I dozed off too early, so I’ve been wide awake for hours. But that’s okay — there’s a new season of “The Bear” to binge.
Not sure why I find that show so fascinating. There’s a lot of screaming and general fuckery.
I worked in a kitchen or two back in the day, though my employers were pizza chains and a crappy lounge rather than an aspiring Michelin starred eatery.
Still, there was lots of screaming and general fuckery, so it’s relatable.
Open thread!
It’s Up to Us, Next Up: Quick Stop In Arizona for Summer School (and returning again in September)
satby
I woke up at 1:30 and finally gave up on sleep at 3. Just finished watching NAZI Town USA via the Bulwark free email. Some of it I had known, but it really is spooky to see within the frame of the events of the last 8 years
Definitely going to be taking a nap later.
JPL
The last few days have been awake before 3. ugh
ascap_scab
Started watching Eureka. (2006-12, Amazon Prime) Cute and quirky.
Jay
First real job, was the durshwasher at a Bino’s. Like a Denny’s or IHOP for you “merkan’s”.
There was little screaming, (other than customers),
Wait staff loved me, clearing tables, walking by the carts and reloading them,
Cooks loved me, set a knife down, “bam” it’s back clean.
Mgmt loved me, toilets clean, 20 years of grease build up on the floors, (teracotta) gone.
Never got promoted, but was earning $21 a hour as a durchwasher/janitor when I was 16.
And then, got 1 meal a day, so “cooks”, and when we would close, beer, food and tip sharing.
Yeah, it was shit, church crowd on Sundays, but I worked hard, and it wasn’t “for” the customers, it was for the staff.
JPL
@satby: oh my
I just watched the first few minutes of it and have chills. The anti sharia/ pro christian nationalists would love it.
Nukular Biskits
My first job with a paycheck was working as a dishwasher in a restaurant.
“All-you-can-eat seafood buffet night” was the worst.
Jay
@Nukular Biskits:
Minimum was $3.50 at the time, what I started at.
Quickly, the Mgr realized I was why we got an “A’ on the health code.
I wanted to learn to wait, or be a cook, every time I applied, same job, but a raise. In today’s wages, adjusted for inflation, they were paying a dishwasher $67.57 an hour, and thought it worth every penny.
Don’t get me started on bathrooms.
AM’s, other than Sundays, ok. Crews and retirees.
Lunch, varied.
Dinner, okay.
Bar closed, shit show.
Nukular Biskits
@Jay:
Yeah, the dishwasher was the lowest on the totem pole but the one called to do just about everything.
At some point during the year or so I worked there, I filled in for cook, busboy, host, waiter, maintenance, etc.
Guillaume
The bear is great because it shows skilled people doing something they love (maybe too much ).
And the kitchen/cooking is a very good actor Great casting choice.
evodevo
@ascap_scab:
Yeah, we loved it. Of course it got cancelled, because profit, but was pretty good.
Mousebumples
We watched the first 2 episodes of the new season last night. I might need to rewatch some of S1 or 2 since I was trying to remember who was who. (the mixing of flashbacks with present day probably didn’t help, hah)
Also, so much of the word fuck (and variations). Not inappropriate, but I forgot how much they all say fuck. The show almost belongs on HBO.
mrmoshpotato
It’s 6:30AM in Chicago. A mini Italian beef (with sweet peppers, dipped, remember the hour) would be good.
I make no apologies, and no one should either. 😁😋
Ramalama
I worked as a waitress for a training center that had people staying for 2-3 days overnight. Sometimes the week. It was rock and roll time in the kitchen – while I was forced to wear a horrible scratchy polyester uniform. My last week (high school job) had me loose and happy and the tables I waited all loved me (first time for everything because I was normally efficient but uptight). My last shift, tables cleared, salt and pepper shakers replenished, cleaning done yada yada, I go to the back room for my meal (whatever was left over) and I walk right into a pie in the face. A goodbye pie in the face. So fucking amazing
I loved watching the Bear. Psyched that another season’s coming out (already out?). My wife who loves stupid car chase shows, police procedurals (ok not bad), came out from whatever gambling online thing she was doing to join me as we binged the season in like 3 days.
MagdaInBlack
@mrmoshpotato: I’m in.
mrmoshpotato
@MagdaInBlack: LOL! Yes! And good morning! 😋
O. Felix Culpa
@MagdaInBlack: @mrmoshpotato: Teleport me back to Chicago and I’ll join you
And good morning. :)
Mustang Bobby
I’m looking forward to “The Bear.” I wish my late ex was alive to see it; he worked in a restaurant kitchen not unlike the one in The Bear. Plus Jeremy Allen White’s biceps…. woof.
Jerry
We’ve been watching Dark Matter from Apple TV. Excellent show so far. Hopping around from multiverse to multiverse, love story, fucked up shit. It’s got it all! Once we’re done with this show, we’ll start in on season three of The Bear.
UncleEbeneezer
Don’t forget the cameos! I love the way The Bear has so much darkness and angst but then pivots and shows more depth and love in the characters. But I also love the great cameos from fairly big-name actors that pop up out of nowhere. It’s done so well. Generally speaking though I think I greatly prefer the episodes that move away from the kitchen and focus on one character. Those are by far the best ones, imo. Also, the music on the show is great. I knew from the very beginning when I heard the guitar riff by Swedish, hardcore punk band The Refused being used to build tension that we were in for something cool. The show often features Wilco, Radiohead, lots of really tasty choices right from my wheelhouse.
Ramalama
@UncleEbeneezer: Yeah Wilco’s esp relevant since they’re from Chicago. Also too their songs are great.
Jerry
One of the episodes in season two made use of two different songs by The Replacements there were absolutely perfect. The episode started with ‘Bastards of Young’ and ended with ‘Can’t Hardly Wait.’ The episode started off on a low note and ended on a high note and the two songs matched them perfectly.
Paul in KY
Does Lip still have that bad drinking problem?
moops
Wife and I couldn’t get through episode 1 of The Bear. Just way too much anger and screaming and stress. We asked other viewers if it gets better. Most said that it is a regular feature of the show. So, we pulled the plug.