During post-season play, the basketball crowd constitutes the single largest special-interest group in any tavern with a television. But what happens when the games are over? Do those monitors go into cold storage? Do the projection screens get rolled back into the ceiling?
Hardly. Many bars develop the ability to surf the ascending popularity of programs and cater to those audiences. Nights that were once dedicated to “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place” have transitioned into “South Park” and “Ally McBeal”
Neighborhood spots with a TV or two usually let the customers call the channels, and what’s on is a solid reflection of the clientele. A corner pub full of sports fans will show ESPN, Fox Sports Network or any available game. Edgier alternative bars cater to customer eclecticism, showing The Cartoon Network, Western Network or Turner Classic Movies (if they have cable).
Regardless of any bar’s vibe, the establishments understand the irony that people like to go out in order to enjoy the world’s favorite stay-at-home activity.
What’s on?
News of a bar’s television menu matriculates in many ways: some smaller places cultivate a group of fans quite accidentally. One or two regulars meet to tip a few while watching “Baywatch” or “La Femme Nikita”; after a few weeks, the place is full of fans.
Other, usually larger clubs design special nights. Banners declare a certain night as being devoted to a certain program, drink specials are named for favorite characters and commercial breaks are filled with trivia contests.
With all the loyalty and energy of any Bulls buffs, the devotees of “Ally McBeal,” “Seinfeld,” “South Park” and other pop programs make sure they’re in the same seat, same time, same night of every week. And for these true believers, that seat is not a recliner, but a barstool.
Hard-core followers of cult programs like “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” or “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” may have a tough time finding bar theme nights. The places listed here are for fans of magazine cover stars. Details on these bars can be found in the Metromix database.
Must see, must drink
Road House
1653 N. Wells St.
312-440-0535
The departure of Seinfeld from NBC’s Thursday night lineup is going to displace a horde of viewers. Until that final episode, the “must-see” crowd will continue to belly up to the bar at Road House in Old Town every Thursday night. A slab of concrete inlayed with horseshoes, the bar at Road House allows people to dance Fridays and Saturdays. But stepping up on Thursday night, and blocking a television set, would earn a chorus of “down in front!” or worse.
The crowd begins to gather well before 7 p.m. Thursday, settling in for NBC’s “Friends” through “ER” juggernaut. Those shows anchor the evening, and “Seinfeld” sits in the middle, starting at 8 p.m. Sandwiched in-between are NBC’s attempts to pad the lineup. Any network executive interested in viewer research should stop in here on a Thursday night: When shows like “Just Shoot Me” or “Veronica’s Closet” are on the air, bar chatter increases substantially. The pool table is in full swing, and the music blares unabashedly.
Silence is required only for “Friends” and “Seinfeld,” and while a few try to make it through “ER,” the drinks and the dancing usually triumph. The lesson for “ER” fans is to stay home or set the VCR.
All Ally
HiTops
3551 N. Sheffield
773-348-0009
This Wrigleyville hot spot substitutes its usual sports lineup from 8-9 p.m. every Monday night. That’s when all eyes are on “Ally McBeal.” Ally’s antics are featured in HiTops’ Ascot Room, a cozy upstairs lounge. The many couches and plush chairs make for relaxed viewing — perhaps the closest duplication of a living room found in any bar.
“It’s like watching it in your living room with about 50 or 60 friends,” says Matt Goldman, HiTops’ spokesman.
The rise of “Ally McBeal” has been meteoric, Goldman adds. “‘Melrose Place’ was the first attraction, but it started to fade. Now the crowd comes for Ms. McBeal.”
They also, according to Goldman, come for the drink specials. A big McBeal Martini (sweeter and fruitier than the standard gin drink) can be had for $5. There are also gift-certificate and T-shirt giveaways throughout the night.
Ally, with whom many put-upon urban females identify, certainly draws a large following of women to HiTops on Monday night, but that doesn’t mean the boys have to find another place to play. HiTops runs an ongoing Golden Tee golf tournament after every show, so while the women get their Ally fix, the men are flexing their video golf muscle. After 11, when both the show and the tournament are over, it’s time for serious mingling.
‘South Park’
Alumni Club
2251 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-348-5100
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15 W. Division St.
312-337-4349
Where “The Simpsons” broke ground, where “Beavis & Butt-head” pushed the envelope of sophomoric animation, the scamps of “South Park” now hold command. This Comedy Central cartoon has captured a rabid following, evident every Wednesday night at the Rush & Division and Lincoln Park branches of the Alumni Club. Depending on whether the episode is new or a rerun, both bars can fill with a couple hundred fans.
Being sports emporiums, the Alumni Club generally touts Bulls, Bears, baseball and Blackhawks action, but on Wednesdays the upstairs is reserved for “South Park”-ers. Kenny, Kyle, Stan and Cartman hold their own against Michael, Scottie, Tony and Dennis. With two big screens and monitors in every corner, there’s not a blind spot in either locale. “South Park” fans show up often two hours early to get a prime spot in front of the big screen; late-comers have to settle for a regular TV set.
“It’s a crazy cult thing,” observes manager Christopher Fabris. ” ‘South Park’ fans are really intense. The whole crowd knows all the key lines, they get really into it.”
Getting into it is an understatement, especially if the show follows a Bulls win. When the theme music for “South Park” (a jangle of guitar and bass from the rock band Primus) blares through the bar’s many speakers, a roof-blasting war-whoop goes up. Rush & Division “South Park” enthusiasts are especially maniacal.
The Alumni Club runs give-aways during the show. At commercial breaks, a DJ breaks in with a trivia question, rewarding the first person at the booth to answer with a bumper sticker, magnet or T-shirt. For the frustrated, the voice of Chef is provided by Isaac Hayes.
At the show’s conclusion, everyone at both bars joins in the refrain: “Oh my god, they killed Kenny!” That signals both the end of “South Park,” and the start of the dancing. DJs Andrew (on Division) and Funboy (on Lincoln) spin ‘ ’70s, ’80s and ’90s music, allowing those over-worked sports and “South Park” fanatics to shake away any remaining energy.
So long, Seinfeld
When the king of sitcoms steps down from his throne on May 14, Road House, HiTops and both Alumni Clubs are hosting what each claims will be the ultimate farewell bash. Along with hat and T-shirt giveaways, the clubs will run food and drink specials themed to the program. Kramer cocktails are a definite, chocolate babka a good possibility. There will also be raffles and trivia contests with some big prizes.
HiTops and Road House are still getting their packages together, but the Alumni Club is promising a trip for two to New York, with skybox tickets to see the Yankees and the White Sox as grand prize. There’s no word on whether the winners will get to meet the Yankee’s assistant to the traveling secretary.
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Jay Ferrari is a free-lance writer and big fan of “Speed Racer.” To let him know what bars regularly screen that or other fine TV shows, e-mail Letterten@aol.com
