Jet Lag: The Game
GenreReality competition
Created bySam Denby
Adam Chase
Ben Doyle
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons8
No. of episodes47
Production
Production companyWendover Productions
Original release
NetworkNebula
ReleaseMay 25, 2022 (2022-05-25) –
present

Jet Lag: The Game is an American travel competition show produced for the streaming platform Nebula and also released on YouTube. Created in 2022 by Sam Denby, Adam Chase and Ben Doyle, each season features a board game–inspired contest that sends players to achieve a geographical objective in different parts of the world.

As of January 2024, the show has been streamed for over one million hours on Nebula. It has also amassed 565,000 subscribers on YouTube and has received over 45 million views on the platform.

Background

Doyle, Denby and Chase in December 2023

Jet Lag was created by Sam Denby, the founder of Wendover Productions and chief content officer of streaming platform Nebula, with writers Adam Chase and Ben Doyle, all of whom compete each season. The first season was released in May 2022.[1][2]

Jet Lag's format was partially developed during a previous Wendover show, Crime Spree, which had Chase and Doyle pursuing Denby as he attempted to break obscure state laws across the United States.[3] Denby has also cited The Amazing Race as a point of inspiration, although he also notes that Jet Lag works to improve on some of its deficiencies by focusing more on travel.[4]

The show is created primarily for streaming on Nebula, whose paying subscribers support its relatively expensive per-video budget. Episodes are released first on Nebula and a week later on YouTube.[4]

Format

Each season features a game structure unique to the geographic area and transportation modalities available there.[5] The first official season required teams to travel to U.S. states in order to claim a Connect Four–style row or column. Later seasons had the contestants circumnavigate the globe via air travel, play tag across western Europe, drive the vertical length of New Zealand, and compete in a game of capture the flag across increasingly large portions of Japan.[6]

Players must complete challenges in order to earn coins or currency, which provide the ability to continue traveling as well as, in later seasons, purchase power-ups.[3] Multiple seasons have involved challenges that result in Doyle becoming drunk.[5] Players may also be subject to curses, which restrict the player's travels (e.g. only being permitted to take transportation leaving on odd minutes of the hour) or adds an undesirable element to the game (e.g. requiring the player to listen to Tom Lehrer’s “The Elements” on repeat for two hours).[3]

The logo of "The Snack Zone"

Beginning in season five, Chase and Doyle introduced a recurring segment, "The Snack Zone", in which they offer pithy reviews of food items unique to their locality. The following season, Denby and his guest, Strange Parts creator Scotty Allen, spun off a competing snack-based segment, "Choo Choo Chew".[5]

Chase, Denby, and Doyle are often joined by a guest educational video creator; Chase and Doyle compete as their own team while Denby allies with the guest. Guests have included Joseph Pisenti, Toby Hendy, Brian McManus, and Scotty Allen; season eight features Michelle Khare.[7]

Production

Filming locations are chosen based on the availability of "strong, frequent, reliable, or semi-reliable, public transportation", according to Denby; while seasons have taken place partially or completely using cars, the team felt they lacked the strategic intrigue of public transit.[5]

Jet Lag is filmed using iPhone 13 Pros and Røde lavalier microphones, a configuration that Denby says allows the competitors to focus on creating content rather than cinematography.[4]

To address the climate impacts of the show's use of air travel, Wendover purchases Gold Standard carbon offsets worth ten times the show's estimated emissions. "We knew from the get go that we would get some criticism for what is clearly somewhat frivolous travel", Denby told The Globe and Mail.[8]

A companion podcast, The Layover, discusses game design and production details from a behind-the-scenes perspective. It is exclusive to Nebula subscribers.[9]

Reception

The show was nominated in the editing category of the 13th Streamy Awards.[10] As of October 2023, the show has been streamed for more than 1 million hours on Nebula and has accumulated 561,000 YouTube subscribers.[11][12]

Seasons

Jet Lag: The Game has released eight seasons,[7][13][14] with a ninth announced.[15]

Seasons of Jet Lag: The Game
SeasonTitleEpisodesOriginally airedLocationGuestWinner(s)
First airedLast aired
1Connect 4 Across America3May 25, 2022 (2022-05-25)June 9, 2022 (2022-06-09)United StatesBrian McManusSam Denby & Brian McManus
2Circumnavigation5June 29, 2022 (2022-06-29)August 3, 2022 (2022-08-03)EarthJoseph PisentiAdam Chase & Ben Doyle
3Tag EUR It7September 7, 2022 (2022-09-07)October 19, 2022 (2022-10-19)Western Europe—Adam Chase
4Battle 4 America5December 7, 2022 (2022-12-07)January 11, 2023 (2023-01-11)United StatesBrian McManusAdam Chase & Ben Doyle
5Race to the End of the World8March 1, 2023 (2023-03-01)April 19, 2023 (2023-04-19)New ZealandToby HendySam Denby & Toby Hendy
6Capture The Flag7May 31, 2023 (2023-05-31)July 12, 2023 (2023-07-12)JapanScotty AllenAdam Chase & Ben Doyle
7Tag EUR It 26September 6, 2023 (2023-09-06)October 11, 2023 (2023-10-11)Western Europe—Ben Doyle
8Arctic Escape6December 13, 2023 (2023-12-13)January 17, 2024 (2024-01-17)United StatesMichelle KhareSam Denby & Michelle Khare
9SwitzerlandTBATBATBASwitzerland—TBA

Season 1: Connect 4 Across America

Starting at Chicago O'Hare Airport, Denby and Brian McManus compete against Chase and Doyle to claim US states from the 22 west of the Mississippi River in a game of geographical Connect 4; the goal is to claim 4 states in a row on a direct east-west or north-south line. Teams must travel to their target state's capitol building, draw a challenge card at random, then successfully complete it within the state to claim it for their team.

Denby and McManus won the season by claiming California, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana.

Season 2: Circumnavigation

Season 2 began at the flagpole in front of Denver Union Station.

Starting and finishing at Denver Union Station in Denver, Colorado, Denby and Joseph Pisenti compete against Chase and Doyle to be the first to circumnavigate the world. In order to count as a circumnavigation, each team must travel at least 22,858 mi (36,786 km) and cross all meridians. Teams started with a US$1,000 travel budget and could earn more by completing challenges selected from a deck of cards. Once a team completed a challenge, the same challenge cannot be completed by the opposing team. To encourage onward travel, the second challenge completed within a 300 mi (480 km) radius is worth half the stated value, and any subsequent challenge is worth one quarter of its stated value.

Season 3: Tag EUR It

Denby, Chase and Doyle play a game of tag beginning at the Place Ducale in Charleville-Mézières, France. Taking turns being "it", the runner must attempt to reach their destination: Zermatt, Switzerland for Denby, Jersey, for Chase, and Borkum, Germany for Doyle. After 45 minutes the other two players begin to chase the runner with the goal of tagging them. The runner must complete challenges drawn randomly from a deck of cards in order to earn coins, which are then used to purchase transport with the cost based on time and mode. The runner can veto any challenge at the cost of a 30-minute penalty. They can also purchase power-ups, such as doubling the coin value (and the veto penalty) of the next challenge drawn. A player wins instantly once they reach their destination; if after 72 hours no player has reached their destination, the player whose destination the runner is the closest to wins.[3]

Season 4: Battle 4 America

Starting in Times Square, New York, Denby and Brian McManus compete against Chase and Doyle to claim the most US states (plus the District of Columbia) in four days. Both teams have a travel budget of $3,000, with an extra $1,000 added at the beginning of each day. Each team initially draws a hand of seven cards, each containing a challenge. To claim a state, they must complete the challenge on one of their cards while in the state; once the challenge is completed, the card is discarded and a new card is drawn to replace it. Each challenge completed also comes with a number of tokens which can be used to purchase power-ups, such as the ability to swap two cards with the opposing team or cross into another state by car, which is otherwise only allowed through a flight or public transportation. A team can steal a state from the opposing team provided they have claimed two bordering states by challenging the opposing team to a battle. After a 30-minute warning, a competitive challenge is drawn from a separate deck; the winner of the challenge is awarded the state and the opposing team cannot challenge for the state again. At the end of the four days, each team earns one point for every state they hold, with a two-point bonus awarded to the team that holds the largest land area; the team with the most points is the winner.

Season 5: Race to the End of the World

Toby Hendy was the guest competitor for season 5.

Starting in Cape Reinga in the far north of New Zealand, Denby and Toby Hendy compete against Chase and Doyle driving cars to be the first to reach Lookout Point in Bluff in the far south of the country. Teams must complete set challenges to unlock roadblocks placed across the highway network. Once one team has completed the challenge, the roadblock is open to both teams. Teams may veto a challenge but must wait a predetermined amount of time before the roadblock opens; some roadblocks cannot be vetoed and force the team onto a longer diversion route. The winner of the challenge is awarded a number of coins which they can use to purchase power-ups, such as the ability to skip roadblocks, place down roadblocks to slow down the other team, place a curse on the other team, or purchase a Nerf dart which if it successfully hits an opposing team member forces them to serve a 30-minute penalty.

Season 6: Capture the Flag Across Japan

Starting at Tokyo Station, Denby and Scotty Allen compete against Chase and Doyle in a game of capture the flag. Each team must attempt to capture the opponents' flags and bring it back to their own territory without being caught. The flag locations are vending machines and the flag is represented by an item purchased from that vending machine. To travel in the opponent's territory, team members must complete challenges drawn randomly from a deck of cards in order to earn coins, which are then used to purchase transport. If a team member is caught, they forfeit all their coins to the opposition and are sent back to Tokyo Station, where they must serve a 30-minute penalty before resuming the game.

Season 7: Tag EUR It 2

Denby, Chase and Doyle repeat the game format from season 3, but with the player destinations rotated: Denby this time is aiming for Jersey, Chase for Borkum, Germany, and Doyle for Zermatt, Switzerland.

Season 8: Arctic Escape

Michelle Khare was the guest competitor in season 8.

Starting in the northern extreme of the United States at Utqiagvik, Alaska, Denby and Michelle Khare compete against Chase and Doyle to be the first to reach the southernmost point of the continental United States in Key West, Florida. Teams complete challenges selected from a common pool called the flop to earn tickets, which allows them to take a specified form of transportation (plane, train, or rental car) with restrictions on distance and destination. There are also STEAL cards in the flop, where once a team does the challenge, they can steal 1 ticket from the opposing team. Once a card has been stolen, it cannot be stolen back. There are four challenges in the flop at any time, with a new challenge drawn once a challenge is completed, and the entire flop replaced at the beginning of each day. Each team may hold three tickets at a time.

Season 9: Switzerland

Season 9 was announced on January 17, 2024 after the season 8 finale.[15] It will take place in Switzerland.

References

  1. ↑ Esch, Josiah (April 13, 2023). ""Jet Lag" Is a Travel Show Like No Other". The Weather Vane. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  2. ↑ Gutelle, Sam (September 28, 2023). "TierZoo, Lindsay Ellis headline "dynamic" original content slate at streaming hub Nebula". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Walker, John (July 14, 2023). "These YouTubers Turned Planet Earth Into A Board Game". Kotaku. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Anderson, Pearse. "This Travel Game Takes Connect Four to the Extreme". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Maas, Jennifer (October 19, 2023). "Inside Hit Web Travel Competition 'Jet Lag': Team Reveals Where They Can't Film, Why They Won't Leave Indie Platform Nebula for Big Streamer". Variety. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  6. ↑ Mizell, Destiny (July 18, 2023). "Seasons of "Jet Lag: The Game" in order from worst to best". Sidelines. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Maas, Jennifer (October 23, 2023). "'Jet Lag: The Game' Season 8 Set at Nebula With 'Challenge Accepted' Star Michelle Khare as Guest Contestant (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  8. ↑ Griffiths, James (September 16, 2022). "Are travel-centric reality shows like The Amazing Race worth their carbon footprint?". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ "The Layover - Jet Lag: The Game". Nebula. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  10. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley (July 24, 2023). "2023 Streamy Awards Nominations Announced: Full List". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  11. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (October 11, 2023). "'Jet Lag: The Game' Hosts on How a 'Strategic Blunder' and 'Two of the Rarest Moments' in the Entire Series Led to Season 7 Finale Twist". Variety. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  12. ↑ Nebula (September 15, 2023). "Nebula on X: "Congratulations to @jetlagthegame on hitting 1,000,000 hours streamed on Nebula✈️🎉". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Jet Lag: The Game". Nebula. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Jet Lag: The Game Seasons". Nebula. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  15. 1 2 "Jet Lag: The Game Episode 8x6". January 17, 2024. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
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