Janel Koloski has added another stamp on her virtual passport.
The Greensburg woman who bills herself as the “fearless” traveler recently discovered she was one of two finalists to host an online series on the Travel Channel website. The winner will be announced on a Travel Channel special on Labor Day.
Having survived two previous rounds of selection — comprising audience votes and input from a panel of Travel Channel experts — Ms. Koloski has eaten meal worms and played with a tarantula to prove her ease on camera.
Kudos to the Travel Channel for the judges’ critiques. Sure, they sometimes take it easy on the would-be Travel Channel Stars, but they can also be snarky. Ms. Koloski has been good-natured in addressing their concerns.
She’s been praised for her “goofy enthusiasm,” and last week, when the two finalists were revealed online, the network’s “Trip Flip” host, Bert Kreischer, admitted he’s smitten.
“Every time I watch you, I find something brand new, cute and adorable,” Mr. Kreischer said.
Later, however, when noting Ms. Koloski has all the tools to be a successful host, he told her “you’re using the hammer upside down sometimes.”
Her competition in this final round — where they will be filmed going head-to-head in a challenge — is Savannah high school science teacher Blake Jeffers. The next online video will be posted Aug. 3, when another voting window opens at TravelChannelStar.com.
Other shows
• If there’s a dead fish nearby, perhaps you shouldn’t drink the water.
Too late for North Carolina private military contractor Brant McGee, who figured he drank about 10 quarts from a brackish pond/stream/whatever on History’s latest episode of “Alone” (Thursdays, 10 p.m.). Besides hallucinating about ancient symbols on the ceiling of his tent, he got nauseated.
It was Day 6 of the adventure, and while others were chowing down on chanterelle mushrooms, bull kelp and roasted salmon, Mr. McGee was so ready to tap out. He said he didn’t fear animals, just losing his sanity.
Animals were to be feared. Massachusetts butcher Mitch Mitchell caught a big salmon, and after cooking it, seemed to attract a cougar to his camp. Viewers have to wait until next week to see what happens.
Plum’s Dustin Feher seems to be cruising along. The big animals don’t worry him, he said, just skunks.
Five men remain.
• Bob Kusbit and Ellen Berkman Davis know reality TV, having worked as producers and casting execs on shows such as MTV’s “Made” and CBS’s “Survivor.”
They, as well as the Steeltown Entertainment Project and the Pittsburgh Innovative Media Incubator, are holding an open casting today for “The Next Reality Star: Pittsburgh.” It’s from 1-7 p.m. at the WQED studios in Oakland. Bring your crazy family, props or just your crazy self.
For more information, go to TheNextRealityStar.com.
• Live broadcasts of Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” begin Monday, with a lineup of 10 traditional dancers and 10 street dancers. But don’t get too attached; one of them has to drop out, and his/her replacement will be announced. Also, each week one dancer from each group will be eliminated.
• It is always a puzzlement that Pittsburghers excel at all sorts of reality competitions, but we’ve yet to crack that fashion design thing. Season 14 of Lifetime’s “Project Runway” returns Aug. 6 with no apparent locals in sight. That said, it’s still a pretty fun ride. Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, plus judges Nina Garcia and Zac Posen are joined by a coterie of guest judges that includes Kiernan Shipka, supermodel Coco Rocha, “Black-ish” star Tracee Ellis Ross and Ms. Klum’s “America’s Got Talent” colleague, Mel B.
• “Virtuosity,” a new documentary following the 2013 Van Cliburn International piano competition, will air at 9 p.m. July 31 on PBS. It follows the lives of five young musicians during the competition, which is held every four years.
Maria Sciullo: msciullo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1478 or @MariaSciulloPG.
First Published: July 11, 2015, 4:00 a.m.