I really don't know what Samantha Brown was thinking. This series is boring and her hair is a fright. Her other shows about Europe and Latin America were informative and showed some hint of humanity--especially when she went to Normandy. This one is only about having another series so her production company can make money. Her comment about Bourdain in the commerial says it all--compete!
Hate to be critical "Mask" but it's called a personality, interacting with other people and having fun. Boring is in mind of the beholder, if you don't like the show, watch something else, there's plenty of no-personality, rootcanal fun to be had, for those of us that like an engaging personality and just a very cool chick, we will continue to watch. But, that's just me
nwfilmaker, I think Samantha has plenty of personality, but her LV show didn't show much but cleavage/skin and a desire to bring in those who are willing to settle for very little in the guise of entertainment. Hopefully, future shows will improve. The SF show looks promising.
I watched the Austin episode this morning and I didn't think it was too bad. Many times I've said the only way I'll ever get to Great Britain, Czech Republic and other places is via Passport to Europe but with Weekends, Sam is traveling to places that are much more realistic (and affordable) for me. Can't wait for more.
I've watched the Las Vegas and Austin episodes of Samantha's Great Weekends and was a bit disappointed. Her other shows have been so enjoyable but the attitude she has in the new shows just seems kind of unlike the Sam I've come to like. She seems like she is trying to be a bit like Anthony Bourdain. I liked the sweet Samanatha better.
I had a great time watching the new series and was delighted seeing some new curls artfully arranged in Sam's hairstyle. And once each show had ended, I felt afterwards like I just received a big smooch on the lips!
That was an unexpected and welcome surprise. This is the kind of reality TV we need more of. And, fortunate for me, Anthony Bourdain's show doesn't leave the same lasting impression.
It appears to me that Samantha was having a great time doing her new show, and the happier she is, the more infectious her charm seems to bubble over into her performance.
If she mixed up that bacon laden cocktail drink and served it up to me at the bar, I would have expressed my gratuity with a tip and told her, "I don't need this drink to find you intoxicating to look at!" (Wink)
Thanks for another great series and looking forward to seeing all the rest. In the meantime, since your serving it up, I'll be pleased to gulp down another shot of bacon before hitting the road.
I love Sam and have since I first caught GH three years ago. I thought PTE was great. I thought PTLA was the best show she did. The new PTGW disappoints me.
It is obviously not like the previous Passport shows and seems closer to GH. But where GH seemed skewered to families and the over 30 crowd, PTGW seems skewered to the "hip" under 30 crowd.
Maybe my disappointment is that it's domestic and not international. Maybe it's the edgier tone the show is trying to take. I guess I always imagined in real life Sam seemed like a lady who likes to have a lot of fun. That's cool. Who doesn't? But that's not the Sam I want to see hosting shows on the TC. She always seemed down-to-earth, honest and informative. The new show seems like a Sam that's more interested in finding the best cosmo than engaging her viewers.
On the plus I do have to say she looks incredible. But then she always did!
It appears to me that Samantha was having a great time doing her new show, and the happier she is, the more infectious her charm seems to bubble over into her performance.
I didnt get the impression that she was having a great time. There seem to be some mandate from her new production company that giggling=fun and hip. And many of the situations in the new show are insider behind-the-scenes stuff that regular tourists cant do.
There was a comparison earlier to SB trying to be like Tony Bourdain. We know TB from his autobiography and a long list of shows where he has always been himself. We really know little or nothing about SB; and she does a lot of shilling (GH, Disney etc). Its hard to expect the audience to accept her now as a hip free spirit.
I am finding that in this series (as in the last Cruise show) she must be the center of every shot and of every experience. Maybe its the editing that is doing her a disservice. I'd ask that she step back a little. I'd like her to allow others to speak without the constant giggling and attempts at wit. Three or four nice jokes are better than 20 banal ones.
On a more positive note, it was nice to see that she shared some of her friends with the audience. Not sure if I would have liked having it all taped, but since the price was roght (free) I couldnt complain.
Best of luck for the rest of the series. It is something new and risky.
I am a little disappointed in the show; not about the locations, but about Samantha. In her other series she always came across as an intelligent, likable traveler. Here she is a bit of a ding-a-ling, ala Rachael Ray. God knows we don't need another one of those! Hopefully this is the network's idea and not her own and it will soon go away. I would be disappointed if this is really her own personally (including the semi-crude language). Although the weekend visit premise has already been done, and done well, by Giada De Laurentiis on Food Network, I look forward to future shows by Samantha. But the frivolity gets in the way here. And, wait! Isn't Samantha a newlywed? It sure doesn't seem that way with all the giggling and flirting she does with everyone. I think the producers need to take her a little more seriously and let the host we have come to know and respect come through. You can have fun and be informative and still be professional.
It makes me laugh when SB says she travels the world, and needs to have a weekend getaway. But her weekend getaway is work, and a busy shooting schedule! LOL! A real getaway for her is not to have the cameras around, or to stay home.
My family and I love your shows Samantha! One suggestion, though: please give a general cost to these travels, as we have yet to take a honeymoon. Keep being you; it's what makes your show so special!
I would imagine it would be hard for Sam to even give a general cost. For the hotel, it would depend on the season you are there, and even your age if someone is old enough for a senior rate. Same for airfare, and that would depend on where you're flying in from. Sam is a good source of information, and get the rest from the internet. Sam used to give the prices of the hotels where she stayed on Great Hotels and Passport To Europe. She stopped giving the prices because she knew the prices can change the next day. I have to admit however, it was fun to know the prices when she was visiting!
I have to say that it was really disappointing to read some of the negative feedback regarding the new series and the cruel words directed to Samantha. Especially from the people who claim to be fans of her.I realize that change can be hard and alot of you wanted to keep seeing the same style of shows that you've seen her do in the past. But I think you are missing the point of these new episodes. She is showing us familiar places to revisit with a different way of enjoying them. Some places and activities that we may already know about and some more off the beaten path. And give it a rest with how she should have shown this,instead of that. It's a weekend getaway. She's not there for a 10 day vacation. And from what I've seen so far, it looks like these episodes have a little bit of something for everyone and all ages. I'm sorry that some of you wont be watching the new shows, but for the rest of us I think we are going to go on some pretty fun weekends with Samantha this season. And it seems like our Sam didn't go anywhere. She's still the intelligent,beautiful,informative, hard working, sophisticated, perky gal that we all love. But this time she's just letting us in a bit more and letting down her guard and allowing us to have some fun with her and the cities she's visiting.
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