President Barack Obama and Bear Grylls are taking on Alaska in a special NBC episode of "Running Wild with Bear Grylls.' The U.S. President is putting climate change at the forefront of the journey in the wilderness. The episode will air later this year. NBC announced the news on Monday, Aug. 31 in a press release.
"I'm looking forward to talking with Alaskans about how we can work together to make America the global leader on climate change," stated Obama in his weekly address.
"Running Wild with Bear Grylls' is in its second season. The survival skills reality television series features top celebrities being pushed to the limit as they go on adventures that test their mental, physical, and survival skills.
"I will not deny your suspicion that there may have been some suggestions put forward by the Bear Grylls team that were not approved by the Secret Service," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on Monday.
Celebrities such as Zac Efron, Kate Winslet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed Helms, Channing Tatum, Michelle Rodriguez, James Marsden, and Kate Hudson were guests on the show in the past. Michael B. Jordan stars in Episode 7 of Season 2 on Monday, Aug. 31.
The episodes featuring Efron and Tatum received the most views in the history of the show to date. Efron parachuted at the Catskill Mountains, ate worms and eggs for dinner, and slept in a cave. The ep. was watched by 4.43 million viewers.
Tatum jumped out of a helicopter at Yosemite National Park, travelled fourteen miles, killed and ate a scorpion and rattlesnake, and slept on top of a cliff. The ep. was watched by 4.54 million viewers.
Bear Grylls served three years as a British Special Forces soldier and was one of the youngest people to climb to the top of Mount Everest. Grylls told USA Today that "people are surprised by how rough it is." He assured that stars are briefed prior to the journey.
Grylls said that only five or six people are present during the taping of each episode. "It's me, them, two cameras, two sound, a mountain guide for the crew" and "a story producer to make sure it makes sense," said Grylls. He added that the show is "100% (real) since making it up with be disappointing for the stars.
The executive producers of the show are Bear Grylls, Ben Silverman, Chris Grant, Corie Henson, Doug McCallie, Laura Caraccioli, and Viki Cacciatore. The producers of the show are Elizabeth Schulze, Robert Buchta, Vanessa Ranko, Blake Smith, and Tony Patterson. "Running Wild with Bear Grylls' is edited by Marc Elmer, Sean Hubbert, Karl Kimbrough, Page Marsella, and James Horak. Each episode runs for 45 minutes. It is produced by Electus and Bear Grylls Ventures. The series are distributed by National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
