New Series “Working on Whidbey” Goes on the Job With Island Businesses
Ever wondered what it would be like to live and work on one of the most beautiful islands in the country? Whidbey Island may be a vacation destination to many, but it’s also home to tens of thousands of residents who count their blessings to live in this treasured part of the Pacific Northwest. This feeling is captured beautifully in the locally made series Working on Whidbey, which takes viewers behind the scenes at some of the island’s most beloved businesses.
This charming series is a fresh twist on Dirty Jobs, with local host Nick Ricci participating in work tasks alongside experienced island staff. Ricci has a fun and friendly energy that shines through all his interactions as he attempts to frost doughnuts or direct traffic in early episodes. Ricci and the show’s producer Tyler Tuin are both Oak Harbor residents, collaborating for the first time to great effect. The episodes are lively, informative, and will make you want to visit each and every business!
Tuin says he’d like audiences to come away from the show feeling inspired. His own career began in Hollywood with cinematography, directing, and eventually producing. Having decided to move his family to Whidbey for a more down to earth lifestyle, it could be Tuin’s own sense of adventure and community values helping to drive the themes of the show. He says “The stories we feature are of people or families who have undertaken some sort of endeavor. There’s always a bit of risk and more promise of failure than success. It’s really a surprise to find that such inspiring stories are taking place in your backyard.”
Tuin’s ambitions to introduce small town community values into his own kids’ lives may have played a part too. He explains “We also want younger audiences to really see the benefits of skills honed over a lifetime. There’s immense value in consistently working on something for decades. The reward of having that craft or knowledge is priceless. We’re encouraging the younger generations to work hard at something they enjoy.” This attitude with young people in mind seems fitting, with the show’s first episode featuring an island institution that has provided first jobs and invaluable work experience to generations of local teenagers.
The premiere episode of Working on Whidbey explores the much loved, family-run Blue Fox Drive-In Theater. Having entertained audiences since 1959, the Blue Fox has been owned and operated by the Bratt family since 1988. This continuity really shows, not only in the enthusiastic dedication of lifelong customers but also the way the business has grown and expanded while staying true to its identity. As well as a drive-in movie experience, patrons can enjoy an outdoor go-kart track, indoor arcade, and most recently an open-air tavern. Follow host Nick Ricci through some of the many tasks involved with keeping the drive-in running smoothly: taking tickets, running the projection booth, and turning giant spuds into affordable family-sized curly fries.
Like many North Whidbey residents, it was the US Navy that first introduced Ricci to the island. He’s been taking his children to the Blue Fox for 15 years now and was excited to make it the show’s first port of call. The magic of the island that compelled Ricci to stay and raise his family on Whidbey is the same force that inspired the series: “This island is beautiful. It has everything the PNW has to offer all on a 55-mile island. I really hope the audience can connect on a personal level with the locations, the history, the businesses, and most importantly the people!”
The second episode of the show explored the inner workings of beloved family business Chris’ Bakery, with host Ricci struggling to keep up with the practiced rhythm of multi-generational bakers. Some of the family recipes used at Chris’ stretch back almost 80 years however, so that’s a lot of practice! Another early mini episode dived into an organization that truly exemplifies what a special community islanders enjoy. Hearts and Hammers has brought together incredible groups of volunteers since the 90s to lend a helping hand to neighbors with homes in need of attention. Ricci and his fellow volunteers spend the day pulling out old rotten floorboards for an elderly resident whose home has become dangerous. Volunteers replace the floor and tidy up the yard while they’re at it.
Tuin says he hopes audiences will come away from each episode with a sense of appreciation for the work that keeps their community going. “That nice looking piece of landscaping in front of a building represents consistent hard work by a person or team of people. That fresh seafood you’re eating at a restaurant represents a lot of time, effort, equipment and knowledge to bring to the table. It’s amazing what it takes to keep a community running.” Tuin and Ricci are contributing to this cycle of community building themselves with this great show. Not only does each delightful episode highlight a deserving business, but it’s giving on-island crew the chance to put the craft they love into practice.
Island videographer Willie Shaw went from strictly a camera operator to more like a co-producer, using his invaluable knowledge as a longtime local to get the best out of every episode. Bringing super technical and highly specific skills to the production is Brett Baird, one half of the musical duo Handsome and Gretyl. Baird is the show’s boom operator and post sound mixer, making everything sound just right from your phone speakers to the those at the Blue Fox, where new episodes are screened before the feature. The show is also giving back to the next generation by taking on young local production assistants who are eager to gain on-set experience. These cycles of goodwill and creative collaboration tend to reverberate for a long time, and we can’t wait to see what comes next for the show! Watch the early episodes here and subscribe to their YouTube channel to see which business shows up next.
Photo credits: “Working on Whidbey”