- Travel with two adventurous African American women who are best
friends to Ottawa, Warsaw & Krakow, the Caribbean, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Toronto and San Juan as they dazzle your senses and intrigue
your mind. -
Producer: The Art Explorers, Inc.
Presenter: WTTW National Productions
Distributer: American Public Television (APT Exchange)
NOLA Codes: GROS 201 SD-Base Revision 001 (onward through 207)
GROS 201 HD-Base Revision 001 (onward through 207)
SD
Feed: Saturdays, May 3, 2008 - June 14, 2008, 2030-2100ET /511 HD Feed:
TBA
Analog & HD Rights: Unlimited Releases/Two YearsFrom May 3, 2008 – May2, 2010
DVD’s Available upon Request
Dear colleague:
Award-winning and popular Grannies on Safari® returns
to the airwaves beginning May 3, 2008
with a second season that takes viewers to diverse locales that dazzle the
senses and intrigue the mind. Presented
by Art Explorers Inc., Brave New Pictures and WTTW National Productions, the
new series of seven thirty-minute
programs follows plucky world travelers Pat Johnson and Regina Fraser to Canada,
Poland and Latin
America as
they offer viewers surprises at every turn and track down cultural treasures. The
dynamic duo’s love for travel is contagious, and the series will continue to
inspire audiences as it broadens their understanding of other cultures in
today’s diverse and linked global community.
Grannies on Safari® 201-207 visits Ottawa and Toronto where their experiences range from the
Changing of the Guards to the performance of a ceremonial dance with some
Native Americans, to a walk through the old Irish district of “Cabbage Town.” There
is a restful and beautiful cruise through the Caribbean to six islands where the duo “throws pots”
in a world-class ceramic museum workshop and paint Caribana costumes. On the
Isla de Encanta, Puerto Rico they visit the famous rain forest El Yunque, learn
to “salsa” dance, observe artisans carve African and Taino masks, and take a
night walk through Old San Juan – with the other ghosts! In Buenos Aires,
Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay they catch the infectious South American
energy and learn to play the Condombes
or large drums that one hears all through the night in Montevideo. The Grannies travel to Poland to attend a wedding and pay homage to
historical and cultural venues in this beautiful country. Their visit to the park that houses a huge
bronze sculpture of Poland’s best known composer Chopin, and three
castles from previous rulers is not to be missed.
Here are program
descriptions:
Grannies
on Safari® 201: Ottawa – Canada’s Best Kept Secret The Grannies
explore Ottawa, the beautiful Capital of Canada. They visit historic Parliament Hill, marvel
at the splendor of the changing of the guard, taste prize-winning barbeque,
visit a one-of-its-kind Aboriginal display, tour the sprawling grounds of
Rideau Hall, home of the Governor General, and take an evening boat ride along
the pristine Ottawa River. The Grannies
discover a prairie atop the architecturally significant Canadian War Museum, eat “Beaver Tails,” learn to
“throat-sing” from the Inuit, and even cook with a master chef at the world
famous Cordon Bleu Cooking School.
Grannies on Safari® 202:
Poland – Warsaw and Krakow:
Sophisticated Sister Cities
While the
Grannies didn’t need an excuse to go to Poland, they were invited to a wedding there.
Join the Grannies as they seek hidden treasures and historical makers in the
heart of Warsaw.
Many of the buildings that were destroyed during WWII have been
carefully restored. A park and garden
that displays the beautiful bronze statue of Chopin is a must see. This is an old culture and country, and there
are many examples of its past and current glories. Krakow
– the city of the dragon, was not destroyed during the war and maintains its
original old town square (one of the largest in all of Europe), and most of its original buildings.
Significant and beautiful churches, old castles, interesting shops and of
course good food are all there. They also include a darker part of Poland’s history as they pay a special visit to
two concentration camps: Auschwitz and Birkenau.
Grannies 203: Cruising the Caribbean The Grannies take
a cruise on a “really” big ship to the Caribbean.
Granny Regina had never been on a “big ship,” so join her as she explores all
there is to do on board and off. They
visit a sugar plantation, see the monkey’s on Barbados and walk the same paths as pirates. The Grannies discovered more than they
expected and made people connections that confirmed that the Caribbean is still one of the most energizing and
inspiring places to visit. Ahoy there
matey!
Grannies 204: Buenos Aires: European Charm with a Latin Beat The Grannies fly
to Buenos
Aires, Argentina.
Here the charm of European culture is mixed with the soul and beat of Latin America.
“BA,” as the local’s call their city, is sizzling with energy – new
architectural landscapes framed by cranes everywhere, wide boulevards (some say
the widest in the world), and gorgeous
municipal parks still flourish around the city.
The country is the home of the famed Gaucho, the sultry and seductive
Tango and one of the best places to eat beef in the world. You can bet the
Grannies experienced it all – a visit with a noted silversmith who makes
authentic Gaucho artifacts, a stroll in the famous rose gardens in one of the
most beautiful parks in the city, and forays into local markets where they
encounter fans of the Grannies series from US who are visiting Argentina! Then journey with the Grannies on a Busquebus
(a fast boat/ferry), to Colonia,
Uruguay and take a stroll through its
history. The town remains the same since
its formation in the 1400’s. It was
coveted by the Portuguese, English and the Spanish. Walk with the Grannies on the “Street of
Sighs” where former African slaves were quarantined before being sent to Brazil and other parts of South America.
Grannies 205: Montevideo – Uruguay’s City of the Drums
After visiting
Colonia, the Grannies travel to Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital city. Home of one of the oldest opera houses in Latin America, this city and its people proved to be a
big surprise. The country has more than
three million people and half live in Montevideo!
A very literate population for one thing – almost 100% -- Montevideo is a colonial city that is making a
concerted effort to restore and renovate thousands of structures that date back
over 100 years and are succeeding! The Old Town is lively and the pulsating rhythms of
drums and chatter can be heard during the evenings and well into the night. The
Grannies meet with the active Afro-Uruguayan community and learn how their art
of drum making and culture has shaped the country’s dedication to this art form
and adopted it as its own. The Grannies
visit the home of an influential Uruguayan art curator and writer who acts as
their host while they are in the country.
Highlights – the Carnival Museum, a visit to a premier winery, drummers
at night beating their drums in front of an open fire, and a private tour of
the magnificentopera house.
Grannies 206: Toronto – A Cultural and Ethnic Mix The Grannies
visit Toronto, a city renowned for its architecture, museums and colorful
ethnic neighborhoods – Chinatown, Cabbage Town and Caribbean Town – to name
just a few. Cruise with the Grannies along Lake Ontario and catch a glimpse of the magnificent
CN Tower and the shore line that many compare to the City of Chicago.
Watch as they try their hand at “throwing pots” in the well-regarded Gardiner Museum. Examine chopines at the world-class,
one-of-a-kind Bata
Shoe Museum, where a collection of more than 12,000
shoes from every era and from around the world are housed. Judge for yourself if they master the
labor-intensive art of making Chinese dumplings with a legendary Chinese baker
in an historic section of the city.
Watch as they share their sewing skills on “Caribana” costume making,
explore an Inuit Art gallery, search for a ghost at sprawling Casa Loma and
learn how a 30-foot floating dragon lantern is constructed by Chinese
artisans.
Grannies 207: San Juan – Bienvenidos, Paradise The Grannies
venture into San Juan, Puerto
Rico to explore
the happenings on this delightful island with its rich cultural heritage. The locals call themselves Boriquens, a Taino Indian word meaning
“strong men” and take pride in their Spanish, Native and African heritage. Come with the Grannies as they visit small
hamlets and villages tucked along side the winding roads that crisscross the
island. Visit El Morro, the large Spanish fort that guards the entry to the
islands port, and walk through Old Town with flower draped balconies that
overlook old streets and corners. Join
them as they explore markets and other gathering places. The Grannies experience the integration of the
many cultures found on this island through its music – “salsa!”
Grannies on
Safari® 201-207 is produced by The Art Explorers, Inc.
in association with Brave New Pictures Inc. The series is presented by WTTW National Productions. Local
underwriting is permissible. It is distributed as a
free offer to public television stations by American Public Television
(Exchange), which feeds it.
Please
contact me if you have questions. DVD’s
are available upon request. I will be in touch
with you during March and April about your carriage plans. A fact sheet
follows.
Very
truly yours,
Regina
Eisenberg
R Eisenberg Presents, Inc. regina@reisenbergpresents.com510.550.1706
2340 Powell Street,
Suite 333, Emeryville, CA94608
Summary:
Travel with two adventurous African American women who are
best friends to Ottawa, Warsaw
& Krakow, the Caribbean, Buenos
Aires, Montevideo,
Toronto and San
Juan as they dazzle your senses and intrigue your
mind.
Parts/Length:
7/30
Broadcast Rights:
Analog & HD: Unlimited
Releases/2 years
NOLA
Codes:
GROS 201 SD-Base Revision 001 (and onward through 207)
GROS 201 HD-Base Revision 001 (and onward through 207)
Feed:
GROS 201-207 SD-Base Revision
001 Saturdays, May
3, 2008 - June 14, 2008, 2030-2100ET /511HD: TBA
Audio/Visual:
Stereo/Closed
Captioned
V-Chip Rating:
TV-G
Awards:
2007 Telly Award
Two Emmy Nominations
Ratings from First
Season:
Ratings in the Midwest including Chicago, St. Louis and
Milwaukee, Detroit, and Cleveland were outstanding! In Chicago,
Grannies on Safari® tied for first place in its time period with ABC
and NBC!
Producer:
The Art Explorers, Inc.
in association with Brave New Pictures Inc.
Presenter: WTTW National Productions
Broadcast Distributor: A
Free Offer from American Public Television (APT), APT Exchange
Local Underwriting:
Local underwriting is
permissible
BIOS:
Pat A. Johnson
Pat Johnson is a career arts administrator the Founding
Director of San Francisco’s Museum of the
African Diaspora. Earlier, she was an Assistant Commissioner and Director of
the Chicago Artists International Program (CAIP), Executive Director of the Jamaica Center for the Arts in New York City and Founding Director
of the South Dallas Cultural Center in Texas. As a national
recognized leader in a multi-disciplinary arts management, she has been a
consultant for many arts and cultural organizations including UNESCO and the
U.S. Department of State. Her work as a Cultural Specialist includes residency
assignments in India, Ghana, Brazil, South Africa, China and Indonesia.
Regina S. Fraser
Regina
Fraser is a marketing, media and communications strategist and an energetic
world traveler. Her interest in the arts
has taken her to more than 28 countries. Currently she is a member of the
Chicago-Durban, South Africa International Sister City Program and chair of the
sub-committee on Arts & Culture. Regina serves on several boards,
including the James Jordan foundation and “Music Alive” – an educational arts
program for music in schools. She has held
management positions in corporate communications, video, advertising and
marketing, developed marketing strategies for such companies as Discovery
Channel Inc. and a United Airlines/Academy of Motion Pictures promotion, and
was a loaned executive to the Americans for the Arts and the White House
Millennium Council.
R Eisenberg Presents, Inc. regina@reisenbergpresents.com510.550.1706
2340 Powell Street,
Suite 333, Emeryville, CA94608
Available May 3, 2008
- Travel with two adventurous African American women who are best
friends to Ottawa, Warsaw & Krakow, the Caribbean, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Toronto and San Juan as they dazzle your senses and intrigue
your mind. -
Distributer: American Public Television (APT Exchange) 
R Eisenberg Presents, Inc.
