The Atlanta: VIP Weekend episode is on Saturday night, May 16th at 10:30PM ET. Chat here during the show or come by afterward and tell us what you thought.

I don't want to see Samantha swanning about - VIP tours and a $1500 bottle of champagne. The fashion show footage could be any city in the world - same old backstage and runway footage. As a tourist I didn't learn anything about the city - also it now seems like "The Samantha Talent Show" - her personality can normally carry her without it being forced - now it's "watch what I can do " lots of ego getting in the way of any real substance.
Not enough real information for the potential visitor, I still have no ides what Atlanta is really like to visit ( take note Atlanta Tourist Board ) - bring it back to basics girl...

I thought the Georgia Aquarium segment was very good. Like Samantha, I had no idea that Atlanta has the world's largest aquarium.

This was the worst episode she has ever done. Nobody but the rich or celebrities could even attempt to do most of the things she did while in Atlanta. I can't believe the waste of time she had in Atlanta. Isn't the show supposed to be about how to have fun in a city? Wow, Sam, don't come back if that's the best you can do here.

Ever since Great Weekends started last season, I've been trying to peg what I don't like about it. I've come up with a couple things: 1. I know Samantha is Travel Channel's star but I don't like seeing Samantha ACT like the Travel Channel's Star 2. I don't like the "themed weekends" which I honestly think you could find in any city. For example..."VIP Weekend in Atlanta"....you can have a "VIP weekend" anywhere. That's why I loved Passport to Europe and Passport to Latin America and Great Hotels even...Sam taking us around a city and showing us the heart of it. I just don't feel that in Great Weekends. I loved Passport to China too...

I've been reading the posts regarding the "new" Samantha and format and I totally agree. I absolutely love Samantha Brown and have all of the Passport to Europe, China and Latin America shows recorded. I have visited many of the same destinations and always refer to her shows for info and tips. This new Samantha is not appealing. She doesn't really give any info/tips or show the things that most people would be interested in. I live in Atlanta and the only thing that Sam explored on her Atlanta show that anyone might find useful was the Georgia Aquarium part. Even so, who's going to be able to scuba dive in the tanks with a whale shark? Nothing else on the show was useful to those wishing or even considering visiting Atlanta. Please bring back the old format, It was much more useful and informative. Don't make me resort to watching Rick Steves! We miss the old, sweet Sam!

In Samantha’s defense, I have to step in to point out that it is not her responsibility to determine the style and content of these Great Weekends episodes. The Travel Channel appears to be in the process of rebranding itself, going with more “Extreme Travel” across the board. I assume their goal is to increase viewership, sell advertising, and operate a profitable business, which is no easy task these days. Mod ben claims that producers and those in management DO read posts placed in the Discussion Forums, so maybe it would be best to make constructive suggestions over there:

http://discussions.travelchann...s/a/frm/f/5331987908

Perhaps Samantha’s next series to go into production, Passport to Asia, will be more like the previous Passports if enough people take the time to express what they want to see and what they don’t. We can hope the production company will pay attention. Maybe it is wiser to be proactive, rather than reactive.

As implied in the above posts, and in many past posts as well, viewers interested in travel generally loved Sam for giving us “info and tips,” for showing us the very things that visitors actually can do, and for always “showing us the heart.” Viewers from all demographics have appreciated the strong visual presentations, which provided an overview of the destination. Above all, they loved the host’s very personal, trademark style. So why, all of a sudden with the change in ownership to Cox Communications, were these types of programs deemed no longer good enough for the Travel Channel? No one wants to, or seems to be able to say.

On one rare occasion in January, an actual Vice President of Programming at Cox replied to a post on the Discussion Forum, and provided a little insight for us. Here is what she said:

“We have been evolving the network to be more entertaining,and more broadly encompassing a variety of travel experiences. There are many different ways to travel, and it's a real passion for people, so we've been developing programs to reflect that diversity. We've received a lot of great feedback from our viewers. Hope this clears things up for everyone!!


Given the above statement, it seems to me that what we are experiencing is an evolving Passport series on an evolving network. Things are not the same at the Travel Channel as they once were, and that is obvious to most of us.
For me, “Extreme Travel” is not necessarily more entertaining. I found Samantha’s interaction with the goldfish she named Harold in her Chicago Great Hotel much more entertaining than her extremely close, scream-inducing encounter with a whale shark’s dorsal fin at the Atlanta Aquarium. Sometimes simpler is just better. Remember the lesson of Seinfeld. It was a show about nothing.

As a viewer, I do not like the feeling of wondering whether the host of the show I’m watching is going to land in the emergency room, freeze, throw up, fall off a horse, get punched in the nose or be embarrassed in a crowd. It makes no sense to me.

As usual, I’ve gone on too long. But I have to say that my respect for Samantha Brown as a host has never been higher, and I admire her for all she does.
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Mother O.

Defending Samantha and her weekend show is something I've been doing for a long time. It has been a losing battle, but I have never done it as eloquently as you, Mother O.

I get that programming on the Travel Channel is evolving, but I too enjoyed her shows much more when she highlights the city and the people...nothing more. And I will NEVER understand why a bikini clad host gets a full hour for a not-so-entertaining show, and Samantha is still at 30 minutes. Perhaps she would rather do a 30 minute show, and that's fine...but with an hour, couldn't Sam hit more of the city's charm and characteristics? I don't want to sound mean because I LOVE that bikini clad host on her previous show on E!, but as a travel host....Sam totally is Queen Bee of the Travel Channel.

I personally could have thought of a 1,000 other things I'd wish to see about Atlanta. But I won't say I'm disappointed in Sam or the show....just wish she had more time for other city hot spots.

Misty

I think the travel channel executive's statement would have been more accurate if they had used the word degenerating in place of evolving.

Mother O,
As so often is the case, you're a voice of calm reason here and I'm glad to see your post, this time pointing out the conditions in which Samantha has been working these last two years. Her journal entries are indeed interesting and insightful as you remind us, too. From reading the Hawaiian one we hear again of Fiona, I hope still thriving, or at least purring. That's one of the things I would want to ask Sam myself were I to get the chance, although I have the feeling I'd somehow babble quite uselessly about something else instead and let the opportunity pass me by. It's been known to happen in my existence - not so much in hers as we've seen throughout her work. But there it is, in Samantha's Weekends journals, and much more of what goes on inside her mind. Those creations are always worth seeking out.... And as for the Philadelphia episode (and beer), Jefferson's my favorite, too.

I've been watching Samatha Brown Travel shows for years and really appreciate all the fantastic tips and the great humor and fun she provides through the show. Samantha Brown tips are a staple in our travels, however this show prompted me to make my very first discussion posting. Sam, this show was great fun, at least for me. It was so refreshing to see something other than the normal Hotlanta sites; Underground Atlanta, Buck Head, Stone Mountain...blah blah blah. From the previous postings looks like I may be one of the few nevertheless I gotta tell you, this show made me interested in visiting Atlanta again. I've never been to the Atlanta Aquarium and had no idea that it was the largest one in the world. I'm gonna do some clubbing and just have some real "girl" fun on my next visit. Thanks Sam.

I love Samantha Brown and all her travels. I believe she has the best job in the world. And....I want her job! So, I have started a blog dedicated to travel, food, fun, and best of all, BEING THE NEXT SAMANTHA BROWN! So, join me as we talk about the joys of travel and share pictures of our experiences! Right here at http://nextsb.blogspot.com/! Hope to see you there!

quote:

Originally posted by vimage:
I don't want to see Samantha swanning about - VIP tours and a $1500 bottle of champagne. The fashion show footage could be any city in the world - same old backstage and runway footage. As a tourist I didn't learn anything about the city - also it now seems like "The Samantha Talent Show" - her personality can normally carry her without it being forced - now it's "watch what I can do " lots of ego getting in the way of any real substance.
Not enough real information for the potential visitor, I still have no ides what Atlanta is really like to visit ( take note Atlanta Tourist Board ) - bring it back to basics girl...

i think she missed out on sooooooooooo much i live in atlanta and im very disapointed she forgot fat mats rib shack and all the southern classics like chickien and waffles and most importantly cocacola world and the chickfila dwarf house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think she should come back and redo the whole show even i a kid has been swimming with the whle sharks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At least she can go to dalonagha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!