Press Kit
Rudy Maxa's World press release "Escape to French Polynesia" — February 2012
"Escape to French Polynesia" Debuts from APT Feb. 7: 'It's More Than a Honeymoon Destination'
St. Paul, MN--Just in time for winter's February, popular public television travel show host Rudy Maxa delivers a one-hour special show bound to turn thoughts toward palm trees and azure waters.
"Escape to French Polynesia" is a high-definition look at some of the world's most fascinating tropical islands that are sprinkled across the South Pacific like emeralds.
"The unique mash up of the Polynesian and French cultures makes this, I think, an especially interesting show," says Maxa. "French Polynesia is so much more than a honeymoon destination."
An "overseas country" of France, the Polynesian islands were visited by Dutch, English, and French explorers and missionaries in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Along with the Europeans came diseases that killed most of the native population who at first greeted visitors as demi-gods thanks, in part, to their weapons.
In addition to their natural beauty, the islands are known worldwide as the last home and burial place of artist Paul Gaugin, who painted the people and topography of Polynesia while also scandalizing residents with his libertine lifestyle. Maxa visits Gaugin's grave on one of the small islands in the Marquesas group, far from the better-known islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora. (Musician Jacque BrellÕs grave shares the same, tiny cemetery on the island of Hiva Ora.)
With stunning underwater and aerial photography, Maxa shows viewers the beaches of Bora Bora and the main market on Tahiti, where chocolate croissants share shelf space with spicy fish soup and local vegetables. He spends a couple of days on board the only cruise ship that sails the islands, the Paul Gaugin, and visits an archipelago where the owner of a black pearl farm explains the intricacies of nurturing oyster beds.
Join Maxa as he explores some of the 130 islands- spread over nearly a million square miles of oceanŃof a tropical paradise with a fascinating past: French Polynesia.
********************Rudy Maxa, one of America's premier consumer travel experts, is host and executive producer of "Rudy Maxa's World." He's also host and co-executive producer of five earlier seasons of shows - the 65-episode "Smart Travels" series - that highlighted cities and regions in Europe and the Pacific Rim.
Maxa is a former Washington Post investigative reporter whose political reporting was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He turned to travel journalism 18 years ago when he began the popular "Savvy Traveler" segment on public radio's nationwide business show, Marketplace. Maxa is a contributing editor with National Geographic Traveler magazine where his articles have earned two Lowell Thomas awards for excellence in travel writing. His articles have also appeared in Forbes, GQ, Travel & Leisure, Town & Country Travel, Worth, USA Today, Modern Maturity, the Los Angeles Times, and dozens of other publications.
Maxa's weekend radio show, "Rudy Maxa's World," is the country's most widely syndicated travel talk radio show.
DVDs of Rudy Maxa's World as well as a CD, "Music From Rudy Maxa's World," are available for purchase at www.maxa.tv
Rudy Maxa's World: Escape to French Polynesia is a joint production of RMW Productions and Bleu Lagon Productions. Twin Cities Public Television is the presenting station, and the program is distributed by American Public Television. "Escape to French Polynesia" is underwritten by Delta Air Lines and the Korea Tourism Organization.
About Bleu Lagon Productions
Established in Tahiti - French Polynesia for more than 15 years, Bleu Lagon Productions is specialized in producing and Co-producing documentaries and programs for the French TV and other International customers. Bleu Lagon Productions has produced several shows for France 3 Thalassa, Planète Thalassa, France 5, Arte, RFO Polynesia, 1st, Prodom, Seasons, KTO, France Ô,, RTBF, Discovery HD, PBS. Headquarters based in Papeete with offices in Los Angeles and Paris. For more information: www.bleulagon.tv
About tpt National Productions
tpt National Productions a division of Twin Cities Public Television (tpt), the PBS affiliate for Minneapolis/St. Paul. tpt National Productions is among the primary content producers for the public television system. In addition to crafting award-winning series, documentaries and specials, tpt National Productions amplifies its reach and impact through innovative websites, educational outreach programs and community engagement initiatives. tpt productions include national Primetime Emmy Award winners Benjamin Franklin and The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's; Peabody winner Depression: Out of the Shadows; Hoop Dreams, named the number one documentary of all time by the International Documentary Association; and Writer's Guild Award Nominees Alexander Hamilton and Dolley Madison. tpt National Productions has originated science series including the Emmy Award winners NewtonÕs Apple and SciGirls. tpt's productions and presentations for APT include Make: the DIY series for a new generation; the personal finance series Right on the Money with Chris Farrell; Health Diary with Siobhan Cleary; and A St. Thomas Christmas. Additional information is available at tpt.org/national.
About American Public Television
American Public Television (APT) has been a leading distributor of high-quality, top-rated programming to America's public television stations since 1961. Since 2004, APT has distributed approximately half of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles. Among its 300 new program titles per year are prominent documentaries, news and current affairs programs, dramatic series, how-to programs, childrenÕs series and classic movies, including For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots, A Ripple of Hope, Rick Steves' Europe, Newsline, Globe Trekker, Simply Ming, Rudy Maxa's World, Joseph Rosendo's Travelscope, America's Test Kitchen From Cook's Illustrated, Lidia's Italy, P. Allen Smith's Garden Home, Midsomer Murders, Moyers & Company, Doc Martin, Rosemary & Thyme, BBC World News, The Rat Pack: Live and Swingin', Johnny Mathis: Wonderful, Wonderful! and John Denver: The Wildlife Concert. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. In 2006, APT launched and nationally distributed Create© - the TV channel featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming. APT is also a partner in the WORLD ™ channel expansion project including its web presence at WORLDcompass.org. For more information about APT's programs and services, visit APTonline.org. For more information on Create, visit CreateTV.com.
Contact
Ana Scofield | RMW Productions | info@rudymaxasworld.com | +1 800-387-8025
