Eugene Levy knows that he’s not the right person to host a travel show. But the Emmy-winning actor quickly realized that is exactly why he was the perfect—and maybe only—choice to be the Reluctant Traveler.
Vanity Fair has your exclusive first look at the upcoming Apple TV+ series, which finds the Schitt’s Creek cocreator and star trading in the Rosebud Motel for some of the world’s most extravagant locations. While many would jump at the opportunity to visit beautiful countries like Italy, Japan, South Africa, and Costa Rica, Levy has always been more of a staycation kind of guy, dreading everything that comes with actual vacations, from the airports to the sightseeing.
“It’s really been an eye-opener,” Levy says of the experience. “To say you’re not really keen on traveling, it’s not the greatest thing to say. It’s not something that’s impressing people. And now, I’m getting it.”
We chatted with the titular Reluctant Traveler about talking himself into the gig by talking himself out of it, worrying that he’d “torpedo” his own show, and checking things off his bucket list.
Vanity Fair: Italy has already been at the top of my dream vacation list, and your Venice episode only solidified that. So thanks for the nice kick in the butt to go hurry up and book that trip.
Eugene Levy: Italy I’ve always loved. It’s actually my favorite place, because, well, number one, the food, but it’s just a gorgeous place. It was my first time in Venice, and if you’ve never been, I would highly recommend.
Speaking of trips, you’re currently on one as we speak, right? Is that for the show?
I’m currently in Newfoundland, looking after my five-month-old grandson while my daughter is working, and I’ve never been more exhausted in my life. Never, never, never.
Okay, so not as glamorous as what you do on Reluctant Travelerbut still fitting that you’re traveling while we talk traveling.
I have to say, sadly, being Canadian, it is my first time in Newfoundland. It’s not necessarily the best time of year to come to Newfoundland, because the weather’s been miserable. Just cold, rain, fog, snow, I mean, everything. So I miss L.A. right now, but it’s been a great experience so far, but, exhausting, looking after a little five month old. And we had to work this in around his schedule.
I appreciate him letting me borrow you for a little. So let’s start where The Reluctant Traveler started. How did this come about?
It’s an interesting story. I was going to say funny, but I should never be the judge when I’m talking. [Laughs.] So I get a call from my agent, who says, “We had a call from Apple and they want you to host a show about exotic hotels around the world,” which, anybody else would go, “Woo! That’s something!” And I thought, that’s kind of appealing, because I do like a good hotel. But it’s a travel show, and I’m not really the best person to host this. It’s not that I don’t like traveling, it’s just I don’t love traveling. And I’m not a chatty person in real-life, and I think you have to have that gift when you’re doing a show like this. I’m not a curious person, I have a very low sense of adventure. I’m not the person for this!
So I said, “Thank them very much, but I’m going to pass on this. I think they can get somebody better.” And then I get a call back saying, “They really want to talk to you,” and I said, “I don’t see the point, but I’ll talk to them and explain why I’m not the person for the job. I went through all these reasons why I’m not the person: “I don’t do this. I don’t have an exotic palette for food. I’m basically a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Don’t give me a dish and put an egg on it and have it drip all over the food—wouldn’t eat it.” And I was getting laughs on the phone, and I thought, this is great, because I’m making my point and it’s not a heavy conversation. What I found out afterward was that they had a conversation after we hung up and said, “That’s the show. It’s not a show about hotels, it’s a travel show with someone who is not that keen on traveling.” So then they called me back, and I listened to the argument and I understood that. I mean, it’s kind of like a show that was playing into my own weaknesses, where I didn’t have to be somebody that I’m necessarily not. But even after I said okay, I still had reservations, because just getting through an airport is enough to make me want to stay home.
