By Renee Worthing 

Staff Writer 

Where are the fjords in Norway… Maine, that is?

Bruce McToose sets out to find the answer in the WPME-TV (Time Warner channel 17, Metrocast channel 18) show “Intrepid Traveler featuring Bruce McToose,” which premieres Saturday (March 29) at 10:30 p.m.

Kennebunk resident Steve Hrehovcik and his 43-year-old son Josh Hrehovcik recently produced the pilot show in which Josh Hrehovcik, dressed as Bruce McToose, visits the town of Norway, Maine, thinking he is in Norway – the country.

In his naive and innocent way, Bruce McToose learns about Norway – although he keeps asking where the fjords are, Steve Hrehovcik said.

The show required the Hrehovciks to research Norway, (Maine) before they arrived so they would have an outlined script and know of interesting places to film, such as the historical society.

“They have a cannonball dating back to the Battle of Bunker Hill, which was actually fought at Breed’s Hill,” Steve Hrehovcik said, of the famous battle in 1775 during the siege of Boston. “Nobody knows for sure how it got to Maine, but a soldier from Norway who fought at Breed’s Hill probably brought it when he came home.”

Through Bruce McToose’s travels, the viewer learns other interesting facts about Norway.

Steve Hrehovcik said while no one is certain where the town of Norway got its name, a legend has held up throughout the years.

“According to legend, around 1789 when Maine was still part of Massachusetts, the town petitioned Massachusetts officials to become an independent town,” Steve Hrehovcik said.

The proposed name of the town meant “waterfall” in Norwegian, a fitting name because of the many waterfalls that powered the mills which were the foundation of the town.

He said according to legend, Massachusetts officials didn’t like the proposed name and changed it to Norway.

Steve Hrehovcik said Bruce McToose also learned Norway was where the snowshoe was invented.

“Norway was the snowshoe capital of the world,” Steve Hrehovcik said. “It’s interesting the facts you find out, things many people in Norway don’t know.”

He said the point of the “Intrepid Traveler” is to “open up these wonderful stories.”

The shows are meant to be educational and fun.

Throughout the show, Bruce McToose asks the people of Norway if the fjords are far away.

“They always say, ‘Yeah, they’re far away,’” Steve Hrehovcik said. “The people were great and they went along with the gag. We had the best time. Things happened that we didn’t expect. A gal by the name of Charlene pops in. She was born in Mexico, grew up in Paris and lives in Norway. That couldn’t be any more perfect.”

The idea for “Intrepid Traveler with Bruce McToose” began about 15 years ago when Josh Hrehovcik put on an Australian hat, imitated an Australian accent and instantly created the Bruce McToose character. Steve Hrehovcik’s other son, Noah, recorded Josh Hrehovcik’s antics on video tape.

“We had that video and we played it and and laughed,” Steve Hrehovcik said.

During lunch one day, Josh Hrehovcik asked his father, “What if we really made a show?”

A member of the Maine Film and Video Association, Steve Hrehovcik said the group was having a meeting at the WPME studio in Westbrook.

“Doug Finck, the station manager, said he was looking for locally produced shows. Talk about the planets aligning,” he said.

So, Steve Hrehovcik said he and his son pitched the show to Finck.

“He loved it,” Steve Hrehovcik said.

Finck told the duo to film and produce a show and he would look at it.

The “Intrepid Traveler” was filmed, edited and produced within two months.

“When we showed it to Doug Finck, he said, ‘Great, you did it.’”

Mike Davis, owner of Gargoyle productions, will direct each show. He also was in charge of the cinematography and editing for the first episode. 

“He does a splendid job,” Seve Hrehovcik said.

Bruce McToose’s trip to Norway isn’t the only one on the itinerary.

Steve Hrehovcik said there are 20 towns in Maine that share a name with a foreign country or city, including China, Rome, Lebanon, Peru, Poland and Calais. If the pilot show is well-received, the Hrehovciks hope Bruce McToose will visit all the communities. They absorbed the costs of the pilot episode, but are looking for sponsors for future episodes. Steve Hrehovcik said Bruce McToose will wear a vest featuring a patch for each sponsor. He said sponsors should have a “logical connection with state of Maine or travel.”

Steve Hrehovcik said the show’s idea may reach farther than the borders of Maine.

“The beauty of this is every state has towns named for foreign cities and countries,” he said. “We could do this for other states. The potential is virtually unlimited. We are all connected and maybe this is a small step in connecting with one another.”

Steve Hrehovcik said he is not sure which town will be next.

“Maybe Bruce McToose will go to China to look for the Great Wall,” he said.

But connecting towns in Maine with their more famous counterparts isn’t the only satisfaction Steve Hrehovcik gets from the “Intrepid Traveler.”

 “The real delight is working with my son,” Steve Hrehovcik said. “He’s incredibly talented.”