I eventually lost count of how many people recommended “The Bear” to me. After weeks of avoiding the explosively popular show, I let peer pressure win and was glad I did. Besides, even if the story bordered on contrived, it made up for it with exceptional acting.

Plus, I’m from Chicago, and while “The Bear” relied on a few too many Chicago cliches, there were some good deep cuts. But this is not a TV show review. Most people that recommended the show didn’t want my take either. They wanted to ask me where to get an Italian beef sandwich in San Francisco.