Shira Lazar: CONFESSIONS OF A TRAVEL WRITER AFTER-THOUGHTS
Seafarer
· 4 months ago
Thanks for your thoughts, Shira. There certainly was a lot of reaction to the show (mostly about the host) but the fundamental concept underlying the program seems to have been well-received. Hope to see more of you on Travel Channel!
Shannon
· 4 months ago
Shira - Regardless of what any of us think about how the editing played out and portrayed Charles, I know it had to be a fun and exciting experience. Have a blast in whatever you do and congrats for landing a pilot that aired on Travel Channel. That in itself is a major accomplishment.
Julie
· 4 months ago
"All press is good press."
For who? For Charles? For you? For the other writers?
I'm not sure if this was good press for the profession or for Chile.
I definitely applaud you and the other writers for getting the word out about the show as well as you did. The level of engagement and response on Twitter, World Hum, Brave New Traveler and other sites, however, doesn't engage the questions of the ways in which aspects of the show might be disingenuous.
lizmitchell
· 4 months ago
I still want to go to Chile!
namenamename
· 4 months ago
you were so annoying in the show!
ian_homespun
· 4 months ago
Hi again Shira,
I figured, I'd comment here. I think the portrayal of Charles really helped get a point across: travel writing is not, in fact, vacationing. And, as you mentioned Shira, there really couldn't have been a better airing time than between episodes of "Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations". To be completely honest, I think that the way Charles was represented in the show was almost necessary. When sandwiched between two episodes of one the network's leading shows, something new could be easily forgettable (especially when you consider Bourdain's effervescent and oftentimes cynical witticisms). Charles' narration gave the debut a nice edgy feel - a sort of energetic interlude between the Bourdains. It helped it stand out. It obviously stayed in quite a few peoples' minds after watching it. And to me, Charles never came across as pompous - just tired, as I'm sure he was.
Well, thats my opinion on the Charles "issue".
As for you Shira, more power to ya!
Travel Channel could really benefit from a program like this!
All the best, Ian
stevegarfield
· 4 months ago
Hi Shira, Just watched the show. I'm glad I could come here and read your thoughts about it.
Some of those van and boat rides seemed really long...
Beautiful country. --Steve
riffs
· 4 months ago
Loved it. Hope there is more.
carlhancock
· 4 months ago
Shira,
On one hand you say you were trying to show what it is really like on a travel press junket... and on the other hand you say Charles was playing a character by exaggerating things, etc. Which is it? Can't have it both ways.
If you were showing what REALLY happens on a trip like that you wouldn't be playing characters or exaggerating anything. You would just be yourself, and if being yourself isn't interesting enough... you shouldn't be on the show.
If I want fake reality drama i'll watch MTV or VH1. It's disappointing to see this type of second rate reality programming make it's way to the Travel Channel.
Shira Lazar
· 4 months ago
Yes- you can't have it both ways. What I meant is things can be exhaggerated in terms of edit etc... while Charles could've said great the 80 percent of the time , the 20 percent negative could be all that's edited in therefore portraying a part of who he is but not all of who he is. Make sense?
We were all ourselves but you also need to remember that that 1 hour you see is edited from an entire week of shooting. That's a lot of stuff that's cut out. Just saying- some stuff to think about....
dsugita
· 4 months ago
Personally I enjoyed the episode a lot more than I thought initially. I appreciate that beyond the typical 'one host' point of view, you had a whole team of people to pick through their thoughts/criticisms. I'd like to see the show get picked up, if only because I love seeing destinations that I may never get to visit, but if I end up there, I'll have some point of reference.
I think the editing was right to focus on your blogging of the trip and the candid photos etc, as we're now in a world where 'in the now' media is so prominent. There will always be a place for these 'feature' pieces in print, but the rawness of blogging/twittering gives such a different look at someone's adventure.
owen
· 4 months ago
I was scrolling through the channels and I was like; "wait isn't that, that girl from the internet behaving badly at the dinner table?". A few more minutes in "Yup".
rachel
· 4 months ago
You shouldn't stick up for this guy--anyone who does should have their head examined. All he did was complain--about EVERYTHING--and I'm not going to chalk it up to editing. He himself even said something along the lines of "if you're a travel writer who complains, try something else." All this guy does is complain...maybe he should become a penguin shit shoveler at the local zoo--that seems right up his alley
jason
· 4 months ago
hey rach- did you miss the times when he said good things about the lamb at the estancia, or the all the wine, or the massage, or the quirky hotel (remota?), or Valparaiso, or the parks in Patagonia?
Or were you just too busy seething about someone with a dry sense of humor poking fun at his own job?
Lighten up!
Beatrice09
· 4 months ago
I watched the show last night, and I really really loved it. I loved the fact that it is more real, that Charlie had to talk surrounded by mosquitoes...awesome! See, sometimes its cold, hot, you are hungry, tired, that's the way it is supposed to be!!! Loved Chile!!!
ElizabethTaylor
· 4 months ago
Thanks Shira. My husband and I have travelled to many of these exotic places in Chile. So glad we watched -- it's sometimes refreshing to get a non-chamber-of-commerce viewpoint. Thanks too for the link and I've written the Travel Channel asking for more programs.
manhattantower
· 4 months ago
I found the show entertaining and informative. Love the travel channel but do get tired of them showing the same shows over and over. This was a refreshing change. Hope you all get to Fort Lauderdale sometime. I would love to host you at my property. Russel
KAHUNA
· 3 months ago
enjoyed the show a lot actually- not sure what could be viewed as a real negative- Hell I would jump at the chance to join you guys and do some cooking at the locations you were at- that I think would complete the group(not me per say but a cook/chef)
All Comments
For who? For Charles? For you? For the other writers?
I'm not sure if this was good press for the profession or for Chile.
I definitely applaud you and the other writers for getting the word out about the show as well as you did. The level of engagement and response on Twitter, World Hum, Brave New Traveler and other sites, however, doesn't engage the questions of the ways in which aspects of the show might be disingenuous.
I figured, I'd comment here. I think the portrayal of Charles really helped get a point across: travel writing is not, in fact, vacationing. And, as you mentioned Shira, there really couldn't have been a better airing time than between episodes of "Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations". To be completely honest, I think that the way Charles was represented in the show was almost necessary. When sandwiched between two episodes of one the network's leading shows, something new could be easily forgettable (especially when you consider Bourdain's effervescent and oftentimes cynical witticisms). Charles' narration gave the debut a nice edgy feel - a sort of energetic interlude between the Bourdains. It helped it stand out. It obviously stayed in quite a few peoples' minds after watching it. And to me, Charles never came across as pompous - just tired, as I'm sure he was.
Well, thats my opinion on the Charles "issue".
As for you Shira, more power to ya!
Travel Channel could really benefit from a program like this!
All the best,
Ian
Just watched the show. I'm glad I could come here and read your thoughts about it.
Some of those van and boat rides seemed really long...
Beautiful country.
--Steve
On one hand you say you were trying to show what it is really like on a travel press junket... and on the other hand you say Charles was playing a character by exaggerating things, etc. Which is it? Can't have it both ways.
If you were showing what REALLY happens on a trip like that you wouldn't be playing characters or exaggerating anything. You would just be yourself, and if being yourself isn't interesting enough... you shouldn't be on the show.
If I want fake reality drama i'll watch MTV or VH1. It's disappointing to see this type of second rate reality programming make it's way to the Travel Channel.
We were all ourselves but you also need to remember that that 1 hour you see is edited from an entire week of shooting. That's a lot of stuff that's cut out. Just saying- some stuff to think about....
I think the editing was right to focus on your blogging of the trip and the candid photos etc, as we're now in a world where 'in the now' media is so prominent. There will always be a place for these 'feature' pieces in print, but the rawness of blogging/twittering gives such a different look at someone's adventure.
did you miss the times when he said good things about the lamb at the estancia, or the all the wine, or the massage, or the quirky hotel (remota?), or Valparaiso, or the parks in Patagonia?
Or were you just too busy seething about someone with a dry sense of humor poking fun at his own job?
Lighten up!
I loved the fact that it is more real, that Charlie had to talk surrounded by mosquitoes...awesome! See, sometimes its cold, hot, you are hungry, tired, that's the way it is supposed to be!!!
Loved Chile!!!
Russel