[Praxius]

Since being in Australia, I've noticed that Man vs. Wild has a huge following and a lot of people love the show. When I explain to them about Les Stroud & his shows, nobody has heard of him. When I show them some episodes or link to them his web sites, they really get sucked into his show and how he does things.

I recently also noticed a lot of web sites & topics online about Les Stroud vs. Bear Grylls, where one person would say Les is better at what he does, while another would say Bear is better.

Now keeping in mind that both shows are different in many aspects, thus it's a bit difficult to compare accurately...... in your opinion, if you were stranded in some remote location and had to really survive, who would you prefer to have with you?

Les Stroud or Bear Grylls?

Also, please explain why.

[ShepherdsDog]

if either of them were stewed long enough, I'm sure either would be OK until rescue arrived.

[martin14]

Which one is fatter, to keep the crocs happier.

[andyt]

Praxius wrote:

Since being in Australia, I've noticed that Man vs. Wild has a huge following and a lot of people love the show. When I explain to them about Les Stroud & his shows, nobody has heard of him. When I show them some episodes or link to them his web sites, they really get sucked into his show and how he does things.

I recently also noticed a lot of web sites & topics online about Les Stroud vs. Bear Grylls, where one person would say Les is better at what he does, while another would say Bear is better.

Now keeping in mind that both shows are different in many aspects, thus it's a bit difficult to compare accurately...... in your opinion, if you were stranded in some remote location and had to really survive, who would you prefer to have with you?

Les Stroud or Bear Grylls?

Also, please explain why.

I enjoyed Survivor Man. But come on, this is like those Superman vs Spiderman discussions we had - in grade 4. It's TV for God's sake.

[desertdude]

I don't think bear does anything other than eat obnoxious stuff and how many of us can actually do shit like climb up waterfalls and shit. I think his show is more of a outback version of bizzare foods.

Les on the other hand, first of all he is really all by himself out in the bush and you don't see him do any crazy shit and is much more realistic

[ShepherdsDog]

Exactly...I'm lost in the bush, God knows how far from help, I'm going to try and minimize my risks. Waiting for the stupid taffy to fall off of the cliff means good eating for me.

[DrCaleb]

Stroud. Because he actually 'survives' on his own, where Grylls is just a hack.

I recall trying to watch a couple episodes of Man vs Wild where some intense incident was about to befall Grylls, and there were some really good camera angles of the 'incident'. That is was staged by his crew was obvious.

"Man vs Wild" makes for some 'good' TV, but he'd die in a weekend if ever he had to actually survive alone.

[PostFactum]

I've never saw Les Stroud in work, but I saw Bear Grylls on Discovery, for me it was interesting, especially when he was doing in cold regions. I was thinking that he's doing everthing right, but.... When I saw how he was doing in Carphatians, damn, that were actions of clown... My friend and I were watching and laughing, empty cup of tea felt on carpet and I couldn't pick it up from there because of laugh. Maybe people from Africa, Australia and other places were laughing too. His shows are for guys from center on New-York or London, who think that milk grows up on trees in white boxes with painted cow. So my vote is for Les Stroud). I hope it can't be worse.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

desertdude wrote:

Les on the other hand, first of all he is really all by himself out in the bush and you don't see him do any crazy shit and is much more realistic

That's exactly what I was going to say. Grylls show seems more like Stewart from MAD TV, "Look what I can do!". Whereas Stroud's show is defintely more realistic.

There was a comedian that mentioned why they never have Canadians on Survivor, it's just like camping.

[Gunnair]

Les. Bear is publicity hound with a full crew to back him up. He's also simply a drama queen/stuntman. Wow, drinking piss he stored in a snake skin - good gross out tv I s'pose.

Les goes out on his own and gets the job done.... on his own.

[Praxius]

andyt wrote:

I enjoyed Survivor Man. But come on, this is like those Superman vs Spiderman discussions we had - in grade 4. It's TV for God's sake.

It's a simple question on a subjective hypothetical situation based on your own personal opinion.

Indeed, it is TV for God's sake.... The thread is in the "Entertainment" section, thus Entertainment.

If you don't like it, don't post and move on and with any luck for you, the thread will die quietly & quickly.

Cripes.

Anyways, I voted for Les, mainly due to his realistic & practical approach to surviving.... and that he won't try and make you drink the liquid straight out of a hunk of cow crap.

Gunnair wrote:

Les. Bear is publicity hound with a full crew to back him up. He's also simply a drama queen/stuntman. Wow, drinking piss he stored in a snake skin - good gross out tv I s'pose.

Les goes out on his own and gets the job done.... on his own.

Indeed... before I posted this topic, I came across someone who commented on a location he filmed which was a few minutes away from where he lived. How reliable his information was, I don't know, but he commented that in one scene where they tried to make it seem like it was in the middle of nowhere, for a few seconds in the background you could see a highway, and a watering hole he used where he described was in the middle of nowhere was a popular swimming area for the locals.... that and having some 20 odd people around you filming multiple takes in order to get the right shot.... his show is good entertainment from time to time, but that's about it.

[Arctic_Menace]

Les Stroud for the following plethora of reasons:

1. He isn't fake like Bear Grylls. Bear has been found to have exaggerated his isolation and danger level.

2. Man Vs. Wild has that disclaimer at the starts that says that Bear is presented with challenges and helpful tools. Les just has his knife and a camera and a phone for absolute emergencies.

3. Les Stroud's only company is his camera.

4. Les' advice and show in general is far more realistic, practical and pragmatic than Bear Grylls'. So many times I've seen Bear performing feats that only an ex-military person or professional acrobat could perform and most of us "average joes" wouldn't be able to accomplish.

5. Man Vs. Wild is mostly about entertainment value, whereas Survivorman is Les going "I'm going to drop myself in <enter hellhole here> and do my best to survive in a realistic manner".

[Lemmy]

Praxius wrote:

in your opinion, if you were stranded in some remote location and had to really survive, who would you prefer to have with you? Les Stroud or Bear Grylls? Also, please explain why.

If either Les or Bear were stranded in such a manner, they'd each prefer I was around.