Mmmm, crunchy. . .

Andrew Zimmern’s new series, “Bizarre World,” debuts tonight at 10 p.m. on the Travel Channel. You’ll remember Zimmern as the big bald dude who traveled the world eating gross things in his former series, “Bizarre Foods.”

But while that series was occasionally interesting for its glimpses at different cultures and their delicacies that would make most Americans gag (mmmm, barbecued bugs and grilled larvae), this one looks a lot more like a mainstream travel show. I’m not really sure what this series’ hook is – Anthony Bourdain has already cornered the Travel Channel’s market for edgy travel/food shows, so maybe Zimmern’s trying to reach out to viewers looking for a tamer, more PG-rated experience.

I’ve never been a big Zimmern fan. He talks to his audience like an overenthusiastic fourth-grade teacher explaining a lesson to his students, and it often comes off as condescending. And the whole “Bizarre Foods” concept was a little too gimmicky. For me, his act got really old, really fast. Zimmern sticks out like a sore thumb too. Maybe it’s because he clashes with my personal travel style; I like to blend, to pretend I’m a local, rather than stand out as an obvious tourist. Where Bourdain makes low-key attempts (often successfully) to blend into the local populace at neighborhood bars or divey restaurants, Zimmern seems to be more like the loud gawker with the vest full of pockets and Bermuda shorts saying “HEY EVERYBODY, I’M A CURIOUS AMERICAN, LOOK AT ME!” In short, the kind of person I try to avoid when I travel.

But the big problem I have with his new show, even before I’ve seen it, is the title. “Bizarre World”? Really? To whom? Is Cuba (the subject of tonight’s show) considered by anyone to be bizarre? Geez, if so, how sheltered is his target audience? Different? Sure. Exotic, even. But bizarre? It comes off as elitist, provincial and more than a little insulting. “Oooooh, look, they play loud music and speak a different language and drive old-time cars and live under a repressive regime – how bizarre!” It just reeks of feeling superior to different cultures, and it rubs me the wrong way.

The preview doesn’t give me a whole lot of hope. I think I’ll be skipping this one:

I also deeply resent how the title reminds me of this song:

(Sorry for that. But the tune was stuck in my brain, so I just had to share my misery.)