Budiey
All over Asia, HISTORY delved into secret and forgotten worlds – unearthing untold stories and unbelievable relics. HISTORYTM now expands the franchise by evolving the series to appeal to a wider audience and taking it to the extreme.
Simon Yin, presenter of Hidden Cities: Extreme jumps into extreme situations and adventures in this new spinoff series. He will hang on to his dear life as he embarks on thrilling, high-energy adventures across Asia, exploring the weirdest, the wackiest and the most extreme.
This new half hour series promises to be a fast-paced television ride that gets the audience holding their breaths and squirming in their seats, rooting for Simon to complete his challenges – safely. Whether he’s hunting with a remote tribe in the Philippines, eating tarantulas in Thailand, or taking part in a water buffalo race with locals in Bali, he is not one to take a step back… or look down, for all that matter.
MEET THE HOST
Simon Yin is a director/producer/actor and host from Los Angeles, CA. He was a good little Chinese boy in college and was a premed/business major. After med school interviews blew up in his face, Simon became an investment bank researcher instead.
Simon Yin
That was the worst job ever. Simon found a local ad in the newspaper for acting classes and the rest is, as they say, history.
Simon started off his hosting career for Turner Networks in his hometown of Atlanta, GA, and went on to VJ for MTV in New York.
Simon is currently based in Hong Kong, where he has been on air for several TV channels, and hosts corporate gigs around the world. Simon is also a co-founder of his own production company, Mustard Collective, where Simon’s feature film directorial debut, Supercapitalist, launches in New York on August 10, 2012.
EPISODIC SYNOPSIS
#1: CEBU, PHILIPPINES
Premieres 29 October, Monday, 9.30pm
In this episode of Hidden Cities Extreme, Simon heads off to the buzzing and beautiful island, Cebu to experience what the world’s second largest archipelago has to offer. First, Simon goes behind the wheels of a vehicle also known as the “King of the Roads” as he attempts to navigate the crazy streets of Cebu. Next, Simon tries to master the deadly skills of Eskrima and learns what it takes to be a true Eskrima martial art champion, before having to climb coconut tress to get a taste of traditional liquor – tuba. Simon had his army suit on to face off with Cebu’s SWAT team in a highly- intense activity.
Places visited: Cebu, Badian, Argao
#2: WEST MALAYSIA
Premieres 5 November, Monday, 9.30pm
In Malaysia, Simon will expand your mind and show you the rarely seen cultural heritage of its people. He kicks off the show in the company of a master snake catcher before toughing it out shifting huge mangrove trunks in a family run charcoal factory. He takes on local champion Anita Woo at the ancient art of horseback archery and then finally heads into the South China Sea to sea to battle it out with the world’s fastest fish – and his own seasickness.
Places visited: Selangor, Pahang, Kelantan, Terenganu, Perak, Penang
#3: BALI, INDONESIA
Premieres 12 November, Monday, 9.30pm
Showing that Bali is truly the ‘Island of the Gods’, Simon leaves the popular beaches and head off to experience the diversity of the people and how they live their lives on this magical island. Simon learns what it takes to make the world’s most expensive coffee – civet cat poo, takes on a King Cobra, tries his hands on mud wrestling and learns how hard it is to navigate one of Asia’s sturdiest animals, the water buffalo. Find out if he makes it to the finish line.
Places visited: Kintamani, Nusa Dua, Ubud, Batubulan, Jembrana
#4: NORTH THAILAND
Premieres 19 November, Monday at 9.30pm
Simon gets his adrenaline fix in the city of Chiang Mai, Thailand. He has to first catch and eat of one of the biggest insects in the land! With a belly full of bugs, Simon then scarifies all body hair to take part in a local pageant. A creepy insect is next on Simon’s menu as he hunts with the Black Lahu mountain tribe for the local delicacy. Taking part in a football match with a four ton elephant as his team mate came as a tough challenge for Simon. Finally, he heads deep into the jungle to find the remains of a skeletal but does he get spooked out instead?
Places visited: Chiang Mai, Mae Kachun, Mae Ream, Phang Mapha
#5: SOUTH KOREA
Premieres 26 November, Monday at 9.30pm
In this episode of Hidden Cities Extreme, Simon explores the metropolis, Seoul, the capital of South Korea. This tech savvy nation boasts more than just smart phones and televisions; strong cultural traditions have shaped a society of extreme behavior. Spoon worms… and live octopus are on the menu as Simon makes his way through this extreme city. He’ll also come face-to-face with a traditional circus troupe who trains him for an acrobatic tightrope performance; takes on a champion in a bout of Korean Sumo Wrestling; and jump headfirst into a wild white water rafting adventure in the demilitarized zone. A journey not for the faint-hearted but for Simon Yin, it’s just another day at the office.
Places visited: Seoul, Norayangin, Hantangang (through the DMZ)
#6: TAIWAN
Premieres 3 December, Monday at 9.30pm
In this episode of Hidden Cities Extreme, Simon digs deep and faces down Taiwan! There’s no time to be squeamish as his journey takes him through bizarre farms, mad landscapes and frenzied festivals. Simon will be initiated into an indigenous tribe, forge blades with a sword-maker, hunt the Asian giant hornet, show some fancy footwork as a raving puppeteer and come face-to-face with hundreds of slippery eels. Oh, eel! Nothing is off limits!
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Hidden Cities: Extreme is an original production for AETN All Asia Networks. The 6-part series is produced by Singapore-based media company Beach House Pictures, with the support of Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA).
About HISTORYTM and HISTORY HDTM
HISTORYTM and HISTORY HDTM are the leading destinations for revealing, award-winning original non-fiction series and event specials that connect history with viewers in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of historical genres ranging from military history to contemporary history, technology to natural history, as well as science, archaeology and pop culture. Among the network’s programme offerings are hit series such as The Pickers, Kings of Restoration, Hidden Cities, Swamp People, Pawn Stars and Top Shot, as well as acclaimed specials including America the Story of the US, Titanic: Mystery Solved, The Malayan Emergency, WWII Lost Films and 102 Minutes That Changed America.
For more information, please visit:
Homepage www.historyasia.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/HistoryAsiaTV
About AETN All Asia Networks
AETN All Asia Networks is a joint venture between A+E Networks and ASTRO All Asia Entertainment Networks that owns and operates the channels HISTORY and HISTORY HD, Bio. and Crime & Investigation Network across South East Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
About Beach House Pictures
Beach House Pictures is an award-winning Singaporean production company that specializes in factual television entertainment for major international broadcasters such as the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel and AETN. The prolific filmmaker produces over 20 hours of television content each year and in 2008 joined forces with critically acclaimed documentary producer NHNZ.

