Alpana Singh Leaving "Check, Please!"

Since she's busy running The Boarding House (viewtopic.php?f=14&t=36506), Alpana Singh is leaving as host of WTTW's Check, Please!

There will be an upcoming talent search for a new host.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130123 ... lease-host

Not unexpected. She has so many other irons in the fire. She has been excellent as a host and will be missed!

I want to be the first to suggest a replacement for Alpana--

New concept, two co-hosts. Fred and Manase!!

http://checkplease.wttw.com/restaurants/myron-phils

LikestoEatout wrote:Not unexpected. She has so many other irons in the fire. She has been excellent as a host and will be missed!

Agreed. And a wonderfully nice person, in person.

I think Brittany Payton would be a good host for that show.

Hallelujah, she's back!
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180523/BLOGS09/180529958/alpana-singh-returning-to-check-please#utm_medium=email&utm_source=ccb-breakingnews&utm_campaign=ccb-breakingnews-20180523

scottsol wrote:Hallelujah, she's back!

She may very well be an improvement. It's tough for me to form an opinion at their tortoise-paced production rate of something like 7 episodes every 18 months.

bweiny wrote:

scottsol wrote:Hallelujah, she's back!

She may very well be an improvement. It's tough for me to form an opinion at their tortoise-paced production rate of something like 7 episodes every 18 months.

LOL, so true but still, this feels like a significant upgrade.

=R=

Hi,

From comments in various interviews over the years, I wonder if her approach will change. After Alpana had the experience of owning and managing a restaurant, she wished she had questioned guests more on 'Check, Please.' It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Regards,
Cathy2

I might be in the minority, but I'm really sad Catherine is gone. Personally I can't stand Alpana's deadpan delivery with no emotion or mouth movement. Maybe it's just me and my wife. We may watch less now that she's back.

New season starts 10/26 and 8PM Central Time.

At least Catherine has this going for her with PBS nationwide:

https://chicago.eater.com/2018/5/25/173 ... play-intel

Chitown B wrote:At least Catherine has this going for her with PBS nationwide:

https://chicago.eater.com/2018/5/25/173 ... play-intel

From what I have learned about PBS shows, if you find the funding it can happen. If you wish to make any money, it is best to have a book or cookbook as part of the package.

Regards,
Cathy2

Chitown B wrote:I might be in the minority, but I'm really sad Catherine is gone. Personally I can't stand Alpana's deadpan delivery with no emotion or mouth movement. Maybe it's just me and my wife. We may watch less now that she's back.

New season starts 10/26 and 8PM Central Time.

l

More important than one’s impression of the host is what she draws out of the guest reviewers. Watching the repeats of the old Alpana shows that WTTW has been running the past weeks it is evident that Singh drew out more information from the guests and created an environment where they were more involved and having a better time.

scottsol wrote:

Chitown B wrote:I might be in the minority, but I'm really sad Catherine is gone. Personally I can't stand Alpana's deadpan delivery with no emotion or mouth movement. Maybe it's just me and my wife. We may watch less now that she's back.

New season starts 10/26 and 8PM Central Time.

l

More important than one’s impression of the host is what she draws out of the guest reviewers. Watching the repeats of the old Alpana shows that WTTW has been running the past weeks it is evident that Singh drew out more information from the guests and created an environment where they were more involved and having a better time.

I feel like I noticed this as well

The biggest improvement to Check Please is not getting a different host. What is needed is for the recommending panelist to fill out a "cheat sheet" for their recommended restaurant that would include their favorite dishes, drinks, how the service works, little tips and tricks etc.

What really bugs me about the show is that all too often the other reviewers are totally baffled by the restaurant, order the "wrong things" and give the place a bad review. Sending them in "cold" isnt funny and it does a disservice to the restaurant.

champs2005 wrote:What really bugs me about the show is that all too often the other reviewers are totally baffled by the restaurant, order the "wrong things" and give the place a bad review. Sending them in "cold" isnt funny and it does a disservice to the restaurant.

But if you look at it another way....

If it's on the menu, how is it not fair game to order it? It's not a disservice to the restaurant, because if it is crap it shouldn't be on there and they should focus what they are good at executing.

On the other hand, if you go to a Szechuan place and order American-Cantonese Chop Suey and give a disapproving review, then you just need to get hit with a wet noodle anyway and then the Check Please casting process does need review.

Not sure what it is, but the review should have a "list your 5 favorite restaurants and the dishes you like most" on the application. Someone with a glimmer of the Chicago food scene should be taking a glance at that app in the process.

Sure its fair game to order whatever is on the menu. Not everything on the menu is at the same level of deliciousness at every place. Order the turkey sandwich at JP Graziano's instead of the Mr G. A check please panelist actually did that and I about fell off my chair.

Or the Tank Noodle episode, two people hated it bc they had no clue what to order and how the service worked with multiple people with limited English coming to your table. Both of those are GNRs and the Check Please bozos slammed them. Not funny.

Would it kill channel 11 to do a little prep work and at least mention, "the person recommending this place loves the XXX dish"?

Or maybe the people taking the opportunity to go and review a place should do some homework and find out a bit about where they are going? Google it, ask around with friends, god forbid Yelp it! Just have a clue what to expect.

stoutisgoodfood wrote:Or maybe the people taking the opportunity to go and review a place should do some homework and find out a bit about where they are going? Google it, ask around with friends, god forbid Yelp it! Just have a clue what to expect.

Yeah, but generally speaking Check, Please! is populated by amateurs, rookies and 'tourists.'

=R=

scottsol wrote:

Chitown B wrote:I might be in the minority, but I'm really sad Catherine is gone. Personally I can't stand Alpana's deadpan delivery with no emotion or mouth movement. Maybe it's just me and my wife. We may watch less now that she's back.

New season starts 10/26 and 8PM Central Time.

l

More important than one’s impression of the host is what she draws out of the guest reviewers. Watching the repeats of the old Alpana shows that WTTW has been running the past weeks it is evident that Singh drew out more information from the guests and created an environment where they were more involved and having a better time.

Odd. I disagree. Singh has no personality.

Chitown B wrote:Odd. I disagree. Singh has no personality.

I don't agree with this but that wouldn't necessarily conflict with what scottsol is saying. The show is less about the host and more about the panelists with Alpana at the helm. She seems less far concerned with expressing her own opinions than she is with letting the guests express theirs. That's better hosting, imo.

=R=

champs2005 wrote:What really bugs me about the show is that all too often the other reviewers are totally baffled by the restaurant, order the "wrong things" and give the place a bad review. Sending them in "cold" isnt funny and it does a disservice to the restaurant.

I can think of lots of places that suck but may have a dish or two that work. I hate when I read a comment on a review that says "your ordering was wrong." If I have to provide a roadmap and decoder ring to patrons, then why bother? I think it's fair to point out that a large percentage of patrons ordering randomly may not find the food to be especially good. The person who is making the recommendation can single out the worthy dishes but that doesn't mean an average customer can't point out that your experience may be hit or miss.

Dinner with Alpana Singh: She says she's 'comfortable' back in the 'Check, Please!' host chair
https://trib.in/2Rd0MIP

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Chitown B wrote:Odd. I disagree. Singh has no personality.

I don't agree with this but that wouldn't necessarily conflict with what scottsol is saying. The show is less about the host and more about the panelists with Alpana at the helm. She seems less far concerned with expressing her own opinions than she is with letting the guests express theirs. That's better hosting, imo.

=R=

This is what executive producer Dan Soles was quoted as saying about Singh’s return in today’s Tribune article.

“It made a lot of sense for (Singh) to get back in the chair,” he said. “She’s very comfortable with the discussions and she gets a lot out of the guests. She has great instincts in terms of allowing the dialog to flow and knowing when to intervene.”

As far as her personality is concerned, like it or not it is clear that it is genuine, and not an attempt to conform to expectations.

Surprised there was no comment yesterday regarding her return when her first episode back began. Didn't realize she had been gone for 5 years and started the show as if she never left. If viewers had not known about this, they probably thought it was an old rerun.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Chitown B wrote:Odd. I disagree. Singh has no personality.

I don't agree with this but that wouldn't necessarily conflict with what scottsol is saying. The show is less about the host and more about the panelists with Alpana at the helm. She seems less far concerned with expressing her own opinions than she is with letting the guests express theirs. That's better hosting, imo.

=R=

It's not that I want it to be about her. It's that I can't stand it when she talks. Oh well, nothing I can do about it.