Check Please, for those of you not in on the deal, is a restaurant review show, a local KQED-supported and home to its food show bonanza with assorted reviewers and a popular host, Leslie Sbrocco.
There's no doubt Ms. Sbrocco is a very likeable, capable host and she does a good job here --moderating the three-four various citizen guests whose job it is to go to a restaurant and offer an on-air review. Most of the time, the review is positive and the commentary later --on screen, gives a descriptive account of the reviewer's experience and the food rating. Again, all decent, interesting and fun to watch for the most part but it's that aspect that drives me nuts about Check.
It's too cute for my part. It's all just a bit too demographic-friendly for my taste. It seems every show has an Asian woman (or man); a Black man (or woman); an Hispanic guy, (or woman) and an obligatory White guy/gal for the program. It's not just that element but that PC bull agitates me and it's a KQED constant. I guess it's called 2022 reality and then some and I hate it. I love cultural participation but does it have to be ingrained on every TV program? I guess so.
As always, I'm in the minority. I like a little adventure and constructive criticism. Maybe it's just me. But I prefer more balanced views and in an area that is restaurant nirvana and has quite the epicurean appetite, I expect more and that's where Check Please could be more daring and less cutesy in my book.
The show, I will say this, is infinitely watchable and enticing. It could take far more chances and be far more critically bouyant but it doesn't want to and instead seems more content to be a local cookbook show and entertainment vehicle for itself and KQED as a whole. Nobody gets hurt and there's no food poisoning, so I guess on that end, Check Please is a crowd pleaser. Just not on my end.
In that case, get me the check, please.
*Image: KQED.
I totally agree with you Rich. You hit on every point and I like the host a lot too but you never hear anyone get ripped, as the reviews are all sunshine and roses. Plus, 90% of the restaurants are now closed down due to covid. Plus, how can you politically correct a food review show?
ReplyDeleteWow, I agree with you Rich. Every review is too positive. And when there is a hint of negativity, it is played off as minor. One reason for this is because the reviewers pick their favorite restaurant for others to review. But yes, it all seems too contrived and positive.
ReplyDeleteFunny, as I was reading the first part of the article I was rough-drafting a response in my head and being bugged by the utter unoriginality of the constant use of "amazing" was part of it....then I get to you making the same point! I guess great minds think alike, but fools rarely differ.
ReplyDeleteAlso agree about the demographic schtick but what about the groupings of the places that they review? Shows often seem to have one high-end, one "urban," one cutesy-family friendly with dogs or similar. I guess they can't tell people what to pick for their choice but it would appear they group the choices in some way. I also rarely see someone just go hammer and tongs negative about a place, it's usually the old "Oh, I guess I caught them on a bad night a/o I must have ordered wrong a/o I guess I'll just have to go back with you, Ambrosia!"
Leslie S is talented and very up on wines and I liked the travel & food show she does (did?), but even on that show it feels pretty samey with the comments and approach, like "Check, Please" in the wild.
I must also say the shows with the kids reviewing are uniformly rough; if the adult use of "amazing" is too much, the use of that word by the kids is so far past palatable that I tend not to watch them at all. And while I get Leslie trying to make them feel comfortable, the ol' "Okay, Oliver, are you a burger kind of guy?" and "Tell me about the desserts! Did anyone get the molten lava chocolate gusher?!?" is not enjoyable.
My complaint about the show is its too much centered on San Mateo northward. The South bay is woefully underrepresented. I don't mind the happy talk as to why should they waste airtime on bad restaurants.
ReplyDeleteSpice it up a bit. Have Pappy C on there, flinging rib sauce on the walls.
ReplyDeleteNailed it!
ReplyDeleteNever seen that show.
ReplyDeleteSo are they the foodie chap(s) ?
Or is the guy... the foodie chap ?
I LOVE CPBA. I've been introduced to some nice eateries. I've seen some petty tit for tat in some of the reviews (To be fair more during earlier years) but I think what it is, folks don't want to come off as a-holes. The kids? Yeah - cheesy but I still enjoy them They're kids for God's sake. Yeah, there's a PC element to the show but I can live with that.
ReplyDeleteFrankly Rich, This is a show PERFECT for you. Minor Bay Area celebrity. Social media influencer. Bay Area mover and shaker. LS- If you're reading this, get Rich and let him "Tachlis the Nosh"
OAN- Juliette Goodrich is doing a GREAT job at 6 and 7. I like the way PIX has emulated the style and pace of Norah on the network. It works.
“It’s all a bit to demographic-friendly for my taste.” Uh, aren’t shows supposed to appeal to the demographic they’re serving? I don’t understand your criticism there. Should all the guests be white men in their 50’s?
DeleteThis would be perfect for a spoof on "Saturday Night Live"
ReplyDeleteI love this show, it’s…..amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking there are too many people at that table. A viewer may find so many eager voices a distraction vs a feature. Oh, and does the young black man ever remove his ball cap, or was he only wearing it for that photo? A lot of we men tend to hide bald spots with ballcaps.
ReplyDeleteNailed it Rich. As someone who has been on it, I can tell you 3 things: yes, they purposely select 3 different, distinct restaurants across different categories (e.g. casual, local, high-end, etc.). Second, what you see on air is only about 1/3 of the content/discussion that is taped so there is a lot of editing. Third, you are served (and encouraged to drink) the wine that is poured, first in the green room where make-up is done, then on the set. So if you think people are a little ‘lively’ and happy, you know why. I had the 1st taping of the day with a 10:00 am arrival and was in no mood to drink. By the time we were on the set, of the ladies in my group wouldn’t stop talking throughout the taping. I couldn’t get a word in without Leslie stepping in.
ReplyDelete"It's all just a bit too demographic-friendly for my taste. It seems every show has an Asian woman (or man); a Black man (or woman); an Hispanic guy, (or woman) and an obligatory White guy/gal for the program."
ReplyDeleteThis is true of all the Bay Area local news broadcasts too. Why aren't you down on them?
God forbid that the white guest didn’t find the Black, Asian or Hispanic’s guest restaurant “amazing”. And if they did, it’s probably “white guilt” preventing the white guest to not find it “amazing”. BTW, There are other words besides “amazing”. Splendid, Delicious, Delightful, Good, Great, etc. Prerequisite to be a guest is that they all buy a thesaurus and learn other words besides “amazing” and to also learn that giving an honest opinion isn’t racist. Jeeeez.
ReplyDeleteonce was a pretty good show. Now? A bit schmaltzy. And very little South Bay representation. Not a must watch anymore. BTW- Leslie looks just like my mom. Uncanny. She is from Spain. I may try and get her on the show. She could review Iberia, as she cook's a mean paella.
ReplyDeleteThe show could be a little tougher on the restaurants but the host is really good and nice, and the premise is good too.
ReplyDelete@6:40. Agree on everything including Juliette G and Norah O.
ReplyDeleteYou've got to wonder if "Check, Please" -- with all of it's amazings -- has the same ethical problems that brought down former Chronicle critic Michael Bauer. It'd be typical for this town.
ReplyDeleteThe only good episodes is when someone rips the first restaurant. The offended guest then waits to trash the other selected restaurant.
ReplyDeleteThose are entertaining and funny episodes. It is polite trash talking.
Deleteits very tiresome and never a discouraging word about the eatery
ReplyDeleteI'm a little older than Rich and I have never noticed a quota on demographics. I mean, it's 2022 and I should be noticing that? But it's very true they underrepresent the "amazing" South Bay.
ReplyDeleteI've watched Check Please off and on for many years. It's certainly gone through some really dumb phases. The worst two that come to mind are when Leslie started using her hands in weird gestures that had nothing to do with what she was saying. The hand motions were so obviously contrived and looked totally unnatural, really ridiculous. And what's the deal with doing the OK sign all the time? Is she expressing her devotion to white power?
ReplyDeleteAround the same time the inappropriate hand signs began, guests were made to pantomime/mug something to do with their occupation when they were introduced. It made them look like idiots. Thank God those abominations are mostly over.
I saw a new one the other day and now they're sitting around a really small table. Did they get thrown out of their larger studio?
Good grief. Complaining that all 3 guests on the show aren’t 50+ white makes. This is the Bay Area which in case none of you have noticed is a culturally diverse area. Three words to all the haters here “change the channel”.
ReplyDeleteLike so many, Check Please totally ignores the un-housed residents of the community. Many of whom spend their vouchers and funds on local "fast food" and "free eateries"...
ReplyDeleteWhy not have at least a episode or two evaluating the establishments where that segment of our community dines?
Or is KQED's creative management just willing to ignore those who don't meet their trendy focus? Where is the equity?
Terrific idea..............jf
DeleteOverall , KQED over-saturates their programming with shows about food. Cooking, wine, restaurants, eat out when travelling, etc etc, it's all just too much. KQED management! One suggestion: Enough with the food shows! As far as Check Please, seldom watch. Unless they are having children & teenagers review their favorite restaurants; those I find pretty informative. One thing, kids are more honest. If they don't like something, they say so. In one episode the kid-reviewer says 'I liked the main menu selections, but the desserts they serve just don't taste very good .. ' lol .. then goes on to explain 'it's not a big deal, we just didn't eat the dessert they served us, and got some ice cream at a place up the street'. Seems a common sense solution. Something which would be unlikely for an adult-reviewer to say.
ReplyDeleteJust once I'd like to see "Check, Please!" guests that aren't trying so damn hard to be the hippest people on the planet.
ReplyDeleteThis is how I feel about most TV shows these days in regards to the LGBTQ+ community. It's like every show MUST have either a LGBTQ+ character or a LGBTQ+ relationship or both. If it's organic to the story or overall plot fine but, more often than not it just feels forced. It reminds me of the mid 70s to 80s when every TV show had to have a token Black character. As a person of color it became like a "drinking game," "Okay, who's going to spot him first? Oh, there he is!" And the worse is when you can tell that originally the character(s) wasn't written as gay. Like, someone in the writing room said, "Hey, the chemistry isn't quite working out between these two characters so let's make one of them gay and pair him/her up with a new mystery lover!" Really? Huuuhhh!
ReplyDeleteWhile CPBA’s strength is the diversity of their guests, it utterly lacks diversity in featuring restaurants from all Bay Area regions. It’s a rare occasion that a restaurant isn’t located in SF or. Oakland.
ReplyDelete