MovieChat Forums > Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013) Discussion > Get a younger more excited host and this...

Get a younger more excited host and this show would pick up..

posted 8 years ago by JimmiesRustler
17 replies | jump to latest

Bourdain strikes me as a guy that is set in his ways. He goes to a country with a specific opinion about a country and doesn't change it no matter what. His lack of flexibility pains me as a fellow world traveler and tourist. I believe he should be more happy but the guy rarely smiles, he has this whole, "My job is to travel countries and I get paid" he looked straight bored half the time. Whenever my friends, family or I travel we are having the time of our life. This doesn't need to turn into a reality TV show with "fake enthusiasm" but there are a ton of young graduate student historians, archeologists, and otherwise broke world travelers like myself who would kill to be in his shoes. You give any of them this job and you've got probably the biggest show on network television.

[–] sctrcmptr 8 years ago

you know, i'm going to have to respectfully disagree.
the guy loves his job.
it's almost palpable.
not to mention that his interview subjects are treated to someone who's genuinely inquiring into their story/opinions...the guy's weathered life serves him well while he's asking generally interesting questions.
he won't be interviewing heads of state anytime soon...
but, the guy does a tremendous job pulling in the viewer.

i should also note...i'm extremely well traveled. i've lived in and visited many countries.

the guy treats the viewer to as much an authentic experience as one can over the tube.

[–] rotomato 8 years ago

there are a ton of young graduate student historians, archeologists, and otherwise broke world travelers like myself who would kill to be in his shoes. You give any of them this job and you've got probably the biggest show on network television.

Your viewing preference/style would be satisfied by watching travel videos on YouTube watching people holding up the Tower of Pisa; or taking photos standing next to a Buckingham Palace guard; or having a drink at Lebua Sky Bar because Hangover 19 was filmed there; or buying a t-shirt at Hard Rock Cafe...😬

[–] JimmiesRustler 8 years ago

Don't know where you got that at. "Young" doesn't mean 21 and in a frat party getting drunk every weekend. I'm talking about someone between the ages of maybe 28-40. Someone who has never had the opportunity to be on ONE travel show much less several. That person would definitely be a better host that isn't so made up with their opinions as Bourdain. And I say this as a fan of Bourdain. He should stick to cooking and political travel, but as far as entertainment travel there are probably hundreds of better hosts, and going to tourist spots like Skybar or Samui have their charm just as well as any small village. I believe any well versed traveler should do both.

[–] rotomato 8 years ago

You brought up a lot...

Don't know where you got that at. "Young" doesn't mean 21 and in a frat party getting drunk every weekend.

Hmmm. Odd. Nothing I posted has anything remotely associated with frat party drunk weekends. Nothing.

I'm talking about someone between the ages of maybe 28-40.

All the tourist spots and activities I referenced is swamped with 28-40 year olds.

Someone who has never had the opportunity to be on ONE travel show much less several.

Newbie travel show personality vs. Bourdain is not a fair fight but you never know.

That person would definitely be a better host that isn't so made up with their opinions as Bourdain. And I say this as a fan of Bourdain.

People who regularly watch the different iterations of Bourdain's shows like that he is opinionated.

He should stick to cooking and political travel

Respectfully, perhaps you should simply watch another show.

but as far as entertainment travel there are probably hundreds of better hosts

Perhaps.

and going to tourist spots like Skybar or Samui have their charm just as well as any small village. I believe any well versed traveler should do both.

Rooftop bars in Bangkok are very cool but most know that Skybar is kind of overrated. I've never been to Koh Samui but it does look nice.

---
So I was being a bit tongue in cheek listing all the really touristy things in my original reply but seriously, YouTube is perfect for these kinds of activities. Bourdain rarely entertains these things. In Budapest he skipped Central Market and Vaci Utca; in Massachusetts he did not visit Cape Cod; in Istanbul he did not visit the Blue Mosque. All places first time travelers 100% always hit. Parts Unknown isn't about this.

[–] lmh-10 8 years ago

in Massachusetts he did not visit Cape Cod;

In the Massachusetts episode I saw he visited his former employer The Lobster Pot, Provincetown, which last time I looked was in Cape Cod.

[–] rotomato 8 years ago

I don't know what I was thinking. In addition to The Lobster Pot, Bourdain also visited Atlantic House Bar, Old Colony Tap and Spiritus Pizza all in Provincetown. The majority of the episode in fact is on the Cape. My bad...

[–] debtfull 8 years ago

That's why it's good. Enough teenage acting twerp tv.

[–] nrangerseven 8 years ago

Ridiculous idea. Basically you're suggesting this simply because you're broke and jealous because you can't travel as extensively as Bourdain on someone else's dime. Wah.

What one would lose with a younger host is the life experience Bourdain has had. He also has made friends around the world who often assist with the show. Some young newbie isn't going to know anyone and would be clueless about the world around him. No thanks. I have no interest in watching some young punk visit all the touristy spots and pretend he knows what he's talking about. Yukka.

You also seem to forget that, with Bourdain as a former chef, this show highlights food and he often meets up with fellow chefs he has known throughout his career. A historian or archaeologist or grad student (???) traveling would not be the same show at all. I guarantee they'd know nothing about the cuisine other than what they've read in books. (Oh wait, kids are allergic to paper and don't read books anymore. I guess whatever garbage they see on YouTube would be their only point of reference.)

Don't we have enough young idiots with overly idealistic views of the world making travel videos? Bourdain is grounded in reality. He DOES enjoy his job. Not sure why you think he doesn't. If you don't like it, don't watch it. Just because someone is acting like they're having more fun doesn't make a show a hit. And since that's a concept you're not capable of comprehending, that's why you'll never get your own show.

The people you idolize wouldn't like you.

[–] true9999 8 years ago

That is why you also watch Vice. Parts Unknown is a great show and I say that as a guy who previously could not stand Anthony Bourdain.

[–] tjejen 8 years ago

He does look very bored haha

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] ABBAcat 8 years ago

Age and unfortunate looks aside, I think Bourdain is not a compelling or interesting host. The show goes to fascinating places and dives into local cultures and cuisines. But it's all narrated by Bourdain's flat, nasal voice. It's like going on vacation with your tax attorney. The guy just comes across as dreary and sullen.

🐾

[–] yusip2003 8 years ago

That's BS. He's extremely interesting and a very entertaining guy. He's a good looking man too.