In the past 24 hours, I’ve learned of at least two and possibly three television programs that are or soon will be taking place on Route 66.
I receive an e-mail today from Alicia Good at Metal Flowers Media, a television production firm based in Santa Monica, Calif. Metal Flowers Media is searching for a family-owned hotel, motel, bed-and-breakfast, or lodge that has “character, quirk and charisma.” The ideal lodging business would be the focal point of a documentary-reality show titled “Family Owned Lodging.”
Good said a “major cable network” would be airing the series. Naturally, I suggested a few places along the Mother Road. “Family Owned Lodging” doesn’t necessarily have to take place on Route 66, but it obviously would provide a nice hook for potential viewers.
Also, Good is specifically looking for diners on Route 66 for a pilot episode of another as-yet-untitled TV program. I suggested a few prominent greasy spoons, especially the venerable Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis.
If you have family-owned motel or diner suggestions, Good will gladly consider them if you e-mail her with the particulars at alicia(at)metalflowersmedia(dot)com.
Also, the Orange County Register reported that HGTV (Home and Garden Television) is shooting along or near Route 66 for a show called “Igor Takes America.” The channel often features home improvement, decorating or do-it-yourself programs.
It was Canadian HGTV show host Igor Shamraychuk’s dream to try and bring the cross-country road trip idea for the renovation network to reality, said Loren Ruch, director of original programming for Knoxville, Tenn.-based HGTV. […]
The episode starts in Santa Monica from where Route 66, what used to be known as the “Mother Road,” runs to Chicago as a series of back roads and segmented chunks of interstate highway.
HGTV spent some of the last few weeks in Southern California, and next will go to Nevada or Arizona.