Gerhard Reinke's Wanderlust

infobox television
show_name = Gerhard Reinke's Wanderlust


caption =
format = Comedy
runtime = 30 minutes
creator = Josh Gardner
Tom Stern
starring = Josh Gardner
country = United States
network = Comedy Central
first_aired = March 8, 2003
last_aired = April 12, 2003
num_episodes = 6
imdb_id = 0358829|

Gerhard Reinke's Wanderlust was a show on Comedy Central that featured writer-comedian Josh Gardner as a German backpacker hosting a fictional television show in which he explored various cultural areas on a traveler's budget. Gerhard often found himself in strange or awkward predicaments such as being kidnapped by militants, becoming the victim of organ bandits, and being viciously attacked by Bigfoot.

There is a fairly large online fanbase left from the show, due mostly to late night re-runs. There have been many online petitions to either put the show back on the air or at least release a DVD.

=Episode list=

Episodes

101 - Thailand

To prove his globetrotter prowess, Gerhard "randomly" selects Thailand (initially Siberia, but the less-than-enthused traveler cuts to the former) as the first adventure for the show. He first visits some spots in Bangkok, where he receives a painful Thai massage, views the world's largest Reclining Buddha, goes for a ride in a rickshaw à la Taxicab Confessions, and performs in a comedy club. While at the club, he is treated to a bathroom massage which causes him to become pee shy. The shame of this condition plagues him for the length of the episode. He then visits a strip club where he witnesses the "ping pong ball trick" and, unable to pay his tab, is forced to perform it himself. Gerhard then travels to the hills of Chiang Mai where he visits a local tribe and participates in Muay Thai (a Thai martial art), becomes sick riding an elephant, and is rendered inaudible by a waterfall. Gerhard conducts a highly comical reenactment of the story of Buddha to better understand the region and its signature religion. Koh Samui and the Big Buddha Temple is the show's next destination, however, observing the custom of removing one's footwear is hindered by Gerhard's fear of the fungi and bacteria likely inhabiting the grounds. Instead, our host chooses to enter the holy place wearing oversized novelty feet. After conversing in Norwegian with a Dutch man about the quality of the Finnish people, Gerhard travels to Koh Phi Phi where he encounters several animals, engages in a flatulence contest with an elephant, and goes snorkeling, where he is chased by an aggressive, though small, jellyfish. Feeling that the island's very name is mocking his bashful bladder, he takes refuge in nearby Koh Hip Pi, where he witnesses rocks shaped like genitalia, learns to meditate, and practices Tai Chi. In a shaming experience, Gerhard is unable to urinate on his own foot after treading on a sea urchin, instead a complete stranger provides his to relieve the pain. Gerhard's last stop is Ko Pha Ngan, where he attends the monthly Full Moon Party, a hot-spot for travelers. The day following the party, in a triumphant moment, Gerhard overcomes his "stage fright" and let's forth his stream into the ocean. Outtakes are shown over the closing credits of the episode which include Gerhard slipping over in an outdoor shower and being charged by a water buffalo.

102 - Ireland

Gerhard Reinke travels to the Emerald Isle in hopes of realizing his lifelong dream of becoming the world's next greatest novelist. Gerhard is an admirer of the country's rich literary tradition which included writers such as James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde and, quite erroneously, Dean Koontz though having never actually read any of their works. After visiting a local writers museum Gerhard beings his novel, which focuses on a traveler bent on satisfying women with his impressive "erotic arsenal." At a visit to the Guinness Brewery he learns much about the process of beermaking, enjoys a free pint and encounters the Johnson sisters, the world's second tallest identical twins who would soon factor into his erotica. Gerhard then partakes in a traditional Irish stepdance and professes his love for Riverdance. In an attempt to provide an etymology lesson, Gerhard reveals that many English words actually originated from Irish towns; the examples being Limerick ("a bawdy form of poetry"), Donnybrook ("a drunken brawl") and Cunnilingus ("to French kiss a woman's vagina). Our traveler subsequently visits the Rock of Cashel at the same time taking shots at the "disappointing" Nicholas Cage and Sean Connery ("in a wig") movie The Rock, and the city of Cork where he stays in an eccentric bed and breakfast and encounters hooligans. Gerhard's next stop is Blarney Castle where he hopes to receive the gift of gab by kissing the famous Blarney Stone, but he is instead strickened with a cold sore which draws ridicule from the public and forces him to heal for two weeks in Barbados. Upon return to County Kerry, Gerhard plays golf with a Catholic priest who is less than amused with his on-course antics. In Doolin, a town famous for its music, Reinke attempts to incorporate the theremin into the traditional folk sounds. At Dingle Gerhard takes in the views of the beehive houses and Fungi the Dolphin before a thumb injury sidelines him in Barbados once again. Though Gerhard finally decides to buckle down on his book he unfortunately comes down with extreme writer's block and begins pub crawling in efforts to find himself. It only worsens as he drinks himself into a coma lasting some 24 days and incurs minor brain damage. After physical therapy and encouragement from those around him, he finishes his book "Irish Wood" which is self-published in the end.

103 - The Andes

Highlights from Gerhard's travels in the Andes inc;Getting addicted to Coca leaves and being kidnapped by the rebel group P.U.B.E (pronounced "poo-bay"); and a visit to Machu Picchu the wonder of which confounds Gerhard's English and German vocabularies and forces him to use the Italian word "impressivo" to convey the spectacle.

104 - California

Gerhard makes his way from Venice to Humboldt. He spends time with hippies and catches several glimpses of Bigfoot (who has a very odd gait).

=105 - The Amazon=

Gerhard travels the Amazon hoping to uncover the mystery of his great-grandfather's disappearance. Highlights include a taxidermy exhibit, a wildlife park (featuring an irascible monkey and a stunt-performing sloth), and visits to many native villages. Gerhard is also taken on a 'spirit journey' to communicate with his long, lost grandfather by a native medicine man - however the great-grandfather that appears is not Gerhard's. Throughout the episode Gerhard is repeatedly attacked by the monkey from the wildlife park.

106 - Baja

Highlights from Gerhard's adventures in Baja include;A brief bout of food poisoning, meeting a shaman who attempts to steal Gerhard's kidney whilst under the influence of dung from a peyote eating coyote, becoming catatonic after using a machismo tester, and buying a foam iguana from a man named Froggy.

External links

*
* [http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/wanderlust/index.jhtml Wanderlust on ComedyCentral.com]
* [http://press.comedycentral.com/press/ccseries/series.jhtml?s=wanderlust Comedy Central Press Central - Press Release, Bio and Photos] Video
* [http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/wanderlust/videos/season_1/index.jhtml ComedyCentral.com - Video: Various Episode Clips]