Being eagle-eyed media observers, we noticed that this WSJ report of CNN’s new digital project included some potential big fun news: a “hot young urban chef [and] protege of Anthony Bourdain” is in talks for a new show.
Okay, it’s not like a show show: the project, called Your 15 Second Morning, is “a bite-sized video news series built specifically to be viewed and shared on Twitter.” Essentially, it’s a new media project that produces YouTube-ish shows, including spinoffs of CNN properties (“Live to 100 with Dr. Sanjay Gupta“), and original series like “Related with Dave Franco,” a show about celebrity siblings. (Guess who Dave Franco’s brother is; no really, guess. Okay fine it’s James Franco.)
Who would this chef be, though? Our guesses:
- Roy Choi: The clear frontrunner. The brash, blunt Choi is fresh off the success of his memoir LA Son, already appeared on CNN’s Parts Unknown with Bourdain, consulted on Jon Favreau’s Chef, and can do the new technology thing pretty well. Oh, and he kickstarted the entire food truck thing. The one hurdle would be whether CNN would cede near-complete creative control to Choi, who’s notorious for turning down opportunities if they clash with his personal ethos. (Bourdain’s influence would help mitigate that corporate concern.)
- Eddie Huang: A very close second, and would be our top pick if he didn’t have multiple projects going on at different networks (Fresh Off The Boat at ABC and an untitled MTV reality show with Chrissy Teigen), and is probably locked into some contract. Nevertheless, he’s cool, he’s urban, he’s eloquent, and he was nurtured at the bosom of Bourdain, who also manages to juggle a CNN show and a reality hosting gig at ABC. (Wait, Bourdain’s bosom is a weird image. Forget we said that.)
- The Joe Beef Guys: If “urban” means “Montreal,” this could totally work. David McMillan and Frédéric Morin are cool enough to successfully shoot an entire program about the virtues of meat, and Bourdain loves everything they stand for. Plus, CNN is friendly to Canadians. We’re going to mark this “plausible,” though — we’re not sure if the Joe Beef guys are known quantities to the average CNN viewer.
- Andy Ricker: High on the list of people Bourdain regularly pumps into the national conscience, but apparently not young. (We were kind of shocked when we heard that, too.) He’s still hot, urban, and chef-fy, so not really out of the question.
- Carlos Llaguno: Technically Bourdain’s protege (he now runs his old restaurant, Brasserie Les Halles, and appeared on No Reservations multiple times), Llaguno is a longshot. He’s incredibly unknown and doesn’t have the “cool, hip thing” CNN’s going for these days. (Why else hire James Franco’s brother?!) You never know, though — this could be a crazy Bourdain idea that makes no sense but somehow works.
If we forgot anyone, tell us below! And if you’re a CNN insider, tips@thebraiser.com is always open.
[WSJ]
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