An unfortunate Discovery
Elements of network�??s �??Man vs. Wild�?? were staged, advisor says
BEN MOOK
Daily Record Business Writer
July 24, 2007 7:15 PM
Concerns over just how real a popular Discovery Channel reality show featuring a rugged survivalist dropped into inhospitable terrain with little else than a knife, a flint and his wits is, led the network on Tuesday to promise its �??Man vs. Wild�?? would be �??completely transparent.�??
The premise of �??Man vs. Wild�?? is that Bear Grylls, a former soldier with the British Special Air Service who climbed Mount Everest at the age of 23, is dropped alone into a desolate area and is supposed to find his way back to civilization.
An interview with an advisor to the show that appeared in the British press over the weekend claimed Grylls, 33, occasionally spent the night in hotel rooms and received assistance from the crew. The charges led the Discovery Channel�??s parent company, Silver Spring-based Discovery Communications Inc., on Tuesday to change how the show is presented.
�??Man vs. Wild is a how-to guide to basic survival techniques in extreme environments. We have learned that isolated elements of the show in some episodes were not natural to the environment, and that the crew and host received some assistance while in the field mainly for health and safety concerns,�?? the network said.
On Sunday, Mark Weinert, a survivalist expert who said he was hired as an advisor for the show, told The Sunday Times of London that some elements of �??Man vs. Wild�?? were staged or choreographed. He said in one episode, when Grylls was supposedly stranded on a deserted island, he actually was on an island in Hawaii and spent the night in a hotel.
According to Weinert, in one episode a raft that appeared to have been built by Grylls had been built earlier by the crew to make sure it worked, and was then disassembled. In another instance, Weinert said Grylls�??s supposed stumbling upon a group of wild horses was actually choreographed with the animals being trucked in earlier.
The interview prompted British network Channel 4, which broadcasts the show as �??Born Survivor: Bear Grylls,�?? to open an investigation into the claims.
Following news of the Channel 4 investigation, and press accounts in England and United States, the network appeared to stand behind the show and Grylls. Discovery made no mention of pulling the show, but said changes would be made to current episodes as well as those in rerun to avoid viewer confusion.
�??Moving forward, the program will be completely transparent in its promotion and all elements of the filming will be explained to our viewers,�?? the network said. �??This will also apply to repeated programs which will be re-cut and include a disclaimer upfront. Bear Grylls is a world class adventurer and terrific talent.�??
The show has an audience estimated at about 1.6 million people,
according to Nielsen Media Research data. As one of the network�??s more popular shows, it is uncertain what the impact the investigation and criticism will be.
David C. Joyce, a media analyst with Miller Tabak & Co. LLC, in New York, said he felt Discovery could weather the public relations hit well.
�??Whether he�??s sleeping in a hotel room, or under a deer pelt in the Scottish highlands, he�??s still showing people how to do it,�?? Joyce said. �??It doesn�??t help, but I think it�??s a non-event.�??
He said Discovery Communications has made marked improvement in righting its situation and an issue with one show should not have too drastic an impact.
�??They have so many channels in the U.S. and internationally that one show on one channel is really not going to hinder them in the long term,�?? Joyce said.