Traveling to New York? Hop aboard the red TMZ Tour NYC bus to take a juicy bite of the star-studded Big Apple.
Soaking up the glitz of pop-culture is one of my guilty vices and TMZ is my go-to source for a juicy fix. Watching the show, I often thought it would be fun to follow a TMZ crew as they scoped out Hollywood’s streets in search of today’s relevant celebrities.
Guess what? TMZ Tours are offered in California and New York! Best of all, TMZ staff dish out campy humor, nostalgic history and juicy gossip during the 2.5 hour tour.
The TMZ Tour NYC Experience
I took this tour last November during a quick business trip to the City and really enjoyed it. What made it different from other guided tours I’ve taken is the focus on the present and who and what’s hot now rather than what was relevant 20 years or even a few years ago. It’s also interactive with the witty guide playing video clips, answering questions and keeping your eyes open to spot celebs.
The comfy TMZ Tour bus leads on a magical ride where you’ll chase the footsteps made by such celebrities as Kim Kardashian’s and hear tales about other 21st century pop-culture icons such as Beyonce, Jim Carey and Lindsay Lohan.
As the bus navigated through New York’s crazy traffic, I felt as though I was on a nature tour on a quest to spot wildlife. Rather than trying to determine if that lump over by the bushes was a bear or a tree stump, I had to figure out if the man with helluva good hair, black leather jacket and hint of eyeliner was someone famous or just another New York hipster.
Who I Saw…
Just like wildlife, celebrities can be unpredictable creatures. Although the tour drove through neighborhoods where television shows were filming (my guide Robert Peterpaul taught me what a filming permit looked like), we didn’t see any celebrities. It was almost like taking a tour to view birds and not spot a single bird, not even a pigeon or seagull.
Although the celeb sightings were nil, the tales were compelling and entertaining. Navigating through various neighborhoods, including a stop at the not-so-mythical crossroads of douchery, RP had a lot of material to work with and keep the group engaged. He also pointed out places such as eateries, where celebrities typically chill. As advertised, the TMZ Tour showed me “where celebrities go to party, play and get into trouble.”
Nuts & Bolts of the TMZ Tour NYC
In the event we spotted an elusive pop-culture icon, TMZ staff keep a camera on hand to document the moment. The fancy camera is an iPhone tripped out with a microphone and other nifty gadgets. Dang! I should’ve snapped a photo!
Did I mention cupcakes are involved on this tour, too? Participants on my tour were each given a petite cupcake said to be a favorite of Beyoncé.
The tour included a stop in SoHo to stretch my legs and if I hadn’t seen the one in Miami, I could have walked to Dash, the clothing retail store owned by the Kardashian sisters.
Oh, and if you want some free TMZ swag, when the guide asks for a volunteer, be the first to raise your hand. I can’t guarantee you’ll be rewarded but I’d say chances are pretty good you will be.
The TMZ Tour is offered by On Location Tours and like snowflakes, no two tours would be the same because the “wildlife” always changes. I’d definitely take the tour again and if pop-culture is your thing, I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy this tour, too. I just wish Harvey would’ve made a guest appearance!
Disclosure: For review purposes I was a guest of On Location Tours. Opinions are my own and this post has not been reviewed by the host.
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