Staying Fit
Samantha Brown's new Travel Channel show, 50/50, may look like it's about taking luxurious trips to exotic destinations. After all, it's about a 50-hour escape worth up to $50,000. But Brown, who is also AARP's travel ambassador, says, "It's really about taking people out of their normal, everyday lives and doing something extraordinary." The catch: They must leave immediately.
The show — which premiered on the Travel Channel Sunday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. CT) and runs weekly until Nov. 1 — features Brown and cohost Chris Grundy. The two scope out potential travelers and then pounce on those who might leave for places such as Alaska or Abu Dhabi. (They can choose between two destinations.) The crucial question is: "Can you leave now?"
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
Brown explains further.
Q: How did you pick the people who take the trips?
A: We looked for people who might not be able to go — like couples with three or four children in tow. Part of the show is watching [the targeted travelers] call their boss on speakerphone to ask for time off ... or their parents to see if they can come take care of the kids.
Q: Did a lot of people turn you down?
A: It's about fifty-fifty, yes and no. The top reasons people say no are just their legitimate commitments. Maybe their kid's in the school play the next day. I will say that when we call the bosses, they say, "Do it! Go for it." It's really nice.
But we had a couple in Nebraska. They were planning to attend a friend's wedding — the guy was going to be an usher. So we called the groom and said, "We want to take your friend on a $50,000 trip." There was silence, and he just said, "No. It's my wedding." So they didn't go.