Posted by chicagomedia.org on August 29, 2008 at 09:45:59:
And now... from Chicago, hheerrre's Bonnie
Windy City native launches talk show out West but plans to bring it on home
Local native Bonnie Hunt's legion of fans better hope her new talk show is a success. Because if it is, ''I'm bringing it back to Chicago,'' said the actress and comedian, calling from Los Angeles.
And we're not talking about taping a few shows here -- as Hunt's mentor David Letterman and Jay Leno and even Ellen DeGeneres have done.
''No, that's my goal. If, God willing, we make it and can get through two years, we're coming home. That's where I want to be,'' added Hunt, the North Side native whose TV commercials promoting her upcoming self-named chatfest were all filmed in Chicago.
When reminded a certain woman named Winfrey has found success with a Windy City-based talk show, Hunt jokes, ''Yeah. Oprah. She did all right. ... Did you see the commercial we did where the show's producers call me 'No-prah?' ''
While ''The Bonnie Hunt Show'' (premiering at 2 p.m. Sept. 8 on WMAQ-Channel 5) is being shot at the Culver Studios in L.A., ''it already feels like Chicago on our set,'' said Hunt. ''Half of our crew is originally from Chicago. We have our ushers dressed in Cubs uniforms.''
That's appropriate, given the lifelong fan of the Cubbies hasn't missed an opening day since 1977. She made it home for about four games this summer and finally ''believes the unbelievable'' that this year just could be the year that centurylong World Series drought will come to an end.
Hunt's comment that ''Wrigley Field is one of the most romantic places in the world,'' opens the door to ask the currently single actress about her own love life. Is she seeing anyone?
That illicits her famous throaty laugh. ''Absolutely not! That's one of the reasons I want to bring the show back to Chicago -- I'm much prettier there. I'd be dating more,'' quipped Hunt, reflecting on Hollywood's obsession with the perfect woman.
''There is a lot of Botox out here, a lot of women whose faces look like they just arrived at their own surprise birthday party -- on a constant basis.''
That's an example of the cut-to-the-quick yet good-natured wit that has become Hunt's signature style. The former oncology nurse honed her approach to being funny at the Second City, ''and that's the way I work. I want to capture that improv feeling on our show. I'll open it up by talking to our studio audience -- talking about whatever is on the top of my mind that day."
For her show, there will be no fourth wall pretending the studio audience is merely background. ''I'll involve them directly in the show -- will talk with them and take their questions.''
Hunt also is taking a cue from Letterman -- that he in turn borrowed from Steve Allen -- to ''pull everyone on the show. The audience at home will quickly get to know all my guys -- the cameramen, the prop people, all the people who help me put on the show.''
Yet, when asked about the talk show genre, Hunt carefully avoids saying anything about contemporary practitioners of that art. Instead of assessing Ellen or Tyra or the women on ''The View,'' Hunt slips into a reverie about her desire to capture the essence of shows from decades ago. She makes references to the old Mike Douglas and Dinah Shore and Merv Griffin and Phil Donahue programs. ''I like the way people connected with those hosts. They became destination television in their time slots. I'd like to think we can re-create that.''
Hunt remembers very vividly how another classic TV host made it work. ''The whole thing is about sincerity. You knew that Johnny Carson took a sincere interest in people, and that was the theme that ran through every one of his shows.''
That retro approach even inspired the design of the set for ''The Bonnie Hunt Show.''
''It's my homage to the 'Dean Martin Show.' There are umpteen entrances to the set.'' Talking about Robin Williams -- the first guest on her opening show -- Hunt said with a laugh, ''I'm guessing Robin will enter by coming down the fire pole,'' a set design concept that will remind older viewers of Martin's old show. And yes, like the late singer and comedian, Hunt will also have a ''secret closet'' -- a door on the set through which guests will arrive to surprise the actress-turned-host.
As Hunt reflects on her success in Hollywood -- including earlier sitcoms and films such as ''Jerry Maguire,'' ''The Green Mile'' and the ''Cheaper by the Dozen'' remakes with Steve Martin -- she's reminded that so many actors who started in Chicago remain pretty grounded even after soaring to stardom in Hollywood.
''For many of us, living in Chicago when were young was a struggle. Look, you have to develop a sense of humor just to get through those winters!" Hunt said. "It creates a sense of community. We're all in it together. We earn that spring -- if and when it comes."
(BILL ZWECKER/Sun-Times)