Would Les bring another person with him on Survivorman?

Les' personal answer was pretty detailed, but the answer is no. Cool

Legal reasons etc.

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"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

I think bringing another person is a majour liability. Does'nt matter if they sign a piece of paper saying, Ya, no prob.
Its still a majour risk for Les & the show. And to me it would take alot out of the show's feel.
Just to see another person, as far as im concerned, in the show would wreck it !. Just my view though.
I just want to see Les toughing it out, where ever he is on this planet. Cool

I dont want to see, Les, Survivorman with special guest, --------. Ya know. Smile

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A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Last edited by Drummer Dave on Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:16 pm; edited 1 time in total

I feel the same way.

Its survivorman not survivormen, thats what I always say.

Also if i was in Les' shoes i would be worried of getting slowed down.

Always worrying for the other person could slow down my survival.

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"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

Well, as you said in another post, he spends 65% of his time with camera junk. Surely there is someone else with the tons of Survivals training and experience of Les who would be all about being his partner and helping out with the cameras.

I mean, if I have the training, and the time, I'd do it, even if I got 0 camera time. I'm sure there are TONS of people who agree with me, who have enough training to survival with Les, and would be cool with signing a waiver.

I'm not talking about getting a whole crew, like that pussy Bear (He can brag about his Martial Arts or his Military training or his other adventures all he wants, until he has the nuts to lose the crew, and go it alone like Les, he is a pussy). Just one other guy, surviving with Les, the the main focus on operation the cameras, so Les' main focus can be talking into the cameras.

Even if he has a camera crew with him, I wouldn't go so far as to say he is a chicken. After all, not many people have the physical and mental ability or willingness to voluntarily put themselves in a dangerous situation of life or death.

Of course I think Les Stroud is many times better than Bear Grylls, but Bear is by no means a chicken.

Bear does some stupid stuff, in my opinion. Like the Canyon epsiode, the water has dead animals in it so its not safe to drink cause of parasites, but he swims in it with his eyes open and gets it all over him.
And does Bear's crew have food/water/shelter (for the crew) when they follow him?

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I always carry with me a good multitool

Sedric, I don't know what you have in the way of training, but most people here could do what Bear does, and do it better, and safer. Bear is a conman.

But to voluntarily place yourself in the midst of danger and discomfort? It's not about whether you can survive as well as he. 12-year-old boys have been known to survive in jungles with zero survival training. It's the fact that you do it voluntarily; there's a certain psychological aspect that places it separate from just surviving when things go wrong.

As for the difference in shows, it's because of their targeted audience. In general, the Science channel (Survivorman) is more dry and educational, whereas the Discovery channel (Man vs Wild) is more entertainment. As such, the shows cater to their respective audiences. Bear does what he does because that's what he gets paid to do.

I don't really like Man vs Wild because mindless idiots will think climbing 100-ft trees or jumping off mesas are the right things to do. However, I don't think he deserves most of the criticism he receives. If he was truly in a survival situation and actually did some of his stunts, then yeah.. he's pretty stupid. But I don't think he would.

*wears his flame-retardant suit*

Obviously it's a lot of work to do a week of survival in a new location plus to constantly be setting up cameras to get enough footage of yourself for an hour of tv. But if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Les manages it somehow, and the result is a very unique, compelling show. If he took a videographer with him, it would lessen - or just as bad, appear to lessen - what he does. Would the photographer be in the same survival situation as Les? If so, then that person would be doing what Les does now, the survival stuff plus the shooting, while Les is doing only the survival stuff. If on the other hand, the photographer is equiped with food, water, tent, etc., there would always be the suspicion in viewers minds that Les might be sharing in these things. By going solo, Les is putting the reality back into reality tv.

	Sedric wrote:
	But to voluntarily place yourself in the midst of danger and discomfort? It's not about whether you can survive as well as he. 12-year-old boys have been known to survive in jungles with zero survival training. It's the fact that you do it voluntarily;

First of all, What kind of site do you think you are on!? Who heard WOULDN'T do that? An

	Sedric wrote:
	there's a certain psychological aspect that places it separate from just surviving when things go wrong.

Even Les, who doesn't have EMTs or a Camera crew on stand-by admits it is hard to get into the psychological aspect knowing he will get picked up. So, how much harder is it for Bear, with EMTs, a Camera Crew, and a nice warm tent to sleep in when not filming (yes, I refuse to believe that he survives the entire time, it is almost imposable for him to do what he does, and still have the energy he does at the end of the day).

	Sedric wrote:
	As for the difference in shows, it's because of their targeted audience. In general, the Science channel (Survivorman) is more dry and educational, whereas the Discovery channel (Man vs Wild) is more entertainment. As such, the shows cater to their respective audiences. Bear does what he does because that's what he gets paid to do.

Survivorman in an OLN and Discovery, as well. OLN was the first to pick him up, I believe. You're going to tell me DC is more focused on entertainment then OLN?

	Sedric wrote:
	I don't really like Man vs Wild because mindless idiots will think climbing 100-ft trees or jumping off mesas are the right things to do. However, I don't think he deserves most of the criticism he receives. If he was truly in a survival situation and actually did some of his stunts, then yeah.. he's pretty stupid. But I don't think he would.

Yeah, and what about Les, the glory, money, attention, and respect that is rightfully his is stolen by some mindless idiot? What about the greenhorns who DO get stuck in a situation and think that it is ok to climb a waterfall and ride a wildhorse bareback? His show is irresponsible, it is going to get someone killed.

The outdoor leadership is a diminishing career. People are lucky to find a guild, let alone a mentor. When the only leaders left are telling kids it is ok eat live snakes, what happeneds to the next generation of Outdoorsman?

BushRat wrote:

Obviously it's a lot of work to do a week of survival in a new location plus to constantly be setting up cameras to get enough footage of yourself for an hour of tv. But if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Les manages it somehow, and the result is a very unique, compelling show. If he took a videographer with him, it would lessen - or just as bad, appear to lessen - what he does. Would the photographer be in the same survival situation as Les? If so, then that person would be doing what Les does now, the survival stuff plus the shooting, while Les is doing only the survival stuff. If on the other hand, the photographer is equiped with food, water, tent, etc., there would always be the suspicion in viewers minds that Les might be sharing in these things. By going solo, Les is putting the reality back into reality tv.

Very well said.

See most people don't realize how much the camera work has to do with the show. 65% of your time is a long to spend filming. I have made my own videos of survivorman like days out in the wilderness with 1 camerea, and even then I found it frusterating to have to focus on the camera when I need to find a spot, build, gather etc.

Its a lot more then it seems, and imagine havign 4-5 cameras like Les does, its not easy and its much more work. I guess the only real way to know how to do this is by trying it yourself. Les even said once that some shots are good but not good enough. The survivor in him wants to add them to the show, but the director does not due to the quality of the shot or whatever. Not only this les gives us many differnt angles and types of shots that take time to do.

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"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

Tibby, you have a few good points that I didn't think about. However, there are still some things you haven't addressed.

Sure, it's difficult for Les and Bear to truly get into "survival mode" since they have backup to rely on, but that doesn't mean that they aren't affected psychologically at all. In the swamp episode, Les states on his third day that the psychological aspect of being out in the wilderness alone really weighs down on his heart and mind. He's even said that after a few days, sometimes he thinks about why he's doing what he does and how he wants to go home. If you think Bear is somehow not affected psychologically at all doing what he does, you're being ignorant and exhibiting selective arguments.

Also, my point with the Science and Discovery channel comparison wasn't delivered correctly. The shows were produced by the Science channel (for Les) and the Discovery channel (for Bear). Either channel could play either show, but the producers determine how the show runs when it's being taped. What I mean by this is, the producers that work with the Discovery channel tell Bear what they want in the show and what they don't want, just like how Les's producers tell him what they want to see and don't want to see in Survivorman. Bear is just doing his job.

As for the "glory" and "attention" that was "stolen" by Bear from Les, how? Both shows run on the Discovery channel while only Survivorman runs on the Science channel (as far as I know!). If anyone chooses Man vs Wild over Survivorman, then they're looking for a show that fulfills their entertainment criteria. People like us, instead, find more entertainment in watching Survivorman. If people like Survivorman, they like it. If they don't, they don't. Man vs Wild won't affect that. There's no law declaring that people must choose between Survivorman or Man vs Wild! People can like both, neither or one or the other.

It's like Family Guy and the Simpsons. Just because Family Guy started airing, we don't have to choose between one or the other. You can like both, neither, or one or the other.

Sedric wrote:

Tibby, you have a few good points that I didn't think about. However, there are still some things you haven't addressed.

Sure, it's difficult for Les and Bear to truly get into "survival mode" since they have backup to rely on, but that doesn't mean that they aren't affected psychologically at all. In the swamp episode, Les states on his third day that the psychological aspect of being out in the wilderness alone really weighs down on his heart and mind. He's even said that after a few days, sometimes he thinks about why he's doing what he does and how he wants to go home. If you think Bear is somehow not affected psychologically at all doing what he does, you're being ignorant and exhibiting selective arguments.

According to Les: "I can't pretend to be going through actual survival psychology...I know I am going home after seven days...none the less by the third day of these things I am always ready to quit...to get out of there...to go home."

What Bear is doing it camping, and acting. That is it.

Sedric wrote:

Also, my point with the Science and Discovery channel comparison wasn't delivered correctly. The shows were produced by the Science channel (for Les) and the Discovery channel (for Bear). Either channel could play either show, but the producers determine how the show runs when it's being taped. What I mean by this is, the producers that work with the Discovery channel tell Bear what they want in the show and what they don't want, just like how Les's producers tell him what they want to see and don't want to see in Survivorman. Bear is just doing his job.

No, they where not. MvW and SM where produced by their perspective Production Companies, they are Distributed by the channels. And Survivorman is distribusted by OLN and Discovery channel.

Sedric wrote:

As for the "glory" and "attention" that was "stolen" by Bear from Les, how? Both shows run on the Discovery channel while only Survivorman runs on the Science channel (as far as I know!). If anyone chooses Man vs Wild over Survivorman, then they're looking for a show that fulfills their entertainment criteria. People like us, instead, find more entertainment in watching Survivorman. If people like Survivorman, they like it. If they don't, they don't. Man vs Wild won't affect that. There's no law declaring that people must choose between Survivorman or Man vs Wild! People can like both, neither or one or the other.

It's like Family Guy and the Simpsons. Just because Family Guy started airing, we don't have to choose between one or the other. You can like both, neither, or one or the other.

You don't get it, do you? While most of us here on the site have Parents and uncles and boy scout leaders and mentors to teach us the ways of the wild, maybe kids today are not that lucky. For these kids, kids like Tel, here in the site, with dreams of being outdoorsmen, Les and Bear are all they have! These shows are suppose to be educational, they are suppose to give good advice, and Bear doesn't do that! Bear isn't a filmmaker or and outdoor leader, he is a poser, an attention whore, and he is a dangerous man.

"You don't get it, do you? While most of us here on the site have Parents and uncles and boy scout leaders and mentors to teach us the ways of the wild, maybe kids today are not that lucky. For these kids, kids like Tel, here in the site, with dreams of being outdoorsmen, Les and Bear are all they have! These shows are suppose to be educational, they are suppose to give good advice, and Bear doesn't do that! Bear isn't a filmmaker or and outdoor leader, he is a poser, an attention whore, and he is a dangerous man."

I agree. I normally dont ripp on other shows but you cant just go out and do a video with 0% mistakes, a big a ego and a totally unoriginal idea. What Bear did was pretty much take something successfull, took away the charm and added himself, which in my book = Please shoot me now.

You cant expect people to like something thats already been done, an dbetter. Its like doing a cover of a song very badley.

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"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

::shrug:: I already agreed that his show is dangerous and not truly educational. You still didn't understand me, though. He does what his producers tell him to. Maybe I got his producers wrong, but they still have almost full control of his show. If he doesn't listen to them, he doesn't have a show. For the record, I agree that his show is irresponsible. So you can stop bringing that point up. Wink

	Sedric wrote:
	::shrug:: I already agreed that his show is dangerous and not truly educational. You still didn't understand me, though. He does what his producers tell him to. Maybe I got his producers wrong, but they still have almost full control of his show. If he doesn't listen to them, he doesn't have a show. For the record, I agree that his show is irresponsible. So you can stop bringing that point up.

I think that explanes it to everyone. Im not picking sides here, but did anyone come to this site about survival, to argue about whos show sucks Confused

, i mean sure people hate mvw, and sure some people hate sm, but who cares, everyone has their own opinion. See, how did a topic about Las bringins someone on his show, end up like this. Now start a new topic for this, and get back on track, or i will rant once more, because im not a mod lol Very Happy

TrooperMax wrote:

"You don't get it, do you? While most of us here on the site have Parents and uncles and boy scout leaders and mentors to teach us the ways of the wild, maybe kids today are not that lucky. For these kids, kids like Tel, here in the site, with dreams of being outdoorsmen, Les and Bear are all they have! These shows are suppose to be educational, they are suppose to give good advice, and Bear doesn't do that! Bear isn't a filmmaker or and outdoor leader, he is a poser, an attention whore, and he is a dangerous man."

I agree. I normally dont ripp on other shows but you cant just go out and do a video with 0% mistakes, a big a ego and a totally unoriginal idea. What Bear did was pretty much take something successfull, took away the charm and added himself, which in my book = Please shoot me now.

You cant expect people to like something thats already been done, an dbetter. Its like doing a cover of a song very badley.

Exactly. Bear did to survival what the Counting Crows did to "Big Yellow Taxi." Took out the meaning, the flavor, the class, the education of Survivorman, and just used his smile and him military training to sell the show. I don't care what training you have, if you can't deliver...

	Sedric wrote:
	::shrug:: I already agreed that his show is dangerous and not truly educational. You still didn't understand me, though. He does what his producers tell him to. Maybe I got his producers wrong, but they still have almost full control of his show. If he doesn't listen to them, he doesn't have a show. For the record, I agree that his show is irresponsible. So you can stop bringing that point up.

That isn't know TV shows work. Bear IS the show, in case you haven't noticed. They lose Bear, they lose the show. Who has the power? The Star.

Bear loses his producers, Bear loses his show. Rolling Eyes

I'm done with this topic. We've de-railed it far enough, I think.

Yeah I let it go this far because its actually an interesting dirrection, but still thanks for the heads up Sed

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"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

I realize that Les can't take just the guy off the street to go with him, but what about his wife? I know that the one person I would want to be with me in a survival situation, would be the wife. I'm sure my wife would want to be there as well. She's at least made a bow fire, whereas I make sure I'm never without matches.

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Chacun a son gout.