Re: SOT: Bonnie Hunt Talk Show

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."

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