The "Survivor" and "Eco-Challenge" creator and producer is also one of the executive producers (with Reveille's Ben Silverman and Robert Riesenberg of Magna Global Entertainment) of the upcoming NBC series "The Restaurant."

Set to premiere this summer, it's an unscripted, behind-the-scenes look at the creation and day-to-day operations of a New York eatery, planned to open in early June under the control of first-generation Italian-American chef Rocco DiSpirito.

Called Rocco's, it's located at 12 East 22nd Street in Manhattan, between Broadway and Park Avenue South. Unlike some other reality shows, like "Survivor" and "Big Brother," which are conducted in locations barred to the public, "The Restaurant" is open for business.

The reservation line, at (212) 353-0500, is expected to be open by the end of May.

"Creatively, it's a challenge," Burnett says, "because there's no end result. It's not like a prize, there's no voting. It's not a sport like 'Eco-Challenge.' It's truly an unscripted drama, very difficult to make, but I think it's part of the evolution of television."

"It's very character-driven. I see myself, in the very near future, going into movies and scripted television, and of all the reality shows out there, 'Eco' and 'Survivor' are the most story-driven."

"I feel I am a storyteller, and if anybody's qualified to try to make 'The Restaurant' a dynamic series, it's me. I see this like the scripted series 'Hotel,' with James Brolin, except this chef, Rocco DiSpirito, is my main character, and the supporting cast are the workers in the restaurant."

Anyone who has worked in a high-profile restaurant knows there is an element of theater involved, as diners are treated to a complete ambience in addition to gourmet food.

"It's like a TV or movie production every night," Burnett says, "except they're trying to deliver all this food for a table of eight with different orders, all at one time. It's like a pressure cooker, so therefore, out of that pressure cooker in the kitchen and that theater environment, comes great character development and drama."