The DiSalvatore family from New York , which repeatedly staved off elimination, earned the grand prize of $100,000 and other goodies during the season’s final episode Monday of NBC’s reality series, “The Great American Road Trip.”
The Coote family from Illinois had won most of the challenges during the show’s run, but stumbled in the last two weeks — including in the finale on the beach in Santa Monica, Calif.
The loud but lovable DiSalvatores’ winning the title was one of the show’s few bright spots. “Road Trip,” which was supposed to take place on historic Route 66, wound up bypassing the Mother Road repeatedly, went on bizarre side trips, and seemed more interested in pimping corporations than the road’s beloved mom-and-pop businesses.
Host Reno Collier said before signing off: “Join us on the next Great American Road Trip.” But I’m fairly certain there won’t be a next time. The show was critically pilloried, and even during the next-to-last week, “Road Trip” remained mired in fourth place in the ratings among the major networks.
If “Road Trip” isn’t renewed for another season, it’s just as well. There’s no sense in placing another historical highway in a less-than-ideal light.
UPDATE: “Road Trip” rallied to second place in its time slot in the ratings Monday night. But it was a Pyrrhic victory — all the shows it bested were reruns.
I am so glad they won! I think everyone was so tired of hearing and seeing the Coote’s family and their unsportsmanship attitude and each show, they got worse. The Disalvatores were the underdogs, but they did acknowledge they learned it was important to do things together as a family and in the end, it payed off. I only wish the Pollard’s were there to see their reaction to the outcome. WAY TO GO DISALVATORES! I loved the show and while it wasn’t entirely on Route 66 as advertised, it was a road trip to remember for each of the families.
I particularly enjoyed the fact that the winning of the challenge (Mon. 8/24/09) came down to the location of the Big Texan Steak Ranch and the MidPoint Cafe!