Latest news with #Bish
Chicago Tribune
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Welcome to the Show' wants to feel like hanging out with friends in their Lincoln Square basement
Derek Bish is hard to miss. Tall and jovial (he gave his height as 'a trim 6-foot-8,' and that's not far from the truth), his affable smile and good-natured laugh make him easy to spot in any room. The simplest way to find him, however, is to head over to The Getaway in Lincoln Square. Every other Monday, Bish can be seen onstage as the host of 'Welcome to the Show,' a Chicago-centric live talk show that he created. 'Welcome to the Show' has been filling the backroom of The Getaway since its first episode in the summer of 2024. Bish says the show's genesis sprang from a simple adage: 'Make what you want to see yourself.' The idea for a show spotlighting the best of Chicago art, entertainment, sports and culture had been brewing in his brain for months but it wasn't until December 2023 that he decided to make it happen. After declaring his New Year's resolution to 'host and start this show finally,' Bish pitched the idea to longtime friends Dave Halpern, Ross Dimun and Scott Spidale. The men had just taken ownership of the recently closed Grafton Pub and were in the process of converting it into The Getaway. The trio agreed to give him the backroom. On June 17, 2024, the show premiered, featuring, among other guests, Cubs anthem singer John Vincent and Michelin-starred chef Christian Hunter. With no PR team or crew, Bish does all the booking himself, attributing his guest-related good fortune to his love of 'a kindly worded email.' 'I'll send random cold emails to people I think would enjoy it,' he says. So far, that approach has worked, as personalities as varied as Chicago comic Jamie Shriner, WGN host Ji Suk Yi and Empty Bottle co-owner Matt Ciarleglio have graced his stage over the last year. 'Stage,' however, may be a grand word for the room where the show takes place. Audience members pass through the dimly lit, mirror-filled main bar to slip through a black curtain. On the other side, a long, narrow room opens. Couches, ottomans and high-top tables fill the space, and, at the far end, two armchairs and a coffee table sit next to a working fireplace and sprawling hearth. It almost feels like walking into a talk show set up in someone's basement — which is exactly what Bish is going for. 'It's like a house party,' he says. 'The whole goal of the show is to feel like you know me already, and we're hanging out and I'm introducing you to some really fantastic artists that live in Chicago.' Luis Romero is one of those artists. Romero has been an illustrator professionally for over 20 years; he was invited to the show after attending the 2024 Christmas edition as an audience member. The night of his appearance, he sold pins, drawings and patches from a table near the entrance. A regular on the convention circuit, Romero was featured in this year's Artist Alley at C2E2. Of the two events, Romero loves the intimate feel 'Welcome to the Show' provides. 'You get to meet a person and highlight what they're doing,' he says, in a way the 'flood of people' at C2E2 doesn't always allow. That personal touch proliferates throughout the evening. Bish brings books from his own house for audience members to peruse. He decorates the interview space with his children's artwork. At a recent show, he and his wife Margaret Bish baked brownies for the crowd. Bish, who described himself as 'the only one in his family who's ever picked up a microphone,' opens the show with an endearingly rambling monologue that instantly sets the room — and his guests — at ease with his ability to lead the evening. And just like no one would charge their friends to hang out, 'Welcome to the Show' is a free event. That way, Bish says, 'People get to save their money and they can spend it on the artist.' Bish's commitment to supporting local artistry extends to Lincoln Square itself. Noting that shows are often seated to capacity, he admits 'quite a few' venues have approached him about relocating. 'I just don't want to do that yet,' he says. The show 'feels special in that neighborhood.' As his audience grows, Bish aims to keep 'Welcome to the Show' a peaceful respite from the troubled outside world by reminding them of the culture, art, and joy in Chicago. 'It can feel daunting out there,' he said. 'There's just so much garbage going on. But in reality, every day we wake up, we wake up in a great city surrounded by great talented people.' During the closing monologue of a recent episode, Bish echoed this sentiment. 'Now more than ever is a wonderful time to be open and vulnerable with each other,' he said. 'Don't be afraid of feeling good. It's OK to be happy. I promise.' After a night at this show, it's hard not to be.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who will win Love Island All Stars? Final odds revealed after brutal dumping
Love Island All Stars winners are walking away with £50,000 prize fund in Monday's episode. Luca Bish and Grace Jackson have been named the favourites to win the enviable title and prize for the ITV2 show filmed in South Africa, according to the latest odds. One couple Ronnie Vint and Harriett Blackmore were brutally dumped from Love Island All Stars, narrowly missing out on the final, hosted by the glamorous Maya Jama. Jackson and Bish, Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Curtis Pritchard, Gabby Allen and Casey O'Gorman, Catherine Agbaje and Omar Nyame as well as Elma Pazar and Sammy Root were revealed as the final five couples on Love Island All Stars. Favourites Bish and Jackson have been given odds of 10/11, according to BetMGM. Sunday's episode saw axed Love Island star Olivia Hawkins accuse Bish of a "showmance" with the bombshell statement: "So I've seen text messages of Grace just saying to someone that she'll do whatever it takes to win the show this time from someone back home." Despite the drama, the odds revealed Bish and Jackson remain firm favourites to win. Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Curtis Pritchard are the people's second choice, according to the latest bookies' odds. Culculoglu previously won Love Island in 2022. UK Director at BetMGM, Sam Behar, said: "It's been another dramatic series of Love Island All Stars and our betting shows Grace Jackson and Luca Bish are the favourites to be crowned champions at 10/11. "Despite the drama on Sunday night's show, the pair lead the way ahead of second favourites Ekin-Su, who is looking for her second Love Island victory, and Curtis at 2/1." Luca Bish and Grace Jackson 10/11 Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Curtis Pritchard 2/1 Gabby Allen and Casey O'Gorman 13/4 Catherine Agbaje and Omar Nyame 25/1 Elma Pazar and Sammy Root 33/1 Is Bish and Jackson's written in the stars? His family think so after Bish showed off his rose tattoo and said in a piece to camera: "My potential girlfriend – Rosa – Grace Rosa Jackson." They responded by writing on social media: "Fun fact. Luca's Nan is called Rosa, Luca's sisters middle name is also Rosa... It's written in the stars." In recent days, Bish sparked controversy for using the term "pending girlfriend" to describe his romance with Jackson. She said he was going to ask her to be his girlfriend once they get back on home turf in the UK. Since then, the couple have been rocked by "showmance" claims by former islander Hawkins. Bish's mum Maria has hit out at Hawkins for accusing Jackson of a showmance with her son via her antique shop's page. She said in a social media message: "Liv you told me you wouldn't stop at anything to get with Luca when he left the island. So this is interesting." In Monday's final, Bish tells Jackson again: "You have made me feel so comfortable in us, there was no worry… Like I said as soon as we get out of here and you've met my family and I've met yours, you will be my girlfriend.' Culculoglu and Pritchard are another hot couple in the villa with the pair being named the second favourite to win the show by the bookies. In Monday's episode, the couple have the chance to look back on their blooming romance. Pritchard tells Culculoglu: "One of the first memories I have is the first time we were in the Secret Garden, I knew there was something there." She responds: "I'm so glad I've matched with someone who is just like me, you're my best friend, you're my partner, you're my lover, you're my boyfriend… You are my Love Island journey!" Regardless of the favourites, it's an exciting time for all of the couples in the Love Island villa. Allen and O'Gorman make their feelings known to each other as they talk about life outside of the villa, now their time in South Africa is coming to an end. O'Gorman tells Allen in the final: "Right now we're at the perfect stage to want to carry on on the outside." Allen responds: "I actually feel excited for you to meet my family, this is where we learn about each other in others ways." Agbaje and Nyame are also reflecting on their special Love Island adventure together. She tells him: "I've never had someone that's just come in wanting me." To which, Nyame sweetly reveals that his partner is "perfect" just how she is. In the final, he says: "You are perfect the way you are, I'm happy, I'm grateful we've met each other at the most perfect time…" Monday's final promises to show the couple sharing a tender moment where they hold hands as well as a lot of laughter too. Romance can be found in every corner of the Love Island villa in the final. In the pool, Pazar and Root steal a passionate kiss while on the inflatable flamingos. In this moment, they share their true feelings towards each other and how they found a connection. Pazar says: "You walked in and it changed everything, it's almost like it was meant to be." Root agrees finishing off her sentence: "As soon as we sat down and started chatting I was like… Yeah." Pazar responds back: "I was very excited, I must've said I'm happy about 100 times!" THE LOVE ISLAND: ALL STARS FINAL AIRS AT 9PM ON ITV2 AND ITVX.
