Season Premiere: ‘5 Takes: USA’
In the tradition of 5 Takes: Europe and 5 Takes: Pacific Rim, the Travel Channel launches its new series, 5 Takes: USA. The big difference this time is that the TJs (travel journalists) are all from Asia and have never been to the US before. We get to see ourselves through fresh eyes. What a treat! The past two seasons of 5 Takes were loads of fun, and this one would be just as interesting.
The other big thing about this show is that we, the viewers, get to log on to the Travel Channel’s web site to tell the TJs about the things they should do while in each location. And we get to choose the last city they visit. This is truly an interactive adventure that we all get to play a part in. Be sure to go make your suggestions to the TJs!
The TJs who get to explore the US on only $50 a day are: Bevis, a 22-year-old Taiwanese filmmaker; Jaime, a 28-year-old ad exec from Singapore; Lena, a 26-year-old radio broadcaster from Indonesia; Tim, a 24-year-old fashion model from Melbourne, Australia; and Zach, a 33-year-old writer and comic book artist from the Philippines. They each have their own blog at the Travel Channel site where you can follow their journey by reading each person’s point of view.
Zach is delayed joining the group because of bad weather in the Philippines. The rest begin the time in Las Vegas. They get a place to stay (the Sin City Hostel) and set forth to see the sights of Vegas.
The first night there, three of the TJs walk the famous strip and marvel at the sights. Then the next day they got an invitation on the message board to go to Treasure Island for the famous buffet.
They each have different strategies to tackling a buffet. Zach says that he’s avoiding carbs so he won’t fill up right away.
Jaime examines a tool used to crack crab legs and doesn’t have a clue what it’s for. How cool! We Americans think our ways are the ubiquitous ways. It’s fun to see that it must be just as disorienting to come here for the first time as it would be for us to go to their homes.
Apparently, in other parts of the world, Americans are thought to eat huge servings of things. Zach points to his plate and mentions that it would feed a whole family in his country. (And we wonder why obesity is such a problem here…)
When shown chocolate Malt-O-Meal and grits, Jaime said that it looked like someone had just vomited it out. Tim said that it was just fundamentally wrong. I hate to tell them this, but I would agree about those two things. ;-)
Then, the TJs were witnesses to a drive-through wedding (along with “Elvis”), pay homage to Siegfried & Roy, and go to learn blackjack and roulette at the Luxor. While in Vegas they had to try fried Twinkies and went shopping.
Tim went AWOL and didn’t return from almost 24 hours and had his stuff confiscated by the hostel. Dissention began between the TJs over it, so let’s see how things go for the rest of the journey.
Jaime and Lena get a chance to pretend to be a show girl in La Femme. Then Bevis took the stage and was a natural as a pretend show girl.
Zach’s 33rd birthday was celebrated by transforming Bevis into “Elvis.” Then they get to go to and Elvis impersonator’s show for free.
They got a cooking lesson by the head chef at the Bellagio Hotel, Julian Serrano to celebrate Tim’s birthday. What are the chances that two of the TJs are Libras with birthdays the same week?
Each week they are allowed one splurge thing to do. They choose to go on a helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon. It looked magnificent!
Next week (or should I say, this week) they are in Anchorage, Alaska. If you know of any terrific things they should do while they are there, be sure to log in and let them know. Then tune in to see how the week was.
I love the freshness of this show and the fact that it lets me virtually travel and see new things from a different perspective. Check it out!
And remember, all the things aired each week actually happened in the previous week. What a cool concept!
Photos from Zach Yonzon’s Photos from the Road.
5 takes usa, Reality TV, reality-tv
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2 opinions for Season Premiere: ‘5 Takes: USA’
klc
Nov 25, 2006 at 5:06 pm
“Zach is delayed joining the group because of bad weather in the Philippines.”
Not true. He was delayed because he was having trouble getting his visa from the US consulate in the Philippines. He finally got it, but he has to report in within 24 hours of his return. He can’t stay in the US even one extra day.
I’m a big fan of 5 Takes, but this third season is a dud compared to the previous ones. Don’t like the show, not crazy about the TJs.
Lynn
Nov 28, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Thanks for the info about Zach, dude. Good catch!
It’s funny, I like this 5 Takes season, but it is very different from the first two. I’ve been to all but one of the locations they will visit (not Alaska) so it makes it fun to see them through a different perspective.
I hope you’ll stop back by and let us all know what you think as the season progresses. :-)
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