Posted on 07/25/2007 3:42:34 AM PDT by SkyPilot
LOS ANGELES (July 24) - Discovery Channel is re-evaluating one of its most popular series, "Man vs. Wild," after allegations surfaced that its survival-expert host was bunking in motels when he was supposed to be braving the great outdoors.
The network issued a statement Monday in response to an investigation launched by British television network Channel 4, which carries the program under the title "Born Survivor: Bear Grylls." Channel 4 confirmed that host Bear Grylls had partaken of indoor accommodations on at least two occasions when his series had depicted him spending the night in the wild.
Discovery Communications has learned that isolated elements of the 'Man vs. Wild' show in some episodes were not natural to the environment, and that for health and safety concerns the crew and host received some survival assistance while in the field," the network said in a statement.
The production company behind the series, Diverse Television, is cooperating with the Channel 4 investigation, which likely will address a range of allegations that called into question "Wild's" authenticity.
In each episode of the series, Grylls is airlifted into the wilderness with only a few tools to aid in his survival, such as a flint or water bottle. A former British special forces soldier, Grylls is typically depicted as subsisting for several days without intervention or interruption while cameramen follow him offscreen. He has been stranded all over the globe, including Utah's Moab desert and the Costa Rican rain forest.
But among the charges made against Grylls is that a raft he is depicted as having built himself actually was constructed and then disassembled by consultants to the show in order for the host to put it together. In another episode, Grylls happens upon what are referred to as wild horses that were said to be brought in from a trekking station.
The brouhaha could become a PR nightmare for the channel, which in recent years has abandoned contrived unscripted formats in favor of the scientific explorations that first made the Discovery brand famous. "Wild" in particular has emerged as one of its main attractions during the past two seasons.
But the company gave no indication about parting ways with the series, only making certain unspecified alterations.
"Moving forward, the program will be 100% transparent and all elements of the filming will be explained upfront to our viewers," Discovery said. "In addition, shows that are to be repeated will be edited appropriately. Bear Grylls is a world-class adventurer and a terrific talent."
A spokeswoman for Discovery declined to elaborate on what exact measures will be taken to address the concerns raised about "Wild."
Among the likely possibilities: a disclaimer that will precede each episode explaining that some of the events being depicted are dramatized.
I knew someone was coming after him last month when Wikipedia.org had to lock his page because it was being hacked so much.
Personally, I knew some of it was staged. For example, he will state while climbing down a cliff there is only "one way down" and then his camera man is perched a few feet down or away filming him (as was done in Mexico). When he couldn't get down, the camera pans a few feet to the left and suddenly he spot a trail down.
I figured his team brought in medical equipment and a GPS or something like that - and nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't want to be caught in the Austrailian Outback and be bitten by a funnel spider with no anti-venom. The article doesn't mention that kind of back up, but there is no controversy about that.
The allegation of sleeping in motels and having his crew make items for him like rafts have gotten him into trouble.
He is a very accomplished man - a former SAS soldier who is still the youngest man to ever climb Everest and live. He has accomplished other exploits around the world.
Some of his "tips" are rubbish. I went through military survival school, and they taught us to never, ever, never drink your own urine. That is poison. You don't put that back into your body.
Anyway, I hope he gets through this OK. It is a great show. I see some in the media who cannot stomach a hotel unless it is the Four Seasons have their limp wrists out of the guy.
The cameraman on these shows is the real adventurer. Imagine climbing with a thirty pound camera on your back. These guys never even acknowledge the cameraman.
Agreed. I thought it was quite a stretch when he jumped into that freezing river in Iceland because he saw the volcanic hot springs a mile away.
"How does the camera man do it?"
Anyway, it is still a great show, and almost all of his survivor teachings are dead on (except the drink urine and squeeze water from poop ones).
The good tips, like how to build shelters, fires, etc may save someone's life.
Next thing you know, the media will go after "Deadliest Catch" and tell us a lot of it was staged.
I'll bet there's at least two cameramen and maybe a producer with him...so maybe up to three others who didn't sign on to survive in the wild. They have tents, sleeping bags, food, and probably a helicopter at their beck and call. I would be more impressed with the show if Bear Grylls went out truly alone with a video camera ala Timothy Treadwell. But he would probably quickly end up the same way.
Anyone who thinks “reality” shows are completely real and unscripted is seriously delusional.
I saw the Iceland episode a few nights ago.
Like you, I thought crossing the river in those conditions was a bit much.
The time it would have taken for his clothes to dry would have been at least a day.
Wet feet in that environment? Disaster.
Fun show though.
I had to turn my head away during that one.
It’s entertainment. Just post a disclaimer:
Some scenes re-enacted from the back of the Holiday Inn parking lot. And we ordered a large pepperoni pizza, washed down with a case of Miller Lite. You think you can do better? Start your own show.
The shows are about as real as wrasslin’...
I did think it was cool when he cooked the bits of lamb meat in the volcanic springs.
The dirty face gets me though. In just about every show he takes a little mud in his hands and runs it down his face, and not for the bugs.
Another classic was when he jumped into the Rockies and landed in a tree. He said that the only way out was to slip out of his harness. Then the camera cuts to him hitting the ground with a lot of grunts. All that to indicate he was way up there. A little later you see him with parts of the parachute?
Still - I like the show, and the Survivor Man one. Now that guy is alone.
I think most of my TV viewing is done on the Discovery, History and National Geographic Channels.
I’m hearing rumors that “Deadliest Catch” is filmed in a Malibu swimming pool.
And a caterer, of course.
I enjpy the show but I question how many survival experts would suggest jumping off a cliff into a raging torrent.
They tried to hit on the success of Survivorman and failed.
He has said on several episodes that his crew is under instructions to yank him out if they feel it is necessary. I would imagine that the two times he stayed in the motel might have been due to that. Then he goes back out to the site and finishes filming. Unless you expect him to start over.
What bugs me is the reality of being in the situation that he gets in. It would be extremely rare to be caught with so little kit. I know there are idiots that don’t pay attention to the weather before hand and get in trouble quick, but come on.
The crazy thing to me about the Africa episode where he squeezes a mouthfull of liquid in his mouth from an elephant turd was the fact that 1 minute before he had walked right by a mud hole full of water and said that the water shouldnt be drunk. Instead he oppted to drink from an elephant turd instead. I thought it was the most insanely hilarious thing I have ever seen. I would have drank the bottom out of that mudhole before I did that.
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