverman, actress, Saturday Night Live, School of RockRod Steiger, actor, On the Waterfront, Doctor Zhivago
David Duchovny, Dax Shepard, Tim Blake Nelson, Stephen Root
S4 Ep5
8.0
29th Apr 2005
This episode was taped at Le Meridien, Beverly Hills.Jon's guests are:* David Duchovny, actor/director, X-Files, Kalifornia
* Tim Blake Nelson, actor/director, Oh Brother Where Art Thou?, The Thin Red Line
* Stephen Root, actor, Office Space, Dodgeball
* Dax Shepard, actor, Punk'd, IdiocracyRated: TV-MA for Adult Language (AL)
Rob Zombie, Bruce Campbell, Roger Corman, Faizon Love
S4 Ep3
8.0
15th Apr 2005
This episode was taped at La Cachette restaurant in Santa Monica.Jon's guests are: * Bruce Campbell, actor, Evil Dead, Bubba Ho-tep
* Roger Corman, producer/director, Death Race 2000, Carnosaur
* Faizon Love, actor/comedian, Wonderland, Torque
* Rob Zombie, musician/director, Rated: TV-MA for Adult Language (AL)
David Milch, Tim Olyphant, Michael Rapaport, Jay Mohr
S4 Ep1
8.0
1st Apr 2005
This episode was taped at Le Meridien, Beverly Hills.
Jon's guests are: David Milch, writer/producer, Deadwood, NYPD BlueJay Mohr, actor, Action, Last Comic StandingTim Olyphant, actor, Deadwood, GoMichael Rapaport, actor, Boston Public, War at Home
Rated: TV-MA for Adult Language (AL)
Kevin Smith, Jason Lee, Stan Lee, Mark Hamill, J.J. Abrams
S4 Ep9
7.8
17th Jun 2005
Kevin Smith is the guest host of this episode, replacing Jon Favreau.
Worst Episodes of Dinner for Five
Joey Lauren Adams, Peter Berg, Kevin James, Jeanne Tripplehorn
S1 Ep1
5.6
6th Jul 2001
This episode was taped at the Atlantic in Los Angeles on March 19, 2001.
Jon's guests are:
Joey Lauren Adams, actress, Dazed and Confused, Chasing AmyPeter Berg, actor/director, The Last Seduction, The Rundown Kevin James, actor, CBS's King of QueensJeanne Tripplehorn, actress, Basic Instinct, Waterworld
Peter Billingsley, Justin Long, Keir O'Donnell, Vince Vaughn
S5 Ep1
6.0
1st Feb 2008
This episode was taped at the Atlantic in Los Angeles on March 19, 2001.
Jon's guests are:
* Vince Vaughn, actor, Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball
* Peter Billingsley, actor/producer, A Christmas Story, The Break-Up
* Justin Long, actor, Live Free or Die Hard, Jeepers Creepers
* Kier O'Donnell, actor, Wedding Crashers
Rated: TV-MA for Adult Language (AL)
Andy Dick, Daryl Hannah, Marilyn Manson
S1 Ep5
6.5
6th May 2002
This episode was taped at the Pinot Hollywood restaurant, on January 13, 2002.
Jon's guests are:
Andy Dick, actor, NewsRadio, Road TripDaryl Hannah, actress, Blade Runner, Dancing at the Blue IguanaMarilyn Manson, musician, Lost Highway
Christian Slater, Illeana Douglas, Jeff Goldblum, Fred Willard
S1 Ep3
7.0
22nd Apr 2002
This episode was taped at the Pinot Hollywood on November 18, 2001.
Jon's guests are:
Illeana Douglas, actress, Ghost World, To Die ForJeff Goldblum, actor, Jurassic Park, The FlyChristian Slater, actor, Heathers, True RomanceFred Willard, actor, This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman
Michael De Luca, Luis Guzman, Michael Chiklis, Henry Rollins
S4 Ep4
7.0
22nd Apr 2005
Jon's guests are:Michael De Luca, producer, New Line Studios
Luis Guzman, actor, Boogie Nights, Carlito's Way
Michael Chiklis, actor, Fantastic Four, The Shield
Henry Rollins, Rock Singer/Actor, Heat, Lost Highway
Rated: TV-MA for Adult Language (AL)
Dinner for Five Episode Guide
Joey Lauren Adams, Peter Berg, Kevin James, Jeanne Tripplehorn
S1 Ep1
5.6
6th Jul 2001
This episode was taped at the Atlantic in Los Angeles on March 19, 2001.
Jon's guests are:
Joey Lauren Adams, actress, Dazed and Confused, Chasing AmyPeter Berg, actor/director, The Last Seduction, The Rundown Kevin James, actor, CBS's King of QueensJeanne Tripplehorn, actress, Basic Instinct, Waterworld
Vince Vaughn, Garry Shandling, Cheri Oteri, Peter Falk
S1 Ep2
7.2
22nd Nov 2001
This episode was taped at Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood on October 10, 2001.
Jon's guests are:
Peter Falk, actor, TV's Columbo, Princess BrideCheri Oteri, actress, Saturday Night LiveGarry Shandling, actor, The Larry Sanders ShowVince Vaughn, actor, Swingers, Old School
Christian Slater, Illeana Douglas, Jeff Goldblum, Fred Willard
S1 Ep3
7.0
22nd Apr 2002
This episode was taped at the Pinot Hollywood on November 18, 2001.
Jon's guests are:
Illeana Douglas, actress, Ghost World, To Die ForJeff Goldblum, actor, Jurassic Park, The FlyChristian Slater, actor, Heathers, True RomanceFred Willard, actor, This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman
Ron Livingston, Kevin Pollack, Sarah Silverman, Rod Steiger
S1 Ep4
8.2
29th Apr 2002
This episode was taped at the Saddle Peak Lodge, Calabasas on November 19, 2001.
Jon's guests are:
Ron Livingston, actor, Swingers, Office SpaceKevin Pollack, actor, The Usual Suspects, AvalonSarah Silverman, actress, Saturday Night Live, School of RockRod Steiger, actor, On the Waterfront, Doctor Zhivago
Andy Dick, Daryl Hannah, Marilyn Manson
S1 Ep5
6.5
6th May 2002
This episode was taped at the Pinot Hollywood restaurant, on January 13, 2002.
Jon's guests are:
Andy Dick, actor, NewsRadio, Road TripDaryl Hannah, actress, Blade Runner, Dancing at the Blue IguanaMarilyn Manson, musician, Lost Highway
Sean Combs, John Leguizamo, Juliette Lewis, Vincent Pastore
S1 Ep10
7.7
7th Oct 2002
This episode was taped at Dylan Prime restaurant in New York City on April 7, 2002.
Jon's guests are: Sean "Puffy" Combs, musician/actor, Made, Monster's BallJohn leguizamo, actor, Summer of Sam, Moulin RougeJuliette Lewis, actress, Cape Fear, Natural Born KillersVincent Pastore, actor, The Sopranos, Made
Rated: TV-MA for Adult Language (AL)
