Host’s enthusiasm for native land clear in KPBS program

Air times

Episodes of “Crossing South” are scheduled to air on KPBS on:

•Thursday at 8:30 p.m.

•Saturday at 4 p.m.

•Feb. 20 at 2:30 a.m.

•Feb. 25 at 4 p.m.

— In the KPBS-TV travel show “Crossing South,” host Jorge Meraz focuses on a range of leisure activities in his native Baja California.

While producer Steven Javitz shoots video, Meraz sings opera, plays golf, sips beer, tastes tacos, rides a roller coaster, and flies an ultralight plane above the Pacific Ocean. The 35-year-old host laughs frequently and never seems at a loss for words.

Meraz is creative director and partner in his own ad agency. He and Javitz won an Emmy last year for the documentary “Visa Dream,” which first aired on KPBS.

Q: Why did you decide to do “Crossing South”?

A: It’s just an enjoyable thing to do. We know the places; I was born and raised here. For me, it’s simply showing people what I know of Baja.

I’m like a normal dude who literally gets scared when you see him scared, who literally gets nervous when you see him about to eat something that seems wacky. I think the audience says, “If this guy can drink rattlesnake tequila and live through it, I can live through it.”

Q: Do you have your own favorite spots in Baja California?

A: I personally love Tijuana. I think it’s a sophisticated town with a unique border culture that could be considered as foreign to the rest of Mexico as are Guatemala and Honduras. I also enjoy Ensenada very much, given a choice as to where to live with a laid-back lifestyle but with all the amenities of a city.

Q: Are you modeling “Crossing South” after any other travel programs?

A: I’m a big fan of Rick Steves (who specializes in travel to Europe), a super fan. I’m not doing anything deliberately that I think he does, even though I’m an avid watcher of the show.

Q: Does your show aim to revive tourism in Baja California? Is it a response to complaints that the region has been negatively portrayed in U.S. media?

A: We did not say, “Let’s change perceptions.” Our show is a leisure travel program of genuine places that we enjoy. If anyone feels after seeing it, “OK, I’m going because it might be worthwhile to try,” that’s nice. But it’s not something that we set out to do.

Q: Do people pay money to be on your show?

A: We made the decision from the beginning not to accept money from the people whom we feature. We tell them, “We cannot take money from you, because otherwise our recommendation would be tainted and we would not have freedom of speech.” We have absolutely no agenda, and nobody’s paying us to do this.

Q: Then who are your sponsors?

A: Cotuco (Tijuana’s Tourism and Conventions Committee), although we have not received the funds yet. And Secture (the Baja California Tourism Secretariat) said, “Yes, we are gathering funds from different tourism trusts.” Specific amounts we would not like to give out, but it’s less than a show would cost.


