Ranu's Reviews

The Layover

Travel Channel

9PM Mondays

Anthony Bourdain is back with a brand new show about maximizing your time in a big city. The culinary world’s bad boy will show you where to eat, what sites to see and how not to be a douche when traveling.

The 411

The Layover is a fast-paced look at how Anthony Bourdain makes the most out of 24-48 hours in an unexpected destination. Don’t worry about budget, because Bourdain finds places and things to do for everyone—regardless of the size of their wallet. Anthony’s insightful commentary, delivered only the way Anythony can, makes The Layover one of the most useful and entertaining shows on television today.

The Good

I saw the premiere episode of The Layover and Anthony is in Singapore. One of the first things you’ll notice is that The Layover is all business. Anthony only has a certain amount of time at a location and that need to cram everything in before the clock runs out is brilliantly conveyed. I love the use of split screens to fit even more info on your screen and the interactive maps really help you get a feel for exactly where the heck he is on the planet.

There are also a lot of well-shot interviews with locals. Not only do these candid clips add to the overall experience of the city, but they also prove to be most educational. With intel from Bourdain himself and the locals—you can’t go wrong!

Of course this review would have no merit unless I commented on the no-nonsense attitude of Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain’s cynical, yet honest approach to his surroundings is infectious. This guy knows what the hell he is talking about and honestly doesn’t give a shit if you listen—because you’d be a complete idiot if you didn’t!

The Not-So-Good

The only negative thing I can say about The Layover is that Anthony seems to not be as descriptive as he can when he is trying new dishes. For the most part, he just says, “This is awesome” and leaves it at that. Granted, I do have to cut the guy some slack since he doesn’t even appear to sleep during his layover. I’m just such a fan of his every word that I was a little disappointed when he didn’t “wow” me with a description of every dish—but that’s just me being picky and wanting more Bourdain.

The End Result

The Layover is classic Bourdain and does not disappoint. Anthony has traveled all over the world and we, the viewer, are lucky to have a guy like him to share his expertise in such an interesting manner. I didn’t know anything about Singapore before I watched this episode of The Layover, but now I know where to eat, some history of Singapore, how to travel within the city, which local attractions to visit and more importantly—what not to waste my time on—all thanks to Anthony Bourdain. Who needs a travel agent when you have The Layover!

For more information on The Layover, visit their website:

http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/the-layover.