Discovery Channel Has the Best New Shows on TV

The best new shows on Television have just been aired. They are Discovery Channel's "Man vs. Wild" and "Everest: Beyond the Limit". Both are captivating, educational, and inspiring.

"Man vs. Wild"
Airs Friday evenings at 9/8 central

The "man" is Bear Grylls. The perfect name for someone who chooses to strand himself in potentially fatal environments. The show is part of Discovery Channel's "Survivor Friday", and in my opinion is the best part.

The premise: Host Bear Grylls is a former Special Air Service member (a unit of the British Special Forces). He authored the book The Kid Who Climbed Everest", documenting his successful climb of the mountain. He has also led various other record-breaking expeditions, and is a popular TV guest and host in his native United Kingdom. In his latest series, Grylls is dumped in the middle of nowhere. 

With nothing but a canteen, Grylls shows viewers each week hot to un-strand themselves when lost in popular wilderness destinations. These destinations include Utah's Moab Desert, Costa Rican Jungles, and the European Alps. Despite what some may think, every locale featured is frequented by tourists. And every year countless tourists find themselves lost, dehydrated, or worse.

With now two episodes having aired, it is safe to say that each week will be different but equally educational. Not educational in that boring, high school science sort of way, but in the way that only reality or the Discovery and National Geographic Channels seem to make it- FUN. Each week Grylls faces starvation, dehydration, drowning, heat exposure, poisonous creatures, and more all so that if viewers ever stray off a path, they will remain at the top of the food chain.

After the first episode I was addicted, and after the second I was even more so. I hope that this show will be around for seasons to come.

"Everest: Beyond the Limit"
Airs Tuesday evenings at 10/9 central

Technically this is a mini-series so it will not even be in the running for sweeps, cancellations, or partial/full seasons. And as a mini-series, there is not going to be a second season- all the more reason to watch it now!