This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
When Reality TV Gets A Little Too Real: Edgy Fare Can Be Deadly For The Crew

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."
-
Michael John Mammone, 58, was riding his bicycle Wednesday along Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point when he was assaulted.
-
Please don't hurt yourself.
-
Anthony Lowe was shot and killed by Huntington Park police on Jan. 26. 'Thank goodness that we’re in the era of videos,' said the family attorney as they file a federal civil rights lawsuit
-
The mountain lion's death comes about a month after the beloved P-22 was euthanized.
-
With two hikers still missing — one the well-known actor Julian Sands — expert mountaineers say the usual scarcity of snow in the L.A.-area makes it especially hard to get enough experience to safely venture out in harsh conditions.
-
But Yeoh is the first to publicly identify as Asian. We take a look at Oberon's complicated path in Hollywood.