Rate-A-Restaurant #354: Guu (Vancouver)

Restaurant: Guu Izakaya

Location: 838 Thurlow St (Vancouver)



Type of restaurant: Japanese

We stipulated: I was in Vancouver for less than 48 hours -- long enough for perhaps one real meal. My colleague Geraldine suggested Guu, which was located close to my hotel.





They stipulated: "Guu Original on Thurlow is where the Izakaya boom started. It’s not only the first Guu to open, but is the very first Izakaya in Vancouver. Established in 1993 as 'Raku' & changed to 'Guu' in 2000, this Guu offers the most authentic izakaya experience, offering classic dishes like Yaki Udon & Oden. This is as close you’ll get to the real deal….unless you fly to Japan."



What we ordered: Tuna Tataki ($8.40), salmon sashimi ($8.80), Guuud Ale ($8.80)



High point:  I took a chance on the Guuud Ale and it was indeed guuud! Tuna tataki was nice too.



Low point:  Guu didn't have the scallops dish that I was most excited about off the menu.



Overall impression: I'm pretty sure I blew it, eating healthy instead of getting the down-and-dirty fried goodness off their menu. I didn't do my homework, and when I asked for menu guidance, I really didn't get any from the waiter. So I went in default mode and ordered healthy.



Will we return: If I return to Vancouver, I may hit Guu again in order to order properly.

KCRW's THE SPIN-OFF: Preston Beckman, The Scheduler Unmasked

On the latest edition of KCRW's The Spin-Off, Joe and I are joined by retiring scheduling guru Preston Beckman, who crafted the network strategy at NBC during the height of "Must See TV," and then again at Fox as it rode the "American Idol" wave:

By the mid 90's, NBC was on top. They had a Thursday night lineup that included Seinfeld, Friends, and ER. Beckman tells us how he knew Seinfeld was something special and why scheduling at the networks in the late 90's became something like pro-wrestling, with lots of big talk and even bigger egos.

He also reflects on less successful lineups, like in 1997 when NBC had 18 comedies on the schedule. While that may seem crazy now, he walks us through the thinking at the time.

When Beckman moved to Fox in 2000, it was right at the start of the reality revolution, and he was ready to embrace it. He says no one quite knew what to do with American Idol when they first got it, but Beckman came up with the idea to put a results show on an entirely separate night.

As for as shows he's encountered over the years he wishes he could have saved, those include I'll Fly Away, Grounded for Life, and yes, Firefly.

Listen below!

What Is The 2015 Song of the Summer?

Is OMI's "Cheerleader" the song of the summer? Radio consultant Sean Ross makes a case for it:

“Cheerleader” was perhaps the first time since “California Gurls” that a song remained a front-runner from Memorial Day to Labor Day, although there were a few negative whispers at the beginning (one PD told me that the women he played it for didn’t like it) and PDs who came up to me midsummer and admitted they didn’t like it at first.

It’s hard to come up with a more profound case for “Cheerleader” than the one made for it in May: “reggae + dance music = extra summer smash insurance in 2015.” But after “Blurred Lines” and “Fancy,” the song’s sweetness probably counts for something as well. You can also say that about “Shut Up and Dance” or “See You Again” after a glut of “Elastic Heart”-type midtempo harshness in the format.

I don't know. I just haven't heard this song much this summer. Maybe I didn't get out of the house much this summer? Yet I did travel quite a bit, and I just never heard it in the wild! What do you make of it?



Sean's other finalists included The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” (which seems to have picked up steam later in the summer); Silento's “Watch Me (Whip/Ne Ne)” (which feels more like the next Gangnam Style/What Does the Fox Say/Harlem Shake novelty sensation than a song of summer); and Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again,” which is leading Billboard's summer chart.

What say you?

Celebrate the New Clifton's Cafeteria with the L.A. Conservancy

Can't wait to finally see the completely renovated Clifton's Cafeteria? On Monday, September 21, Clifton’s opens with an event to benefit the Los Angeles Conservancy. Per the Conservancy:

Guests will be among the first to visit the iconic downtown restaurant after its multi-year, multi-million-dollar renovation by owner Andrew Meieran.

The event will run from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., and general admission is $125. Guests will explore the beautifully restored and reimagined first-floor cafeteria, as well as the new Monarch Bar on the second floor. They’ll enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and entertainment, plus full dinner and dessert—by going through the cafeteria line, of course. Tickets are available at laconservancy.org/cliftons-2015.

A limited number of VIP tickets also include a behind-the-scenes talk with Meieran and a tour of the third and fourth floors, which won't open until later this year. (Note: As of this writing, fewer than twenty VIP tickets are available; we expect to sell out of them this week.)

Go here for more info or to purchase tix.

MIKE ON RADIO: Interviewing Keegan-Michael Key on KCRW's The Business

I guest host this Monday's edition of The Business (Kim Masters is on vacation) and I had a really fun conversation with Key and Peele star Keegan-Michael Key.

It's a bittersweet time to be a Key & Peele fan. Now in its fifth season, Peabody-winning Comedy Central sketch show scored eight Emmy nominations this year, including a best supporting actor nod for our guest Keegan-Michael Key. Then, at the height of their popularity, Key and his comedy partner, Jordan Peele, announced that this current season of Key & Peele would be the last.

Key tells us that he and Peele opted to go "the British route," bowing out after just a few seasons, similar to many British shows or mini-series. Both Peele and Key have other projects they're pursuing, and Key says he feared that if they kept going on the show, they were in danger of repeating themselves. He doesn't rule out the idea of coming back to Comedy Central in the form of some kind of reunion special though.

There wasn't enough room on The Business for all of our chat; the full version will appear on a future edition of our The Spin Off podcast. But listen here to this week's episode!



Also recently on KCRW, Joe Adalian and I discussed the smash box office hit "Straight Outta Compton" and Universal's excellent 2015 on Hollywood Breakdown. Listen below:



And on last Monday's Press Play, Steve Chiotakis and I discussed:

Unless you’ve been living in a garbage can, you probably heard about Big Bird’s big move to pay TV. That’s right, Sesame Street is joining the network of Cersei Lannister, Tony Soprano and "Nucky" Thompson. TV’s a strange place anyway -- on and off-the-small-screen -- and we talk about a possible Fresh Prince reboot and insane plot twists on the underground hit Mr. Robot.

Listen below!

Rate-A-Restaurant #353: Perennial Virant (Chicago)

Restaurant: Perennial Virant

Location: 1800 N Lincoln Ave. (Chicago)



Type of restaurant: New American

We stipulated: For our last day in Chicago, we decided to finally try the restaurant at our hotel (Hotel Lincoln) for brunch.



They stipulated: "Chef Paul Virant's restaurants are built upon his guiding philosophy of making the ingredients – their origin, production and quality – the full focus of his culinary approach. Embracing the Midwestern seasons and utilizing methods of preservation allow guests to always expect a menu that showcases local flavors and ingredients in abundance."



What we ordered: Housemade Doughnut ($5), Chicken sandwich ($13), Kids french toast ($4), Biscuits and gravy (gunthorp farm chicken sausage, two egg whites scrambled - $13), Housemade Sausage (two eggs cooked your way, homefries with cheese curds, toast - $13), side bacon ($6)



High point:  The doughnut, and the biscuit and chicken gravy.



Low point:  The boys' French toast was too burnt. We sent it back... and the replacement French toast was less burnt (see above), but still kind of burnt.



Overall impression: Brunch is a hard way to tell a restaurant's worth. Ultimately, it was spotty -- some good, some not-so-good.



Will we return: If we stay at the Hotel Lincoln again, perhaps we'll try another meal.

Hipster Zombies: Here's Where That "Fear the Walking Dead" Church Is

Photo: Eastsider LA
The zombie apocalypse begins in Silver Lake.

That's the home to the former Bethany Presbyterian Church, which plays a large role in the first episode of AMC's "Fear the Walking Dead." We first see the effects of the zombies in Los Angeles there, and one of the show's main characters witnesses a zombie bloodbath.

In real life, the empty church sits in a fairly pricey and desirable neighborhood, and indeed, there has been talk for some time of turning the Bethany (located at Griffith Park Blvd. and Lucile St.) into a boutique hotel.

Coincidentally, we were just there last night, eating dinner at nearby Pine & Crane restaurant, at Sunset Triangle Plaza. Yep, the chruch is still there, boarded up and creepy. It's not always abandoned, though: It's been used as the home of the Silver Lake Chorus. But as Eastsider LA wrote way back in 2011, plans are afoot to completely renovate the Bethany:

The imposing front doors to the former Bethany Presbyterian Church in Silver Lake are locked shut, the entryway is strewn with trash and shards of broken terracotta roof tiles litter an overgrown garden. A man sleeps alongside of the building, which is topped by a rusting white cross. The church, which neighbors say has not been used on a regular basis for several years, has definitely seen better days since parishioners gathered 80 years ago to lay the cornerstone for the $75,000 Romanesque-style church and Sunday school at the corner of Griffith Park Boulevard and Lucile Street. The church, however, may once again serve as a sanctuary – not for the faithful but for tourists and travelers wanting to bed down in Silver Lake style. The leader of this church revival is Silver Lake resident Dana Hollister, who has renovated many other neglected neighborhood buildings and helped open popular restaurants and bars, including Cliff’s Edge and the 4100 Bar.

Hollister is now taking on perhaps her most ambitious project, turning Bethany Presbyterian into a boutique hotel with 20 rooms and a “food component” or restaurant. “I want to do something that is conservative and appropriate,” she said.

The church is spooky enough that last year it was the site of the scary play "Delusion: Masque of Mortality."



1629 Griffith Park Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 9002

Endless Summer in Southern California

Yes, the Blogger Kids are back in school... but with the temperatures still as high as they are, we finally hit the beach for the first time this summer. We generally head to Manhattan Beach, where the parking gods always smile on us. A tip: go in the late afternoon, as the crowds clear out. Stay for the sunset. Eat dinner in town.

Rate-A-Restaurant #352: Messhall Kitchen (Los Feliz)

Restaurant: Messhall Kitchen

Location: 4500 Los Feliz Blvd. (Los Feliz)

Type of restaurant: American/Gastropub

We stipulated: We were invited by Messhall Kitchen to try out their new menu from the restaurant's new executive chef.



They stipulated: "Texas-born and OC-raised Executive Chef Shane Pritchett worked with Emeril Lagasse at the original Emeril’s Restaurant then became Executive Chef at Emeril’s famed Delmonico restaurant in New Orleans. He was there during the devastation and rebuilding after Katrina. He opened Fat Hen Grill + Grocery on St. Charles where his signature Womelet and Poached Eggs on Crawfish Cakes earned him Best Breakfast in the City honors. Shane is a certified Kansas City BBQ Society judge and was instrumental in bringing the new giant smoker to Messhall Kitchen."



What we ordered: To start: Crispy fried oysters on black eyed peas with a brie cream; Main courses: Mini Crab Cakes with Chili Lime vinaigrette and house special coleslaw, Jumbo Shrimp and Grits, Grilled sliced Hog Chop with Tchoupitoulas sauce (made with green peppercorn, red pepper and a honey demi glace sauce) served on pureed sweet potatoes, Willard Fried Chicken bites with spicy dill pickles; Dessert: Beignets with coffee anglaise and candied pecans



High point:  The jumbo shrimp and grits were tasty, and "Willard Fried Chicken bites with spicy dill pickles" is as good as it sounds.





Overall impression: Chef Pritchett brings a great southern fried spin on the gastropub.



Will we return: We need to try the rest of the menu, including the burger.

MIKE ON TV: Talking Reboots and Remakes on "The Insider"

Ha, I guess I've been branded a "MEDIA INSIDER" now. Syndicated entertainment show The Insider asks, "Is Hollywood running out of ideas?" On Friday's show I explained the whole reboot/remake phenomenon, and why TV and film are scared of original concepts.

KCRW's THE SPIN-OFF: Press Tour Roundup, and Is There Really Too Much TV? (LISTEN NOW!)

On the latest edition of KCRW's The Spin-Off, Joe and I are joined by The Surf Report's Diane Gordon:

The TCA press tour used to look a lot different, with the broadcast networks spending three days each promoting virtually everything on their schedules. But as the broadcast networks pull back, the number of networks have grown, and especially as more digital players have gotten into the game, the schedule has ballooned to accommodate everyone. We do our best to break it all down and give you the most pertinent points from this year's gathering.

Remember the good ol' days of 2013? That's when a little show called House of Cards premiered on Netflix.

And now, just two years later, Netflix is looking at 36 original shows. Netflix was actually one of the first presentations at TCA this year, and Ted Sarandos -- a name not very many people knew not very long ago -- emphasized just how much the company is in it to win it. They've got A-list talent and production budgets to make buzz-worthy and critically acclaimed shows.

Other digital outlets like Hulu and Amazon made presentations as well, and everyone is stepping up their original content game.

If it seems like there's officially "too much TV," you're not alone in your thinking. During FX's day on the stage, John Landgraf, the head of the network, gave a talk that resonated with a lot of people. He pointed out the the current TV glut is not sustainable. In the future there has to be some kind of slowing in the rate of increase of new shows.

Listen below!

Rate-A-Restaurant #351: Ampersand Wine Bar (Chicago)

Restaurant: Ampersand Wine Bar

Location: 4845 N. Damen Ave. (Chicago)



Type of restaurant: Wine bar/small plates



We stipulated: Date night in Chicago! While my sisters looked after the boys, Maria and I looked for a nearby place to eat.



They stipulated: "Back in Chicago, just miles from where his command of the kitchen began, Darren McGraw is taking on a new adventure - Ampersand Wine Bar. Ampersand’s intimate environment will offer refined service of accessible wines, delicious small plates and the desserts he has developed over decades and in many kitchens."





What we ordered: Polenta with marscapone and maitake ($6), Short rib with cauliflower and chile ($15), scallop with sweet peas and picked allium ($16), charred summer succotash ($6), crab





High point:  The polenta with marscapone and maitake was so amazing, we ordered it twice!

Low point:  It was a hot night, and I'm afraid the wine was too warm. Not good for a wine bar.



Overall impression: Small space, which means you might be waiting for a table for a while, but you can wait with a glass of wine. Cozy spot, tasty small plates.



Will we return: If we lived in Chicago, we might visit again.