CHICAGO (AP) — “The Bear” has a mirror image.
More than 50 contestants turned out Saturday in a Chicago park to compete in a lookalike contest vying to portray actor Jeremy Allen White, star of the Chicago-based television series “The Bear.”
Beyond the renown of being named White's unofficial body double, the winner walked away with $50 and a pack of cigarettes in recognition of the puff-prone character White plays in the series — Carmen “Carmy” Berzattoa — a young, award-winning chef from the glittery world of fine dining who returns to the Windy City to captain his family's dive sandwich shop.
On the show, the character is sometimes referred to as the “Bear,” and the chef had dreams of owning a fine dining restaurant that would carry that name.
As hundreds looked on and cheered, the prize went to 37-year-old mental health therapist Ben Shabad, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
“This is the coolest thing I’ve done all week,” said Shabad, who was hoisted into the air in the middle of the crowd, a crown perched upon his head, the pack of cigarettes clutched in one hand.
Most of the wannabe doppelgangers were white men, but some women and people of different ethnicities got in on the fun, the newspaper said. There was even a toddler White lookalike.
Organizers were surprised by the big turnout, which included Jeremy Allen White fan Alexis Kline.
“He’s like a Roman god to me,” Kline said.
Attendees cheer and take photos during a Jeremy Allen White look a like at contest at Humboldt Park, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 in Chicago. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
A trio of contestants gather for a photo during a Jeremy Allen White look a like at contest at Humboldt Park, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 in Chicago. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
The winner, Ben Shabad stands in front to cheers while attendees vote during a Jeremy Allen White look a like at contest at Humboldt Park, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 in Chicago. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
VIENNA (AP) — A flip of the switch, some oohs and ahhs from a crowd of onlookers, and a giant decorated Christmas tree went up in lights on Vienna’s town hall square as the Yuletide season got rolling in Austria's capital on Saturday evening.
Mulled wine was poured, frosted gingerbread cookies dangled from the roofs of vendors’ stalls, kiddies rode a carousel and a brass band tooted out Johann Strauss II’s “The Blue Danube” waltz as the holiday merriment set in.
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig joined the ceremonial illumination of the 30-meter (about 100-foot) spruce that bedecked the square in front of town hall, which also was bathed in light.
This year Vienna upped the ante by decorating the tree with 2,000 LED lights and 1,000 Christmas baubles at the market, which drew 3.3 million visitors last year.
The Christmas market was one of more than a dozen in Vienna: Another at Schoenbrunn Castle drew 50,000 visitors at its opening last weekend, part of a tradition notably in German-speaking countries like Austria.
Most of the Christmas markets in Vienna will be open until Dec. 26, though the ones in front of the town hall and Schoenbrunn will stay open until Jan. 6 next year.
A man takes photographs of the illuminations at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)
Illuminations of the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)
Tramways pass by the illuminated Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)
People look at the illuminations at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)
People look at Christmas baubles at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)
People look at Christmas baubles at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)
People crowd the Christmas market in front of Schoenbrunn castle in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)
Gingerbread hearts displayed at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)
People crowd the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)
People look at Christmas baubles at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)
