For awhile, those “My experimental year” books were all the rage:  One year  …living without products made in China …following the Bible as literally as possible …eating locally … more eating locally …living with less …giving up unnecessary shopping …working minimum wage jobs …and on and on…

To start the new year, I have noticed a mini-theme emerging on television:  Travel shows revolving around a quirky theme.

Adam Richman, host of the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, travels the nation, attempting to eat an array of enormously-proportioned food, including a 2.5 lb Dagwood sandwich (he finished!) and a 7.5 lb hamburger (not quite!).   Here’s a list of his food travels, in case you’re interested in following the fullness.

Wreckreation Nation, from Discovery, features host Dave Mordal travelling the nation, searching out unusual competitions and traditions such as lawnmower racing and catfish grabbing.

Looks like many of these travel with a theme jobs are already well-staffed:  Eating (thanks a lot, Andrew and Tony!), visiting various haunted places (no thanks!), solving ancient mysteries, treasure hunting, visiting the most eco-friendly homes.  If I’m going to host one of these shows, then I’ll have to find some obscure niche somewhere… maybe I’ll bring Sufjan Stevens around to the 48 states he hasn’t written albums about yet for inspiration and hijinks.