I've always loved watching Sam. For my money, the best travel host on TV! I really love her approach to international travel but I also liked domestic travel shows like Girl Meets Hawaii and Great Hotels.

I didn't know what to expect watching GW. I guess if you want to look at it for suggestions on day-trips or something, it works. But honestly I am very disappointed in the series and can't wait for her to start her next show.

I don't know enough about GW to know if it's truly the producer's fault as many have claimed. But a show that's really nothing more than Sam shopping and drinking is boring, unimaginitive and a step back for her professionally.

I thought I remember reading she had a new series about Asia in the works. If so, I can't wait to see it because I have no more interest in watching GW.

I have always liked Sam's shows, even watching multiple reruns of her Great Hotels & Europe shows. But, like so many others, I find the Great Weekends show almost unwatchable.....despite my fondness for Samantha's hosting. My criticism falls in line with what others are saying: Samantha's activities inside bars & shops are either so commonplace that they could be done in Anywhere, USA vs. the featured destination; or they are such a VIP experience that the regular traveler who is not a travel show star could not begin to participate. I wish to add to these critiques with a couple of other points:

1. What audience is Sam speaking to? It appears that Sam has lost sight of her audience. That audience is twofold: people who wish her to preview cities that they believe they might like to visit by showing the great & unique features of the destinations; or people who know they cannot possibly go to some of these locations, and they want to see the famous sights as an armchair traveler. What we have instead is a show that is geared to the jaded traveler.....perhaps Sam herself? She is not content to tour the notable & famous sights of the destinations. Instead, she searches out the trendy or quirky & little-known places. Just because Sam has visited these places many times does not mean that her audience has, too. We want to see the sights that put these destinations on the map.

2. Sam seems to be having a lot of fun enjoying these local places with friends or groups of newly-made acquaintances. The viewer is put into the position of watching Sam, as an outsider, living it up with these people they will never meet or, frankly, care about. I know how gregarious Sam is, and how much she probably enjoys this. But it puts her audience at arm's length. In previous shows we would see Samantha enjoy a meal on her own, speaking to us through the camera, which was an intimate way to make us feel part of her journey. But taping Sam reveling with a group of strangers puts us on the outside looking in, and it is as much fun as watching a home movie.

3. Previous shows featured the destinations, with Sam as a charming hostess having picked for us the best of the famous sights for us to view. Now it's all about Sam & what she is doing. Oh, look....Sam drinking in a bar; Sam shopping for jewelry; Sam eating with a group of people; Sam giggling; Sam modeling in a fashion show; Sam singing at a honkytonk; Sam going to a debutante ball, etc. Sam, much as we love you, a little of this goes a long way!

4. The new production company, when it ventures outside, shows the destinations in a fast, jerky, MTV fashion. You never get a really good look at some of the beautiful sights, which are rare enough in this new series that it's like a feast for a starving man. Is it easier to set up inside some bar...or art gallery....or shop....or dingy dance studio? I hate to think that I'm cynical enough to think the production company is simply taking the easy way out rather than expend the energy to get more of the great outdoor shots.

Sam, please don't lose sight of your audience!

I couldn't have said it better myself! Thank you for writing this...I absolutely agree! They also seemed to have "dumbed down" the show for people watching it. And I don't want to be part of that dumbed down crowd.

I had the pleasure of working with her for several days and she was totally the "old" Sam (Great Hotels, Europe, etc.). I wish she would come back on the message boards and let us know what has happened with this ridiculous show!!!!!

How lucky to have actually worked with Samantha! And what good news to hear that she was the same old Sam that we've grown to know & love on previous shows. I hope she reads these message boards, too; and that Great Weekends can evolve into the type of show her fans crave.