Since being hooked on the first Survivor when it debuted nearly 10 years ago, I could otherwise count one-handed the number of reality television shows to pique my interest. (Although if “Tiny House” had actually been a show and not a Geico commercial, I may have watched that one.)
However, Travel Channel has recently joined the reality-programming sphere with its American spin on the Worst-Driver reality format. Four contestants must complete various driving challenges around a city, using their own vehicle. The various locales is where this show fits in with Travel Channel. The debut took place in San Francisco. This past week’s episode number two wound through the maze known as Boston, Mass.
After a city driving challenge wherein one contestant gains immunity and wins a prize, the remaining three go on to compete in an obstacle course of elimination. For these driving challenges, vehicles are supplied, and to date have included a Ford Focus and a Nissan Sentra. Both are older vehicles, as evidenced by their body styles. After the Boston massacre, however, it remains to be determined if the Focus is still running. Contestants complete each challenge with immunity being granted to the winner plus a prize. Prizes decline in value with each win.
I’ve talked a lot about immunity. But immunity from what? After all others are eliminated, the loser’s car gets destroyed. Yes, that’s right. The city’s worst driver effectively gets his wheels removed. In episode one we watched as a geeky California college student’s dated Saturn sedan was squashed into a pile of molded plastic. This past Sunday, an early-2000’s model Volkswagen Jetta got blown up in a not-so-spectacular explosion. Losers thus far have shown little emotion. Either the compensation is worth the pain, or people are just hams for the camera.
The good news? All of the losers will complete a safe driving course, and be reevaluated at a later date. The most improved wins a brand-new car.
America’s Worst Driver is not unlike a bad car wreck: you hate to keep staring, and yet somehow you’re drawn to it. Did I even mention I’m not a fan of gross waste? My views of Cash for Clunkers—and its subsequent destruction of usable automobiles—has been well aired on this blog and in the Buffalo News’ editorial page. Yet here we go again destroying perfectly good cars. And food gets wasted too. Filled shopping carts often skitter across the obstacle course in order to test drivers’ braking reflexes. In Boston, more baked beans, cream pies, and hot dogs met the asphalt then I could count during one challenge. And then there’s the tea: San Franciscans got their personal car interiors soaked in the stuff during one challenge. In Boston, the obstacle course Sentra was fitted with an iced-tea dispensing system to keep drivers on their figurative toes.
While I’m not a fan of foolish waste, I do plan to keep following America’s Worst Driver through its pilot season. I’m interested to see the outcome. Who will win the new car? What will the make and model be?
It’s also interesting to observe the marketing perspective of the show: all cars have their emblems either covered or removed. While one can still tell the make and model, Travel Channel is careful not to give away too many free advertising opportunities to the automakers.
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