CHILD’S PLAY FOR PUDI
As the father of young children, actor and comedian Danny Pudi made a realization a couple of years ago, while he was in the process of voicing the Brainy Smurf character in the new “Smurfs: The Lost Village” animated film ( opening Friday).
“My twins are now 5 years old, but when I started working on this, my kids were only 3 at the time. We were just finishing up [ his NBC sitcom] ‘ Community’ then, and I was thinking, my son and daughter won’t see that for a while! Previously, I always had envisioned I’d be taking my kids to some film that would require a lot of explanation afterward.
“But I realized, this ‘ Smurfs’ film would be the first thing I would be able to watch with my children. I was so excited about that, and sure enough, we’re all going together to the premiere [ which occurred last Saturday in Los Angeles].”
In addition, the actor couldn’t help joking “making this ‘ Smurfs’ film has made my entire family very happy with the decision I didn’t pursue a career in academics. Of course, by voicing Brainy Smurf, I’ve come fairly close!”
A reference to his family sparked Pudi to reflect on the importance of his Chicago roots. “My entire family still lives there . . . as do a lot of my closest friends. My wife and I moved from Lake View in 2005, but we return frequently for holidays and other things.”
Pudi credits his hometown with providing the foundation for his success. “I’m a child of the city— a child of immigrants,” said Pudi, who loves the symbolism of his parents meeting in a class teaching new American residents English as a second language.
Growing up with his Indian father and Polish mother — first in Brighton Park and then in the Norwood Park- Jefferson Park areas of the city— Pudi recalled “all my earliest memories of comedy, sports, role models were all about Chicago. I worked at the United Center as an Andy Frain usher watching Michael Jordan play. I loved going to Taste of Chicago every summer with my buddies— riding the Blue Line.
“I saw my first play in Chicago. My first concert was Janet Jackson, andmy first movie was ‘ E. T.,’ all seen in Chicago. . . . I often think about the first play I did at Holy Martyrs school on the South Side— it was ‘ Sound of Music.’ ”
‘ First Dates’ showcases Chicago, restaurantMK
Based on an popular series in Britain, “First Dates” ( debuting 7 p. m. Friday, WMAQ- Channel 5) likely will bring back memories — both good and bad— for anyone who ever went on a blind date. The first episode includes a few awkward moments, like when Kenny learned Christina had been in the U. S. Navy and said, “You’re so pretty for somebody in the military.” His irritated date zinged back with, “What? I’m supposed to be butch?”
Then there’s the apparent “player,” Mike, who stunned his date, Alyssa ( a serial dater and Tinder aficionado), when she learned he’s a virgin at age 23.
The concept brings together real- life singles from across the country to meet at Chicago’sMK restaurant and see if there’s a connection.
“It’s a terrible feeling in the pit of your stomach that I hadn’t remembered in a while, as I’ve been married for 15 years. But you come to realize it’s still there in all of us— mostly a sense of impending doom,” producer JohnHesling said with a laugh. “Of course, there also can be impending joy, depending on the moment or the situation.”
To the “First Dates” producing team, which includes TV megastar Ellen DeGeneres, the locale was obviously key.
“We gave a lot of thought to that,” said Hesling. “Chicago is very representative of America. It has its own identity, but it’s not an aggressive identity in the way some other cities can be— like New York, for example. We felt it was a brilliant, centralized meeting point to fly people in from all over America,” he added.
As for the selection of Michael Kornick’s MK restaurant on North Franklin, Hesling pointed out that as they researched potential sites, “we saw that MK consistently made various lists of the most romantic restaurants in Chicago. After meeting with the team there, we knew that was the perfect spot for us.”