Check, Please!

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Check, Please! is a popular restaurant review program that airs on Chicago's PBS member station WTTW. Check, Please! also airs twice a week as a segment during the 6PM newscast on NBC O&O station WMAQ-TV.

The format of the show is very simple: three everyday people, from anywhere in the greater Chicago area, sit down with a host to discuss three eating establishments, one favorite chosen by each guest. Before the program is taped, each person chooses a favorite restaurant, and everyone in the group is required to visit each person's selection. Afterwards, everyone describes their eating experiences.

Although many participants select trendy, upscale restaurants, just about any eating establishment is fair game including hot dog stands and "neighborhood joints". The show has become a huge success in the Chicago area; indeed, the waiting list to appear on the show has exceeded 27,000 people.[1]

Check, Please!'s popularity has inspired spin-offs in several other markets.

A San Francisco version of the show, Check, Please! Bay Area, began its first season in 2005, airing on KQED.

A Miami version for WPBT, Check, Please! South Florida, debuted in January, 2008.

1 Host
2 Producers
3 Chicago Tonight segment
4 External links

[edit] Host

The first two seasons of the show were hosted by Amanda Puck, who is Wolfgang Puck's former sister-in-law. In October 2003, Amanda Puck was replaced with Alpana Singh, formerly sommelier at Chicago's Everest restaurant and currently Director of Wine and Spirits for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises.

[edit] Producers

The concept was developed by David Manilow and Joel Cohen. The Executive Producers are David Manilow, Joel Cohen and V.J. McAleer. David Manilow oversees all operations of the show and the brand.

[edit] Chicago Tonight segment

Beginning in the fall 2007 Singh began making weekly appearances on Chicago Tonight on Thursdays with a chef from a restaurant reviewed in the previous week. The chef shows how to perform a signature recipe and Singh pairs it with a wine or port. Chicago Tonight often features 5–7 minute segments that promote other programming on WTTW.