I love the Travel Channel

On a windy Sunday morning after two hours of reading, I turn on the TV and evaluate programs to allow me to sit a bit longer on the couch and relax. I used to go for the comedy, sports etc and now in my forties I gravitate toward the Travel Channel. In my mind, well worth the price of cable television alone. I love to watch Anthony Bourdain travel to amazing places and I truly love his commentary. It is sometimes dark and sarcastic, the meanings are funny and cutting. And yet remarkably authentic. I read two of his books and could not be happier that he is a man who beoming an icon. Cool and revered, if only by forty five year old men wishing they could travel for a living. As I seek to move on in my day comes Andrew Zimmern and Bizarre Foods. All I can say about him is that his enthusiastic approach to the most vomit evoking edibles puts me on edge regularly. And yet as he travels and interacts with people I am amazed at his kindness and gentility. I watch often for hours and get a wonderful cultural education in the process.

I love to watch Samantha Brown. She is charming and goes about travel in a pleasant way. I would love to see the cool places she goes in the interactive way that she does. Samantha makes the viewer feel comfortable and at ease. On the couch I feel like I am somewhere far away. Now I see the infamous Man vs. Food coming on. I wonder how Americans can watch while a man stuffs himself with the 6 pound burrito, the worlds hottest hamburger and enough to feed a neighborhood. Of course we have survivor shows that are filmed in places where people live. And to boot the contestants get a cash prize for surviving where others live!

When life is routine and day to day is just that- day to day. Hats off to the travel channel. I applaud the creativity to take people on trips and open cultural awareness of the viewers in their living room. I am certainly aging and maybe my choice of entertainment is a sign. Football, not today- I need the food channel and the latest 'Diners Drive Ins and Dives". On second thought I will go to the Nascar Cafe at the Sahara Casino and take my shot at the 6 pound burrito. No wonder a loving term for me, from my brother and good friend is calling me "fat bastard"- now is my chance to prove my mettle- does anyone know CPR?