Running Wild with Bear Grylls

Celebrity survivalist Bear Grylls takes various celebrities on a survival adventure. They climb a lot. They hike a lot. They dig around dead animals and they eat gross stuff. They do an overnight in the wild. Bear interviews them. Sometimes he gets a bit deeper than the usual talk show material. This show relies on the celebrity on their lack of comfort with the situation. It's not real survival, but nobody is asking for the Hollywood set to do that. From episode to episode, this show needs an engaging celebrity to sell it. It's best if they're grossed out by the meal. It's great when they have fun and also have a good cry. Bear is an engaging guy and a good host. He pushes these Hollywood types into difficult positions, and he does it with a smile. He's always supportive. He doesn't berate them. It's generally a good show as long as the celebrity guest is good.

It's too much scripted too much staged, every time they stumble upon a piece of equipment which they end up conveniently using.

Would be much better if from the very beginning they admit its fake and they take equipment on preparation of a long difficult adventurous hike, but pretending its all real makes you feel like they are taking the viewers for big idiots, which is exactly what they are actually doing.

I was truly skeptic when I saw the trailer for this show. "Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls" was forced. But "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" was toned down and felt much more relaxed. The survival techniques and stunts used felt like something a normal mortal person have any chance to use.

The episode with Ben Stiller was genuinely funny. The 4 celebrities I've seen so far have all been interesting and all different. It also helps that Bear Grylls seem to be a sympathetic person.

This show has managed to renew the somewhat fatigued survival genre. It's nice to be positively surprised sometimes!

So I will say off the top that I am not a viewer of this show. I am, however, aware of it and have seen bits and pieces of it over time. Even that little bit was more than too much. First of all, it doesn't take a genius to understand that Grylls and his guests are in no real danger and are NOT fighting for survival. If anything goes bad they have a full on support crew only feet away. They are not actually starving, cold or baking in the heat because all of those situations are remedied as soon as the director says "cut'. So give us a break. However, I could care less about all of that. But ... how dare they go into wildlife habitat and intrude upon, hunt down, torture and kill creatures in their own territories. I just saw a clip from one episode where Grylls made a worm omelet, using live worms and tiny eggs stolen from a bird's nest. They actually mixed these worms in with the cracked eggs and held the cup near the fire, watching the worms writhe in pain as they burned up from the direct heat of the flames. Really???? If you want to demonstrate how to survive in the elements find a way to do it without maiming and murdering animals whose homes you have invaded. Why does NBC, Nat Geo or any reputable network air a program like this? Why are people watching? For entertainment? Hope you're taking good notes because if you really find yourself lost in the woods you won't have a back-up team at the ready on stand-by like fake Grylls does.

I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful sceneries and watching the celebrities navigate outside their comfort zones.

Also, this show isn't trying to fool anyone as some have claimed. Of course there's going to be safety nets and the occasional equipment pre set up- it's to keep the show moving for both the viewers and the celebrity counterpart and to ramp up the entertainment.