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Author
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Topic: Man vs. Wild's Bear Grylls a fraud?
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The Outdoor Tripp
Knows what it's all about
Member # 619
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posted July 22, 2007 09:17 PM
From The Sunday Times, July 22, 2007
TV 'survival king' stayed in hotels
Robert Booth
TO LIVE up to his public image of a rugged, ex-SAS adventurer, it must have seemed essential for Bear Grylls to appear at ease sleeping rough and catching his own food in his television survival series.
But it has emerged that Grylls, 33, was enjoying a far more conventional form of comfort, retreating some nights from filming in mountains and on desert islands to nearby lodges and hotels.
Now Channel 4 has launched an investigation into whether Grylls, who has conquered Everest and the Arctic, deceived the public in his series Born Survivor.
The series, screened in March and April and watched by 1.4m viewers, built up Grylls’s credentials as a tough outdoorsman. In a question and answer session on Channel 4’s website, he recalls how station bosses pitched the venture to him stating: “We just drop you into a lot of different hellholes equipped with nothing, and you do what you have to do to survive.”
But an adviser to Born Survivor has disclosed that at one location where the adventurer claimed to be a “real life Robin-son Crusoe” trapped on “a desert island”, he was actually on an outlying part of the Hawaiian archipelago and spent nights at a motel.
On another occasion in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains where he was filmed biting off the head of a snake for breakfast and struggling for survival “with just a water bottle, a cup and a flint for making fire”, he actually slept some nights with the crew in a lodge fitted with television and internet access. The Pines Resort at Bass Lake is advertised as “a cosy getaway for families” with blueberry pancakes for breakfast.
In one episode Grylls, son of the late Tory MP Sir Michael Grylls, was shown apparently building a Polynesian-style raft using only materials around him, including bamboo, hibiscus twine and palm leaves for a sail.
But according to Mark Weinert, an Oregon-based survival consultant brought in for the job, it was he who led the team that built the raft. It was then dismantled so that Grylls could be shown building it on camera.
In another episode viewers watched as Grylls tried to coax an apparently wild mustang into a lasso in the Sierra Nevada. “I’m in luck,” he told viewers, apparently coming across four wild horses grazing in a meadow. “A chance to use an old native American mode of transport comes my way. This is one of the few places in the whole of the US where horses still roam wild.”
In fact, Weinert said, the horses were not wild but were brought in by trailer from a nearby trekking station for the “choreographed” feature.
“If you really believe everything happens the way it is shown on TV, you are being a little bit naive,” he said.
Channel 4 confirmed that Grylls had used hotels during expeditions and has now asked Diverse, the Bristol-based production company that made the programme, to look into the other claims.
“We take any allegations of misleading our audiences seriously,” said a spokeswoman for the channel.
The latest suggestion that Channel 4 may have breached viewer trust comes as the broad-caster’s supervisory board prepares to issue new editorial guidelines to suppliers in order to stamp out alleged sharp practices that mislead viewers.
“Born Survivor is not an observational documentary series but a ‘how to’ guide to basic survival techniques in extreme environments,” the spokeswoman said.
“The programme explicitly does not claim that presenter Bear Grylls’s experience is one of unaided solo survival.”
Nevertheless, the disclosure is likely to disappoint fans of the Eton-educated adventurer, who at the age of 23 became the youngest Briton to scale Everest. Just two years before that he had broken his back in three places after his parachute ripped during a military exercise.
On screen he has emerged as a natural performer, with stunts such as squeezing water from animal dung and sucking the fluid from fish eyeballs.
Grylls could not be contacted for comment this weekend as he was trekking in the Brecon Beacons with his four-year-old son.
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The Outdoor Tripp
www.theoutdoortripp.com
"All great truths begin as blasphemies."
Posts: 805 | From: Texas | Registered: Mar 2005
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Lonny
PANTS ON THE GROUND
Member # 19
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posted July 22, 2007 09:52 PM
Doesn't surprise me one bit considering its TV and all.
My kids get a kick out of the show because the guy is usually drinking his piss, squeezing and drinking water from elephant shit, or eating some damned bug that would do nothing to keep anyone alive in a survival situation. So, I have seen the show before and gotta admit its good for a laugh and not much else.
Much of what the guy does would get most people hurt or in worse trouble if they were actually lost somewhere.
Posts: 1209 | From: Lewiston, Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Alaskan Yoter
Knows what it's all about
Member # 169
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posted July 22, 2007 09:59 PM
Yipper, I suspected as much. He is the survivior, but I kept thinking to myself, damn the camera man has to be more hard-core carrying around that camera. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Plus his Alaska advanture was a lil' over board. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Posts: 235 | From: Wasilla, Alaska | Registered: Mar 2003
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Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
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posted July 23, 2007 05:26 AM
quote:
“We take any allegations of misleading our audiences seriously,” said a spokeswoman for the channel.
They must not carry national and international news, huh?
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I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
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Kelly Jackson
SECOND PLACE/GARTH BROOKS LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST
Member # 977
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posted July 23, 2007 05:49 AM
I seen the one where he caught the "wild" horse......biggest bunch of BS I ever seen......Kelly
[ July 23, 2007, 05:50 AM: Message edited by: Kelly Jackson ]
Posts: 997 | From: Comanche OK | Registered: Oct 2006
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Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
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posted July 23, 2007 08:00 AM
Wow!!.......The next thing you know, somebody will claim that pro wrestling is fake.
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And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8236 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
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csmithers
unknown comic
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posted July 23, 2007 04:12 PM
All of you must be drunk! Everything on TV is real and no one can say otherwise.
Kokopelli, you say one more bad word about wrestling and I'll.......
Hell, wrestling sucked after the Iron Sheik and Nickolai Volkov quit fighting the Hulkster. That was when I was, what, 14. Those were the days. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat! The British Bulldogs! I don't even watch todays wrestling. Nothing compares to Andre The Giant and Hillbilly Jim, Jesse "The Body", Paul Orndorff. Nostalgia. You old farts prolly don't even know the guys I listed. Let's hear some blasts from the past that you "older' guys watched.
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NASA
Knows what it's all about
Member # 177
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posted July 23, 2007 04:51 PM
Well, our ringside announcer was Dick Lane. Everybody loved him. We watched wrestling all the time. Thought it was cool. We saw Gorgeous George, hated the Kalmikoff's and Mr. Fuji, Vader, Lord Patrick, Fred Blassie, and couldn't make up our minds on the Destroyer. There were a lot more, but time has faded the memories.
Posts: 1168 | From: Typical White Person | Registered: Apr 2003
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Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
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posted July 23, 2007 05:05 PM
Smithers; I'm the inventor of the 'EverClear Martini' so needless to say I no longer drink.
How about this; Pro wrestling is as real as Roller Derby!!!!!
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And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8236 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
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Bofire
READ MY LIPS!
Member # 221
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posted July 23, 2007 06:09 PM
The "Destroyer" "Pago- Pago" and "Tough Tony Bourne". Rowdy Roddy Piper!!
CD
Ever watched any "Ultimate Fighting" reminds me off the 60's, what a joke. I watched one "bout"
Laughed for a week.
CD
[ July 23, 2007, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: Bofire ]
Posts: 322 | From: Wild West | Registered: Jul 2003
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Randy Roede
"It's Roede, like in Yotie
Member # 1273
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posted July 23, 2007 06:23 PM
What was the guy with Gera Speed vitamin tonic, Verne Ganya. Haystack Calhoun, my mom would go nuts watching it.
I think ours used to be broadcast from Sioux City Ia. Help me out here MW boys.
Used to be the same heavy set lady ringside every week going nuts.
Wasn't there a Gilbert, and Reggie something iron stomach seems to be coming thru the fog. Tag team.
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The only person dumber than the village idiot is the person who argues with him!
Posts: 669 | From: Pierre SD | Registered: Mar 2007
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csmithers
unknown comic
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posted July 23, 2007 06:49 PM
Classy Freddy Blassie!
Ever watched any "Ultimate Fighting" reminds me off the 60's, what a joke. I watched one "bout"
Now them's fightin' words! Ask Q-Wagoner if they are phony. He's cornered a couple from what I hear. Smaller shows but still.......
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Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
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posted July 23, 2007 07:31 PM
Let's go way back. How about Rufus R. Jones?
Back around '91, a bunch of the has-beens showed up here locally to put on a demonstration match. Of course, all the pre-fight hoopla was everywhere and two of these characters just hated each other's guts. At least, that was the spin.
As "luck" would have it, one of them started having chest pains before the match and they called 911. Enter me! We get there and all these supposed arch enemies are standing around like a bunch of nervous old hens with looks of worry on their faces. His "foe" comes over after we get him on the cot and are heading for the door with him, grabs him by the hand, gives it a couple good pumps, tells him he's thinking about him and he'll be up to the hospital as soon as possible to stay with him. They're actually a pretty tight-knit group. At least, they were then.
Pretty much confirmed everything I'd thunk up to then.
My dad was a rasslin' nut.
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I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
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NASA
Knows what it's all about
Member # 177
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posted July 23, 2007 08:03 PM
No, there's nothing "phony" about Ultimate Fighting. I was at one where a punch sent blood onto the table in the 2nd row. (First 3 rows were tables for performers and "affiliates". 4th row began the seats.) Some matches suck because the fighters don't have heart isn't into it, but others have the whole arena on their feet cheering.
Posts: 1168 | From: Typical White Person | Registered: Apr 2003
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TRnCO
FUTURE HALL OF FAMER
Member # 690
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posted July 23, 2007 08:07 PM
quote:
Yipper, I suspected as much. He is the survivior, but I kept thinking to myself, damn the camera man has to be more hard-core carrying around that camera.
Isn't that the truth. The cameraman is every where he goes and not even breaking a sweat or breathing hard!
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Is it hunting season yet? I hate summer!
Posts: 996 | From: Elizabeth, CO | Registered: Aug 2005
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Kelly Jackson
SECOND PLACE/GARTH BROOKS LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST
Member # 977
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posted July 23, 2007 08:46 PM
Danny Hodge...........he was always the good guy...
Posts: 997 | From: Comanche OK | Registered: Oct 2006
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Andy L
HI, I'M THE NEW MODERATOR OF THE CENTRAL MISSOURI FORUM, PULL MY FINGER!
Member # 642
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posted July 23, 2007 09:01 PM
Harley Race lives here in Eldon and puts on small shows with some nobodys and some oldies. Kinda kewl. Last one I took the boys to, Brutus Beefcake was there.
I bonded him one time for Boating While Intoxicated. I was really glad he didnt skip on me. LOL Although hes an old fat broke down fart now. Kinda like me.
[ July 23, 2007, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: Andy L ]
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Andy
Posts: 2645 | From: Central Missouri | Registered: Apr 2005
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Crow Woman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 157
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posted July 24, 2007 07:34 AM
eh... this idiot reminded me of a female Martha Stewart... knew something was BS
wrestling?.. my Dad and I would watch it all the time! Andre the Giant and Chief J Strombo were our favorites! ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
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Sheri L Baity
Lord, Please give me peace, because if you give me strength, I might beat someone to death!
Posts: 720 | From: Covington | Registered: Mar 2003
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted July 24, 2007 08:29 AM
Anybody remember Lonnie "Moon Dog" Mayne?
When I was a kid, Moon Dog Mayne was my favorite, by far. My best friend that lived across the street was Lonnie's cousin (Lonnie was much older though, so he seemed more like an Uncle). He used to show us how to do some of their moves and holds and stuff. Taught us a lot of "dirty" street fighting stuff that both of us put to good use too. No telling how many broken bones and doctor visits my buddy and I had to go through from applying the lessons Lonnie had taught us, on each other, LOL!
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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csmithers
unknown comic
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posted July 24, 2007 08:32 AM
I don't remember Moon Dog. But I do remember The JunkYard Dog!
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Andy L
HI, I'M THE NEW MODERATOR OF THE CENTRAL MISSOURI FORUM, PULL MY FINGER!
Member # 642
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posted July 24, 2007 08:40 AM
I knew Butch "Hacksaw" Reed. He lived in Warrensburg MO and came into the auto parts store I worked in when I was in college there. Used to see him in the bars alot too.
One night we were at a bar that bought a Mike Tyson fight on the big screen. Butch had a huge cowboy hat on and was in front of us. My buddy got way too drunk and knocked his hat off. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Im glad Butch was easy goin and had a sense of humor.
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Andy
Posts: 2645 | From: Central Missouri | Registered: Apr 2005
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Lonny
PANTS ON THE GROUND
Member # 19
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posted July 24, 2007 09:13 AM
DAA, Funny you should mention "Moon Dog." He was my favorite wrestler as a kid.
I figured he was only known in the pacific Northwest though. I guess he was better known than what I thought? Didn't "Moon Dog" die in a car accident?
How about "Playboy Buddy Rose?" Gawd, I hated that guy. "Playboy" had a tag team partner by the name of Big Ed Wiskowski, (sp) if I remember correctly. When Jesse Ventura came to town he would usually clean up on those guys and set things right again. LOL
Man, those were simpler times.
Posts: 1209 | From: Lewiston, Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted July 25, 2007 01:37 AM
I'm back in town, you bunch of pencil necked geeks. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32368 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
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posted July 25, 2007 07:56 AM
Pencil Necked????!!!!
I'll have you know, sir, that I have the 3rd largest neck in my entire cardiac rehab group.
Welcome back!!!!
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And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8236 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
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Paul Melching
Radical Operator Forum "You won't get past the front gate"
Member # 885
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posted July 25, 2007 06:31 PM
You guys forgot the greatest rassler of all Cowboy Dick Hutton. used to wait for Dick Lane to announce from the olympic audtiorium.Blasie was the guy everyone loved to hate...think it went like this: your a pencil necked geek
a grit eatin freak
a scum suckin pea head
with a lousy pysique
PM
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Those who value security over liberty soon will have neither !
Posts: 4188 | From: The forest ! north of the dez. | Registered: Jul 2006
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