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Reality TV can be deadly—and not just for some of the adventurous souls in shows like "Deadliest Catch" or "Outback Hunters." Working on these shows can be perilous for the crew members, too.
Danger garners ratings—the peril of a show's premise is often used in advertisements. But producers, safety experts and labor advocates say that many of these shows cut corners in protecting their cast and crew, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Times spoke with crew members—or their survivors—who were injured or killed while working in the line of duty for reality TV. Here are some of the horror stories:
Some of the premises being batted around are apparently so dangerous that insurers won't even consider them. The Fireman's Fund passed on 50 reality TV shows this year because they were too risky. One show wanted to blow up a mine. Another wanted to go to Mexico to follow drug cartels around.Some labor advocates argue that the shows should be unionized to push back against manic production schedules and increase safety protections. However, Thom Beers, who produced hit shows "Deadliest Catch," "Ice Road Truckers" and "Monster Garage," argues that crew members that take on dangerous jobs are compensated: "We realize the fact that they are putting their lives in danger, which is why we take care of them. We pay them very, very well, way beyond scale, for what they do."
