Backhopping

Travel shows are a dime in a dozen but The Hoppers & Ahli Muzik by  Eightball Production is one that is done with a difference. This semi-reality travel show follows the chronicles of four lads as they make their way on a roadtrip across the Peninsular. But hold up: semi-reality? Don’t all travel shows technically fall under the ‘reality’ category anyway? Khairul Nizam Lamin, associate producer of the show, explains that while the show retains some of the classic elements of a travel show, Hoppers will include some form of a storyline, with the “hosts” encountering obstacles along the way, crushing on girls and fighting with each other – elements which would be edited out of your typical travel show. Now we get it; it’s like The Hills meets Not Your Average Travel Guide.

The four faces of the show are Gambit Safullah, Fatul Rahman, Bo Amir Iqram and Fungus Ahmad Faris and as the boys make a stop at each location, they are greeted with a musician who will introduce them to the state as the locals know it. The show cleverly fuses the universal love for traveling with the current popularity of indie youth culture. In the episode where they visited Malacca, the boys are taken on a visit to Vinyl DC, a famous gig venue in the state and in Ipoh, they visit the offices of Bodysurf Music. Prepare to be surprised to see a side of Malaysia you never knew existed; the producers themselves were shocked to discover just how strong the punk subculture was in Kedah for example. Check in with The Hoppers (so called because they “hop from state to state”) on 8TV beginning 19 October, 10pm.

Text Sarah Chan Photo Shermen Mukhtar