Here is the fourth and final episode of “Billy Connolly’s Route 66,” aired on ITV in Britain on Thursday.
It goes from eastern Arizona to Santa Monica, in five parts:
https://youtu.be/jlM6Fo5hOEY
https://youtu.be/4ZdglmW1pGo
https://youtu.be/BlhFSvN_EL8
https://youtu.be/sNi-niiBQ9k
https://youtu.be/E7XkoT4V2oM
Having watched the whole series, I predict this will become the biggest tourism boon to Route 66 since the Disney-Pixar movie “Cars” in 2006 (and apparently Angel Delgadillo shares that opinion). Here’s why:
— “Billy Connolly’s Route 66” has garnered the highest ratings for the United Kingdom’s ITV network in years.
— Because the series drew such strong viewership, it’s almost certain it will be distributed to Europe as well.
— If I had a quarter per every post on Twitter where viewers vowed to travel Route 66 next year, I’d have a lot of free meals right now.
“Billy Connolly’s Route 66” was a top-notch production, with excellent photography, editing, soundtrack selections, and the geniality of its host. Some may quibble that it left out a few big Route 66 attractions. But the program had only three hours to fill. Its producers wisely decided to keep the best footage and not tie itself to a laundry list. (And the upcoming DVD reportedly will include 40 minutes of unused footage.)
And, as Jim Hinckley recently pointed out on his blog, the producers wisely decided to focus on Route 66 as a mirror of America:
On numerous occasions I have noted that Route 66 long ago transcended its original purpose. As the Main Street of America it presented a microcosm of the American experience. Today it is a repository, a time capsule, where the absolute best, the worst, and the unique flavors of this great nation are preserved for all to see, to touch, to taste, and to feel in the very depth of their souls. […]
To drive Route 66 from end to end is an increasingly rare opportunity to savor life, to experience what makes this nation unique, and to discover, or rediscover, why this country is still the destination of choice for immigrants seeking opportunity and freedom. It is a religious pilgrimage, a quest worthy of the Argonauts, and the search for the holy grail all rolled into one grand adventure.
Route 66 shows America in all of its glorious contradictions. Billy Connolly and his crew “got it.” And I’m very pleased with that.
The crew and Billy Connolly “got it” – they captured the feelings, the scope, the people, and the life along the road.It ain’t always pretty, but there is always an extra cup of coffee, an extra moment to talk, and an extra hug of encouragement or support everywhere you turn.This should be required viewing for all politicians.This is America.What an amazing journey Billy took us on…a gentle reminder of our past, flawed and sad, and the hope of our future and the future of the Mother Road.Thank you, Billy, for sharing with the world your journey.
This has been a terrifically fun series to watch. I enjoyed every episode (even # 2 that’s uneven pace troubled me a bit) but think this final episode was the best, at least in respect to how the limited time was used. The final episode packed every minute with a perfect balance of precious people and grand vistas. There are more than a few Route 66 videos that tick every box on the “laundry list” (as you called it, Ron) of 66 roadside attractions. It was good that Billy side stepped that.approach in favor of talking to people all along the way.
I just hope someone will let us know when this comes out on DVD and how we can purchase it.
As an American here in the states, I can not believe how much this series tries to make us all look like a bunch of racist as well as other negstives. The City of Anna was named after the town founders wife, Anna. It dose not mean Aint No Niggers Alowed. A quick check of facts would have made this clear. No saying that there were no sunset laws, but it was a convenient story. To show Obama Sucks bumper sticker and to voice over about racism is poor at best. Most here do not like him because he keeps spending and puts us further in debt as a nation. Not unlike your country’s problems with goverment over spending. We were proud that we elected our first black as the President, but seperate is the job performance. There is racism in some but not most all of us. To many statments of fact that were not researched or comfirmed. As I watched the series progress I was delighted with some things and angered by others lack of facts.
However, Scott, as an Illinois native who knew a lot people who lived in that part of the state, Anna’s nickname was very well-known — and heeded — for many, many years. It’s not urban legend, that’s for sure.
I thought the series took a rather broad and balanced overview of America’s glories and problems. I think you protesteth too much.
I grew up in Illinois as well. If you read the statment I said that there were sunshine laws. I did not say that there were not towns like that ‘ Anna as well as many towns in that period had sunset laws as well. My complaint is on statement of facts that were not facts. I guess I saw a different series than you did. As I enjoyed the travels and meeting the locals there was always a but soon after.
I just looked at the video again. The black sculptor never said Anna was named directly from that racist acronym. The acronym independently arose from racist behavior that persisted for generations in Anna. In a well-researched book I read years ago about the subject, Anna residents confirmed this very thing. Anna being very well-known for “Ain’t No Ni**ers Allowed,” or close variations to that effect, is indisputable and, therefore, is a fact.
By the way, cities such as Anna are called Sundown Towns. “Sunrise laws,” as you put it, refer to open-records legislation.
What other facts from the program were supposedly incorrect?
I never siad it didn’t. You are putting words in my mouth and are talking from emotions, while not realy reading wht I say. I too just watched that part again and the gentlman said ” If a town was like Anna Illinois, Anna Illinois was spelled A-N-N-A, aint no niggers around.” Billy exclaimed “What ?” The artist said ” That was the name of the city” I also never said that Anna did not have a bad history or sunshine laws did not exsist. You are realy hung on this arent you.
1) Hung up? You’re the one who brought this up in the first place.
2) You were the one who complained about “lack of facts,” when in actuality everything that was shown or said was proven to be accurate.
As one reporter for the London Telegraph said, It would be better with a little more Rt 66 and a little less Billy. I was excited to see the show and watched it to help plan a trip down 66. It was a bit light on sights and too heavy on other things. Guess we agree to dissagree.
OKay, so relax. The fact still stands that Anna was not named for what it was said it was. I am sorry I am picking on your friend Billys show. I still stand by my statement. I don’t like how he made America look. I stand behind that.
As far as HUng up, Yes. I brought up a point and you kept going on it. I was just defending my comments and answering to your comments. All I did was bring up one little part of the show as an example of missleading the viewers of the overseas market that they made it for. I let it lay by saying we agree to dissagree. you keep it going. Geesh.
I do give you lots of credit for not just deleting all this. You are honest and true to yourself and others. You don’t shy from other opinions or views. I respect that. MAy not agree in this instance, but thats okay, that is what America is about. accepting different views and ideas even if not our own.
I was all ready to watch the final episodes of Billy’s Route 66 trip and on all but one of the videos found this statement, “This video contains contents from NBC Universal, who has blocked it on copyright grounds.” What is this????????????
By the way, I LOVE the video and can’t wait to buy it when it becomes available, as it looks like that may be the only way I get to see the final episodes.
Other folks have posted the series on YouTube, D. If you do a little rooting around, you’ll find them.
Found it on YouTube and am even more anxious to have this in my DVD library. Love Billy, his sense of humor and his presentation of Route 66. What a ride!
Just went to Amazon.com and see that they only offer Billy Connolly’s Route 66 in Blu-ray. Wonder if there is going to be a DVD made as an alternative for people to purchase.
D., that Blu-ray just showed up at Amazon in the past day or so (believe me, I’ve looked). Looking at the description, it’s an import, and I’m not sure it will play in all DVD players in the U.S.
The producers probably are going to show “Billy Connolly’s Route 66” in other parts of Europe soon. I suspect that’s why there’s some reluctance to make DVDs available in the non-U.K. market.
I’ll just be patient then and wait to see if one shows up, legitimately, in DVD form. Thanks Ron, sure do enjoy your website and check it out first thing every morning.
Wish I could watch them but all the videos are blocked by NBC Universal.