[/caption]A new episode of Man Vs. Wild aired last night on Discovery. For the second week in a row, Bear was located in the Pacific Rim. Specifically, he was in Northern Australia where the biggest threats are saltwater crocs. The episode started slow but the second half-hour picked up with intensity when Bear navigated croc waters. As usual, here are highlights from the episode:
-An episode of Man vs. Wild either ends or begins with Bear chasing a plane, a boat or human beings for rescue or take-off. This episode opened with Bear running after a plane that would fly him to a safe altitude so he could jump into the pre-historic Australian land. He always catches up with the plane but such an opening is so over-the-top and ridiculous; with that said, it's always awesome. When Bear jumped from the plane, he made sure he did some flips in the air.
-His biggest challenge during the first 30 minutes was the difficult terrain that eroded through the years. At one point, he held onto dear life after rocks gave away as he tried to journey to lower ground. He then told the viewers that a backup plan is always handy.
-Northern Australia is a hot place. The first words out of Bear's mouth concern the heat and the humidity. He talks about the importance of hydration in an environment like the one he currently is a part of. Early on, Bear finds a shady cavern with rain water. Bear builds a natural filter using grass, coal and his jacket. After pouring the dirty water into his filter, clear water emerges into his cup.
-The trademark survival dining was on the menu again after a rare week when Bear enjoyed the food he had to eat. Bear found a small body of water. He feared crocodiles but became calm after realizing it was shallow. Bear spent about a minute pouring water on himself because of the heat. He talked about the life forms swimming in a shallow body of water. Naturally, Bear's first target was a large water snake. He caught the snake easily. As he held the snake, he told a story about the Aboriginal women who simply broke a snake's neck with their teeth. Bear bites and breaks the snake's neck. I'll admit to feeling pity for the snake but that is life in the wilderness while trying to survive.
-Bear Grylls makes starting a fire look so easy that even I think I could do it within four minutes. He's also a pro with makeshift beds.
-Soon enough Bear entered croc territory. Like last week with the sharks, I was on the edge of my seat. Bear noticed one in-land and warned the viewers never assume safety when the land you're in is populated with over 100,000 crocodiles.
-He needs to cross various rivers because he wants to make it to the coast where humans live. First, he manages to climb over croc waters. Afterwards, he knows he'll need a mode of transportation. He builds another raft. The raft is better than last week's. Instead of describing what happens, YouTube can show you:
-After the fun with flesh-eating crocodiles, Bear enters maze-like terrain where he uses a stick so he doesn't walk in circles. He's been through a similar situation so not much happens. He eventually finds human footprints and a fisherman, thus ending his adventure in Northern Australia.
Overall, a quality episode of Man Vs. Wild. I remember Survivorman gave the viewer the illusion of danger even though Les Stroud never came close to any large predators like sharks or crocs. I recall his encounter with the jaguar though. By far, the most exciting moment in Survivorman. But this season of Man Vs. Wild is all about Bear coming face-to-face with large, dangerous predators. It's essentially the illusion of danger as well because Bear will never get hurt but it's different.
NEW SHOWS FROM NBC FOR 2010-2011 SEASON
Now the time has arrived to dive back into assessing/previewing the new shows on the schedule for NBC. This is the fifth and final network but there is a chance that I will break NBC into two days because they a decent amount of new series. As always, I'm evaluating which shows will crack The Foot's weekly review rotation. Here we go:
Chase
Premiere Date: September 20, 2010 at 10PM
Creator: Jennifer Johnson
Premise: (From NBC Press Release) "Chase" is a fast-paced drama from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("CSI" franchise, "The Amazing Race," "Pirates of the Caribbean" films) and executive producer Jennifer Johnson ("Cold Case") that drops viewers smack into the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse as a team of U.S. marshals hunts down America's most dangerous fugitives.
Thoughts: I read the premise and thought the show wouldn't capture my attention or interest. Of course, I watched the trailer. I am now intrigued. The show looks entertaining. The lead, Kelli Giddish, seems great and the show seems like it has substance. Jennifer Johnson is the creator. She wrote for LOST during the first season. I hold the group of writers responsible for the first season of LOST in high regard. The fugitive featured in the trailer seems like a great character. I'm expecting a top-notch pilot; however, I wonder how the show will be on a week-to-week basis with presumably different fugitives each week. I'll lose interest if the show resembles Criminal Minds or CSI or Bones. We'll see.
Chance Of Weekly Review: 45%
The Event
Premiere Date: September 20, 2010 at 9PM
Creator: Nick Wauters
Premise: (From NBC Press Release) "The Event" is an emotional, high-octane conspiracy thriller that follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter, "The Class"), an Everyman who investigates the mysterious disappearance of his fiancee, Leila (Sarah Roemer, "Disturbia"), and unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in U.S. history. Sean's quest will send ripples through the lives of an eclectic band of strangers, including: newly elected U.S. President Martinez (Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood, "Dirty Sexy Money"); Sophia (Emmy Award nominee Laura Innes, "ER"), who is the leader of a mysterious group of detainees; and Sean's shadowy father-in-law (Scott Patterson, "Gilmore Girls"). Their futures are on a collision course in a global conspiracy that could ultimately change the fate of mankind. Ian Anthony Dale ("Daybreak") and Emmy winner Zeljko Ivanek ("Damages") also star in the ensemble drama.
Thoughts: I already dislike the arrogance of the producers behind this show. This is definitely a show in the style of LOST. Many shows, in the past, wanted to be LOST and failed miserably because networks and showrunners don't seem to understand what made LOST work for six seasons. Nick Wauters, the creator, wants the audience to trust that the show knows what it's doing. If this show is largely built around mythology and ignores its characters, The Event is going to fail. Quotes from TCA involved some form of attack on LOST. Not cool. The pilot got a huge response at Comic Con but no one knows what The Event is. Wauter says he spent five years crafting the show. But, really, don't compare your show with LOST. Remember when Tim Kring brought everyone Heroes with promises that he'd never mirror the style of LOST? Well, Tim Kring and his staff wrote about 13 good episodes before the series became bad then worse then terrible then awful then cancelled. Do not insult THEE show that made it possible for copycats to make it on the air. I'm going to watch this show though. I'm also going to review the show. I will be ready at all times to defend LOST. I'm a tiny voice on the large internet but if the show continues its arrogance, I will rant and criticize.
Chance Of Weekly Review: 100%
Law & Order: Los Angeles
Premiere Date: September 29, 2010 at 10PM
Creator: Dick Wolf
Premise: (From NBC Press Release) The new "Law & Order: Los Angeles" is a procedural crime drama that will follow the theme and storylines similar to the "Law & Order"-brand series on the streets of Los Angeles.
Thoughts: I watched one full episode of a Law and Order series. I believe it was the Criminal Intent spinoff. The show featured Emily Vancamp as a guest star. I think she's great. I don't care for L&O though. Never have. I only included it to let potential viewers know about the new spinoff.
Chance of Weekly Review: 0%
Thus ends Part 1 of NBC. Tomorrow is the conclusion of NBC and I'll have the complete rotation set. Three more shows tomorrow.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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