The Daily Star - Stay Tuned
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The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, July 25, 2014 18 By Jacqui Wiens TV Media Reality survival television is experiencing an upswing in popularity. Discovery is set to premiere a groundbreaking series later in the year called "Survival Live," which will feature 24/7 footage of contestants and en- courage audience participa- tion. In advance of Discovery's experiment, NBC is bringing well-known survivalist Bear Grylls back to the small screen with some famous friends in "Running Wild with Bear Grylls," set to premiere on Monday, July 28, on the pea- cock network. "Running Wild" will feature six hour-long episodes, each of which will follow one celebrity on their journey away from Hollywood and into the real woods. The 48-hour trials will push these stars beyond any- thing they've experienced in the glamorous world of pa- parazzi and red carpets. Grylls will be exploring remote loca- tions with his famous partners and pushing them to complete nerve-racking challenges such as rappelling down cliffs in Utah and skydiving into a mountain range. Most of the publicity sur- rounding "Running Wild" has centered around two heart- throbs: Zac Efron ("Charlie St. Cloud," 2010) and Channing Tatum ("She's the Man," 2006). The opportunity to see these steamy stars get down and dirty is one that isn't pre- sented often, and news that Efron ate a bug during filming sent the blogosphere atwitter. While audiences are sure to get a kick out of seeing their favorite (or not so favorite) ce- lebrities struggling in an unfa- miliar environment, "Running Wild" provides a unique op- portunity to celebrate personal triumphs with normally unap- proachable social giants. You can bet that the stars will come up against challenges they've never faced before, and view- ers will be able to observe as they overcome the obstacles in their way. "'Running Wild' allows viewers to see inside the hearts and minds of these guests in a very open, honest and vulnera- ble way, pushing them out of their comfort zones and seeing what they are like in real life when stripped of all the bene- fits of celebrity," said Grylls in an interview with "Hollywood Reporter." "Ultimately, this show is about taking these stars on the adventure of a life- time and being alongside them when they discover something new and empowering about themselves and their world. For me, that is always a privi- lege." NBC is clearly hoping that its selected personalities will grow throughout their time in the wilderness. President of al- ternative and late night pro- gramming Paul Telegdy said in the same interview: "Bear's in- credible spirit is absolutely contagious, not only with his celebrity partners, but with the viewing audience as well. We can't wait to see how these epic adventures will profound- ly change those who take the challenge." The host and creator of "Running Wild" has a strong background in survivalism and adventuring. Grylls learned to climb, sail and skydive as a child, as well as earning a kara- te black belt and starting Eton College's first mountaineering club. He joined the British army in 1994 and served in a reserv- ist SAS regiment until he was injured in a parachuting acci- dent and subsequently dis- charged. Grylls knows what he's do- ing when it comes to survival, and it's most obvious in the shows he's hosted. He is per- haps best known for "Man vs. Wild," which ran from 2006 to 2011. In it, Grylls was left stranded with only his film crew in an unfamiliar location — usually a forest or jungle — and his goal was to survive and make his way back to civiliza- tion. He's also hosted and pro- duced other survival-themed shows such as "Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls," "Worst-Case Scenario" and "The Island with Bear Grylls." In addition to the feats de- picted in his various television shows, Grylls has circumnavi- gated the U.K. on jet skis, crossed the Atlantic in an in- flatable boat, paramotored over the Himalayas and has led expeditions in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. Grylls also brings his expertise to the masses through the Bear Grylls Survival Academy (BGSA), which offers courses ranging from an exclusively child-tar- geted course to five-day adult courses. Pack your bags and leave the makeup at home because the Bear train is going full steam ahead into the wild. With celebrity guests aboard, "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" is sure to be an enter- taining change of pace. Catch the series premiere Monday, July 28, on NBC. Bear Grylls as seen in "Running Wild With Bear Grylls" Head for the hills: Celebrities ditch the bling and hang with Bear Featurestory