TV Review: ‘Après Ski’ Premieres Monday, November 2 On Bravo

Review by Ryan Unger

You can’t think of reality television without Bravo coming to mind; Top Chef, Real Housewives and Project Runway all stand out. Bravo’s newest reality series, Après Ski, takes place in Whistler, British Columbia where a team of professional concierges caters to posh clientele at a ski resort to make their stay unique and unforgettable. Unfortunately, the show runs in the same vein as most other reality television and presents nothing new to the genre.

In the series premiere we meet Joey Gibbons, a Canadian hospitality mogul who created and runs his company Gibbons Life, a major player in the luxury tourism industry. Joey hires seven professional concierges with different backgrounds and skillsets to help give rich clients a vacation of their dreams. All of the employees are fashion savvy and good looking; your typical cookie-cutter reality show cast. The premiere episode involves two separate luxury tours—one with a recently divorced mother and her two friends, and the other with four close friends. The first group of women go dogsledding in the mountains, then take a helicopter ride to an outdoor spa to get massages and drink champagne; the women are appreciative and the day is a success. The other group, however, don’t have as successful of a day. The concierges set up a fancy lunch in a gondola, but one of the group members has a fear of heights which induces a panic attack. The episode ends before we see the outcome, but we assume the group was not pleased.

The Whistler ski resort looks amazing and full of fun but, when placed against the backdrop of all the reality show nonsense, it never really shines. Après Ski offers little excitement and the same old reality show characteristics we can all predict: alliances, sex and fights between cast members as the season continues. If that kind of thing peaks your interest then watch it, but if you seek something intelligent then please change the channel.