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BY GEORGE DICKIE Anthony Bourdain has no qualms about putting himself in harm's way to tell viewers stories of countries, cultures, people and food. Indeed, the host of "Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown" – which returns for Season 2 Sunday, Sept. 15, on CNN – has dined on live cobra in Vietnam, forced down sand- and feces-smeared warthog rectum in Namibia and been bombed in Beirut. And after years of antibiotics and run-ins with less-thanhospitable locals, his enthusiasm for exploration remains intact. "I see my first duty as to be a good guest," he explains. "So if called upon to take one for the team, meaning eat food that I'm pretty sure is going to make me ill, I'm going to do that rather than offend my host. That said, all of us on the show are pretty good at making good decisions. And surprisingly enough, if you eat what the locals eat, including some pretty dodgy-looking street food, you're probably better off than eating at the Western-style buffet at the hotel. "I'm not going out of my way to eat live monkey brains just because some knuckleheads do it," he continues. "I'm interested in what is typical and everyday. I ask myself, 'Is it part of the culture? Is it something that people eat on an ordinary basis that they love and are serious about? Is it expressive of the culture that I'm eating it – whether I'm in my comfort zone or not?' But I'm not out there looking to shock and awe." He has also found that food can be the conduit through which cultures can find common ground, which was the case last season, when he visited Libya and broke bread with Libyans. "Regardless of political differences," he says, "it's a big deal to feed a stranger who shows up at your home, and I found that to be true throughout the Arab world. ... If you allow people the freedom to show you how they live – simple things: These are my kids; this is what we have for dinner; this is what we love to cook – they tell you other things and they reveal themselves to you in ways that they might not if I was showing up with a sound guy and a makeup artist and a microphone." "I'm working on (a book), so I'm trying to avoid reading. But since Elmore Leonard just died, I'm probably going to go back and reread Elmore Leonard." •What did you have for dinner last night? "I made wienerschnitzel, boiled new potatoes with chives and butter, and a salad of freshly shucked green peas and baby arugula." •What is your next project? "I'm out to L.A. to shoot 'The Taste' for ABC, then off to England to shoot 'The Taste' U.K. – the British edition – and then back to 'Parts Unknown' and continue shooting Season 3." When was the last vacation you took – where and why? "I'm on vacation with the family ... in Long Island, out in Southhampton." BEST TV DADS "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" "The Waltons" 8 •What are you currently reading? "The Cosby Show" BY STAFF WRITERS Ozzie Nelson (Ozzie Nelson), "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" (ABC, 1952-66) No one could have played David and Ricky's dad better. Ward Cleaver (Hugh Beaumont), "Leave It to Beaver" (CBS, 1957-58; ABC, 1958-63) With sons like Beaver and Wally, you'd need the patience of a saint. Luckily, Ward had it. Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors), "The Rifleman" (ABC, 1958-63) Tough when he had to be – which was often – rancher and widower McCain always turned tender when it came to son Mark (Johnny Crawford). Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene), "Bonanza" (NBC, 1959-73): The Ponderosa patriarch made a powerful father figure to his headstrong sons. Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith), "The Andy Griffith Show" (CBS, 1960-68) The plain-speaking widower's love for son Opie (Ronny Howard) was evident in every breath he took and every life lesson he taught. Steve Douglas (Fred MacMurray), "My Three Sons" (ABC, 1960-65; CBS, 1965-72) A pipe, a sweater and a level head were trademarks of this parent with an ever-expanding clan. Mike Brady (Robert Reed), 'The Brady Bunch" (ABC, 1969-74) No matter how big his hairstyle or architecture project, Mike was ever-ready with advice for his blended family. John Walton (Ralph Waite), "The Waltons" (CBS, 1972-81) Someone else from the Charles Ingalls mold, this patriarch of a large Depression-era brood let everyone know who was boss simply through silent strength. Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon), "Little House on the Prairie" (NBC, 1974-83) Life wasn't easy in late 19th-century Minnesota, but if you wanted someone both rugged and compassionate, Laura Ingalls' dad was the man. Howard Cunningham (Tom Bosley), "Happy Days" (ABC, 1974-84) "Mr. C." kept his home open to his kids' lively friends – i.e., Fonzie. Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby), "The Cosby Show" (NBC, 1984-92) High spirits and a very contemporary, frequently bemused take on family life kept this obstetrician one of the coolest-ever television dads. The Goshen News • TV Spotlight • September 16-22, 2013

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