Drinking Made Easy

Drinking Made Easy is a pub-crawl television series that premiered in 2010[1] and airs on AXS TV in the United States. Comedian Zane Lamprey hosts a humorous bus trip around the United States and Canada, exploring the local drinking culture of various cities in the countries. In each episode, Lamprey samples popular or original cocktails and beers from bars and breweries in the area.

Drinking Made Easy
StarringZane Lamprey
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes61 (list of episodes)
Production
EditorsTravis Ford
Eric Grabowski
Running timeApprox. 30m
Release
Original networkAXS TV
Original releaseOctober 6, 2010 (2010-10-06) 
December 26, 2012 (2012-12-26)

Season two premiered with an hour long episode on October 5, 2011,[2] on HDNet.

Format

Each episode begins with an overview of the highlights of the episode. Throughout the show Zane and his friend Steve McKenna visit popular bars, breweries, and distilleries where they sample different offerings from the establishments. At bars, Zane is typically behind the bar interviewing the bartender, as well as making cocktails with the help of the bartender. At some point during the episode, McKenna (and sometimes Lamprey) will engage in an eating challenge where he attempts to eat a large portion of a signature dish from a restaurant in the area. Sometimes McKenna is trying to set a record at the restaurant, othertimes he and Zane are racing to finish first or eat the most.

Another segment found only in season one is an interview led by Marc Ryan. He typically visits a brewery or distillery on his own, and tries to learn the history and story of the business, as well as sample what they produce.

Zane and Steve hold a competition in each episode called the "Six Six-Pack Challenge" where Lamprey and McKenna face off in some sort of game and bet each other six six-packs on the outcome. The games are usually inspired by the location of the episode or the bars they visit.

Cast

  • Zane Lamprey: Host.
  • Steve McKenna: Sidekick to Zane Lamprey. He typically accompanies him to all of the bars and breweries, tries the drinks Zane mixes, and participates in the food challenge(season 1 only) and six six-pack challenge.
  • Marc Ryan: Correspondent who does his own interviews. Only in season one.
  • Wes DuBois: Wears the Pleepleus costume in each episode.

Drinking game rules

The show also doubles as a drinking game, introduced after the first commercial break in each episode. The rules are as follows:

  1. The first person to see Pleepleus in a shot can make someone else drink.
  2. The first person to notice a continuity error can make someone else drink.
  3. Whenever Zane and Steve compete during the show, pick a side. If you lose, you drink.
  4. When Zane burps, the last person to make the "Good Burp" sign (putting your thumb to your forehead) has to drink.
  5. When Marc touches someone the first person to say "touché" can make someone else drink.

Eating Challenges (Only in Season 1)

In each episode Zane challenges Steve to an eating contest. This usually involves Steve trying to finish a restaurant's specialty or Zane racing Steve to eat the most of a certain food. The eating challenges were discontinued after the first season. Zane said the reason for this was because he had always won them, which made it unfair for Steve.

Episode Location Challenge Result
S01E01PhoenixSteve has to eat a 5 pounds of Tater Tots in an hour at Chuey's Mini Bar.Not clear
S01E02Santa FeSteve takes the Fireman's 10 LB Burrito Challenge: a burrito with 10 eggs, 2 lbs potatoes, 0.5 lbs bacon, 0.5 lbs sausage, 0.5 lbs pork, 0.5 lbs beans, 0.5 lbs red chile, 0.5 lbs green chile, 0.5 lbs cheese, and 3 tortillas at Cecilia's Cafe.Fail
S01E03AustinSteve tries to break the restaurant record of 9 breakfast burritos at Juan in a Million.Fail (6.5 burritos)
S01E04DallasSteve has to eat 10 lbs chicken fried steak with 5 lbs of potatoes at the Cowtown Diner.Fail
S01E05New OrleansSteve and Zane race to see who can eat 100 Cajun spiced crawfish first at Tony Moran's.Zane (100-79)
S01E06FloridaSteve has to eat the "Kitchen Sink" (4 heaping scoops of ice cream, covered in multiple syrups, whipped cream, bananas, nuts, and maraschino cherries) at Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor.Fail
S01E07AtlantaSteve tries to break the restaurant record of 14 peach cobblers at Gladys Knight & Ron Winans Chicken & WafflesFail (9 peach cobblers)
S01E08VirginiaSteve tries to eat eight Stupid Wings at Caliente.Fail
S01E09PhiladelphiaNo eating challenge.-
S01E10New YorkZane tries to eat 30 oysters and drink a pint of Guinness in two minutes at Tracks.Success (1:05)
S01E11BostonSteve tries to eat two quarts of Clam Chowder.Success
S01E12ChicagoSteve and Zane race to finish a deep dish pizza at Giordano's.Zane
S01E13MilwaukeeSteve and Zane challenge each other to eat the most scorpions at Bad Genie.Zane
S01E14St. LouisSteve and Zane race to eat the most fried ravioli in twenty minutes at Blueberry Hill.Zane (26-22)
S01E15Kansas CitySteve, Wes and Zane race to eat three BAR-B-Q Sundaes (6 oz pork, 5 oz coleslaw, 6.5 oz beans) at B-B's.Zane
S01E16DenverSteve, Wes, and Tabor (owner) race to eat the most rocky mountain oysters in ten minutes at the Wood Cellar Bar and Grill.Tabor
S01E17Salt Lake CitySteve and Zane race to eat the most Jello cups in ten minutes.Zane
S01E18BoiseSteve and Zane race to eat the most french fries in ten minutes at Donnie Mac's Trailer Park Cuisine.Zane
S01E19PortlandSteve and Zane race to eat the most hazelnut butter and marian berry sandwiches in two minutes.Zane
S01E20NapaSteve and Zane race to eat the most stuffed grape leaves.Zane
S01E21San FranciscoSteve and Zane race to eat a sourdough bread bowl and cup of New England Clam Chowder.Zane
S01E22Las VegasSteve paired with Ryan (from the restaurant) race against Zane to eat the most fried Oreos in one minute at Aces and Ales.Zane
S01E23San DiegoSteve and Zane race to eat the most fish tacos in ten minutes at Pacific Beach Shore Club.Zane
S01E24Los AngelesNo eating challenge.-

Six Six-Pack Challenges

In each episode Zane and Steve challenge each other to a contest. The winner gets six six-packs. Marc always chooses a side before the game begins.

Season 1

EpisodeLocationChallengeWinner
S01E01Phoenix, AZMiniature golfZane
S01E02Santa Fe, NMKeg foot (keg walking)Steve
S01E03Austin, TXBilliardsSteve
S01E04Dallas, TXField goal kickingZane
S01E05New Orleans, LAFirst to finish a frozen drinkZane
S01E06FloridaGolf ball driving for distanceZane
S01E07Atlanta, GAKeg throwingZane
S01E08VirginiaBar shuffleboardZane
S01E09Philadelphia, PARace up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of ArtZane
S01E10New York, NYBeer checkersSteve
S01E11Boston, MABatting cageZane
S01E12Chicago, ILGo kart racingSteve
S01E13Milwaukee, WIBowlingZane
S01E14St. Louis, MODartsSteve
S01E15Kansas City, MOBeer pongZane
S01E16Denver, COHockey shoot outSteve
S01E17Salt Lake City, UTAlpine sled racingZane
S01E18Boise, IDSack raceZane
S01E19Portland, ORWashoosZane
S01E20Napa, CABocceSteve
S01E21San Francisco, CABackwards keg roll racingSteve
S01E22Las Vegas, NVBlackjackSteve
S01E23San Diego, CAGold fish racingSteve
S01E24Los Angeles, CANo challenge-
Wins:Zane: 13, Steve: 10

Season 2

In season two, the challenge was changed to simply the "Six Pack Challenge".

EpisodeLocationChallengeWinner
S02E01Maui, HIBike race down mountainZane
S02E01Maui, HIPaddleboarding raceZane
S02E02Kauai, HIWhile snorkeling, 1st to take a picture of Hawaii's state fishZane
S02E03Monterey, CAGolfingZane
S02E04Key West, FLOyster shucking speed contestZane
S02E05Miami, FLPlay Jai alaiZane
S02E06Tampa, FLSea Doo raceZane
S02E07St. Augustine, FLAtlatl (Seminole spear) hay-bale target practiceSteve
S02E08Savannah, GAFencing matchZane
S02E09Washington, D.C.Target practice at a gun rangeZane
S02E10Baltimore, MDLacrosseSteve
S02E11Newport, RITennisZane
S02E12Cape Cod, MASextathalon (6-event competition at Cape Cod Brewery)Steve
S02E13Portland, METhe Wife Carry (Carrying a partner around a pond)Zane
S02E14Memphis, TNClay pigeon target shooting with a shotgunSteve
S02E15Nashville, TNRoller derby raceSteve
S02E16Asheville, NCBeer taste and match testSteve
S02E17Charlotte, NCWhite water rafting raceSteve
S02E18Charleston, SCUnderwater hockeyZane
S02E19Seattle, WAFootrace to the top of the Space NeedleZane
S02E20Vancouver, BC, CAFootrace up Grouse MountainSteve
S02E21Spokane, WAPaintballZane
S02E22Missoula, MT1-on-1 game of basketballSteve
S02E23Santa Barbara, CAGrape stomping to fill a 1-gallon jugZane
S02E24Aspen, COSled race down a snow hillZane
S02E25Southern California200 cup beer pong gameSteve
Wins:Zane: 16, Steve: 10

Season Three

The first episode of Season 3 aired on October 3, 2012, at 8 pm eastern time. The episodes were:

  • Episode 1 - Houston
  • Episode 2 - San Antonio
  • Episode 3 - Baton Rouge
  • Episode 4 - Louisville
  • Episode 5 - Indianapolis
  • Episode 6 - Anchorage
  • Episode 7 - Juneau
  • Episode 8 - Quebec City
  • Episode 9 - Montreal
  • Episode 10 - Burlington
  • Episode 11 - Providence
  • Episode 12 - Montauk
  • Episode 13 - Angel City

Future

According to the official website of the show, "Due to the re-branding of AXS TV and despite the overwhelming support of the fans, Drinking Made Easy will not be continuing with a 4th season on AXS TV. While there is still a chance that the show could be picked up by other networks, Zane and the rest of the crew decided to use this opportunity to return to an international format through the new show Chug. Most of the crew of Drinking Made Easy will continue on with the new project and even crew from Three Sheets, like Executive Producer, Mike Kelly, will be joining the team. "[3]

Awards and recognition

Award Ceremony Year Category Nominee Result Source
The People's Telly Awards 2011 TV Program / Segments Drinking Made Easy Nominated [4]
The Tasty Awards 2011 Best Drink or Beverage Program: Television Won [5]
The Tasty Awards 2011 Best Comedy Series Nominated

References

  1. "Internet Movie Database". IMDb.
  2. Drinking Made Easy [@drinkingmadeasy] (31 August 2011). "It's official! Season two of Drinking Made Easy premiers with a one-hour episode on October 5th. Set your kegerators!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  3. "drinkingmadeeasy.com/featured/the-future-of-drinking-made-easy/". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  4. "The People's Telly Awards". YouTube.
  5. "2nd Annual TASTY Awards".
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