Day 3: Second-city experience (12/31)
CHICAGO -- Last day of the year, first order of business: breakfast.
I decided to go to Wildberry Café, in part because it was attached to the underground walkway system. Except, when I got to the Aon Center, I discovered that the indoor entrance to the restaurant was walled off for reconstruction. So, throwing caution to a bitterly cold wind, I went outside and dashed around the corner to the restaurant.
Second order of business: The Museum of Broadcast Communications.
Here, radio and TV are segregated by floor. The second floor contained the Radio Hall of Fame, encompassing technical and corporate creators, DJs, sports announcers, and the like. Upstairs, some of the TV focused on the local -- WGN's "Bozo" program and Garfield Goose -- but it also covered the different genres of television. In the theater, they were airing the 1965 NYE episode of The Tonight Show.
Next order of business: Basketball.
Today was the Missouri Valley Conference opener for Loyola, who were taking on my-evil-twin-named Bradley University. My seat was directly behind the Loyola bench, which meant that I had a better view of the coach than of the half-court played in front of him. Of interest was the "I am a Rambler" video played during one of the breaks. One of the Loyola grads was Bob Newhart (c/o '52).
After a slow start, the Ramblers pulled ahead late in the first half, and didn't look back, winning 64-49.
Next order of business: Comedy, tonight.
After getting back to the room and decompressing, I sketched out my route to Second City for the 7:00 showing of "The Apes of Wrath." Like other Second City programs, it was a string of largely-unrelated vignettes mixed in some improve exercises, though some jokes were callbacks to previous skits.
Of note was an improv where one of the performers "recognized" an old high-school classmate in the audience. However, as an Australian, the audience member was unaware of Applebee's, thinking it a strip club.
Final order of business: Dinner.
After taking home my souvenir glass, I went back to the hotel for a late dinner. Responsible boy that I am, I had fish with a gin and tonic, and then aimed to go upstairs. However, the walkway to my tower was staffed by two guards checking wristbands, of which I was unaware. So I dashed back to the front desk, picked up my wristband, and quickly realized why I don't work the door at a nightclub.
And here we are. Happy New Year.
I decided to go to Wildberry Café, in part because it was attached to the underground walkway system. Except, when I got to the Aon Center, I discovered that the indoor entrance to the restaurant was walled off for reconstruction. So, throwing caution to a bitterly cold wind, I went outside and dashed around the corner to the restaurant.
Second order of business: The Museum of Broadcast Communications.
Here, radio and TV are segregated by floor. The second floor contained the Radio Hall of Fame, encompassing technical and corporate creators, DJs, sports announcers, and the like. Upstairs, some of the TV focused on the local -- WGN's "Bozo" program and Garfield Goose -- but it also covered the different genres of television. In the theater, they were airing the 1965 NYE episode of The Tonight Show.
Next order of business: Basketball.
Today was the Missouri Valley Conference opener for Loyola, who were taking on my-evil-twin-named Bradley University. My seat was directly behind the Loyola bench, which meant that I had a better view of the coach than of the half-court played in front of him. Of interest was the "I am a Rambler" video played during one of the breaks. One of the Loyola grads was Bob Newhart (c/o '52).
After a slow start, the Ramblers pulled ahead late in the first half, and didn't look back, winning 64-49.
Next order of business: Comedy, tonight.
After getting back to the room and decompressing, I sketched out my route to Second City for the 7:00 showing of "The Apes of Wrath." Like other Second City programs, it was a string of largely-unrelated vignettes mixed in some improve exercises, though some jokes were callbacks to previous skits.
Of note was an improv where one of the performers "recognized" an old high-school classmate in the audience. However, as an Australian, the audience member was unaware of Applebee's, thinking it a strip club.
Final order of business: Dinner.
After taking home my souvenir glass, I went back to the hotel for a late dinner. Responsible boy that I am, I had fish with a gin and tonic, and then aimed to go upstairs. However, the walkway to my tower was staffed by two guards checking wristbands, of which I was unaware. So I dashed back to the front desk, picked up my wristband, and quickly realized why I don't work the door at a nightclub.
And here we are. Happy New Year.