The Lazy Environmentalist Airs Tuesdays at 9PM on Sundance Channel

January 31, 2010

Man, I’ve been really caught up filming the show and have been slacking here. So now it’s time to start reporting about it. Here’s a pic from this past week in which Terrence Hayes, our awesome DP, is rigging a video camera to my helmet to get some POV shots while testing the Zero S electric motorcycle. I was trying to convince comedian Frank Nicotero to give up his sweet sweet BMW and turn instead to electric power. The Zero S tops out at about 70 mph and gets 40 miles to a charge so it’s a pretty viable commuting option, and it’s definitely fun to drive. At least, I thought so.

November 24, 2009

Thanks to eco-fashion stylist Bahar Shahpar, I’ve been rocking sustainable fashion looks everyday on set. Here’s the first with more to follow.

**Shirt by Hess Natur
**T-shirt by Topo Ranch
**Pants by Apolis Activism
**Shoes by Simple

November 23, 2009
We’re not filming today or tomorrow as we prepare for our upcoming trip to Tucson next week. There will get into episodes such as Lazy Teenager, Lazy Camper and Lazy Daycare. On Wednesday will wrap up Lazy Exterminator and Lazy Makeup Artist. Both of those segments were particularly fun for me since neither eliminating rodents nor applying mascara falls into my daily routine.

The pic below is of me and our exterminator hero (on right) and our green exterminator expert (on left). Wearing that uniform, I felt surprisingly strong and competent, so I was disappointed to have to return it once the day was over.

November 21, 2009
I learned earlier this week that season one of “The Lazy Environmentalist” is now available on iTunes. Many people have written to ask how they can watch the show if they don’t have cable. Here’s your chance! Download the entire season or individual episodes and see how the Lazy E goes about greening the laziest among us.

November 5, 2009
At the 20th annual Environmental Media Association Awards “The Lazy Environmentalist” took home “best reality show” honors. Pretty big shakes for a show after just one season The event was held on the lot of Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

(Photo from Left: Actress Ginnifer Goodwin, Executive Producer David Metzler, Executive Producer Mala Chapple, Yours Truly The Lazy E, and Actress Olivia Wilde)

We started filming season 2 today and got off to an excellent start. First up are Lazy Fashion Designer and Lazy Interior Decorator. They’re both stellar. We’ve got some interesting wrinkles this year, most of which includes ratcheting up the energy level, taking on some big challenges to solve with green solutions, and providing a little more room for levity. I was a little rusty at first having not been on camera for about 9 months, but we found our groove pretty quickly. Looking forward to shooting more tomorrow.

Filming For Season 2 Begins in November
October 26, 2009

The Lazy E is back for another season on Sundance Channel this time with 8 episodes. I’m currently in L.A. to work with our production team and super awesome Executive Producer David Metzler. The lineup this year is going to be extremely fun. We’re looking at segments such as “Lazy Exterminator” as well as “Lazy Surfer”, so we’re going to ratchet up the stakes and the challenges. It’s also going to give me more of a chance to do some hands on work along the way.

Last night the tv show was honored at the 20th annual award ceremony of the Environmental Media Association where it won in the “best reality show” category. It’s a particularly gratifying honor considering that we’ve won after just one season on air. We have a strong foundation to build upon and are looking to push further in the upcoming season as we continue to put eco-solutions to the test in real-world situations.

EPISODE 7:
July 28, 2009

I often think about which environmental changes or green products and services espoused by experts, activists, the media, and the green community are really taking hold. In other words, beyond the marketing hype, what actions are people really taking to green their lives? Sure, since it’s marketplace introduction over a million Toyota Prius hybrid cars have been sold, but given that even in a down year like this one Americans will still buy over 11 million cars, I’d hardly call Prius sales figures proof that a large percentage of Americans are embracing environmental change.

Yet, one area that has seen real green growth is food. In large numbers Americans are embracing organic and local food, recognizing the health, community, and environmental benefits of choosing foods that are grown or raised without loads of questionable chemicals and shipped thousands of miles.

In Episode 7, we highlight those same issues in a unique way; by focusing on greening a bar, specifically greening the alcohol that the bar serves. If you’re going to choose organic fruits, vegetables, and grains, then logic would follow that on the occasions when you really want a shot of tequila, you’ll also choose organic since it’s going into your body.

My favorite outcome from this episode is the fact that the bartenders at the Lovin’ Cup Café in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn actually preferred the organic spirits to many of the conventional spirits they typically serve and we in general typically imbibe. This makes sense. After all, organic spirits, be it 4 Copas - the world’s only certified organic tequila, Papagayo Organic Spiced Rum, or Square One Vodka (organic of course), are much purer than their conventional counterparts precisely because they avoid all the chemicals and impurities found in the grains from which those spirits are distilled. Better for your health and better for the planet while tasting better too. That’s an easy Lazy Environmentalist choice.

See more footage and webisodes of this episode at Sundancechannel.com/lazy.

EPISODE 6:
July 21, 2009

Episode 6 is near and dear to my heart because I get to take on my brother to see if I can change his lazy green ways, help green his home, and lower his energy costs. I offer him some really cool green products to test out. One is the Solatube Tubular Skylight which funnels sunlight through a tub that runs from a home’s roof to the rooms down below. The beauty of these tubular skylights is that they look lust like regular ceiling fixtures but provide healthier (because it’s natural) sunlight from dawn to dusk without using any energy whatsoever. Jed dug it which you can see in this video.

Another is the Belkin Conserve power strip which acts like a normal strip to help kill power to your electronic devices when they’re not in use, but also includes a remote control so Lazy Environmentalists don’t have to be inconvenienced when trying to do something good for the planet and lower their energy bills (you can also find more Lazy E recommended green energy saving devices in our green products section).

See more footage and webisodes of this episode at Sundancechannel.com/lazy.

EPISODE 5:
July 14, 2009

Shooting in a frat house at UCLA brought back memories of my own college days. In truth, as nasty and disgusting as this house was, it was still in better shape than my own fraternity was back in 1992 when we were kicked off the University of Pennsylvania campus. I bear the distinction of having been president at the time of our ultimate demise. Interestingly, one of my American Civilization professors at the time was Frank Luntz, the prominent political pollster who, after advising us on the proper strategy to pursue for not getting thrown off campus, went on to help draft the Contract For America with Newt Gingrich just two years later. The lesson I draw from having been around Luntz for that short period of time is that the green movement is best served when it implements communication strategies that are grounded in the reality of what truly influences people’s thinking. Luntz is a genius at understanding political communication even though he’s a terrible been pong player. While many environmentalists may not agree with his politics, it would serve the movement well to really understand his communication tactics.

What didn’t make it onto our show was a scene in which the guys at the Beta house show me their newly “renovated” bathroom exclusively for the ladies which featured a dilapidated couch, purple-colored paint job and some other questionable features designed to make the ladies on campus feel right at home. I really hope that it’s somehow working out for these young men and their ladies.

See more videos and behind-the-scenes footage of this episode at Sundancechannel.com/lazy.

EPISODE 4:
July 7, 2009

Greening the Joseph Martin hair salon on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills was inherently amusing, daunting, and frustrating to me all at once. We’re talking about the epicenter of superficial existence where most everything revolves around outward beauty no matter the cost, the chemicals, or ecological impact. It’s remarkable to me how often we value beauty (or a nice fragrance) over our own health when we it comes to the personal care and beauty products we frequently choose. Yet, turning this entrenched consumption pattern around requires natural and organic beauty products that deliver results on par with their frequently toxic, conventional counterparts. And that’s no easy task.

But some natural personal care products do perform admirably. Lately, I’ve taken to using Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint soap for my daily hygiene routine. I love how well it lathers and enjoy the cleansing sensation that the natural peppermint delivers. However, I’m still searching for a really good natural, organic shampoo and conditioner. There are plenty available, but I want choices that perform exceptionally well. And that’s exactly what our hair stylist and hair colorist in this episode want too. Green alternatives often stack up well against their conventional counterparts, but the question that this episode raises is: can we truly look “naturally” beautiful using beauty products that are made exclusively with natural ingredients?

See more videos and behind-the-scenes footage of this episode at Sundancechannel.com/lazy.

EPISODE 2:
June 23, 2009

When we first began preparing to do season 1, I thought the toughest segment was going to be “Lazy Stylist” because I was concerned about whether we could find enough stylish, eco-friendly clothing and accessories to match the expectations of a celebrity stylist. Factor in that it’s Wendell Haskins, stylist to the likes of Denzel Washington, and that my task was to arm him with enough green fashion to dress a rising hip hop artist and I had more than a few doubts. Layer on top of that the fact that our hip hop artist is a dude and I myself was skeptical that it could be accomplished to Wendell and his client’s standards. Finding really good, eco-friendly fashion for men can be tricky. But check this clip and watch tonight’s show to see what happens. It was certainly an interesting adventure.

Watch more about tonight’s show at Sundancechannel.com/lazy.

EPISODE 1:
June 16, 2009

In this clip you’ll get a sense of what I’m up against when I try to green the Martinez Family on tonight’s episode. Jess, the father, doesn’t “buy it” when it comes to global warming, so I’ve got to find some other ways to persuade him that going green serves his and his family’s self-interest.

I love this challenge because it’s an opportunity to demonstrate to people that greening their actions is not only better for the planet but also for them, in terms of their own quality of life. It’s so interesting that many people in this country still choose to discount the reality of global warming and the fact that it’s directly caused by human activity. So the challenge really becomes finding ways to convince people to go green despite whatever beliefs they hold about the verity of science. And I find appealing to self-interest to be a very effective method.

For some, it’s very hard to acknowledge global warming when it doesn’t really feel like there’s a comprehensive plan yet for solving it. I find that when people can see a roadmap to a green future that is smart, abundant, and attractive, they are more willing to overcome internal resistance and acknowledge the daunting reality of global warming. I’m starting to work on painting a vision for people of what the green future will actually look like.

But first steps first. Check out SundanceChannel.com/lazy to see more about tonight’s show, previews of upcoming episodes, and additional “webisodes” which you won’t see on tv. You can find many of the products featured in this segment here.

UPDATED TRAILER:
June 5, 2009

Here’s the Updated Trailer for the show. I have to admit, I really liked reclining in the lounge chair. It suits my lazy sensibilities. See more about the show at SundanceChannel.com/lazy.

INTERVIEW WITH JOSH ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE TV SHOW:
June 1, 2009

TRAILER:
May 18, 2009
Here’s a Quick Look at the original trailer of What You’ll See Every Tuesday Night at 9PM, All Season Long.

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