Mark Gray

VP, Programming
FremantleMedia Enterprises

Getting whisked away to an exotic destination, experiencing a new culture that seems almost otherworldly in comparison to your own, and having a decadent meal when you get there—it seems quite out of reach for many people nowadays, as many grow more concerned about the finances of everyday life than satisfying their sense of adventure. But there’s a host of lifestyle series on offer from FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) that can scratch that itch, transporting viewers right into the thick of new cultural environments.

And many programs on FME’s slate do so with a unique bend, melding genres and putting a central focus on strong personalities. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, which has 22 new one-hour episodes on offer, is a prime example. "Anthony Bourdain has a big personality, and it has become one of the cornerstones of the show," says Mark Gray, the VP of programming for FME. “His passion and unique approach to food, combined with the exotic travel elements of the program, have proven a real attraction for people.”

Also in the food-and-travel vein, Jamie’s America centers on chef Jamie Oliver as he heads to the States to sample many of the culinary delights the country has to offer. Feasty Boys is another FME series that features gastronomic adventures. In it, Jon Mayer and Jim Stump discover different American cities that have become "home" to a particular food, while meeting the locals who love it.

"All these hosts are passionate about what they do and bring a unique perspective to food and travel. Some are discovering new places and some are exploring in their own back yard. We’ve got Australian chef Bill Granger coming back in Bill’s Holidaywhich is part personal pilgrimage, part travelogue, with an emphasis firmly on food.”

Many of FME’s series cast a wide net for viewers, which is different from the cooking and lifestyle shows of yore. "Ten or 15 years ago they were largely studio-based, aimed at a specific demographic ," Gray explains of the audience shift. "Now these programs have found fans across a much broader group who are interested in food, travel and adventure. That’s been a key change for the genre. ."

Targeting anyone who’s got the travel bug, Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches features Playboy alum Bridget Marquardt venturing to the likes of Australia, Ibiza, Thailand and Turks and Caicos to discover what makes these hot spots so hot. And focused on adventures of the cultural variety, Mark & Olly: Living with the Machigenga follows adventurer Mark Anstice and journalist Olly Steeds as they immerse themselves in a remote tribe living in Peru.

From the blue-chip Emmy Award-winning UNIVERSUM strand comes Africa’s Dragon Mountains, O2: The Molecule that Made the World and From Freezer to Furnace. The one-hour doc Africa’s Dragon Mountains follows an array of animals that make their home amongst the impossible terrain and unpredictable weather conditions of the region. Also a one-hour production, O2: The Molecule that Made the World uses CGI and live-action reconstructions to follow the journey of a molecule of oxygen over a span of thousands of millions of years. The doc From Freezer to Furnace examines how humans, plants and animals adapt to living in the hottest and coldest environmental conditions.