For immediate release
Chicago, IL - January 23, 2013
After a ten-year run as host of WTTW’s popular “real people” restaurant review program Check, Please!, Alpana Singh will step down at the end of the current season, the public media station announced today.
“I’ve loved doing the show. It’s been so much fun!” said Singh. “But after a decade of talking restaurants with people, I am now devoting my energies to delivering the real thing.” Singh recently opened The Boarding House, an upscale four-story River North wine bar and restaurant where she is Proprietor and Master Sommelier. She began hosting Check, Please! in its third season as the successor to original host Amanda Puck. At that time, Singh also served as Master Sommelier at Everest, later moving on to become Director of Wine and Beverage for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises.
“Alpana brought a friendly personality and a unique expertise to the show,” said David Manilow, Check, Please! Creator and Executive Producer for the program, which is co-produced by Check Please LLC and WTTW. “Making guests feel comfortable is hugely important in television, just as it is in the restaurant business. Alpana excelled at this on the show, and I know she will as a restaurant owner. She’s been a terrific host. We will miss her very much.”
“We will begin a search for a new Check, Please! host very soon,” said V.J. McAleer, WTTW Senior Vice President of Production, adding that the Emmy-winning production remains one of the station’s most popular, even after twelve seasons. “Alpana has been extremely popular with our viewers, and we’ll be seeking their help in finding her replacement,” he said.
WTTW will announce specific plans for the search soon, he said. The station also hopes Singh will continue to appear occasionally on Chicago Tonight, WTTW’s nightly newsmagazine, where she answers viewers’ wine and beverage questions posed by host Phil Ponce in the “Ask Alpana” segment.
About WTTW
For almost 60 years, audiences have turned to WTTW for distinctive programming that informs, inspires, educates, and entertains. WTTW reaches 1.5 million weekly households over a four-state area, making it the most-watched public television station in America. Recognized for its award-winning local and national productions, WTTW is committed to presenting the very best in cultural, nature, science, public affairs, and children's programming across its four distinct television channels: WTTW11, WTTW Prime, its Spanish-language channel WTTW V-me, and WTTW Create, its “how-to” channel. For more information, please visit wttw.com.
