TGI Friday's 2 with The Sklar Brothers

"TGI Friday's 2 with The Sklar Brothers" is Episode 154 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "TGI Friday's 2 with The Sklar Brothers" was released on May 17, 2018.

## Synopsis

Randy and Jason Sklar (*Sklars and Stripes*, *Hipster Ghosts*) join Mitch and Wiger for a trip down memory lane as they review a favorite chain from their youth and college days: sit down chain and *Cocktail* inspiration TGI Fridays. The quartet discusses sports, dining on the road, and taste test trial Oreo flavors in a new edition of Flavor of the Week.

## Nick's intro

In 1983, a new face was suddenly everywhere on the silver screen: his three films entered theaters, starring Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, who went by the much sleeker stage name, Tom Cruise.

The trio of flicks - *The Outsiders*, *All The Right Moves*, and most notably *Risky Business*, which featured a still frequently referenced underwear dance number set to Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" - catapulted the then 20-year-old thespian to movie stardom. His films have since collectively brought in over 3.5 billion in box-office receipts, roughly 100 million per year over the course of his 35-year reign as one of the most bankable actors in the world. His staying power was testament to his talent and charisma, and some would speculate his connections to Scientology, and it's also a credit to his selectivity in choosing roles as he rarely appears in duds.

Though, one notable exception was the 1988 bartending film, *Cocktail*, in which Cruise played his frequent early career type of a young hotshot feuding with a mentor. While the film performed acceptably financially, it was savaged by critics, and remains one of the most panned films of Cruise's career, one that netted him a Razzie nomination for Worst Actor.

And the character Cruise portrayed that earned him this indignity, flair bartender Brian Flanagan, was purportedly based in part on Alan Stillman, a legend in the New York City restaurant scene who, in 1965, opened the first ever singles bar in then-seedy Times Square. Stillman's mixology concept, named for a colloquialism that expresses gratitude to the Almighty for the end of the work week, shook up the city's bar scene like a martini shaker, pioneering now-standard concepts like the velvet rope and ladies' night.

The restaurant's success was sustained over the decades, though, much like Times Square itself, it gradually softened its rough edges and evolved into a family-friendly chain that is an inarguably more generic version of its former self.

Today, this once hip hookup spot is as omnipresent in suburban shopping centers as the multiplexes screening the latest Tom Cruise blockbuster.

This week on *Doughboys*, we return to TGI Friday's.

## Fork rating

The Doughboys first reviewed TGI Friday's back in episode 6, where Mitch rated it 4.5 forks and Nick gave it 4 forks. (They give the exact same scores this time, as well.)

* Jack Daniels Ribs
* Crispy Shrimp
* Cole Slaw
* Fries
* House Salad
 Mike Mitchell
* Screamin' Tiki
* Philly Cheesesteak Burger
* House Salad
 Nick & Mitch shared
	+ Garlic Parmesan Boneless Chicken Wings
	+ Loaded Potato Skins
	+ Pan-Seared Pot Stickers
* Toasted S'more Brownie
 Jason Sklar

## Flavor of the Week

In Flavor Of The Week, The Doughboys try different varieties of one brand and rank them.

For this episode, they try the new fan-created MyOreo flavors: Piña Colada Oreo Thins, Kettle Corn Golden Oreo, and Cherry Cola Oreo.

They all decide that Kettle Corn was the best, and Cherry Cola the worst.

## Quotes

**Nick**: Oh yea... there's that Romaine crisis right now, and you're not supposed to eat it, but we both want to die.

**Mitch**: FUCK YOU.

## The Feedbag

For me, that idea translates to chains where some food tries to be too fancy, ends up being worse than the worst food. For me, that's evident in Taco Bell. I love their ground beef, which is probably their worst quality meat, but I can't eat their steak at all. Same thing with McDonald's. I'm completely fine eating their double cheeseburgers, but will probably never try those new higher end burgers they have.

## Related Episodes

* 65. Doughlympics: Frozen Face/Off
* 154. **TGI Fridays 2**

## Photos (via @doughboyspod)

Ultimate MangoUltimate Hawaiian VolcanoHouse SaladApp Sampler: Pan-Seared Pot Stickers, Loaded Potato Skins, Garlic Parmesan Boneless Chicken WingsJack Daniels Ribs and FriesPhilly Cheesesteak BurgerCrispy ShrimpToasted S'more Brownie