The show Three Sheets just appeared as a blip on our radar, but it’s already beginning its fourth season. What took us so long? Three Sheets spent its formative years on the now-defunct MOJO HD network (which we can’t recall ever watching), but has just transitioned to the higher-profile (?) Fine Living Network, garnering some media attention during the switch. The show is hosted by comedian Zane Lamprey (better known as host of Food Network’s Have Fork, Will Travel); in each episode, Lamprey travels to a different destination and attempts to experience the local drinks, drinking culture, and hangover cure. (The show’s name comes from the nautical slang for “drunk.”).
Three Sheets is slickly edited, keeping a fast pace while managing to pack an arsenal of fairly formulaic elements into each episode (consisting of a basic historical/cultural overview of the area being visited, Lamprey visiting at least one bar plus a professional brewery and/or home brewer, a “filmstrip” by “The Professor” with some of the science behind the alcohol, Lamprey becoming a rather friendly drunk, and finally, some sort of remedy for the aftereffects the following morning). While you’d be correct in assuming that there is food involved too, you’d be wrong in categorizing Three Sheets as an alcoholic version of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (even Bourdain himself is miffed by the Lamprey comparison). Instead, it’s better to view Three Sheets as a humor program that happens to contain some factual information about booze and travel. Whereas Bourdain is a chef, Lamprey’s a comedian who enjoys a drink and wants to have a good time (and encourages you to as well, providing rules for turning Three Sheets into a drinking game in the Costa Rica episode).
Though the comedy here is limited mostly to intrusive sound effects, freeze frames of Lamprey smiling like a commercial model alongside each new liquor he meets, and other frat-boy approved buffoonery, Lamprey still manages to be a more confidence-inspiring travel guide than other entertainers who have tried their hand at this genre (Tara Reid and Bridget Marquardt, we’re looking at you). He’s even more watchable than a few more seasoned travel hosts (witness the eternally-hapless Samantha Brown). So while Three Sheets might not be the next No Reservations, think of it as the culinary complement to Myth Busters, over-simplified voiceover commentary and all.
Three Sheets airs on weeknights at 10pm on the Fine Living Network. It can also be seen on Hulu.
i watched the barcelona episode. I used to be a regular at one spot he visited (Vaso de Oro…the food was more of a draw than the beer. which was good, but not special), which was cool.
that said, you’re right to not think of it as a foodie type of show…he missed countless classic drinks to try (leche de pantera, tinto de verano, the housemade cava at la xampagneria (I have no idea how to spell that, btw), claras, and arujo to name a couple staples), went to the American bar while there instead of an actual locals place, asked some inane questions about cava, and calling a sangria that involved using fanta and sugar as “high end” stuff.
but it was fun to watch when i had 20 free minutes. i don’t want to sound like i hated it…just don’t watch it for the new drinking info, more for the fun of watching a comedian get drunk and make progressively worse jokes. which is actually really fun.
This show sucks, as does the host
Thirsty Traveler was a more educational-type show. But I don’t think they’re shooting new ones any time soon (if at all).
If you have Digital cable, you would have received MOJO. It was a great channel that also hosted a wine show as well as live music performances in its Live from London show. It’s now defunct I think. I’m so glad FLN picked this up. It’s a lot of fun. The Belgium, Croatia, and Champagne episodes are my favorites. Go Zane!