Survival shows

[mulekick]

Okay folks, lets hear your breakdown on the various survival shows and characters that seem to be so popular these day. I watch four of them pretty regularly, though not so much for information as entertainment. The four I watch are: Man vs. wild - Bear Grylls. Survivorman - Les Stroud. Man,Woman, Wild - Some dude and his wife and Dual Survival - Dave Canterbury and Cody Lundin. Sometimes you can learn something new from these, but I find them to be mostly the same old thing. I think Bear Grylls offers situations that would get a normal person killed (Climbing down cliffs, waterfalls, etc.)

Lost ALL respect for Les Stroud during his "Arizona" show. Dude was literally scared to death that a bobcat or Javelina was going to get him. So much so that he mentioned the fact several times. I lived in Arizona for 24 years and never knew anyone who was ever hurt,let alone killed by a Javelina.

Dave Canterbury and Cody Lundin mostly have their stuff together. Cody, despite his whole barefoot, Hippie, back to nature stuff is one of the foremost desert survivalists in the country.

Dude and his wife? Pretty or not, I would probably leave her constantly nagging rear at home! She just complains WAY to much!

There is my opinions...How about you?

[shanemoss]

I pretty much agree with you. "Bare" is just too extreme and does alot of dangerous stuff...but its entertainment. I have tons of respect for the guy from what he's accomplished in his life but i just dont agree with what he does on his show. They all pretty much the same...Get naked, drink pee, and run...lol. I do like to hear him say "slippy" though...lol.

Les on the other hand is just too dull for a show IMO. Not too entertaining watching him play harmonica and pretty much starve for seven days. I do feel like he gives better advice than bear though for a true survival situation.

Man, woman, wild was a suprise to me. From what i had read about that guy, i was expecting him to be an arrogant, gung-ho type but he wasnt. I liked the different perspective from the woman...the perspective from someone who knows nothing about survival and put in the position. I say "liked" because now it has just gotten annoying. My wife likes that show the best though and i imagine the show was targeting the average joe for rateings and not serious outdoors folk...lol.

Dual survival is my favorite. Ive met cody a few times over the years and always liked him. Dave i'd never heard of but he seems like a nice enough feller. Cody is not putting up a front for the show...he acted the same way when i met him as he does on the show. The oposeing personalities is what i like about it and thats probably what they were counting on when making the show. Its down right funny sometimes...lol...especially the honey bee show!

For folks that are into bushcraft, its kinda hard to watch any of them without pointing out the "fake" stuff and set ups in my opinion, but i have to keep reminding myself that im likely not the targeted audiance and it is a show. I like to see them trying things that ive heard about and not got around to trying myself. I think they give me a little push to get off my ass and try some things. Im glad to see them on though. I think its good to show animals being used as a resource no matter the situation. Maybe with enough of these type shows, normal folk can get de-sensitized to it like we all were 100 years ago.

[mulekick]

Great review, Shane. I'm with you on Stroud and the harmonica! LOL! And if not for various bugs, he would starve to death! And I have also interacted with Cody when I lived in Arizona. Yep. No pretense or fakeness there. He is who he is and has lived a very interesting life. Anyone else have a take on this...?