Survive This

Survive This is a fun combination of realty-show drama -- as the teens' personalities click and clash -- and outdoor education, as Stroud and the participants talk about what it takes to survive in the wilderness and how common mistakes can sometimes be fatal. Though simulated, the situations feel very real, and the teens really do have to fend for themselves. Of course, Stroud and the producers are never far off, and medical attention is available if needed (and it is), but for the most part the kids are on their own.

The show isn't a contest; nobody is voted out of the group at the end of each episode. But Stroud periodically asks the group if anybody wants to go home, and, after some of the demanding tasks, it's clear that some of the participants are sorely tempted. That said, the teens are also surprisingly game and do well for themselves even after the reality of their situation starts to sink in. The one strike against the show is its stereotyping. The participants all fit into standard reality-show roles, and that's how they're labeled on-screen: the Environmentalist, the Hunter, the City Boy, the Sportsman, etc. But unlike the participants on many adult reality shows, the teens seem eager to cross the social divide and help each other. When the Princess is having a hard time, it's the Tough Girl who tries to bolster her spirits in an unexpectedly touching scene. As this show demonstrates, young people can rise to the occasion when given the chance, both emotionally and physically.