The Travel Channel

[Big V]

Yeah! There used to be a show that my family and I watched about a weird/funny guy in an RV who traveled around the US to different places. I wish I could remember what it was called. But I agree, shows like that would be a refreshing change.

Are you thinking of "Made in America"? The guy was John Rathensberger(sp), the guy from "Cheers".

 

[Elvistelth]

BTW it's John Ratzenberger. That's an excellent show.

 

[KarenB]

Yeah-I feel the same way as the OP. Isn't the World Poker Tour always in this channel too? I get so tired of that show....

It kind of reminds me of the original Disney Channel. I loved it when they had the old cartoons, Mickey Mouse club, etc.

 

[Castlebound]

We liked "Made in America" also. I think some roadtrip and budget travel shows would be great. I also think adventure travel shows would be great also. I'm tired of Ghost Hunters and nasty food shows.

 

[Elvistelth]

It kind of reminds me of the original Disney Channel. I loved it when they had the old cartoons, Mickey Mouse club, etc.

Vault Disney was GREAT! I loved when they used to show their old cartoons and shorts. Even the stuff they used to sell to schools in the 60's & 70's was excellent programming. I especially liked the futuristic shows like Magic Highway USA. That was great. I wish there was a place to see their old content again. The Disney channel now has nothing that interests me in the least.

 

[NotUrsula]

Not precisely on topic, but my favorite "travel TV" is on Turner Classic Movies. They use old travelogue short reels as filler between movies, and I *love* them!!

A couple of favorites:

Footage of Waikiki beach in the late 1930's, with women sunbathing inside large cellophane "envelopes" so as to protect their hair and clothing from getting any sand on them. There was also apparently a lot of ukelele playing in pre-war Hawaii.

A very staged travelogue of a Mexican fiesta in Santa Barbara in 1935, titled La Fiesta de Santa Barbara. It is famous for the young Frances Gumm (later Judy Garland) singing a rendition of Cucaracha, but there were a lot of other MGM stars in cameos in it, too.

I *so* wish that the travel channel would do some of these old films.
I did find a good website where you can watch a lot of them: www.travelfilmarchive.com

 

[KarenB]

Vault Disney was GREAT! I loved when they used to show their old cartoons and shorts. Even the stuff they used to sell to schools in the 60's & 70's was excellent programming. I especially liked the futuristic shows like Magic Highway USA. That was great. I wish there was a place to see their old content again. The Disney channel now has nothing that interests me in the least.

A Disney classic channel would be great. Nothing after a certain date could be shown.

 

[Elvistelth]

A Disney classic channel would be great. Nothing after a certain date could be shown.

I'd be all over that.

 

[Disney Ella]

Not precisely on topic, but my favorite "travel TV" is on Turner Classic Movies. They use old travelogue short reels as filler between movies, and I *love* them!!


I *so* wish that the travel channel would do some of these old films.
I did find a good website where you can watch a lot of them: www.travelfilmarchive.com

I think that would be a great idea! I'm also tired of seeing shows I've already seen multiple times, food shows and poker (not that I actually watch that). It would be nice if the travel channel actually focused more on destinations.

 

[bicker]

So on the one hand we have people who want only old stuff to be shown, and on the other hand we have people who want only new stuff to be shown.

 

[Elvistelth]

Quite a dichotomy, ain't it?

 

[alexandria674]

I agree with the OP.
I am ok with Bizarre foods, Samantha Brown and Man Vs. Food but there is so much I can take of these shows that somehow repeat themselves. I miss the travel specials where they talked about how to sav money or the luxery stuff (Just to entice my mind about things I could probably never afford). I cannot stand that Bourdain though. I used to love their Caribbean specials but that doesn't get played that much. I don't mind the newer shows but I wish they would tone it down and balance it out with some things that are travel relevant.

 

[chisnpeke]

This seems to have gotten worse since the new owners took over.

I miss the old travel channel.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I don't enjoy watching people playing poker or eating weird food, rarely watch it anymore. Same with TLC and Discovery, both of those have drifted so far in recent years, both have lost a lot of the interest I once had.

 

[LoraJ]

I actually really like No Reservations. I like how he goes to restaurants off the beaten path in cities around the world. I find it totally relevant to the travel aspect of the channel.

 

[S. C.]

I enjoy watching the world poker tour, Samantha Brown and the RV shows. I do not enjoy the bizarre food shows so I don't watch them.

 

[donald&daisy]

We love the Dhani Jones Tackles the Globe, it really interesting and he has a great personality. We also have some personal affection for Bridget's Sexiest Beaches. I liked Bridget on the Girls Next Door, her travel channel show is hit and miss, but she certainly likes to have a good time. For the most part, we enjoy Samantha Brown too--although its more of a love/hate relationship.

 

[RyeCrimsonMoon]

Oh travel channel. I never use to watch it now I run in to it every so often. My friend HATES the guy who does the weird food show. He doesn't like spam (She lived in Hawaii for a while), but he's willing to eat bugs and other weird stuff though. It's kinda funny to watch her freak out about it.

Man v. Food is only entertaining when he's in a city I've been to, other wise I change the channel. I never catch anything else.

 

[novajeanjellybean]

I dislike the fat pig known as Andrew Zimmern. I really couldn't care less what kind of offal he chooses to pour into his outsized gut. The people in 3rd world countries eat that mess because they're poor and don't have other options. Why should someone who's not in that position do it too?

All I can say is WOW!!! That was mean.

 

[Golf4food]

It's almost so that now if you don't look at the channel number you can't tell if you are watching the Travel Channel or the Food Network... If I want to watch shows about food I'll put it on the Food Network, thanks. I watch the Travel Channel to see the world, not to see food (and mostly nasty food at that).

Whatever happened to Rick Steves and Rudi Maxa and shows like that? You know... shows where they TRAVELLED!?