HGTV’s “Selling New York” follows CORE agents as they navigate the country’s most competitive—and compelling—real estate market. Here’s our behind-the-scenes look at Episode #505, which first aired on February 23, 2012. For more SNY recaps, click here.
L-R: Michael Feinstein, David Hyde Pierce, Tom Postilio, Christine Ebersole, and Cheyenne Jackson at Tom's opening night at Feinstein’s
This week’s episode of “Selling New York”, titled “High Expectations,” featured CORE’s Tom Postilio scouring the Manhattan market for his friend and fellow musician, Michael Feinstein. With a massive budget of up to $50 million, Mr. Great American Songbook and his partner, Terrence Flannery, knew exactly what they wanted, and they weren’t going to settle for less. In fact, they weren’t going to put their own $20+ million house on the market (a stunning 8 bedroom, 9 bathroom, 9,000-square-foot behemoth on the Upper East Side) until finding the perfect place to move. Tom was up for the challenge, but he knew there was a lot at stake: a huge commission, his longtime friendship with Michael and ultimately his reputation in NYC’s tight-knit real estate community.
Tom showed Michael and Terrence several stunning properties that caught their attention, from the $3.5 million historic Steinway Mansion in Queens, to a $39 million multi-penthouse combination at the I.M. Pei-designed Centurion building in Midtown, but in the end Michael’s hectic touring schedule got in the way, and the couple was forced to put off finding their dream house for a bit longer. Keep on reading for some exclusive behind-the-scenes information about what didn’t make it into last night’s episode of “Selling New York” and what happened after the cameras stopped rolling!
1) This episode was two decades in the making. Tom and Michael met over 20 years ago, when Tom was just starting out as a performer. Yes, we said it. Before Tom caught the real estate bug he was a professional musician, and in fact, he still performs, even occasionally gracing the stage of Feinstein’s at the Regency, Michael Feinstein’s iconic nightclub. They met when Tom opened for one of Michael’s shows, and they have been friends ever since.
2) You can’t rush real estate. Michael and Terrence knew what they wanted in their next one-in-a-million home, but they didn’t take into account the time-consuming nature of the search process, especially with a budget up to $50 million and a wish list up the wazoo. Michael assumed he could balance his career with the demands of finding a new home, but it took some unlikely advice from his broker — wait until he has the time and energy to invest in the search — to set his mind right.
3) Did friendship survive business? Tom’s close friend was counting on him to find the perfect NYC townhouse, and Tom was feeling that pressure. While Tom always sets out to do his job well and take care of his clients, it’s a different story when you know the relationship will continue past the buying or selling process. Even though Michael and Terrence didn’t sign on any dotted lines this episode, today their relationship with Tom is stronger than ever. The experience added another layer to their already solid friendship. Recently, Tom and his partner, Mickey, were VIP guests at one of Michael’s shows.
4) Filming is a veggie-unfriendly process. Queens’s Steinway Mansion might have been a beautiful property, but there wasn’t much in the surrounding neighborhood when it came time for a lunch break. Thankfully the crew thought ahead and brought some sandwiches along. What they didn’t realize was that Michael is a vegan, and all the sandwiches were tailored toward carnivores. While everyone else tore into their long-awaited lunch, poor Michael was stuck eating a granola bar. Needless to say, it didn’t quite do the trick!
5) Need an encore? Here’s an update! We know that the episode left viewers hanging, so thankfully we’ve got the scoop! Michael has recently returned from touring in Florida, and he and Terrence are finally getting back into the groove of things. Actually, Tom has reason to believe that the couple is gearing up for their next round of house-hunting. Michael and Terrence have hinted that they are just about ready to officially put their 9,000-square-foot Manhattan townhouse on the market. Better late than never!