In the commercials for this season of Survivorman, they’ve been talking about “3 more episodes until the last one” and counting down. I interpreted this to mean “x more episodes until the end of the season,” but no–Les Stroud is hanging it up for good:
While this is disappointing news, I don’t blame him in the least. I had underestimated his age by about 10 years, and when you multiply the number of episodes by one week for each, it works out to nearly 6 months out of the last 3 years spent exposed in the wilderness, away from his family, and in actual risk of bodily harm.
Bear Grylls’ show can fill the survival niche on Discovery, but I’m definitely going to miss Les’ personality and Survivorman’s style. I guess it’s just a reminder that my other favorites on Discovery will run their course too. Mythbusters, Deadliest Catch, Dirty Jobs–all things must pass, right?
I got the impression from an interview a year or two ago that Survivorman was not his best idea (yeah, try not to die under terrible conditions for a week - great thinking there, Les :p), and he was ready to use the fame and money he gained from it to move on to other projects. Nothing wrong with that, IMO. He’s really into music and filmmaking. I wish him the best.
He was on Sheila Rogers’ show the other day. Terrific interview.
I used to actually worry about the guy, going hungry and thirsty and sleepless so often. That takes an awful toll on your body, even when you are young and fit.
Great stuff, anyway. Hope he does well, wherever he goes.
He puts a disclaimer on his show now, which is all he ever needed to do in the first place. I don’t think any reasonable person is mad that he’s not literally putting his life into unnecessary risk every week, we were just a little miffed that he tried to cover that fact up. Bear is forgiven, in my book.
Have you checked out his other DVDs? He and his wife have been living totally or partially “off the grid” for quite a while now. They documented their first year in the wild, and now live at least part of every year out there with their kids.
Too bad Les is quitting, though I can’t say I blame the guy. I’ll miss the show; I certainly found him “more real” than other hosts on similar shows (though Les can be a bit of a drama queen sometimes). I learned a few things that have been handy on my camping trips. Maybe I’ll buy his book for future reference. But it won’t be as much fun.
In some of the “Making of” type episodes of the show they point out that Les produces, edits and narrates the shows too. I’m sure that a ton of scouting, politicking and logistics are involved in preparing for each shoot, making the time and energy exerted in making the show extend far beyond 7 days of hunger and cold.
Les isn’t just a survivalist, and I’d wager that the realities of making the show and his control-freak nature about it played a huge role in any burn-out. Had he delegated more perhaps he could have lasted longer. Though, as has been mentioned, I think that he ran out of unique scenarios and locations to shoot.
