In his latest series, Eugene Levy from Schitt’s Creek finds himself in the role of an unwilling traveler.

While many celebrities with travel shows eagerly showcase their origins, embrace physical challenges, or seek out perfect recipes, Eugene Levy stands apart.

The Schitt’s Creek star confesses he’s not fond of extremes in weather—neither the cold nor the heat. Strange foods don’t appeal to him, and insects definitely unsettle him. To be honest, he prefers the comfort of home.

“I not only dislike traveling, but I also have a very limited curiosity,” he shares in an interview. “An adventurous spirit is not something I possess. Aren’t those qualities essential for a travel show host?”

Not necessarily. Enter Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler, where a cautious and witty host encounters some of the planet’s most stunning locations.

Throughout the eight-episode series, Levy plunges into a frozen lake in Finland, navigates slot canyons in Utah, and explores a lush rain forest in Costa Rica. He also journeys through Italy, Japan, the Maldives, Portugal, and South Africa, even trying snails while savoring a gin and tonic.

The more uncomfortable he appears, the more humorous the show becomes. “I’m definitely more of a Great Indoors kind of person,” he quips to his guide amidst the diverse wildlife of a Costa Rican forest, referring to them as “all those little threats to life.” While ice fishing in Finland, he dryly remarks, “Hearty and resilient are not adjectives you’d use for me.”

Later in the interview, he expresses, “I hope this resonates with seasoned travelers who might chuckle at my experiences. But I also want to connect with those who, like me, aren’t avid travelers and lack that adventurous spirit, seeing me as a fellow traveler.”

Initially pitched as a showcase for hotels with stunning views, The Reluctant Traveler truly shines when Levy steps beyond these luxurious settings to immerse himself in the local culture, leading to personal transformation.

In Utah, he enjoys a luxurious stay in a property overlooking the Colorado Plateau, where room rates exceed $3,000 per night. However, he finds a deeper sense of spirituality during his visit to his Navajo guide’s humble home.

“What stands out for me are the people I encounter along the way,” Levy shares. “I hope this show has a unique and engaging personality.”

In Finland, Levy snowmobiles, goes ice fishing and swimming in icy waters, samples reindeer meat, and tries husky sledding—“How do you say 'slow down' in dog?” he wonders. He finds that Finns truly live up to their reputation as some of the happiest people on Earth. “I’ve never met anyone happier, and I can’t help but wonder if their vodka consumption plays a part,” he jokes.

Levy secured the role by attempting to talk himself out of it. Executive producer David Brindley recalls how he and Apple executive Alison Kirkham were on a call, trying to persuade Levy to host a travel show while he humorously explained why he was the wrong choice for the job. They couldn’t stop laughing.

“We all have our fears and things that intimidate us, and often we wish we could overcome them, but we don’t. Eugene has fully embraced this journey,” Brindley shares. “As a result, while he may not relish every dish or activity, it has positively transformed him, and he’s emerged as a somewhat different person.”

The 76-year-old actor, known for his bushy eyebrows and round glasses, and remembered for films like Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman, joins a competitive roster of celebrity travel hosts, including Zac Efron, José Andrés, Chris Hemsworth, Will Smith, Stanley Tucci, Macaulay Culkin, Michael Palin, and Ewan McGregor.

“Travel shows are abundant around the globe, and rightly so. They are stunning, escapist, and beautiful,” explains Brindley, the chief creative officer at Twofour. “When launching a new one, it’s essential to identify a unique angle that can captivate audiences while also feeling relatable.”

In South Africa, viewers will find amusement in Levy’s anxious reactions to wild animal sounds, his first encounter with a warthog—“That’s not a pretty sight!”—and playing golf surrounded by hippos. He even collects a fecal sample from a tranquilized elephant and charmingly bottle-feeds a baby rhino. “That was incredibly cute,” he remarks.

To keep things fresh for Levy, he and his team would visit two locations at a time—spending a week in each—before taking a break for several months and then reconvening for more explorations.

Levy reviewed the list of potential locations for the inaugural season and admits he grew more adventurous with each selection. “As the series progressed, I just started rolling with the punches,” he shares. “We’ll see how the audience responds to it.”