Bear Grylls fired from the Discovery Channel

[terryr]

Les Stroud is like a guy driving cross country. Bear Grylls is a guy driving up a rock face 'just because'.

When you're out hiking and come to a cliff, you go around. Bear jumps off.
But the show is entertaining.
Instead of all those stupid actor guest stars, he should have had Stroud and other survivalists.

 

[Solo4114]

I remember seeing him squeeze the water out of (I think it was horse) crap to drink it. This was out in an environment where there were plenty of other water sources, but he did it, I guess, to show it could be done if there was no other option... I guess...

And he did that all the time with bugs/animals. He was a big fan of biting the heads off of live creatures. When it's being done as PURE entertainment then that kind of rubs me the wrong way.

Oh, no problem then. They can just get this guy to do the show instead.

 

[Dart]

Les Stroud is a really good guy too. Not saying BG isn't but you can put me in the Survivorman camp any day. Man vs. Wild was just bad. Gives the wrong impression to those who think "that's what you do in the wilderness."

 

[Laspector]

I'm gonna go the opposite. I like Bear's show better. It was entertaining. Les' was boring IMHO

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

I never went out of my way to watch 'Man vs Wild', and I never watched on a regular basis, but the few episodes I have seen I didn't think the show was complete crap. It was exactly what I expected it would be.

 

[leafman]

I think you guys are blowing some of this out of proportion. He only drank is own "urine" a few times, like < 5. (Urine is in quotes because it was probably just yellow water :rolleyes) Biting heads of animals? He only did that with bugs that could bite back, as far as I've seen.

Les teaches smart and safe survival, but does he always have to whine about how lonely he is? I get that a good portion of survival is psychological and being able to deal with it emotionally, but for crap sake, go one episode with out complaining.

 

[MooCriket]

While I did not go out of my way to watch his show, when I did catch an episode, I generally enjoyed it. Honestly though, who names their children Marmaduke and Huckleberry?

 

[Hecubus114]

I think you guys are blowing some of this out of proportion. He only drank is own "urine" a few times, like < 5. (Urine is in quotes because it was probably just yellow water :rolleyes) Biting heads of animals? He only did that with bugs that could bite back, as far as I've seen.

Les teaches smart and safe survival, but does he always have to whine about how lonely he is? I get that a good portion of survival is psychological and being able to deal with it emotionally, but for crap sake, go one episode with out complaining.

You're right, fighting for your life in the wilderness isnt that bad, why cant he just have fun with it? :rolleyes I guess its easier not to complain when you get to pack up and stay in a motel between takes. As far as killing animals, I cant throw out an exact figure because I haven't watched the show in so long - but my point wasn't about simply "biting heads off". My point is that he uses killing live animals and eating them like a savage as a tactic for cheap ratings. I don't disagree that sometimes that's necessary to survive in the wild - but using your teeth to kill a live snake before you eat it on camera is just to be shocking and make "good" TV. Survivorman taught how to make traps for animals, cook them, etc., but he never made a big silly show out of killing them. In fact, as far as I know, he never even showed the actually killing on camera because it wasn't relevant to the message he was trying to send. Bear Grylls seems to pride himself on having no gag reflex and wants to show it off at every possible instance.

 

[Jannix Quinn]

He only drank is own "urine" a few times.

.............

 

[leafman]

yes, yes, you both have points. :lol

I guess my point about Les was that he's getting paid quite nicely to go out there and make the show, I don't really want hear about how much it sucks.

 

[CJS]

Bear is just showing extreme survival, Les does a more what 90% of the population would need to do. Survival is not about taking risk.....it's eliminating them. I read 2 of Les books. Really smart, clever, realistic stuff. Les full time live off the grid. He's the real deal. They should face them off head to head, that would be a good show.

 

[Jet Beetle]

Alot of times these shows try to get more out of the talent than originally contracted. I'm sure his departure from the show was under the advisement of his agent, lawyer, manager - If you agreed to do 5 things and suddenly they asked for 15 without any kind of compensation, well, walking is an option as long as you have F.O. money in the bank.

 

[DuneMuadDib]

yes, yes, you both have points. :lol

I guess my point about Les was that he's getting paid quite nicely to go out there and make the show, I don't really want hear about how much it sucks.

So if you got paid to go out in the middle of nowhere for a week and survive on your own while lugging multiple cameras with you to film it all yourself (including constant backtracking to get shots of you approaching or walking away or whatever) you wouldn't ***** once?

Right.

 

[rlh11bravo]

Les Stroud was married on a frozen lake then him and his wife left immediately for their honeymoon... which was to live out in the wilderness alone for a year... And filmed the whole thing! Les Stroud - Snowshoes and Solitude - YouTube Snowshoes and Solitude show's a real man doing man things, Man v.s. Wild show's a little kid doing stunts that nobody should ever attempt, especially when you are trying to survive in the wild!

 

[sgtski]

I think you guys are blowing some of this out of proportion. He only drank is own "urine" a few times, like < 5. (Urine is in quotes because it was probably just yellow water :rolleyes) Biting heads of animals? He only did that with bugs that could bite back, as far as I've seen.

Les teaches smart and safe survival, but does he always have to whine about how lonely he is? I get that a good portion of survival is psychological and being able to deal with it emotionally, but for crap sake, go one episode with out complaining.

One time drinking urine is enough to show that yes, it is possible to drink your own urine if it is necessary. In the Man vs Wild scenarios, it is not necessary for him to constantly do that since his camera crew are probably loaded with water and food.
I get the difference between constantly moving and trying to get to civilization and setting up camp to survive. They are 2 different shows and i enjoyed both for different reasons. If i was to take anything away that i would personally use in a survival situation, I would go with Les Stroud. If i want something shoking to watch for entertainment, Bear Grylls is a great way to spend an hour in front of the TV. As for Les and his complaining, I think it does add to the sense of sharing his feeling of isolation. I like the Bear Grylls branded Gerber tools and the pants, they are decent products.

 

[JediG60racer]

I prefer Will Willis on Spec Ops Mission.

Not only does he lug all his own camera gear and survive in the wild, he's got real military operatives hunting him while he's trying to pull off a realistic clandestine mission.

That simunition stuff they use in real M4's is no joke to get hit with, either - can cause death or serious injury if you're hit in the face.

 

[Kerr Avon]

 

[BornKilr]

"Bear Grylls: Ludgrove School - Class of 92 - Voted Most Likely to Drink His Own Pee."
The dude seems obsessed with it. I drink alot of beer but don't constantly bring it up.

 

[terryr]

I prefer Will Willis on Spec Ops Mission.

...

Never heard about that until now. But it's on a channel I don't get.

Les Stroud was married on a frozen lake then him and his wife left immediately for their honeymoon... which was to live out in the wilderness alone for a year... And filmed the whole thing! ....

Did you ever see Alone In The Wilderness, on PBS? Dick Proenneke moved to Alaska, built a log cabin, then lived in it for 30 years.

Alone in the Wilderness, the story of Dick Proenneke, by Bob Swerer Productions

Alone in the Wilderness - YouTube

 

[leafman]

So if you got paid to go out in the middle of nowhere for a week and survive on your own while lugging multiple cameras with you to film it all yourself (including constant backtracking to get shots of you approaching or walking away or whatever) you wouldn't ***** once?

Right.

I probably would, but I'd least edit it out in post-production.