Welcome to TV Squad Lists (formerly 'The Five'), a feature where each blogger has a chance to list his or her own rundown of things in television that stand out from the rest, both good and bad.Just to clear up any potential confusion, this post is not about traveling television sets, nor is it about fictional TV characters who happen to travel. This is a list dedicated to real travelers who have taken us on fantastic journeys in the form of their own television shows.
Michael Palin: I'm not sure how many people expected the Nice Python from the Monty Python troupe to depart from his fish-slapping ways to travel the globe. Palin's charming personality and "aww, shucks" good-guy attitude made all of his adventures tremendously enjoyable. One of my favorite moments from Palin's travels occurred in Himalaya when he sang "The Lumberjack Song" to a very old local gentleman from Bhutan. The man is showing no signs of stopping. His latest travels, called Palin's New Europe, will air later this year.
Dave Attell: I remember when Attell had his own segment on The Daily Show way, way back in the day. I never imagined that he'd eventually have his own travel show. Somehow, he managed to work his wonderful weirdness into three years of Comedy Central's Insomniac with Dave Attell and make late-night, drunken debauchery something surprisingly heartwarming. Attell's adventure to Japan, "Sloshed in Translation," stands out in my mind because I remember finding his encounter with the inventor of useless things to be particularly adorable.
Anthony Bourdain: Sometimes, while learning about the world, you want to feel belittled and a bit intimidated, right? Of course. That's where Bourdain comes in. The so-called "bad boy chef" travels from country to country with a certain air of smarminess that very few people can pull off. I believe the first time I watched Bourdain, he was experimenting with absinthe. What other show would let their host goof around with the ol' green fairy? Right then, I was hooked.
Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman: Fine, that's two people, but consider them as one for right now, okay? Back in 2004, McGregor and Boorman hopped on a couple of motorcycles and traveled from London to New York (underwater motorcycling?!), documenting the whole crazy ride. Honestly, Long Way Round wouldn't have been as enjoyable without McGregor. That is not to say that I'm a fangirl. It was a good show and all, but the real thrill for me was seeing if McGregor would be seriously injured at any point. After all, he's one of Hollywood's pretty boys, and he really can't afford to have his face roughed up by asphalt. Hmm ... Now that I think about it, watching a television show for such a reason is a good sign that I'm going to hell.
Those guys with that old ambulance: A few years ago, I was stuck in bed because of a very bad fever. Instead of being productive and, I don't know, blogging or something, I spent the day with my eyes glued to PBS. Half-delirious, I watched an incredibly interesting show about two guys traveling across the country in an old ambulance, visiting thrift stores and yard sales to hear the stories about various items that people were selling. It was an interesting look into the lives of ordinary Americans, in a very This American Life sort of way. Again, I was suffering from a high fever while watching this, so I couldn't even remember the name of the show. I think it wasn't until I had Googled something like "ambulance thrift store pbs" that I learned that the show was really called Second-Hand Stories with Christopher Wilcha and John Freyer. I'm pretty sure the program was very short-lived, because I haven't seen anything about it for several years. Bring back Second-Hand Stories!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-10-2007 @ 11:57AM
Michael said...
Nice list. I would nominate Burt Wolf and his wonderful "Travels & Traditions" show on PBS, not to mention the entire crew of the "Globetrekkers" show, also on PBS...
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5-10-2007 @ 12:14PM
Scott said...
Actually, the thing I most appreciate about Tony Bourdain is that he's unfailingly polite and respectful to his hosts and the residents of the country he's visiting. The only things that are "bad boy" about his show(s) are:
-His choices of things to do in a country, which are frequently not the typical tourist destinations;
-His fondness for eating animals and body parts that most of us get queasy just hearing about;
- And his snarky (a much better word than "smarmy") commentary delivered either quietly on-site to the camera, or in a voiceover added in postproduction.
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5-10-2007 @ 12:25PM
SamMalone said...
Ian from Globetrekker really deserves to be on the list. He seems to be accepted everywhere he goes. I think people must think "he's so wacky and obviously has been deported from his homeland, we must show compassion!"
And Rick Steve too. Simply the coolest nerd ever.
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5-10-2007 @ 12:32PM
bill p said...
What about Hal and Duke?
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5-10-2007 @ 12:47PM
Cody said...
Grub Smith from Travel Sick is absolutely on the top of any list I'd make about travelers.
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5-10-2007 @ 12:53PM
arbee said...
Alton Brown! He did eat gravel for it, at least give him a spot on the list.
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5-10-2007 @ 1:17PM
A_B said...
I also recommend both Ian of Globe Trekker (not such a big fan of the rest of the crew), and Rick Steves. I watch a lot of travel shows and Palin, Bourdain, Ian (what's his last name?) and Rick Steves are easily my favorites. They're all very good, but each in very different ways.
Ian is great at interacting with people and engaging in local customs and activities. And he's a naturally funny guy.
Rick Steves, out of all of them, I think is the best "tour guide" type (naturally given his business). Even for places I've lived or have been to many times, he either provides additional details to things I already knew about generally, or finds interesting aspects that I never heard about. Indeed, some of my favorite shows are when he visits places I know well because I'll learn something new which makes me appreciate the location even more.
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5-10-2007 @ 1:47PM
CaptKahunah said...
I would add Mike "dirty jobs" Rowe to the list. While not a travel show in the strictest sense, he does get around to places your average tourist wouldn't, and meets a lot of interesting people.
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5-10-2007 @ 2:22PM
Patrick said...
The Thirsty Traveler! The episodes are a bit formulaic, but I always find the examination of the liquor processes fascinating, as well as all the traditions associated with the various spirits.
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5-10-2007 @ 2:45PM
gambit410 said...
Damn it what about Zane Lampry from Three Sheets, That is by far and away one of the best travel shows ever, funny, intelligent and most of all its about getting drunk in different countries. How useful is that!! :) Seriously if you have HD check it out in INHD it repeats all the time.
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5-10-2007 @ 4:02PM
Bluey said...
You were right to not put Rick Steves on the list. I enjoyed him until I realized he was just going to museums and mid-high class restaurants every episode.
Ian Wright (or Megan M) was a devastating oversight.
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5-10-2007 @ 4:56PM
CaliberSRT4 said...
Aw man! I miss Insomniac!
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5-10-2007 @ 5:10PM
Cody said...
I second Zane Lamprey. Three Sheets has been one of my top shows since about a week after I got HDTV.
I was debating whether I should toss out the name Zane Lamprey or Grub Smith, but I figured there was a better chance that more people would recognize Travel Sick than Three Sheets.
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5-10-2007 @ 7:11PM
leda said...
I love Samantha Brown. She has such energy and communicates well about her travels. I especially like the European travels and the back road experiences she shows us. Very educational.
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5-10-2007 @ 8:33PM
RhymePhile said...
What about Rick Steves? That dude has been on PBS since 1995 and has covered virtually every famous city and region across Europe.
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5-10-2007 @ 10:28PM
SMS said...
It's Ewan McGregor, not Ewen.
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5-11-2007 @ 8:35AM
Bruce Esposito said...
Ian from Globetrekkers/Lonely Planet has to be on the list! He is the one guy who has travelled to more obscure places and eaten and done more unusual things than any other travel show person. He is the best!!!
Samantha Brown (who has like a dozen different TLC shows/specials) is also worth mentioning. Here humor, wit and unique ability to make fun of others without them knowing or her appearing mean is truly amazing.
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5-12-2007 @ 12:24AM
insrtbrain said...
What about Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild? I guess it's not so much travel, but you see parts of the wilderness that you normally don't see on travel shows. And, if I ever get stranded in the middle of a lava field in Hawaii or the Rocky Mountains, I have some idea what to do. The guy is just insane.
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5-12-2007 @ 1:10AM
Stigmata said...
Yes, Ian from Globetrekker is a must on any list, he is a universal dude, fits in anywhere, with anyone and is a humble chap.
he should be on the top of the list, alongside palin!
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5-14-2007 @ 11:49AM
Gareth said...
Being from the UK, I have to nominate Alan Whicker who practically invented the genre. Also Clive James has done more of his fair share of nice documentaries over the years.
But Palin will always win this one hands down in my book.
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