It’s hard to believe it was just about 4 years ago this month that the national Vh1 reality series which I was part of, MY BIG FRIGGIN’ WEDDING went off the air...

Not counting when it aired in syndication across the globe for a good 2 years after the last of the original 10 episodes concluded.) Insane how people still mention that they remember me from that show every now and then when they see me at a gig or write me letters about how much they enjoyed all my hijinks. It was five years ago almost to the day that I auditioned for it with my then-fiancé.

It’s pretty crazy that right now I am filming my return to a national cable series. Funny story about that first day of FRIGGIN’, me & Megin were on our way to a Long Island hotel to meet the producers, we walked into the place and immediately this chick walks up to us and says, "hey guys, you have a great look, we are holding a casting call for a reality show, would you both consider auditioning?"

Of course we replied that that was the purpose of us being there! I guess we really had that Jersey look that they were going for. They loved us and we started filming...the rest is history. That whole experience did change my life in a lot of ways though, and some people dream about being on TV and I was lucky enough to be on it for months, episode after episode. It wasn’t a long time, but still I like to say I left my mark in pop culture history and now I have a chance to do it again.

Yes I have made many, many media appearances since then – in the past month alone I did a whirlwind on the local news circuit from MY9, FOX5 and PIX11. There have been a lot of others before and will be many after and TV is TV which is always amazing since I love the camera, but there’s something extra special about national TV.

As I am sworn to secrecy due to my confidentiality contract, I cannot reveal any details with regards to this new program or what channel it will be on. I assume it will air sometime soon but I really don’t even know myself but when I do you can be assured I will share it with you all. All I can say is that it involves cooking. And since FRIGGIN’ went off the air I have carved out a business, brand and character of JOHNNY MEATBALLS which now most people know me for. This time around with my show-biz sequel I'll be doing what I have been doing in the streets every summer and last did on Super Bowl Sunday which is serving my food.

First launching my business on TV in front of millions of people with all the trial and error that goes with it, no sweat! Watching my wife give birth to my son with so many eyes watching, no sweat. (Well, maybe for her.) Getting married on a national stage, no sweat! But now in front of an audience having to be a pro with a knife. YIKES! This isn’t my first rodeo as far as live cooking, I have done this in front of crowds quite a few times but this is a little bit different. Oh boy.

This is a big test for me…am I destined to be that celebrity chef / food personality in the style of Guy Fieri or is my calling just specifically as an actor/entertainer? My charm, humor and rugged good looks are all be secondary now…this is serious business! But I am ready. And I am all alone. No Megin…No sidekick Frankie Antipasto…I got a lot to prove to myself and to the world and I guess I will find out where I really do fit into pop culture when this is all said and done.

So if you just read that but never heard of me before and this is the first blog of mine you've ever read, you may get the impression that I am a “camera whore” as they call it and just a guy who always wants to be in the spotlight. Well, that is partially true I won't lie. I wanted to be a star since I was in diapers, but on my terms. And to be honest, the cameras are usually following me. What I love most is when people come see me or write me letters and remember me for my collective work – being on TV and being that “character” but also for being that street hustler who sells the best meatballs in New Jersey.

So now with year #6 about to begin for my business, I am gonna list some key career highlites of mine and just a basic overview of some accomplishments I've done over the past five years...

Who/What is JOHNNY MEATBALLS?

If one enters JOHNNY MEATBALLS in Google, pages of information will appear of photos/videos/bios/various links to multiple websites. JOHNNY MEATBALLS is best looked at as a multi-faceted “tree” company with branches leading up to the PERSON/CHARACTER of “JOHNNY MEATBALLS” (which is the stage name/professional name of the founder—yours truly). I'm a self-trained professional meatball maker who has cooked and sold thousands and thousands of the product JOHNNY’S MEATBALLS since late 2008/early 2009 to present, direct to consumers via catering orders, via “street sales” utilizing concession equipment (JOHNNY MEATBALLS ON A ROLL-THE WORLD’S 1ST MOBILE MEATBALL CART) which has been brought to hundreds of outdoor New Jersey venues each year since May 2009 to present. For a period of time boxes of “JOHNNY’S MEATBALLS IN SUNDAY GRAVY” were also sold frozen in retail stores (currently not in retail production).

The CHARACTER of JOHNNY MEATBALLS is an entertainer, stylizing Italian-Americana/New Jersey themed dress/speech via all traditional forms of media (TV/radio), social media (videos & blogs on facebook/youtube), print media (magazines, newspapers), novelty merchandising (clothing) all which contains non-scripted and scripted family-oriented music/comedy/storytelling. All branches of the tree connect and intersect and are on full display as interactive dinner-theatre at all JOHNNY MEATBALLS venues. Since this overall body of work cannot be trademarked or copywritten as it is an interpretive process of advertising/selling a person/product/service, it is often duplicated by others although the facts and timeline states JOHNNY MEATBALLS is the trendsetter in all aspects of this style of marketing pertaining to the modern MEATBALL.

2008-Formed Bonnie & Clyde (B&C) Catering with girlfriend (now wife) Megin

2009-Invited as guest speaker at Calandra Institute’s Guido Colloquium in NYC to discuss Italian-American stereotypes in relation to JERSEY SHORE, THE SOPRANOS

2009-Inception of JOHNNY MEATBALLS (the cook/character/brand) forming out of B&C Catering when meatballs become #1 best seller, B&C becomes Johnny Meatballs Catering / Johnny Meatballs, LLC / Johnny’s Meatballs In Sunday Gravy

-KEY NOTES-JOHNNY MEATBALLS:

First to use the phrases “Meatball King of New Jersey” / “got balls?”, Conceptualized the specialization of an individual as one particular cook/personality of a food product (meatballs), First to conceptualize and create meatball merchandise (clothing, hats) and build a brand around the meatball

2009/2010-JOHNNY MEATBALLS makes debut on national TV, reality series, MY BIG FRIGGIN’ WEDDING (495 Productions - 10 episodes) airs on VH1 Network profiling New Jersey wedding planning and the early growth of the JOHNNY MEATBALLS tree. Broadcast worldwide after initial run in syndication in Australia, China, other international markets (Show archives: www.bigfriggin.vh1.com)

2010-Weekly food & entertainment blog CUGINE CORNER-THE JOHNNY MEATBALLS BLOG begins on i-italy.org. (Active)

2010–JOHNNY’S MEATBALLS IN SUNDAY GRAVY frozen 6 pack box becomes first commercially produced meatball sold in frozen foods containing veal/pork/beef (2010-2012 in all Corrado’s grocery stores)

2010-Winner of Chef Central Gravy War for best meatballs (Paramus NJ)

2011-Wrote and recorded THE MEATBALL SONG with dance music superstar Lucas Prata. Gained radio airplay, sold on i-tunes, currently found on youtube

2011-MY BIG FRIGGIN’ BOOK BY JOHNNY MEATBALLS (story & recipe collection) is published by Ballesta Publishing, sold online and in specialty stores through 2012 (currently out of print)

2011-Invited as guest speaker to Sons of Italy (Bergenfield, NJ chapter) to discuss Italian-American entrepreneurship and unique marketing styles

2011-Participant in Iron Chef Bergen County / UNICO Charity di Vino, winner of best meatballs

2011-JOHNNY MEATBALLS ON A ROLL-THE WORLD’S FIRST MOBILE MEATBALL CART travels across New Jersey, securing JOHNNY MEATBALLS as the original specialized meatball street vendor, first to ever sell meatballs from a converted hot dog cart

2012-Subletted Cuzin’s Corner Deli (Woodland Park NJ), with meatball food court (no longer affiliated)

2012-Awarded certificate of merit from Professor Cinotto of University of Gastronomic Studies (Bra, Italy). Later also credited in Cinotto’s 2013 book “Italian American Table” (Univ. of Illinois Press)

2013-Collaborated with Lost Brothers Pizza Truck, selling meatballs in Moonachie, NJ (no longer affiliated)

2013-Redesigned JOHNNY MEATBALLS CATERING CART enters street vending scene. Parked for over 60 consecutive days at Hasbrouck Heights Swim Club as seasonal outdoor café with partner Frankie Antipasto (Italian coldcuts)

2013-“Meadowlands Tailgate Sunday” outdoor festival in East Rutherford takes place one block from MetLife Stadium with JOHNNY MEATBALLS first food stand to sell out (1000+ meatballs in 4 hours)

2013-Contracted with MOY MOTIONS PRODUCTIONS to produce a series of youtube videos and full length film, THE JOHNNY MEATBALLS EXPERIENCE to be independently released to the public in spring 2014 documenting the underdog story of independent business vs. the corporate giant

2014-Contracted with SHARP ENTERTAINMENT to film a cooking contest/reality series to air on national TV in summer/fall 2014

*Airing March/April 2014 on i-italy NY-TV, “Short Italian Tales” with feature story on JOHNNY MEATBALLS*

Partial list of NY based press appearances by JOHNNY MEATBALLS (2010-present)

Media:

MY9, FOX5, PIX11, NY1, NEWS 12, LA7 (ITALY), NY-TV, Z100 RADIO, NY POST, BERGEN RECORD

Social Media:

*DAILY REACH OF 5000 FACEBOOK FRIENDS, 5000+ FOLLOWERS ON FAN PAGES, YOUTUBE VIEWS OVER 45k*

Charitable Work

Dec. 2011-Present-Closter New Jersey PBA Toy Drive, largest and longest running toy donation/distribution event in the state, JOHNNY’S MEATBALLS are served at no cost to all volunteers, visitors, military members, needy

Personal

Married since 2010, 2 children (Matthew-10, Christian-3), Born and raised in Bergen County New Jersey (originally Palisades Park, now Wood-Ridge since 2010), Italian ancestry-maternal & paternal grandparents all from Molise region of Italy (Guardiaregia, Campobasso)

Final Thoughts...More than balls???

So to conclude this little blog which was really part diary, part resume, you may be asking what's next and if I cook or sell anything else. Well I did not even mention my whole other side business “Island Girl Beverages,” which is customizable private label soda and water in glass bottles. That takes up a lot of my “down season” time from January to May. IGB are the exclusive distributors of this delicious old school soda where you can put your own name and logo on the bottle. If you own a deli / food establishment, are a businessman/woman looking for a long-lasting gift for your clients, even private folks who wanna do souvenirs for an event or just class up your dinner table, this branch of my tree has 20 flavors for you from root beer to chocolate egg cream. For a one time (lifetime) setup fee you can put ANYTHING on the label...company info, picture, special message.

Now last summer you got a “taste” of some other menu specials I offer including sausage meatballs with broccoli rabe, chicken parmigiano, sausage and peppers, Sabretts, pulled pork, hand-made miniature pizza pies—not those frozen ones—made from scratch, fresh popped kettle corn…plus of course Italian ice, nope not from any supermarket but from a pastry shop, and gourmet gelato...among so much other stuff. This coming spring my set-up will truly resemble a pop-up restaurant in the streets...

I'm gonna have my new food bus (The Johnny Meatball Mobile/Balls-On-Wheels/The Magic Meatball Bus) up and running with a variety of different items including macaroni and different sauces. Along with my wagon, plus gelato freezer, a VIP seating area for my guests and the whole stand will be decked out in brand new colorful signs and banners. Not to mention my personal filmmaker right there. What a scene it is gonna be baby! Prepare to be blown away. And a lot of the time, my sidekick Frankie Antipasto will be by my side with his Italian coldcuts, fine cheeses, breads and other cold items – making for the perfect “Sunday dinner” match. But you'll have to wait until May when I roll out again. I got two months to get everything ready...I'll do it. I owe it to you all. And hopefully once and for all my anonymous stalkers/haters can truly understand what I am all about and stop writing hateful lies about me in the comment section. But I doubt it, it goes with the territory as somewhat of a public figure who puts himself out there all the time.

The King will indeed return in more ways than one.

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www.johnny-meatballs.com

www.facebook.com/johnnydecarlo

http://www.i-italy.org/bloggers/cugine-corner-johnny-meatballs-blog

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