Reality TV > Discovery Channel Releases Re-edited Versions of Man vs. Wild
September 25, 2007
Written by David Morgan
In the wake of confirmed suspicions regarding the "reality" of the unscripted program Man vs. Wild, the Discovery Channel has re-edited their episodes to include a voice-over by Bear Grylls. They've also removed some of the more dubious footage and added a disclaimer to the beginning of their episodes. The disclaimer, according to The Hollywood Reporter, reads as follows:
Bear Grylls is trained in extreme survival techniques. He and the crew receive support when they are in potentially life-threatening situations, as required by health and safety regulations. Professional advice should be always be sought before entering any dangerous environment.
Although the series claims that Grylls braves the great outdoors, there have been several confirmed instances where Grylls either spent nights in a motel when he was depicted as sleeping outside or received off-camera assistance in constructing rafts or bridges he is shown crafting alone.
One example of how the voice-over changes things is that in one episode, Bear claims to have caught a rabbit in his trap and he eats it. But the voice-over reveals that the crew caught it for him. Bear says in the new voice-over, "My trap didn't catch anything overnight, but I've been brought a rabbit to tell you what to do if you're luckier than me."
Needless to say, this is a sad day in the history of reality TV. If this is fake, think about all the other shows that could be lying to us! Beauty and the Geek? Flavor of Love? The mind boggles.
