First, Men’s Health dubbed the city the fast-food capital of the nation. Now, Jay Leno’s people are on the case.
A six-person crew from The Jay Leno Show hit Arlington this week to poke around the city’s soft middle.
The story started when the magazine decided to take a look at, in its own words, "cities where fast-food reigns." Researchers counted per capita outlets for McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Taco Bells; threw in stats on the percentage of people who visit fast-food restaurants and how often they do so; and wrapped it up with obesity numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What came out of that calculation was Arlington at No. 1. Hence, Leno’s interest. And while the talk show host has certainly been called funny, he’s not exactly been called svelte.
But he has reportedly shed more than a dozen pounds, so perhaps the focus on fitness isn’t a shocker. The show is set to debut Monday, but it’s not known when the Arlington segment will air.
The city decided to cooperate with the film crew, said Angie Summers, Mayor Robert Cluck’s executive assistant.
"I guess they’re going to poke fun at us," Summers said. "So we might as well be part of the fun."
The Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau took the same tack, helping with hotel reservations and presenting a welcome basket, complete with pizza boxes, said Diane Brandon, marketing and public relations vice president.
"Jay Leno is going to do a story whether we talk or not," Brandon said. "I think overall the story is going to be fun and funny."
Cluck, a physician, granted an interview at City Hall. The crew, aided by a couple of University of Texas at Arlington film students, checked out the city’s defibrillators and watched a CPR demonstration then walked around downtown, Summers said.
A Leno crew member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the show’s folks were surprised at the number of all-you-can-eat buffets.
But in fairness, they also visited Green’s Produce, a local fresh food favorite on Arkansas Lane — even though it’s actually in Dalworthington Gardens.
"They wanted to show that there’s healthy options," Patti White, the daughter of the owner of Green’s Produce, said of the crew. "They stayed quite awhile."
Among the customers interviewed was JoAnne Kolanko, 52.
"We mostly talked about vegetables," Kolanko said. "I don’t think I’m going to get on because I don’t think I said anything funny."
Summers, a former Star-Telegram columnist, said the visitors were pleased to learn that they didn’t need a permit to shoot in Arlington and "shocked" at the hospitality.
They also asked about the high price of fast food and parking at the new Cowboys Stadium. Summers agreed that those factors might cut consumption and prompt more walking in Arlington.
"I said, 'We’re fixing to slim up quick,’ " she said.
Read more in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
0 comments:
Post a Comment