Travel TV :: A Pilot About Pilots

A pilot about pilots?

Aside from The Amazing Race, the major networks haven't engaged much with travel-related TV during primetime. That's all about to change.

How Exciting is this? Playing on the retro travel trend, ABC has ordered a pilot {no pun intended} called Pan Am, that will potentially air this fall {update, it just got picked up and will air at 10pm on Sundays}. It's basically Mad Men meets the golden age of travel. Back in the day, I'm told stewardesses flight attendants were celebrities, trendsetters and jetsetters in their own right. The show lives up this lifestyle and centers around: "Maggie, who is leading a double life. When not all dolled up on her flights, she is living as a bohemian beatnik in New York's Greenwich Village. Kate is secretly an undercover CIA agent. Her gorgeous sister, Laura, is new to the stewardess world, having just ditched her fiancé at the altar." {via Jaunted}

The Scoop Though the show's status is still in the pilot stage, I don't suspect it will be relegated to the ABC TV dungeon given the big names that are rumored to be on-board {no pun intended}:

• Film actress Christina Ricci will take a lead role as Maggie
• Nancy Hult Ganis, executive producer, will auto pilot {no pun intended} the show's direction given her role as a flight attendant on the airline for 7 years
• Jonah Lotan has landed {no pun intended} the role of Dean, the recently promoted captain of the Pan Am luxury plane, the Majestic.
• Scrubs star Michael Mosley will also play an aviator-wearing pilot
• Australia actress Margot Robbie will be a sexy stewardess

Pan Am Started in 1927, Pam Am grew to one of the largest airlines in the world, with a famed logo'ed skyscraper position on New York City's Park Avenue. In 1991, the airline declared bankruptcy. Sadly, I never had the chance to fly Pan Am, but I hear it was the airline in the 60's and 70's. Check out this amazing Pan Am video from 1958, promoting the wonders of the new 707 plane, and innovative over-seat lighting...

PS  - Speaking of travel and TV, tell me you've seen this Richard Simmons Air New Zealand safety video? He is the gift that keeps on giving. I don't think he's aged in 20 years.

Related Shows That Make You Want To Go

[photo by Dreamworks, from Catch Me If You Can movie]

Sweet & Saucy Travel Videos

When we featured Air New Zealand's Sassy Flight Safety Videos with a streaking grandma and body-painted flight attendants, it was a hit. The entertainment doesn't stop there. Kim Kardashian reading quantum physics, dancing flight attendants and a handsy animal make up this week's travel videos, sure to make you laugh your way through 'hump' day.

[If you're viewing this via email and can't see the videos posted below, please click on the web version.]

The Truth About California As if I needed any prompting to visit California. My love of the Cali aside, anything featuring Betty White means I'm in! That's why I love Tourism California's newest ad campaign playing up people's misconceptions of the sunny Westcoast state. In Betty's words, they'll show you "how we roll" (in California).

Air New Zealand Spaceseats To introduce their new premium economy spaceseats (which I'd like to book sometime soon), Air New Zealand is once again tangoing with the inappropriate---albeit hilarious.

Touchscreens In the same vein as the last video, the semi-risque airline is also making another introduction. Using Rico, their furry spokesperson animal, the wonders of their upcoming on-demand consoles are explained.

Dancing Flight Attendants Cebu Airlines, the Philippines second-largest carrier decided to spice-up their safety demonstration with a little Lady Gaga-inspired moves. Mimicking a jr. high dance, the gals and guys dance separately and each have different routines. Although this was apparently only a stunt, it was so well-received they are thinking of rolling it out on all flights because people actually payed attention to safety.

The Gals

The Guys

Related Content Sassy Flight Safety Videos Disneyland Tips and Tricks Disneyland Apps Newport in a Nutshell Low Key Laguna

Shows that Make you Want to GO

It's that time of year. Fall TV frenzy has set in. What shows do we keep, drop and adopt? So far, no dropping has happened on my end, simply adopting. Thank goodness for PVRs, DVRs & TiVos! Every time I watch these 5 new and existing shows, I wish my couch was the first class cabin on a plane, and I was being whisked away to one of these great destinations. What shows inspire you to see a destination?

Honolulu Hawaii Five-0, Mondays, CBS [Show Style = Drama] I'm not sure if I'm sold on the new Hawaii Five-0 yet, but I'm sold on the destination. Thanks a lot, Hawaii Five-0, for taunting me with your sprawling beaches, golden sun and aqua waters. Sheesh. After a few trips to Waikiki in years gone by, next time I hit up Oahu, I look forward to exploring a calmer side of the island.

World The Amazing Race, Sundays, CBS [Show Style = Travel Reality] What would a post about TV show-inspired travel be without a mention of the The Amazing Race? With the newest season debuting last night, my already overflowing travel bucket list is going to be bursting at the seams!

Australia The Block, Wednesdays, Nine MSN [Show Style = Home Renovation Reality] Probably my favourite show of all time, The Block follows 4 groups of aspiring renovators as they transform a dilapidated condo block into a finished, sellable product in 8 weeks. Set in Australia, this show only confirmed I must visit this gorgeous and diverse island! I started watching this home reno show 6 years ago when it aired on HGTV Canada. After a 5-year hiatus, it's back and it's airing right now in Australia!

Miami Burn Notice, Thursdays, USA Network [new episodes premiere in November] [Show Style = Spy Drama + Comedy] After a few blissful days spent in Miami 4 years ago, watching Burn Notice (one of my fave shows on the tele) makes me want to book a trip to sassy South Beach. Fighting crime with Micheal, Fiona and Sam, relaxing on the beach and staying at the Delano would be perfect!

Los Angeles Entourage, Sundays, HBO [final season premieres Summer 2011] [Show Style = Drama] Although season 7 was a little on the dark/serious side of sitcoms, the Entourage boys always leave me laughing. They also have a way of showcasing LA's hotspots. My love for LA was recently re-invigorated when I talked shop with the LA Tourism Board's VP Media & Communications. Beyond the sunny climate, amazing restaurants and shopping galore, I heard Cirque de Soleil is getting ready to open a show at the Kodak Theatre in summer 2011.  See you there!

From Travel to Holiday Home

[trip style = holiday home]

Have you ever fallen in love with a destination to the point where you'd consider buying a vacation home? I have [more on that in another post] and one of my favourite shows on this topic is House Hunters International.

House Hunters International Each episode showcases home buyers traveling the world in search of a new home. In most cases, the real estate enthusiasts have been swept away by a specific destination, and when they return to buy a property, cameras follow their home search abroad. What I love about the show is seeing what a specific budget can get you in different destinations, learning what legalities may be involved in the purchase, seeing the interiors of houses worldwide and my favourite part is when the home buyers are showcased living in their home 1-6 months following their purchase (I LOVE to see how they decorate).

Video House Hunters Inernational Video profiling an American Family purchasing a vacation home in Roatan, Honduras.

By the Way

• Here's a link to a bunch of House Hunters International videos on Youtube
• A recent tweet told me that the show is currently doing a casting call for people looking for a house abroad.

[photo by Robert Thomson]

Virgin's Fly Girls Hit the Airwaves

Travel TV + Reality TV = CW's New Show Fly Girls

Premiering tonight on CW, a group of 5 female Virgin America Airlines flight attendants will strut their stuff on camera as they travel from coast to coast.  But the show won't just feature the girls' work lives, it will also follow their personal endeavors as well.  In true reality show form, living together in an LA 'crash' pad will undoubtedly up the show's drama content.

I think these lines from the show's promo are bound to set the tone for the entire series: "when you live your life at 500mph"..."you're only on the ground long enough to take-off tomorrow."  Although the show (or should I say 'concept') has already incurred some criticism--on the CW show forum of all places--I think it will be interesting and I look forward to watching.

Watching Fly Girls - In the USA, CW network, Wednesdays, 9/8c - In Canada, it is available on CW affiliates, 9

PS - just read an excellent New York Mag article about last night's Fly Girls episode from the perspective of a flight attendant. The comments are insightful.

PPS - After watching the first episode, I think I'm hooked.  Yes, it is drama-infused, yes it appears there will be an Omarosa-like villain, yes it dials-up the sex factor, but isn't that the recipe for reality tv?  Granted, it does have some interesting redeeming qualities like industry insight,  interesting characters and destination profiles.