CHICAGO: Auditions for new host of Check, Please (WTTW) (Chicago-based food show)

[Debbie Hillman]

To:

Advocates for Urban Agriculture   (Greater Chicago)

Illinois Local Food and Farms Coalition  (Illinois)

Good Greens Midwest  (6 states served by USDA FNS Midwest Office:  IL, IN, OH, MI, MN, WI, based in Chicago)

Illinois Farmers Market Association  (serving all 300+ Illinois farmers markets)

COMFOOD JOBS (North America, out of Tufts University)  job postings only

Here is a very interesting opportunity for a food-and-farm system person who has a good TV personality.

Chicago's public television station, WTTW, is looking for a new host for its restaurant review show, Check, Please.

This is a show that is very popular, but also ready for some major revamping, in lots of ways (in my opinion).    I personally think they should have rotating hosts or guest hosts.    They might also consider expanding to the larger foodshed and featuring other food outlets -- cafeterias, bed & breakfasts, farmers markets, etc.

It would also be great if someone from outside the Chicago area was considered as a co-host.   This would bring lots of new perspective to food, farm, the system, etc.   

It would also be great if a "local food" group could be a co-sponsor of this show.  Presumably, a sponsor could have some input and insert some new flavor into the show's format.    

Deadline for application is March 1, 2013.     Apply on-line.   The application does not look hard, but they are requiring a YouTube video.  This is for TV, after all.   The basic information they want is:

Contact information

Restaurant or Culinary Experience: 

Please provide a paragraph describing why you would be the best next host for Check, Please!: 

Photograph: *

Video link  (a 2-minute You Tube)

Here's the direct link to the application site:  http://checkplease.wttw.com/now-hiring

Below is an article from Eater.com.

I can't wait to find out  if WTTW takes this opportunity to be creative and taps into the multi-faceted local foods community.   I might go out and buy a TV if they do!!

-- Debbie

Debbie Hillman

Evanston, Illinois

D. Hillman Strategies:  Food Policy for Voters

847/328-7175

DLHi...@sbcglobal.net

FoodVote.2012.com    (http://DHillmanStrategies.com)

Audition to be the new star of WTTW's Check, Please.
 

Check, Please Auditions Open

Wednesday, January 30, 2013, by Daniel Gerzina

 

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Come one, come all for a chance to be the new star of WTTW's Check, Please. Since the announcement of Alpana Singh's departure, the floodgates have already opened. But today is the first day they're officially taking applications on their website. The deadline is March 1.

Media veterans, chefs, bloggers, servers, and seemingly everybody else have already started flooding WTTW with head shots, video clips, emails, texts, and all other forms of communication. According to DNA Info, those already throwing their hat in the ring include Audarshia Townsend, Suzy Singh, Joe Campagna, and the chef of the just-shuttered City Provisions, Cleetus Friedman.

To join the chase, head over to WTTW's site instead of just bombarding David Manilow.