Sample Press Release
Rick Steves' New Insider's Europe Pledge Special
Rick Steves will be hosting a two-hour Insider's Europe pledge special beginning this March on KXXX. In this special Steves shares a sneak peak at his upcoming series, pre-releasing a never-before-seen episode on Burgundy. In the land of France's finest vineyards, we'll glide with Steves idyllically on a luxurious canal barge, drop in on a thriving monastic happening, explore a mom and pop chateau, and slurp scrumptious escargot fresh from the market. Then (to celebrate a hundred episodes produced since 1990) Steves takes us behind the camera during his Milano shoot to reveal how he and his crew make the show. The finale: that same Milano episode from Leonardo and La Scala to romantic Lago di Como all polished up and ready for prime time.
The show follows host/producer/writer Rick Steves' travel philosophy, encouraging Americans to delve deep into Europe and become "temporary locals," learning not only about major cities but also about cozy "Back Door" villages away from tourist-trampled routes. As in Steves' 30+ best-selling travel books, Rick Steves' Europe helps American travelers connect much more intimately with Europe — and Europeans — for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay. The series is filled with visually and historically rich and entertaining adventures that are unique to Steves' style for teaching travel.
Since 1990, Steves has become a top pledge-drive host for public television, raising over one million dollars for them annually. A best-selling author, Steves self-published the first edition of his travel skills book, Europe Through the Back Door, in 1980. He now has over 30 guidebooks, and his Italy guidebook is the best selling international guidebook in the U.S. In addition to his guidebooks, Rick is a syndicated newspaper columnist with the Tribune Media Services and is a regular on the op-ed page of USA Today. He appears frequently on television, radio, and the Internet as the leading authority on independent European travel.
The Rick Steves' Europe film crew consists of Steves, co-producer Simon Griffith, and editor Steve Cammarano. The show is produced by Back Door Productions based at Steves' corporate headquarters, Europe Through The Back Door Inc., in Edmonds, WA. Oregon Public Broadcasting presents the series, and is distributed through American Public Television. To learn more about Rick Steves' books, tours, television projects, and radio program visit www.ricksteves.com.
For review tapes, photos, interviews, contact Ashley Sytsma at Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door, 130 Fourth Avenue North, Edmonds, WA 98020, Tel: 425-608-4293 / Fax: 425-771-0833 / ashley@ricksteves.com.