Behind the scenes of an 8-minute chat on Chicago Tonight

Hi,

Now that the roller coaster ride is over. I thought you might be interested in what was involved when one casually commits to a television segment to discuss your favorite topic: LTHforum and the Great Neighborhood Restaurant.

Last week David Dickson was invited to speak on Chicago Tonight. From what I understood, it would be a panel with David paired up with another guest, but who? By Friday, David was requested to have a female contributor accompany him, which was when I was offered this task for consideration. I didn't leap, though I did talk to the producer first to learn what was expected. We were to identify ten existing Great Neighborhood Restaurants (GNR) highlighting 1-2 dishes each. This seemed like a reasonable task and accepted the offer. She needed this by Monday morning to schedule a crew to canvas these restaurants and dishes.

While David was able to compose his list of ten immediately. I solidly agreed with his list and offered alternatives as well. To make the producers job easier as well as be assured they had correct information, a spreadsheet was created. There were columns for restaurant name, complete contact information, highlighted menu selections, (rough talking points - for us only) and url to the GNR nominating post. I also noted hours of operation in some cases because Burts is closed Mon/Tues and Sunshine Cafe likely on Tuesday.

Monday afternoon we learned they wanted to use images from LTHforum's website, which certainly steamlined their production of this segment. This request for images certainly was a learning experience for all of us. Fortunately all the contacted posters agreed to their use, while the producer made decisions which ones to use. All the images used were either in the GNR nominating thread or in threads linked to them.

Last night, we received an e-mail with final selection of restaurants and images they intended to use. Immediately followed by another e-mail that Johnnies was to be withdrawn from the list. We knew the dynamics of the Beefathons would an interesting sidebar topic to the discussion. We sent an e-mail back with the backstory to help them recognize Johnnies was an important element to the presentation.

This morning Dickson and I had a dry run interview with the producer. We learned Johnnies could be returned to the roster if we could provide good images for them. While the producer was talking to David, I checked my Johnnies image files to find bunch tamales, their GNR certificate, a pepper & egg sandwich, but no Italian beef. I was there maybe two weeks ago and didn't bother taking pictures assuming there were already plenty. I then checked every thread related to Johnnies to find one Italian beef in the distance. Only then did I make the appeal to the board for Italian beef sandwich pictures, which was responded quickly enough to keep Johnnies on board. Thank you!

Met Dickson at 5 PM today at Elephant Thai, another GNR recipient. We divided the list between us to avoid stepping on each other's toes or clumsily wonder whose turn is it now. We then did a dry run on what we might say about the individual restaurants. It began with me, where I fumbled a bit and maybe provided a bit too much detail. David, who has had some radio experience, seemed to get to the point better than I. Following his lead, I also learned to streamline my message. This little dry run also allowed each of us to add (or delete) information that might have caused us to interrupt each other during the real deal.

There were two elderly women sitting next to us while we were doing our dry run. I realized maybe this might seem a bit tedious to them. I caught their attention, told them of our pending discussion, then apologized if this was annoying them. They didn't accept my apology, on the contrary they actually found the conversation interesting. In fact, they had been to one of the restaurants mentioned; Sunshine Cafe. They were aware of its recent closure and had been popping by for months waiting for the day they might reopen; just like us. They lamented their favorite waiter with the red shoes had not been back since they re-opened. We commiserated on the likelihood he likely found new employment. We inquired if we could mention our conversation this evening. They were thrilled and promised to watch, I sure hope I represented them well.

We arrived to WTTW's studios by 6:30 PM. We were lead to the green room where the first person I saw was the producer from the cicada segment. He was chatting with his friend Stephanie Zimmermann, who writes 'The Fixer' column in the Sun-Times.



After signing my life away on a release. I was dispatched to make-up, which in five minutes made me look just ever so slightly different than real life.



Most of our time was spent in the green room watching television with only a minute or so devoted to getting microphones pinned on.



If you look to the left of the television, there is a picture window. Through this window is the working studio creating the images seen on the television. I don't know what the time delay may be, but the girls were alternately looking at the television and to the scene below.



After the politicians concluded their discussion on mass transportation woes and the obituary to Ms. Scala began, then David and I were directed to the studio. We were given our cues when to advance to the table and where we were to be seated. When the moment came, we took our seats and coffee cups half filled with ice water appeared in our hands. We finally had our first opportunity to meet Carol Marin as the countdown to our segment could be heard. It was interesting to read the teleprompter then waited breathlessly to learn whether my family name would be pronounced accurately or not. When it was, I smiled recognizing the producer had done her job well. Only an hour earlier, David and I were phoning Laschets and Podhalanka to double-check their pronounciations, too.

Until we sat down with the cameras rolling, we were never quite sure in what order were restaurants going to be discussed. I could relax and take in the moment, while Carol asked David the introductory question on what is LTH and the Great Neighborhood Restaurants. Yet I was sitting a bit on edge wondering how it was going to transition to the restaurants and in what order. From my perspective, I guess the technical staff was also kept on their toes, too. While they had images to relay for each restaurant, they didn't know the order either it turned out. While Carol got the ball rolling with her lead in to Calumet Fisheries, thereafter it was Dickson and I simply prioritizing on the spot which restaurant to discuss next. Of the final list, only one got left on the cutting room floor: Podhalanka.

In the final rounds, Carol Marin read a list of restaurants viewers had submitted as favorites. Most of the list I wasn't totally processing because my thoughts really were spinning around Twin Anchor's of "meat jello" fame. Fortunately we didn't have to comment on her list. We then proceed to one of those spontaneous television moments when someone misses their cue.

Earlier in the day, while I was looking through my computer files for Johnnies Italian beefs, David was talking to the producer. She inquired if the community disliked chains, maybe it was put a bit stronger, then he offered his admiration for small chains like La Quebrada and Lao Sze Chuan.

Flash forward to the closing moment with Carol Marin who sweetly inquires if our community dislikes chains. I, in all my assumed glory, chirp up that, "I proudly go to McDonalds," which David quickly inserts, "I don't." Rehashing this moment in the parking lot, David reminds me this was his opportunity to mention La Quebrada and Lao Sze Chuan. Ouch! While what he said registered vaguely, I can only assume this was during the time I was looking to rescue Johnnies.

The segment concludes on an ever so slightly controversial note. We quickly say good-bye to Carol and don't dare linger. We were told in advance she has to proceed to the next interview. We walk away with the cups in our hands, that we are promptly relieved of. We walk out the studio door where the sound technition takes our microphones. We collect our stuff from the green room. In less than five minutes from departing the studio, we are out in the parking lot discussing our presentatation.

While this may be more detail than you ever wanted to know about this adventure. I can safely estimate for every minute spent chatting with Carol, there was a good hour of time devoted to the process in one form or another. (Let's not take into account the few hours I spent relaying this event to you)

Regards,

Cathy2, did this air already? Did I miss it? If so ... DANG!

Hi,

It was just on about 15 minutes ago. It's on again at 4:30 AM.

I expect someone TIVO it. So it is not gone forever.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

It was just on about 15 minutes ago. It's on again at 4:30 AM.

I expect someone TIVO it. So it is not gone forever.

Regards,

It has been successfully TiVoed.

As it turned out, I surely could not have done it without Cathy, who did most of the heavy lifting. Thanks.

Having watched it with great trepidation, it did not turn out half bad. I could critique lots of things - given the time constraints, almost everything we said was truncated, incomplete, not representing anything clearly or as completely as I would like. But, seriously, give me an opening and I could go on for hours about this stuff, way beyond the point where anyone still listening had passed out or moved on. Heck, just on the process of the GNRs I could do an hour or more. Who really wants to hear that?

So my takeaway is pretty simple. Personally, I did not embarass myself or the members of LTHForum. And we got the word out on a bunch of undeniably great places. If one of the goals of the GNRs is to help the recipients be more successful, as it is, I can feel happy today that it is working.

Thanks--and kudos--to you both. I enjoyed the interview a great deal and am certain that I am just one in a vast audience who shares that sense; you were both great and did the board and the community proud. I was also intrigued by the whole backstory, Cathy. Thanks for sharing the details.

More thoughts on being on TV:

Now that I have done it once (actually I did it a couple of times a while back, and I am pleased to say I apparently learned something from that experience) I need to do it a couple of more times to get better at it. I would have liked to have been more relaxed, in the moment, and conversational. As it was, I was always thinking ahead, planning my comments, looking at my notes.

The way they set up the segment, it really was a slide show with narration, as opposed to a conversation - which was great, IMO. Carol's role was more to cue us than to talk with us, or at least it quickly turned into that even if the intention might have been a little different. The funny, or maybe clumsy part, was when she tried to switch gears and have a conversation at the end about those viewer suggestions. At that moment all I could hear was my Mom, saying "If you can't say anything nice..." And I pretty much froze up.

Carol then threw us the bone on the chains, where Cathy leaped in first. No biggie - the key was featuring the GNRs, and the chit chat part was not as important.

Also, in Carol's defense, both Cathy and I stepped on her more than once in different ways. So, depending on how you look at it, we were either good interviews who spoke willingly and at length with minimal prompting, or bad interviews who hardly let the host talk.

The other thing was that Cathy and I had some rough guidelines on what we would cover, who would answer which question. But when Carol asked a question directly of one or the other of us, you felt obliged to reply. That was where things got a little bit away from what we planned. Nothing is harder than to fake spontaneity, or is that honesty?

And to all the posters, nominators and picture takers, we really wish we could have acknowledged each and every one of you, but time was tight and promoting ourselves is really not the point, so a blanket thanks to all of you. Hope you enjoyed the attention, even if no one but us knows it was you who made it happen.

Based on the media events, the GNRs that have the biggest following are Gene and Jude's and Sunshine Cafe. Hae Woon Dae and Laschet's also got some response. Completely unscientific and likely meaningless, but somehow interesting.

Now we return to my normally scheduled life.

Wow, Cathy, thanks for that insightful write-up! All your work on all ends of this is quite wonderful.

Anybody post this to YouTube yet for us expats?

Great post Cathy. I've always been a little curious about the behind the scenes stuff. I've had a couple of small interviews in the past, but the media can rarely let us have the time to fully provide the answers we want.

I will be looking for a link to be posted in the future.

Anyone bringing a large TV to the picnic?

Bruce wrote:Anyone bringing a large TV to the picnic?

I think the best you can hope for is a DVD screen in the back of someone's mini-van.

Saw the segment, by accident. Both of you were terrific, and the write-up of what it took to be ready is well done and enjoyable.

Jonah

Cathy, you looked glamorous!

Dickson, not so much.

Did anyone notice that GNR nominee Mario's flashed on screen during the tribute to community activist Florence Scala? That's what it's all about, man! Restaurants are the hidden thread in everything...

Really nice job, guys. Thanks for representing us.

Great job, Cathy and David. It was very enjoyable to watch.

I also thought it was serendipitous that the LTH segment followed the tribute to Florence Scala. I believe annieb has mentioned Florence's restaurant here on the boards -- and the clip where Ms. Scala lamented the loss of the old neighborhoods and the current homogenization resonated perfectly with the LTH ethos.

By the way, Cathy and/or David, do you have a sense of why they chose the places they did in their final selection?

Cathy2 wrote:Flash forward to the closing moment with Carol Marin who sweetly inquires if our community dislikes chains. I, in all my assumed glory, chirp up that, "I proudly go to McDonalds,"

While we all agree that McDonald's doesn't need LTH's publicity, I, for one, think that was the perfect answer! Being the good journalist, Carol Marin was really trying to get at exactly how snobby you foodies are, and although I haven't watched the segment, it seems like that's a refreshing response which deflects potential criticism.

I've watched it twice now. The second time was necessitated to hear everything over the family's cheering. You guys did terrific and represented us all well. I hope amidst the evaluations you've taken the time to be proud of yourselves.

-ramon

Amata wrote:Great job, Cathy and David. It was very enjoyable to watch.

I also thought it was serendipitous that the LTH segment followed the tribute to Florence Scala. I believe annieb has mentioned Florence's restaurant here on the boards -- and the clip where Ms. Scala lamented the loss of the old neighborhoods and the current homogenization resonated perfectly with the LTH ethos.

By the way, Cathy and/or David, do you have a sense of why they chose the places they did in their final selection?

The segue way from Florence was great, and I wanted to make a comment on that, but could not settle on the right words - I was overthinking and wanted it to be perfect.

We gave them a list of about 15 places that we thought represented a good cross-section, and they chose from those. Actually, we also had a second list of the places that the mention would be most likely to help, but we decided these places would look better one way or another.

I have no idea how WTTW decided on the final list. Good photos entered into it, but I have no idea what other criteria were applied.

Just finished watching it for the first time.

Fantastic job David and Cathy. You did us all proud.

My only regret (and I didn't think of this until after watching it) is that they didn't show an image of a certificate, to show people what to look for when dining out. (Unless maybe they did and I missed it).

Again, great work.

Best,
Michael

Finally up on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whqjkiycj-0

Cathy I thought you and David did a great job! I have insomnia & caught your segment at 4:30 and was wholly delighted. I am not really a watcher of Chicago Tonight and was pleased that there was something on the program that I could relate to. I said to myself "you mean there are people out there just like me? that like to talk about food?"

Such a pleasure to have seen your segment, found your website (thanks to that cake image that was shown) and found these lovely food loving people in Chicago. I'll be back. While I am a consummate foodie, I eat at McDonalds too

I was wondering how you'd handle the Twin Anchors question...glad you didn't really have to.

That query reminded me a little of the moment on the Nick Digilgio show when the caller asked Gary about La Mora, which he also handled adroitly. I think the last thing any of us would want to do is be overly critical of audience choices and come across like, you know, effete snooty-pants dilettantes.

Well done, both of you.

Hammond

C2, Dickson,

Just watched the video, terrific!

Excellent job of representing LTHForum, the restaurants you discussed and yourselves. And I agree, Cathy looked glamorous.

Thanks for the behind the scenes look as well, very interesting.

Enjoy,
Gary

I'd like to add to the chorus of "hurrays!" Cathy2 and Dicksond appeared comfortable and passionate talking about our favorite places. I think the McDonald's comment was completely appropriate (and funny.)

As for the list of viewer favorites Carol Marin mentioned, I shuddered the most at That Little Mexican Cafe. Overpriced mediocrity if you ask me.

Great job representing LTHForum!

The GP wrote:As for the list of viewer favorites Carol Marin mentioned, I shuddered the most at That Little Mexican Cafe. Overpriced mediocrity if you ask me.

Talk about stuffing the ballot box! Ugh!

Thank you, Mike, for finding the youtube segment, because I'd have missed it otherwise. Cathy, thanks for your wonderful writeup and both of you, thanks for so adroitly getting the word out there that Chicago is a truly great food town!

Finally watched it. Great work. Great publicity. Do our web guys have any sense of whether we're getting additional traffic as a result?

Ann Fisher wrote:Finally watched it. Great work. Great publicity. Do our web guys have any sense of whether we're getting additional traffic as a result?

Or any less traffic as a result?

We media whores kid one other, but we kid because we love.

Excellent job!

And HI and Welcome carriebabie

Well done! Thanks for posting, Mike.

Wow -- you guys were great. You seemed so natural and spontaneous -- so it's particularly wonderful fun to learn how much work went into all that easy-flowing repartee.

That was very neat!
C2,thanks for sharing the behind the scene details as well.
(props too for the YouTube upload)