Bitter

Has anyone caught this program (just saw it advertised)? Any good? Apparently 5 youngish hosts get 50 to spend in a particular European city. Maybe this has already been discussed, but my search didn't reveal anything.

[This, Samantha Brown, and Anthony Bourdain. It only took five years or so, but it sounds like the TC is starting to broadcast travel shows again!]

kybourbon

It has been discussed a little on one of the Anthony Bourdain threads. I don't remember if it was on the one on the Europe board or US board. It is too recent to show up using the search function.

P_M

I watched one episode and I really didn't like it. But I'm willing to give in another chance, since they are finally showing travel-related programs.

aj

I just happened to catch the show last week. I was also excited to see real travel related shows again but could not watch this one for long. I guess I am just too old but it was in a M-TV style to me. To much Ya,Ya, Ya between anything interesting. But, that is just the opinion of an young "older" person.

Edward2005

I would like to see more poker shows.

Jocelyn_P

I've watched both episodes, and although it doesn't reflect my personal style of travel, I find it somewhat interesting. The travelers are horrendously underprepared for this trip, which may have been part of the plan for the show, as it seems more like a reality series than an informative travel program. Not a bad idea for TC since reality shows are so popular right now. The group goes to Amsterdam next; it should be interesting to see what happens there and what all the TC will show.

Areala

I saw both episodes also and am also disappointed in how un-prepared these young travelers are. Being un-prepared is one thing but on the tight budget they have them on it seems almost impossible. I would never travel this way but I must admit it is nice to see a travel related show on the TC again. Those poker shows are just a bit too much, I don't even see how they qualify to even be on the TC

sandi_travelnut

when is the next season of Amazing Race supposed to start? I've been watching reruns on the Gameshow network.

Jocelyn_P

They just had (or are about to have) auditions in our town for the Amazing Race, but I don't know if it's for the next series or another one down the line. DH and I fantasize about trying out for it, but life gets in the way.

sandi_travelnut

My husband and I always talk about which tasks he could perform and which ones I would have to do..(me the high things and he would do water related etc) I'd love to do it. It's fun seeing the reruns from the early season of AR that I missed. Not nearly as much arguing and the tasks seem like they have more to do with navigation and puzzle/problem solving.

Bitter

I have now caught a few episodes and have recorded a few more. I like the youthful approach, but I cringe at the chubby guy, knowing that he is trying to be a bit of a character, but also knowing he will look back in as little as 6 months and wonder why he was wearing pink glasses and askew ball caps. (So far he seems to have enough personality without the props). And what is up with the foray into breakdancing in Paris?

francophile03

I caught the Amsterdam episode last week and I didn't like it at all. Maybe it's because I'm much older than the five people but the show seems to be geared towards the backpacking, budget hostel travelers. Also the five individuals were not organized and unprepared. It looks like they had not read anything about their destination. They arrived at the train station in Amsterdam without any hotel/hostel reservations late at night. Obviously they thought they could just call around and get a room easily and for low cost. They didn't realize how expensive Amsterdam lodging is and that they should have secured reservations beforehand. What happened is that they thought they could just sleep in the train station, but it was closing so they got thrown outside. After many calls they found a grungy hostel to stay. Showing the viewers the toilet and shower was plain disgusting as they were ugly and dirty. Then the next day they changed cash at a change bureau. Afterwards, they spent time at an internet cafe looking at the comments and 'things to see' ideas from viewers on the 5 Takes website, wasting time doing this. I didn't see much of Amsterdam at all aside from these five renting bikes and going to a club.

In short, I think it's a poor show and mostly the participants are just totally travel inept.

twk

These folks aren't ardent travelers, they are really there to make films. That shows up in their seeming lack of interest in exploring the history and culture of the sites they visit. One guy wanted to film breakdancers in Paris because that is his thing in New York, then we had the African-American girl wanting to see African culture in Paris and talking about how it was as close as she's gotten to travleing to Africa (here's a hint: if you want to see African culture, try traveling to Africa, not Paris).

I watch the show primarily because they almost can't help showing some of the sites, and there is so little European travel in primetime on the Travel Channel.

cabovacation

I think it is terribly done altogether. these kids are totally unprepared, rude and inconsiderate of the public around them (they set up camp in the middle of an airport or train station with all their gear - and they all lay down to sleep - in the MIDDLE - not against the wall or anything like that.) They really have so little money - is it 50E per day? - including lodging? so we don't see anything of real interest - unless you like high school kids with a bit of attitude for an entire series. Disappointing - but there is so little to watch on that channel that we get desperate.

P_M

Actually their budget is $50, not €50. I like most any show where I can see the sights, but I find these kids to be very annoying. I think a more fitting title for this show s/b something like "How to Look Like a Jackass in Europe."

maryanne1

On the Travel Channel-like most of you I liked at one time- Samantha Brown did a 30 minute show on London and one on Barcelona. Those I found very interesting. Not sure of the title,but maybe "Passport to Europe"

Areala

It's true, there use to be good travel shows on the travel channel way back. I think I first found the Rick Steve's show's there. Now he is on PBS and hasn't been on the travel channel for a long time. I wish the travel channel was dedicated to travel, hence the name "Travel Channel"

I too did not like the Amsterdam show and while watching it I couldn't help but be reminded of a topic on these boards that I recently read regarding rude Americans. I am an American and most american travelers I have run into in europe don't seem to be rude either, at least not any more so than any other ethnenticity but these kids on this show does not really portray that. It helps enhance their opinions of rude americans.

Anniebbbb

I too think Take 5 is disapointing. They have no knowledge, and they try to make statements that are controversial but come out sounding lame. Really, a entire segment on the word "bum"?

Passport to Europe (Samantha Brown) and Anthony Bourdain shows have made my day! They are great and the two shows balance out, corny in their own way!

But travel channel needs to lose Take 5 or come up with some intelligent young people who have at least some experience in traveling.

Bitter

It appears it is intended to be a cross between a travel show and a reality or "real world" episode. They even had a "mission" (to go to London from Paris). Is it only a matter of time until a couple of them become an item, to make it more interesting (a la "real world"?).
I thought the whole "bum" segment was odd, too, but then again Fodor's has entire threads on similar controversies (namely use of the term "Gypsy&quot.

PatrickLondon

This is interesting. Now I see where the different attempts to vamp up the formats of holiday/travel shows are coming from. I suppose there's some sort of international freemasonry of travel show producers thinking up these ideas.

Once we had rather staid presenters (often expert journalists) who would occasionally be pretty upfront about what was bad, as well as good, about a place, with quite a lot of facts and figures, and sometimes documentary-style reports about travel-related issues. Then we got 'celebrity' presenters and their relatives telling us not a lot, except what jolly normal sports they were. Now we're getting rather hyper youngsters in various contrived formats such as you describe. Sometimes these work (asking viewers for their suggestions about places, for example), often they don't. And oh, the shouting! Have you had the holiday swap yet (two families with completely different tastes accompany each other on the kind of holidays that suit each, while we watch the sparks fly)?