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Ocean_Islands
| Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 5:15 pm
Southwest Airlines stars in TV 'reality show' DALLAS (AP) The star of the next reality television show isn't a model, an actor or a beach-dwelling survivor; it's an airline. The show follows employees of Southwest Airlines as they deal with weather delays, blackouts and passengers who are running late or too drunk or too smelly to board the plane. There are unhappy travelers and a few shouting matches. Airline begins Monday night 1/5/04 on the A&E Network, which plans to air 18 half-hour episodes. A&E executives believe it will make compelling television that travelers can easily grasp. "When you go to cocktail parties, there is always somebody talking about the long delay on their last flight. Everyone in the room wants to share their travel stories — the love-hate relationship we have with air travel," said Nancy Dubuc, vice president of documentary programming at A&E. "It's that common connection." A&E officials said they approached all the largest U.S. carriers with the idea for the show, modeled on a program of the same name that has aired in the United Kingdom for more than six years. A&E wanted an airline with international routes, which Southwest lacks, but other carriers turned the network down. Colleen Barrett, president and chief operating officer of low-cost Southwest, said yes. "What possessed me?" Barrett said when asked to explain her decision. "When I was first approached I said, 'You've got to be kidding me.' " Southwest's publicity people, however, were excited about the idea. Barrett agreed to look at tapes of the U.K. show — she pronounced it "OK" — and talked to officials at easyJet, the London-based budget carrier featured in the program. "The easyJet people told me they felt (the show) literally put them on the map," Barrett said. "I started thinking ... it's basically 18 hours of free publicity. You can't buy that kind of PR." Along with constant shots of Southwest planes and people, the show includes frequent praise for Southwest's customer service — delivered matter-of-factly by the narrator. At the same time, many of the scenes show unhappy travelers complaining about one thing or another. A few vow never to fly Southwest again, and the show's overall tone doesn't exactly glorify air travel. A&E and Dallas-based Southwest said the airline didn't pay or receive money for taking part in the show and had no control over content. Southwest, however, was allowed to request a voice-over narration to give "context" to explain treatment of specific customer complaints. Barrett called the decision to cooperate "a gamble." She acknowledged wishing that the producers had not included a scene that highlighted the airline's policy of requiring very fat passengers to buy two seats. "There's not another carrier out there that doesn't have the same policy," Barrett said. "But that's real life. We have a pretty darn good reputation as far as customer service satisfaction, so I thought we could handle it." Barrett said the program might even make passengers behave better by showing them the stress that airline employees face every day. The producers — the U.S. division of Granada plc, which also produces the U.K. original — spent six months shooting video at Los Angeles International Airport and Chicago's Midway Airport. A&E solicited story ideas from Southwest customers. In one episode, a passenger let cameras follow him as he proposed to his girlfriend in mid-flight. For the most part, however, Dubuc said, crews simply showed up at the gate or ticket counter and kept their cameras rolling until something interesting happened. She said none of the scenes were scripted or set up to heighten conflict. A&E, which lacks a breakout show such as Trading Spaces on basic cable-rival TLC or The Shield on FX, hopes Airline will attract a younger audience, she said. Dubuc said A&E is now hearing from airlines that turned down the chance to appear on the show — she wouldn't identify them. Neither the network nor Southwest would commit to a second season.
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Juju2bigdog
| Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 8:55 pm
Sounds like fun. I will watch it, if I can remember.
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Scorpiomoon
| Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 9:34 pm
And when will the Weather Channel finally get into the act and come up with their reality TV show?
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Mware
| Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 9:20 am
Weather Channel presents...The Life of a Cold Front Tune in each week to follow a cold front as it tracks across the United States, interacting with the jet stream, shore breezes, lake effects, mountain ranges, and lots more! Each week it visits a different state, and depending upon the moisture content in the air, it might make rain, or even snow! <Cut to scene of a mom making dinner for the family> "Make sure you guys dress warm tomorrow. The cold front is coming through!" The Life of a Cold Front...only on Weather Channel. Check local listings for showtimes.
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Roteach
| Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 11:33 am
I remember watching the UK version of Airplane and loving it. I even watched in reruns. I hope this US version is as good.
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Scorpiomoon
| Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 12:29 pm
LOL Mware! Good one! Brilliant!
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Konamouse
| Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 12:55 pm
Hey, the Weather Channel started the trend with Storm Watch and tornado chasing <grin> 'squeek'
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Sherbabe
| Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 2:04 pm
Can't wait to see this show. I'm an ex airline employee. (Eastern Airlines) We always used to say we could write a book about some of our expierences over the years.
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Tess
| Monday, January 05, 2004 - 1:01 am
Oh my goodness, Mware. That was funny.
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Gina8642
| Monday, January 05, 2004 - 12:57 pm
I took a business class in college. Southwest was beloved in that class. Sounds like they have a wacky 'have fun' attitude toward work. The show should be good if it can bring this accross. They are the only small airline that consistently makes money and has a good safety record.
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Seamonkey
| Monday, January 05, 2004 - 1:26 pm
Tonight!! right after the start of House of Dreams.. and at the same time as Average Joe 2
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Scorpiomoon
| Monday, January 05, 2004 - 9:41 pm
I really liked this show! I've never worked for an airline nor do I hang out in airports too much so it took me by surprise at just how obnoxious and weird people can be. Wow. I admire the staff for being able to keep their composure. I wouldn't be able to. This show is way more captivating than I thought it would be.
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Seamonkey
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 12:19 am
I agree, loved it.. should be great PR for SWA.. uh, but while the fun is fun to watch, I'm glad my SW flights have been short and not too filled with frivolity.. but better that than grumpy. Gives me renewed respect for that job..
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Scorpiomoon
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 1:30 am
Seamonkey: Yeah. Those attendents were a little over the top. I know I'd get annoyed very quickly with the "frivolity". And speaking of respect, man, I completely admire the one woman who told the guy he couldn't get on the flight because he smelled bad. She was so kind and compassionate. OI: thanks for starting this thread. I wouldn't have known about this show if it wasn't for you.
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Mak1
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 7:29 am
This show was good! I'm really surprised by some of the things the employees have to handle in a day. A couple of the problems could be avoided if SWA would better inform the travelers of their regulations at the time they purchase their tickets (e.g...the need for very large people to buy 2 seats, and the need to show proof of age for under-2-yr-olds). Scorpio, I was so impressed with that employee too. She handled a difficult, potentially very embarrassing situation in such a caring and respectful manner. I was especially glad they fed him too.
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Sillycalimomma
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 10:07 am
I liked this show as well.I have flown on Southwest a lot actually and have never seen any of these things! Poor workers! We actually flew Southwest with our daughter when she was under two and it clearly stated when we purchased our tickets that we would need to show proof of age for our child. I always carry her birth certificate when we travel with her anyhow-am I paranoid? Those parents seemed way too upset! Maybe it's just me, but I have learned lately that there is no point in getting mad like that. All that yelling and screaming didn't change a thing. A policy for a company is in place for a reason and the generally don't bend the rules. Yelling and screaming is just going to make the entire situation worse for everyone involved. Loved the customers who were drunk and too-that one guy cursing and yelling then trying to convince them to let him still fly! Too funny....
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Scorpiomoon
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 10:19 am
Sillycalimomma: I agree about not getting upset. I can understand being frustrated and needing to vent, but venting to the person who can help you is shooting yourself in the foot. I was thinking, after that mother was being rude to the supervisor and then the supervisor escorted them through security so they could make their flight, if I were that supervisor I would have made them late and have to wait for the next flight. Screw them. How these employees can still be gracious and think of the customers first is beyond me. I know this is all played up for the cameras and I'm sure there are SW employees who are just as mean as the customers, but seeing things in this context really does make you sympathize with the employees.
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Dahli
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 10:32 am
Oh DARN! missed this, because we were watching AJ2 instead... blech does anyone know if this will be replayed??
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Mamie316
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 10:59 am
These workers really have to remain so cool. That guy handled it well when the drunk was all over him. And the poor girl with the smelly man! She handled it very well.
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Seamonkey
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 11:05 am
It was vastly superior to AJ2.. It replayed later last night.. not sure when it will repeat again. I suspect that for the sake of the other employees she wanted that family out of their airport ASAP. I realize buying a seat for a child is costly but what if there was a rough landing? Sure they are hoping they'll cop a free seat between them but if the flight is full, kid is on their lap, kicking the seat in front of him and if there is turbulence he's not belted in.. very dangerous in that he may fly around the interior, or be smushed between mom and the seat ahead.. and then if oxygen is needed they are suddenly short a mask for the child and surely it would have been worth it to just buy him a seat. AHA.. here at least, it DOES repeat.. on Sunday 1/11 at 3pm.. both episodes repeat, half hour each..
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Dahli
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 11:17 am
Oh THANK YOU Seamonkey - I am excited, being in the travel industry for miore than 25 years (yikes) this show is going to be a favourite I think!
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Juju2bigdog
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 11:19 am
Very cute show. It is going to do a world of good for Southwest. I read somewhere that other airlines turned it down. I have flown on some of those cutesy Southwest flights. They do it on both short flights and long flights, but on long flights they don't keep up the banter the whole time. To me it is way more fun than annoying. Sometimes the flight attendants sing little songs about buckling up, etc. into the microphone. They almost always tell little jokes.
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Seamonkey
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 12:03 pm
I agree it should be a huge boost for Southwest and the industry in general. Dahli, I was almost as excited as you are that it will be repeated for anyone who missed it last night!! I'll be interested in hearing reactions of those in the industry and frequent travellers too.. yeah, YOU, Juju I've travelled enough myself to appreciate that these people can make a big difference and I certainly try to treat them with respect.
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Babyruth
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 12:13 pm
DANG!! I missed it! Thanks, Sea, for the info on repeats.
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Gina8642
| Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 12:40 pm
It repeats in the middle of the night as well. I'm picking up on TiVo around 3am. Haven't watched it yet - hoping it will be good!
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