Unplanned America

Unplanned America is a gonzo television documentary series about three Australians, Pawel Jarecki, Tim 'Gonzo' Ryan and Nick Maher, who travel across America without a plan, other than to embark new adventures encountering as many unique individuals as possible.[1][2] Driving an unreliable ’99 Camry with 300,000 kilometres on the odometer they hit the road to discover the real America.[3] The trio placed their fate in the hands of the strangers they encountered along the way, in the hope of discovering a side of America that hadn’t been uncovered in backpacker travel guides.

Unplanned America
GenreDocumentary, Travel, Culture
Created byPawel Jarecki, Tim 'Gonzo' Ryan, Nick Maher
Presented byPawel Jarecki, Tim 'Gonzo' Ryan, Nick Maher
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3 x 6 episodes
Production
Production locationAmerica
Production companyUnplanned America
Release
Original networkSBS Two
Original releaseMay 2014 (2014-05)

History

In 2012 Gonzo, Parv and Nick travelled to the States in the search of the most unique, challenging and inspiring societies that the "land of the free" had to offer.[4] On a shoestring budget, funded by the three producers themselves, they travelled for six months throughout the USA, driving through more than 35 states and clocking up more than 20,000 miles.[3] They filmed stories all over the country in places as varied as the mountains of Colorado, the Californian desert, Detroit’s urban wasteland, islands off the southern tip of Texas, the rainy city of Seattle, the mean streets of south Chicago and under the bright lights of NYC.

Episodes

Season One 2014
# Title Broadcast Synopsis
1.1 "When Fantasy Meets Reality" 12 May Gonzo, Nick and Parv make their way to Seattle where they go on street patrol with the Rain City Superheroes, to learn the motivations behind the masked vigilantes much ridiculed actions. Later the guys pay a visit to the Real Doll factory in southern California, where frighteningly lifelike sex dolls are made to order for discerning customers.[5]
1.2 "Family Matters" 12 May Nick, Gonzo and Parv head to southern Illinois to attend the lawless Gathering of The Juggalos music festival for notorious fans of horror-core hip-hop group Insane Clown Posse. From the Gathering the boys head east to New York City to dive headfirst into the gay, African-American/Latino underground ballroom dance scene.[6]
1.3 "The Boyz In The Hood" 19 May With Kanye West’s former manager John Monopoly as their guide Nick, Gonzo and Parv find themselves on the dangerous streets of south-side Chicago, where they discover that music is the only way to escape the ghettos for many of the young rappers who are the face of the burgeoning Chicago rap scene.[7]
1.4 "Inhibition and Exhibition" 19 May The boys are thrown in to the deep-end of the LA porn scene as they are invited on to the set of Austin Powers XXX for three days. In contrast with this fantasy world, the boys then find themselves in the midst of a 10,000-strong nude bike ride in Portland where the human body in all its various shapes and sizes is celebrated.[8]
1.5 "Waking Up From The American Dream"[9] 26 May In Detroit, Gonzo, Parv and Nick find a city that appears to be on the brink of extinction, but are soon inspired by the proud locals who are rejuvenating the city. Later in the episode, while on a journey through the California Desert, they discover Slab City, an off-the-grid community of misfits, artists, drug addicts and hippies who have shied away from mainstream society to create their own self-governed, self-styled, community. This off-the-grid wonderland is a safe haven for squatters and unconventional snowbirds.[10]
1.6 "On The Road" 26 May Parv and Gonzo hit up spring break, hang out with UFO chasers, take a look at rockabilly culture in Las Vegas, attend a tailgate, pimp their car and do shots over a cryogenically frozen corpse[11]

Season Two 2015

In six-part series two, Gonzo, Nick and Parv will find themselves in the infamous Portland Strip club scene, get their first marijuana license, eat a 20,000 calorie burger at the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas, get tattooed at the US’s most iconic tattoo shop, meet gangsters removing their tattoos [12] and a whole lot more.

Music

The vast majority of music featured in Unplanned America is that of unsigned, independent artists such as Ryan Egan. As keen supporters of independent music No Roles For Sam reveled in the opportunity to provide exposure to a great deal of unsigned Australian, and in some case international, artists.[13]

Theme Song

The Unplanned America theme song is performed by Nick Nuisance & The Delinquents from Petersham in Sydney. The song is entitled 'Solar'.

References
  1. Tim Ryan, " The unsexy reality of life on a hardcore porn shoot", News.com.au, 19 May 2014
  2. ""It sort of evolved": An Interview with Unplanned America's Pawel "Parv" Jarecki, PopMatters". PopMatters. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  3. Tim Ryan, "Hate your job? Take a risk and don’t be afraid to get lost", "News.com.au", 10 May 2014
  4. SBS, "Programs", "SBS Two Programs"
  5. SBS, "Unplanned America Ep1 - When Fantasy Meets Reality", "SBS Two Programs"
  6. SBS, "Unplanned America Ep2 - Family Matters", "SBS Two Programs"
  7. SBS, "Unplanned America Ep3 - The Boyz In The Hood", "SBS Two Programs"
  8. SBS, "Unplanned America Ep4 - Inhibition And Exhibition", "SBS Two Programs"
  9. Netflix, "Unplanned America – Season 1 available on Netflix Australia", "Netflix Australia"
  10. Tegan Jones, "TV Review: Unplanned America – Episode 5 – 26th May 2014 (SBS2, Australia)", "THE IRIS"
  11. Tegan Jones, "TV Review: Unplanned America – Episode 6 – 26th May 2014 (SBS2, Australia)", "THE IRIS"
  12. Father Greg, "Homeboy Industries Website" , Homeboy Industries
  13. ITunes, "Unplanned America, Series 1" "ITunes Preview"
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