Anthony Bourdain: Trapped in Beirut

I like Anthony Bourdain.

As someone who makes television shows, I like television shows that break the mold a little.

I like shows that take a tried and formulaic genre and catalyze it with bold thinking. No Reservations is that sort of show.

The show's concept is fairly simple: a known chef, Bourdain, is sent to parts unknown. He samples the local culture, engages the local population and indulges in local culinary flavors. Sometimes he cooks, too.

And in a total affront to contemporary television mores, Bourdain smokes compulsively and drinks religiously. Who's to say how "real" reality television is? Not me. But Anthony Bourdain might be as close as we'll ever get.

Last night, Casey and I watched a special presentation of No Reservations. It was called Anthony Bourdain: In Beirut.

In Beirut started out like any other episode of the show: Anthony flew to Lebanon to seek out the local flavors and culture. He waxed on about the religious diversity and westernization of modern-day Beirut. Anthony and his guide enjoyed a rewarding meal at Le Cafe, a place that epitomized the sort of restaurant Anthony loves for his shows.

And then the tone came down. Anthony got serious.

After the meal, as Bourdain and his Beiruti guide surveyed the site of a political assassination, everything changed.

The streets flooded with Beiruti youth waving Hezbollah flags and shouting. Automatic gunfire rang out on the streets. Something had happened.

Hezbollah soldiers had kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, and from the moment they realized what had happened, Anthony's crew knew they were in the path of an oncoming storm.

The events that followed during the crew's nine days trapped in Beirut were all captured on video. I won't detail the episode here, as that would defeat the point of encouraging you to watch it. But honestly, In Beirut was one of the most eminently watchable, powerful pieces of televsion I've seen in a long time.

I'm going to leave you hanging in the hopes that you'll watch The Travel Channel or order the episode from Discovery Online whenever it shows up. Worthwhile television is hard to find. Seek this out if you have the chance.

Here's a clip of Tony on Larry King talking about the experience.