Welcome to the Parker (Bravo)

WELCOME TO THE PARKER offers an inside peek at the high-end hospitality industry. This reality show documents the small dramas and major anxieties that come along with catering to the well-heeled clientele of a four-star Palm Springs hotel. The real-life characters include the oh-so-serious hotel manager, Samir, who demands perfection from his staff and threatens to fire anyone who doesn't meet his high standards; the funny, but perhaps unqualified catering manager; and Rocio, the chef who constantly tests her staff to see if they're up to snuff.

Though guests are sometimes celebrities and always very rich, the more interesting characters are the staffers. Who works behind the scenes at the places where celebs hang out? What's their motivation, and how do they deal with clients' sometimes-strange demands? Welcome to the Parkerprovides some of the answers, though expert editing surely makes the most of the sometimes-dull everyday work of cleaning rooms, serving food, and bringing cold drinks to guests by the pool.

People fascinated by the service industry -- or those who just want a peek inside a hotel that most folks will never be able to afford --might enjoy the guilty pleasure viewing that the show provides. But it really hinges on characters, and unfortunately The Parker doesn't have any real standouts. With plenty of drinking, smoking, and bleeped cursing, this one's best for teens and up.