Pour a little homemade Oklahoma root beer you bought at Pop’s out for your homie.
Nearly a month after we first reported that Shelly Zumwalt and the Oklahoma Tourism Department were canceling Discover Oklahoma, the show aired its final new episode this past week.
For the most part, it was a regular old airing of Discover Oklahoma.
They highlighted a few things to do in Broken Bow at Beavers Bend and a few beers to drink at a brewery in Broken Arrow. They also profiled a couple of restaurants, including a saucee pizzeria owned by an infamous child abuser!
At the end of the episode, Dino Lalli and Jenifer Reynolds shared a double whammy that only informed TLO readers could see coming – Dino was calling it quits and the series was being pulled from the airways!
Whether you’re the owner of a small town BBQ stand that will miss the free publicity or the State Tourism Director celebrating another win against the Olds, you can grab a tissue and watch below.
As I mentioned in the past, the only time I watched Discover Oklahoma was when I’d fall asleep during a golf tournament on a late Saturday afternoon and then wake up to Dino Lalli feeding a giraffe at Arbuckle Wilderness, but I’m still going to miss it.
I don’t know if it’s because I associate the show with feel-good, stress-free Saturday nights and a fun evening ahead, or simply don’t want to live in a world without Dino Lall on the broadcast airwaves, but I always found inner peace and solace knowing Discover Oklahoma was on the air somewhere, and that somebody’s great grandparents were half-awake and enjoying it.
I'm not the only one.
With the show gone, how are the common folks going to know about the beekeeper from Bington, cheesemonger from Chelsea, or, uhm, mask-maker from Bethany:
Geeze, what a weirdo. I bet that guy has some screwed-up kids.
Anyway, I guess now that Discover Oklahoma the television series is history, we’ll have to wait and see what the Tourism Department does with the brand. I bet it will be reworked as an online web series called Discover Oklahoma presented by Shelly Zumwalt and will include her curated list of chic, happening, totally cool places to see and visit that don’t involve old people.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
