The original format is in it's 7th season in Denmark.
https://mailchi.mp/frapa/frapa-newsletter-september2024?e=6b42ccdfab
Zero Stars takes the concept of low expectations to new and unexpected heights — and the result not only challenges expectations of all sorts but delivers a fresh perspective on travel in the age of TripAdvisor.
Conceived by Copenhagen-based creative digital agency Liquidminds, Zero Stars rolled out on DR2 Denmark in 2019. The Danish series follows two childhood friends and committed travellers, comedian Jan Elhøj and self-styled adventurer Morten Kirckhoff, as they set out across six 30-minute episodes to prove that the best adventures can and do start in the unlikeliest of places. The two men embark on their quest about as far away as it’s possible to get from most people’s vision of an Insta-friendly five-star holiday: by visiting the worst-reviewed places on TripAdvisor. But far from ending in disappointment, this ‘zero-star’ approach leads the friends into a series of fascinating experiences in weirdly wonderful locations — experiences that introduce them to new people, traditions and customs, challenging stereotypes, attitudes and judgements in the process.
But Zero Stars is more than a subversive take on the perfect-holiday sub-genre, says Simone de Pruyssenaere de la Woestyne, director of sales and acquisitions at Belgian-based international format distributor Primitives. “It’s first and foremost highly entertaining,” she adds. “But it also encourages us to be open-minded when we travel and encounter cultures that might seem strange or intimidating at first. And its authenticity provides a refreshing contrast to the picture-perfect holidays that dominate social media.”
Zero Stars’ “subtle adventure” clearly works for Danish audiences — the show is now in its seventh season on DR2 and shows no sign of flagging. It is also heading into its second series in Norway, is set to launch in Belgium and has been optioned in Poland and Spain, with a couple more deals said to be in the pipeline. “Interest in in the format is definitely building,” de Pruyssenaere de la Woestyne confirms. “It’s fresh, fun and inspiring — and it shows that great adventures can start anywhere, for anyone.”
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