From Steve Barnes' Table Hopping blog:

The 12-year-old LT's Grill in Niskayuna, which describes itself as an "old-timey bar/eatery with Southern BBQ, steak & seafood fare," will be the subject of a future episode of "Restaurant: Impossible," in which tall and loud Food Network personality Robert Irvine makes over a restaurant in two days on a budget of $10,000.

One of the ways they do it is by exploiting a local population's desire to help a failing business and to possibly appear on TV. The show is seeking volunteers to work any or even all of three available shifts on July 10 and 11.

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And, get this, "Restaurant: Impossible" doesn't just want any willing person who can to swing a hammer or wield a paintbrush. No, producers are asking for "skilled contractors, electricians, plumbers, upholsters and painters to help out and donate their time." (Emphasis mine.) They are, however, willing to accept "all skill sets and skill levels."

Further, people who want to dine at the post-makeover LT's on the evening of July 11 will have to pay for their own meals.

All for a TV show on a network with more than $1.2 billion a year in annual revenue.

Look, I'm sorry LT's is struggling enough that it applied for — and was judged sufficiently moribund to be selected by — a show that says its mission is to "save America's most desperate restaurants from impending failure."

But asking for a minimum of seven hours of free labor from skilled professionals who may normally get $80 an hour for their work is disgusting. (To be clear, the practice is the fault of "R:I" producers, not LT's Grill.)

In addition: It may also be illegal. According to the Society of Human Resource Management, citing federal law, "Under FLSA regulations, an individual cannot volunteer services to a private, for-profit company." Multiple other sources agree. A publicist for the producers did not immediately return an email seeking comment on the show's position on the legality of it using volunteers.

Details on volunteering are here; for potential diners, here.

LT's is located at 2305 Nott St. (St. James Square). It is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday.