Review: Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip

 I needed a new television series to needlepoint to so I searched Netflix and it found me Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip.  I watched the preview and was hooked.  So much entertainment. A roadtrip with a great host and interesting cars.  I love cars and driving and the Great British Baking show aka Bake Off.  

Italy

This is a three part series with an episode devoted to a single country: Italy, Germany, France. Sometimes the cars were sporty or expensive and sometimes the cars were cheap or ubiquitous. 

Germany

Italy is my favorite episode partly because I also watch Dancing with the Stars and the judge Bruno Tonioli shows Paul around and partly because I like the zest and joie de vie of the Italians. 

France

I recognize that sometimes the show is using stereotypes to typify the cultures but they are also showing us the country and discussing all kinds of historical and cultural bits. Definitely a fun romp.

For a summary and more information about each episode follow the links. 

• Episode 1: Italy - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08svmdc
• Episode 2: Germany - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08tlc9q
• Episode 3: France - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08vdqhp

Review: Blown Away

 

Blown Away - Reality Television Show

In mid 2020 Melinda and I started watching tv together in different states. She lives in Texas and I'm in Idaho. We call each other and watch the same show as a social outlet. She came up with the great idea of including Shanna in an additional phone/tv session. We began this social experiment with the show Blown Away on NetFlix. Blown Away is a glass blowing competition reality show.  The experiment was and is a success.  We loved this show and have since added other series to our watched list.

Blown Away is produced in Canada and follows the standard format of challenge, judging, and one winner per episode and one competitor sent home. There are two seasons with 10 contestants competing in each. This competition has an international flavor with competitors coming from around the world.

If you like artistic pursuits and competition reality shows this is absolutely worth watching. Interestingly PBS ran two documentaries on glass blowing around the same time we were watching Blown Away. 

1. Pilchuck: A Dance with Fire about the creation and growth of the Pilchuck glass art school in Washington

2. Chihuly: River of Glass about the glass artist Dale Chihuly one of the founding members of the Pilchuck school and famed artist

In 2017 Shanna and I attended an Alton Brown concert in Salt Lake City. There was a Chihuly sculpture in the entrance hall.

Salt Lake City

In 2014 I was in Las Vegas for a conference and was able to visit a Chihuly installation and exhibition in the Bellagio Hotel.

Las Vegas

We now know so much more about glass art.  I am in awe of the artists who work in such a wondrous and scary medium.  - Jenny

The Great British Baking Show

 I like reality competition shows.  After a year of fending off "you will love this show" I finally gave in and watched a season of the Great British Baking Show.  

Now one of the big reasons I did not want to watch the show is that I like to bake. I like to bake cookies, truffles, cake, pies, etc...  I am also diabetic so having a ton of sweets in my house is not a good thing. I was very afraid that watching this show would inspire me to bake.  Well, I was right and wrong.  It does inspire me to bake, but I can add self talk about how complicated their bakes are. How much work. And I'd rather go read.  For the most part this tactic has worked.  I've only occasionally broken down and baked brownies or cake after watching an episode. 

Shanna and I started by watching season 5 which was in reruns on my local PBS station.  I was immediately sucked in.  I loved it.  I love the complexity of the baking, the surprise of the technical challenge, the creativity the contestants display and most of all the reality of the people themselves.  They are so very human. Funny, talented, interesting and sometimes just a little nuts.  

After finishing this season with Shanna I found my sofa, grabbed my needlepoint and binge watched all of the other seasons via Netflix.  I definitely recommend this series.  - Jenny