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J U LY 3, 2022
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
‘The Bear’ has the Ingredients for a Satisfying, Restaurant-Based Hit
a rising Michelin star who escaped his crazy, working-class family in Chicago, fled to Manhattan and worked ‘The Bear’ at one of the best restaurants in the 1/2 (out of four) world — but has now returned home An eight-episode series available after his beloved older brother MiThursday on Hulu. chael committed suicide and left him hen we think of TV in charge of the family’s semi-legendcooking shows, the ary and charmingly ramshackle joint, titles that spring to The Original Beef of Chicagoland. mind are the realityWe know Carmy’s got a lot on his competition series such as “Top mind and is dealing with myriad deChef ” and “Hell’s Kitchen” and mons, because the first time we see “Cupcake Wars,” as opposed to him in the premiere episode, he’s on mostly forgotten dramatic and/or the Clark Street Bridge above the Chiatres • Santa Clarita Signal adsource@exhibitorads.com comedic efforts, e.g., Starz’ “Sweetcago River, unlocking a cage containbitter” and AMC’s “Feed the Beast.” p. 888.737.2812 f. 203.438.1206 5.9” ing an actual bear. (Spoiler alert! It’s a Now we finally have a series with PHOTO COURTESY IMDB dream sequence.) From that startling date: Sunday-Thursday, all the necessary ingredientsJuly on the3-7, 2022 moment, showrunners and directors menu to Tuesday, make for aJune long-running, worked or is currently employed in delivery date: Christopher Storer (who created the 28, 2022 at 10:38:09 AM CASCS_LEM0703-0707.qxp satisfying, immensely entertaining, the restaurant business. series) and Joanna Calo plunge us into decidedly Chicago-centric, restaurantIf Jeremy Allen White’s geniusthe chaotic world of the restaurant, based hit: FX/Hulu’s “The Bear,” a smart but troubled Lip from “Shamewhich has a Billy Goat-style illuminatdarkly funny, frenetic and intense less” had decided to disown the Galla- ed menu behind the counter (next to gem that will make you very hungry gher family, change his name and bea Blackhawks jersey), a mishmash of and most likely will ring the bell of come a chef, he wouldn’t be dissimilar crooked framed photos on the wall, authenticity for anyone who has ever to White’s Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, some old-school arcade games and a cramped kitchen with a tiny nook of an office. (Full disclosure: My sister TM was the series’ property master.) “I’m still trying to figure this place out, see how Michael was doing everything, and I want to get you your money,” Carmy says to an unseen credi22500 Lyons Ave. info Line 310.478.3836 tor on the phone, as we see a medley of unpaid bills and past-due notices, indicating The Original Beef of ChiTHOR: LOVE AND THUNDER C Thu: 4:00 7:10 cagoland is in danger of going under if “Thor: Love and Thunder” finds Thor on a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer, Gorr the God Butcher, who seeks the extinction of the gods. Enlisting the aid of several powerful friends, Thor embarks upon a harrowing cosmic Carmy doesn’t make some fast moves adventure to stop the God Butcher’s quest for vengeance. and some big changes, like, yesterday. MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU B 1:00 3:10 5:20 7:30 We’re quickly introduced to the core A young Gru joins forces with his new Minion friends to take on the supervillain supergroup The Vicious 6. players who will populate the crowded THE BLACK PHONE E 1:15 4:30 7:20 kitchen and toggle back and forth beA shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little tween working together as a cohesive use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, he discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. unit and wanting to kill each other, ofELVIS C 1:00 4:00 7:00 ten within the span of the same shift: “Elvis” is Oscar-nominated filmmaker Baz Luhrmann’s musical drama about the life and music of Elvis Presley, seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker • Ayo Edebiri’s Sydney is a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef LIGHTYEAR B 1:20 4:25 7:30 who finds herself back at square A sci-fi action adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, “Lightyear” follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure alongside a group of ambitious recruits and his robot companion Sox. one after her catering company failed. She’s a great admirer of CarJURASSIC WORLD DOMINION C 1:10 4:00 7:00 Dinosaurs now live - and hunt - alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, my’s work. His brusque manner? once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on Earth. Not so much. TOP GUN: MAVERICK C 1:05 4:10 7:15 • Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Richie is the After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is pushing the envelope as a manager of the restaurant and a volcourageous test pilot. atile hothead who was best friends TAMPOPO I Wed: 7:00 PM with Michael and thinks nothing The tale of an enigmatic band of ramen ronin who guide the widow of a noodle shop owner on her quest for the perfect recipe, Tampopo serves up a savory broth of culinary adventure seasoned with offbeat comedy sketches and the erotic exploits of a should change. To say Richie and gastronome gangster. Carmy are constantly clashing is like FOR 7/3/20227/7/2022 ONLY WWW.LAEMMLE.COM saying Michael and Fredo Corleone By Richard Roeper Signal Contributing Writer
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had their differences. • Lionel Boyce’s Marcus is a genial baker who is inspired by Carmy to strive for greatness, while Liza Colon-Zayas’ Tina is a veteran line cook who is highly skeptical of this young upstart Sydney. The outstanding supporting ensemble also includes the invaluable Abby Elliott as Carmy’s sister Natalie, the classic middle child who has spent most of her adult life trying to keep the frayed family together, and real-life chef Matty Matheson in a hilarious turn as a perpetually upbeat all-around fix-it guy. With most episodes clocking in at around 30 minutes, save for the 20-minute, one-shot penultimate episode and the 47-minute Season One finale, “The Bear” moves at an almost exhausting pace. Carmy insists that everyone call each other “Chef ” as a sign of respect, and the dialogue is peppered with restaurant-authentic terminology (“Behind!” “Corner!”) and rituals, e.g., the Brigade System (which dictates a certain, clearly defined hierarchy in the kitchen) and the “Family Meal” tradition in which the staff gathers around the table during an off-peak period and shares dishes and stories. (These scenes provide relief from the constant clashes among so many big personalities and make for some of the more touching moments on the series.) White can hit hardcore dramatic beats with a Sean Penn-like ferocity, but he’s also adept at handling self-deprecating comedy. At first, Moss-Bachrach’s Richie comes across as a one-note, irritating jerk, but in later episodes the actor is given the chance to show Richie’s heart and vulnerability, and he does outstanding work. Edebiri might not yet be a household name, but she’s a star in the making, and her Sydney is arguably the most empathetic and likable character in and out of the kitchen. Every day at The Original Beef of Chicagoland brings a new development, a new setback, a new series of challenges for Carmy and his crew. We’re rooting for them to keep the lights on and to keep those sammiches coming. That’s the Chicago way.
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