(no subject)

[randomness]

antoniusrex has suggested on a couple of occasions that I should go on a reality-TV show, particularly "Amazing Race".

To this, emilymorgan said, "No, that's not what you want to do. In a "reality-TV" show, you have to do what they tell you. What you want is to have a show about you, so they do what you tell them.

I'm still much too private to do either of these things--and the latter is, alas, unrealistic given the nature of the business--but I had a brief moment of fun imagining what I'd do if I had a camera crew following me around:

"Hi guys! Today we're going to Medellín and Caracas! For more fun and interest we're going overland via Tegucigalpa and San Salvador! I'm glad you could come along! Watch for pickpockets, everyone!

"Next month's trip is from Dakar to Lagos! We'll be stopping in Freetown, Monrovia, and Abidjan!"

See? Completely unrealistic.

Comments

[totient]

Unrealistic, but mostly because it'll take more than a month just to get across the Darién Gap.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Oh, I was going to fly or take a ship from Panama City to Cartegena. Slogging through the Darién Gap? Not for me.

But it wouldn't have fit in the quote. :)

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

I'd pay. Seriously. I should really free up a generous block of time to travel with you.
Being nearly monolingual and nearly deaf, it would be good to have a companion who
has a chance of knowing what's going on.

And you are charismatic, believe it or not, and have enough background knowledge
to add interest and dimension to new (to us) places.

[antoniusrex.livejournal.com]

I still say you'd win The Amazing Race...

But dude! You so could do a TV show that follwed your travels. It would be amazing. I'd so watch. You go to some really exotic places compared to most folks. Not just the "big" spots. And you tell useful stuff. Like, yeah "Watch for pickups."

I was watching the last season of the Amazing Race (You should start watching, and laugh at these guys, come thursday) and they went to Afrika, and were riding on one of the overstocked van/busses that you once wrote about. I kept thinking "Dude, Leon said how to handle this...idiots, why don't they just read his journal!"

Have you ever thought about being a correspondant for PBS's "World Trekker"? Or getting a job helping to design the journey for something like The Amazing Race, or Survivor, or their ilk? You'd be really good at it, I think. Or at least write a book on your travel insights. It'd sell. It'd sell well.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

So, after I posted this I realized the kind of program I was trying to describe already existed.

Michael Palin does this kind of show for the BBC. He even has a website for all of them. He's done six miniseries, so far. I've seen bits of some of them and they all look like fun.

Pity I wasn't one of the original Python crew. It sure looks like he's got a good gig. :)

Your Own Travel TV Show!

[tamago.livejournal.com]

Chrisber says, "I'd watch that tv show!"

So would I. That'd be cool.

Maybe you could up the concept a little, add a clueless companion who could ask you all the dumb questions like, "What does this big red button do?"

Re: Your Own Travel TV Show!

[holmes-iv.livejournal.com]

Ooh, ooh, pick me! Though honestly, emilymorgan should have first dibs (she's a touch more telegenic than I, too).

Re: Your Own Travel TV Show!

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Though honestly, emilymorgan should have first dibs

I waited for her to reply, but she hasn't yet. :(

[amelia-g.livejournal.com]

I watched one episode of the Amazing Race and I think that show is antithetical to the point of travel. The people get some place interesting and, instead of taking anything in, it is their stressed-out goal to get the heck out of there as fast as possible. They could be in Kansas or Figi and it would make no difference.

[amelia-g.livejournal.com]

PS I'd watch your reality show.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Yah, thinking about it, I suspect Michael Palin's shows would be a great model. But he's funnier and more famous than I am. :)

[nafe.livejournal.com]

My dream is to be the star of an American version of Travel Sick. Not that the original is nearly popular enough to merit an American remake, but... Earning my living by being forced to do horribly unpleasant tasks in exotic locals while wisecracking/screaming for mercy all the way through? Nothing could be better.