Bethel resident Chris Ritter stars in the Discovery TV show The Appraisers with Tom Cox and Ben Nef.
Directed by Executive Producer Chip Taylor and Field Producer/Director Simone McNaught, the show’s Facebook page describes the show as The Classic Car Guy, The Car Geek, and The Vegas High Roller cruising across America in search of rare, cool, and super sexy automotive finds.
“This contemporary series follows three automotive appraisers as they cruise across America in search of often rare, super inviting, and always interesting automotive finds. Featuring Tom Cox, the Classic Car Guy, Chris Ritter, the Car Geek, and Ben Nef, the Vegas High Roller, each episode introduces viewers to passionate characters who make up the auto enthusiast world, and the excitement builds as The Appraisers reveal how much each owner’s pride and joy is worth. The Appraisers covers it all – antiques, classics, muscle, luxury and exotic cars, old trucks, motorcycles and automotive memorabilia – and each collective episode adds up to a great time for all,” according to the Facebook page.
The show premiered on Dec. 5 and airs on Velocity (Directv 281 & Comcast 870) every Saturday night at 8 p.m. and again at 11 p.m. Since Velocity is owned by the Discovery Channel viewers can also stream the show to a mobile device at www.discoverygo.com.
“The premise of the show is that three guys (obviously I’m one of them) travel from car show to car show talking to car owners about their vehicles,” said Ritter. “The hook is that the vehicle owners want to know what the vehicle is worth for a variety of reasons but before we get to a dollar amount we extract the stories behind the cars. Why did an owner choose that car? How long did it take them to restore it? Any sentimental connection to the vehicle? What is it like to ride in that particular vehicle? What are the owner’s plans for the vehicles in the future?”
He said some owners go on to sell their cars at auction or private sale. Some choose to hang on to their car after learning the value and some never had any intention to sell their car and just wanted to share their story.
Ritter is the head librarian at the Antique Automobile Club of America Library in Hershey, an automotive reference library containing more than a million items related to all things automotive. He said the show was started by producer Chip Taylor and his good friend Tom Cox.
“I was asked to audition for the show back in the spring of 2014 and my audition video included a tour of my library and a tour of all the “toys” in my garage,” said Ritter.
What is it like to be on this TV show?
“Well, it’s the only TV show that I’ve ever been on so, in all honesty, it’s pretty cool,” said Ritter. “My family is pretty impressed and it was neat to see my 3-year-old son’s face light up the first time he saw me on screen.”
Shooting days were more than 14-hour days and, since there are three of them, there is a lot of waiting around.
“Behind the scenes it’s a mix of rushing adrenaline and boredom,” he said. “Then, when it’s your turn, your heart starts pumping and then your interview is over. Naturally you want to do the best job you can and the post-production crew did an amazing job editing it down to the final product.”
Ritter hopes viewers get a taste of the old car hobby that he loves best.
“Regular guys and gals restoring or maintaining the cars they love. Our show has no fabricated fights or swearing, no restorations that take just a weekend and no fabricated characters – for better or worse we are simply our unscripted selves,” he said.
Find The Appraisers online at www.appraiserstv.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ritter’s personal website is www.cargeekjournal.com.
