Swirlie

Does anyone watch these two programs (I don't even know if Survivorman airs in the US) but if you do, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on the two...

Personally, I like Survivorman much better. Man vs Wild seems WAY too contrivedx for a "survival" show. Multiple cameramen, items he needs just "happening to show up", etc. At least Les Stround does the whole show himself... can't wait for the new episodes!

Anyway - those are my thoughts, not yours... sure hope some other folks watch these programs.

Willravel

I'd love Survivorman a lot more if they made some new damned episodes. It feels like I've seen the same ones (forest tundra, barren tundra, New Orleans swamp, Central America, and Mediterranean) over and over and over. I'd LOVE to see more, but I don't live in Canada.

I need to watch Man vs. Wild before I have an opinion about it. It could be good.

Swirlie

He's been filming new episodes according to his website... that and recording an album with the Northern Pikes...

guy44

Yeah, Survivorman is way more badass. He's totally alone out there, has to do everything in view of the camera (like traveling the same distance once to set up the camera, twice to be filmed traveling, and a third time having picked up his camera), and carries all the film equipment with him. But they're both pretty entertaining.

__________________
"You have reached Ritual Sacrifice. For goats press one, or say 'goats.'"

Willravel

He's a musician, too?! Hahahah....why am I not surprised. I remember him playing his harmonica.

MPower

Survivorman all the way. He is his own crew. That bear guy has people carrying his batterys and cameras. wussie.

warrrreagl

I started watching Survivorman a year ago but only after I kept hearing newswires interview him repeatedly everytime someone got lost. I never knew he had a show of his own until I heard his voice one night while channel surfing. Same dude, and I was hooked.

My all-time favorite was when he dismantled his own camera tripod to make a tent frame.

__________________
Living is easy with eyes closed.

Nikilidstrom

I'm with you guys, Survivorman wins out because Les does it all on his own, and I think beating the loneliness would be as huge part of really surviving some of those situations. If I remember correctly, he also wrote and performs the musical score for the show too.

Having said all that, I still watch Man vs Wild on a regular basis as well.

ASU2003

Survivorman is more real and I've used some of his tips when I've been camping in the middle of nowhere.

Plaid13

Survivorman is the better show by far but... man vs wild is amusing. They are both pretty good. Survivorman is just alot more realistic. While man vs wild is good because... well that guy is just nuts. Drinking water out of a stream in a jungle then puking all night... thats good entertainment. Wonder where they find these people.

Willravel

The Republican National Convention?

Fremen

Yeah, I agree with the consensus.
I like Survivorman better, as well.

Les also does another survival show (I forget what it's called) where he gives advice on how to survive, after they show people's survival stories.

On one episode, to show one way the man, woman and child could've survived, he almost completely cannibalized a truck that was "stranded" in the snow out in the middle of nowhere. (He made some badass snowboots out of the seat and trekked to safety.)

The couple were in the real situation and didn't manage very well.


---
Man-v-Wild guy is ok, but the guy seems to get naked at the drop of a hat. O.o

__________________
Google

JustJess

US people - where do I find Survivorman? We just started watching Man vs. Wild, and it's amusing, but I have to agree about him "dealing with being by himself" and he's so not by himself, etc. Do you really think they plant the found items?

__________________
My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

braisler

JustJess, I see Survivorman on The Science Channel here on my cable network. I think that is one of the Discovery spin-off channels. The show also partners with OLN (Outdoor Life Network). You might be able to find it there.

I like Survivorman better, but I think that the premise of the shows are different too. If memory serves Survivorman has to just sit in one place and 'survive' for 7 days, while Man vs Wild the guy tried to hike out or find civilization on his own in 3 days right? So they each have their TV niche carved out in a way.

__________________
---
You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.
- Albert Einstein
---

Mondak

Mn vs. Wild wins in a landslide!!! Bear is an insane person. Toughest dude ever. How about when he eats that Zebra sushi style??? Or when he jumps into that frozen mountain lake to show us how to survive it? That is freaking crazy.

As usual - I am all alone in this thread. ..

__________________
All truth passes through three stages:
First it is ridiculed
Second, it is violently opposed and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.

ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)

Nikilidstrom

Survivorman is on both Discovery and the Science Channel here. Its a little harder to find now because they are only showing reruns late nights and weekends, but I'm sure when the new ones come out, it will go back to prime time on Discovery, hopefully even Discovery HD.

Swirlie

Les actually also treks to find civilization - that's the premise of the show.

Bear is a pretty amazing guy as well - I just like the premise of Survivorman more. As one poster mentioned, he "goes it alone" - and as such also has to deal with the mental aspect of being stranded or lost. I also get a little more out of the program as far as survival techniques go.

Don't get me wrong - I watch Man vs Wild as often as I can, but I think Les has Bear beat when it comes to "real life" survival. I wouldn't think of trying a lot of the stuff Bear does - ie: the rock climbing, etc. that he does - but most of what Les shows is kinda common sense type of stuff.

Survivorman airs on OLN here in Canada - which is different than Versus in the US. Not sure where is airs in the US, but a number of posters have mentioned different channels.

http://www.survivorman.ca/ for more info.

Reese

I gotta give survivorman credit because he is out there alone, but I think having a crew allows bear to demonstrate some crazier shit. I just like Man vs. Wild better although I do enjoy Survivorman

__________________
“It is better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick” - Dave Barry

yellowmac

I haven't watched Survivorman yet, so I can't comment on a comparison. I have enjoyed watching Man vs. Wild very much, and I think Bear Grylls is totally awesome. You have to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's essentially on his own and focusing more on how to get back on civiilzation and surviving without having to worry about the cameras. And I dunno, the show overall is more entertaining with his British accent narrating everything.

Timeisillusion

I'd have to say Man vs. Wild is more entertaining, simply because, with a camera crew on the scene, Bear is able to do things that would be far too insane for Survivorman to do being alone. I likely have a deeper respect for Les, simply because there is no one to help him in a critical situation, and he often uses nature to start his fires (ie.rubbing sticks together, etc). But, as I said, Bear is extremely entertaining and, despite his calm demeanor, I think a bit insane. Although he (mostly) uses flint and steel for his fires, he still gets a big nod for doing those 'extreme simulations', and his episodes seem to stick in my head more clearly because of them. It seems he is constantly climbing down waterfalls and swimming or jumping into extremely cold water and quicksand. I can't shake the feeling that, camera crew or no, he's still taking a large risk doing things like swimming across gator infested rivers and pouncing across lava fields.

Kudos to both men, though. I enjoy watching all their shows.

Cynthetiq

I like Survivorman, I think mostly for its narrationstyle and the fact he is all alone.

I have Man vs. Wild Iceland on the Tivo. I can't wait to watch it.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

mobboss

I have to say Man vs. Wild...ive been watching that show non stop. I like Les Stroud, but he just gets so miserable it gets to a point where i dont want to watch anymore. Bear is the manliest person who has ever lived. Seriously, he drank the water out of an elephants poo. Its the ridiculous stuff like that that makes the show fantastic.

Les ends up using the film equipment to help build his shelters etc. Remember when he used the tape as rope? When i get stranded in the wilderness, im not going to have camera equipment to haul around, bitch about, and use to my advantage.

Oh yeah and his name is Bear.

snowy

I prefer Man vs. Wild. I just like Bear Grylls better. He's a cooler dude. Plus, he does all kinds of crazy shit. There's no telling what he'll do in any episode. I'm glad the new episodes are on now, I was really getting bored of the old ones.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

troit

[QUOTE=mobboss] Seriously, he drank the water out of an elephants poo. [\QUOTE]

Remember that?!?! It was like watching a train wreck - you wanted to turn away but just had to watch so you could say to yourself - "Did he really just do that?"

I'm a surviorman guy myself but enjoy watching both shows. I DVR just about anything on the Science or Discovery channel - good for late night TV.

__________________
I've yet to dephile myself...

guthmund

Bear Grylls is the way more entertaining of the two. I don't watch it for survival tips because, quite honestly, I would probably curl up into a ball and rock back and forth gently crying if I were to ever be stranded in some of those places. If I should make a go of it, I can't imagine Grylls' advice would be good for anything other than a laugh.

Which is why I watch Bear. I watch because he drank from elephant poo, tried to kill a wild rabbit by throwing a stick at its head, created a floation device using only his cargo pants and periodically tries to catch fish using unorthodox methods, which usually involves him trying to beat them with a big stick in shallow water.

It's entertaining television. As an aside, I would love to hear what the camerapeople had to say about their little treks into the "Wild."

__________________
No signature. None. Seriously.

Fremen

I just watched Bear jump over the lip of a crevasse in a glacier, just to show that a rope drag technique really works.

I think the guy's a few bricks short of a full load, and I love it.

__________________
Google

Bashmeol

I think Survivorman gives you a better sense of what real people would do. While Man Vs. Wild gives you some more extreme options and variety.

Alot of the stuff Les goes over I already knew so I'm tilting towards Bear because he gives you some of the more extreme and unheard of options.

blahblah454

Survivorman is the shit. He is so bad ass its not even funny. As stated before he has to walk every distance 3 times!!! I saw one up in the arctic and he was trudging in the snow with a rifle (to fend off polar bears), man that is one tough dude.

guthmund

Why, Bear Grylls, why?

Bear Grylls not as "Wild" as expected

__________________
No signature. None. Seriously.

Willravel

I'm sure both shows have elements that are fake. The bottom lines would be 1) Information: is the information correct and helpful? COuld this help you in a similar situation?
I'd say the answer is yes based on what I've seen. Both shows have a lot of amazing information that could potentially help.
2) Is the show entertaining? Am I having a blast while watching this?
This is, of course, subjective, but I enjoy both shows very much.

ASU2003

I watched Survivorman's trip to the Candian Rockies prior to hiking through the wild there earlier this month. It was a big help, even though I had a tent and sleeping bag with me. And I didn't really have to worry about everything he did, but I enjoyed my 4 days in the middle of nowhere.

I can't wait for the next season August 5th.

guthmund

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with you
.
I don't really give a shit if elements of the show aren't on the up and up as, in the end, it doesn't really matter. I watch the show for the outrageous stuff he does on camera, I couldn't care less if the circumstances are authentic or not.

__________________
No signature. None. Seriously.

Willravel

Yes, you do totally agree with me. You're all about #2, where the shows are entertaining as hell.

albania

I'd have to say I'm a Survivorman fan. I've seen both shows and the fact that Les is totally alone puts it over the top for me.

quadro2000

I found myself bored with "Survivorman." I can appreciate what he's doing but I don't think it makes for compelling TV. I find "Man Vs. Wild" a lot of fun. Actually, half the fun is trying to figure out how the hell the crews are filming him, staying out of his way, etc.

After you've watched enough episodes, though, you can pretty much predict certain things:

1) Within the first half hour, there will be at least three references to random people who have been caught in similar precarious situations.

2) He will eat something (either a plant or an animal) and exclaim, "that's as good as the best ____ you've ever hard in your life!"

3) He will take off his shirt. (My wife and gay friends LOVE this one.)

__________________
You have to laugh at yourself...because you'd cry your eyes out if you didn't. - Emily Saliers

Zeraph

I like both. Survivalism (sp?) is a hobby of mine so I watch survivorman to pick up some actual tips and MvW more for the outrageous entertainment value. But of course there's cross over from both. Les Stroud is the man though going in completely alone and doing most of his hike twice cause he has to go back for the camera.

BigDonkey2

I would have to agree with you. At first, I liked Suvivorman much better than Man vs Wild, but I've come to like Man vs Wild more now. It's a little more action packed and because he doesn't have to carry all his own camera equipment around with him I think it makes for a better show. I'm not discounting Survivorman because I do like the show, but I think that Man vs Wild is more appealing. He's dropped in the middle of nowhere with a watter bottle, knife, and flint and has to survive and get out as quick as possible. Survivorman stays there for almost a week before he makes his way out. It sometimes get annoying when he's trying to do something and has to film it himself and you can't quite see it. With Man vs Wild, the camera crew takes care of that so you get to see all the action, which, in my opinion, makes for a better show.

Crack

I think the real question is who would win in a fight...?

I vote willravel, because It is not goodness to be better than the worst.

__________________
Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex.

~Halx

TotalMILF

... is MUCH hotter than



1 point for Bear for sheer hotness.

Another point because his name is fucking BEAR.

Another point for drinking his own urine.

One more for being completely insane.

Yet another for having a super sexy accent...

... and it's Bear Grylls FTMFW!

__________________
"I'm sorry, all I heard was blah blah blah, I'm a dirty tramp."

ngdawg

Bear's Lifejacket
Dangerous Volcano?

It's one thing to retire to a hotel...it's another to claim you're floating with just a backpack, but you're really using a lifejacket. And that volcano? Major tourist attraction....

__________________
Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.