<\/p>\n

Anthony Bourdain’s new show on CNN is not only delivering ratings successes, but it’s providing personal satisfaction to the curmudgeonly host himself. In a recent interview with The Washington Post<\/em><\/a>, Bourdain admits that he thinks the show has been pretty darn good; well better than good, the best he’s ever done in fact, highlighting his recent Libya episode.<\/p>\n

[We were] having conversations with really interesting people saying incredible things, where you are sort of holding your breath, thinking, \u201cJust keep talking, keep talking, keep talking, keep talking.\u201d It\u2019s also a beautifully photographed and beautifully edited piece of work.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Viewers seem to think so too. The show has doubled the ratings of its previous time slot<\/a>, and CNN recently announced it was re-upping the show for a second season. I’ve only caught parts of it (it’s been a busy spring with Mad Men<\/em>, Arrested Development<\/em>, etc…), but from what I’ve seen so far, I’ve liked it. It’s different from No Reservations<\/em>; maybe a freer format that has allowed Tony to stray from food a bit more and integrate some nice cinematic touches to the photography. But there’s no doubt, my DVR will be in overdrive later this year come the late-summer TV doldrums kick in.<\/p>\n

Below is a clip of the show where he visits Libya’s own fried chicken chain, Uncle Kentaki, a rip-off title that seems almost ripped from the screenplay of Coming to America<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n