Discovery Channel's "Last One Standing" Mixes Sports, Culture

"Last One Standing" is a particularly Discovery Channel kind of show: it's got all the tough-guy appeal of an extreme sports challenge, but it's parent-approved because we're talking about ancient tribal extreme sports.  Sure, ancient tribes have extreme sports. It's mostly martial arts, but there's also canoe racing and a high-altitude marathon run wearing only handmade sandals. Did I mention the snakes? There are poisonous snakes. Sports medicine is provided by a shaman in the form of herbs, prayer, and magic smoke.

The idea is to have three American and three British athletes, all from different sports, compete over eight episodes in different kinds of ancient tribal challenges. The one who wins the most wins the title of "Last One Standing." Easy enough, right?

In the first installment, the team goes to live with the Kalapalo tribe of Brazil and study a particularly difficult form of wrestling. Their plan is to compete in an inter-village tournament after only ten days.

No outsider has competed in this tournament before, and the chief isn't really sure he wants these guys to do it either. Nonetheless, after days of hard training and an initiation ceremony involving piranha teeth, they're allowed to join. Competitors from neighboring villages aren't exactly pleased to see imported ringers, and when one of the Americans gets sand thrown in his eyes, it looks like a riot is about to break out. Ultimately, the visitors prove themselves as legitimate and honorable warriors, while learning about the lives and values of an ancient civilization.

Do viewers really learn that much? No. If it were a truly educational endeavor, it would have tried a little harder to avoid the unsettling implications of rich northerners proving their manliness by fighting savages. Still, they did a pretty good job of explaining how the Kalapalo lived and the significance of the wrestling tournament. Parents will definitely find this to be something they can watch with their children. But the target market for the show is pretty obvious: It's being promoted with a sweepstakes sponsored by the X-Box 360 game Halo 3.

"Last One Standing" begins October 4 on the Discovery Channel. It's already running on BBC 3 in the UK, where it's called "Last Man Standing." Graduate students tired of discussing the colonialist undertones of the show itself will get a kick out of debating why the broadcasters felt compelled to use different names for the same show.

Comments

[Brad]

Yeah, I've heard a little bit about this...I'm looking forward to checking it out.

And, that's great that Brazil is the 1st ep...that should be cool. I've seen West African wrestling before, first hand, as well...so am gonna have to tune in for that one too!

[Alexis]

I saw the show on the discovery site and it's awesome! It was cool and intense and I feel like I learned something. The photography is beautiful and the characters are compelling. I'll definitley Tivo this...

[CBAX]

Geeze those are the worst excuses for wrestlers or fighters ive ever seen in my life get some real fighters to compete and represent america that was an embarrassment hell ill go out there that was an embarrassment to think these cavemen could match new technical wrestling techniques. that was dumb just cause someone is strong dosent mean anything he even lost to the other cavemen I train MMA and would love to get in there

[Last One Standing on TV]

They didn't look all that impressive in the wrestling circle, but who would other than someone who has been training for several years? You gotta remember these opponents were perfecting their skill for most of their life. How is a body builder, or an endurance athlete going to beat one of them?

In the 2nd show I really thought they performed well stick fighting. All they needed were the basics and then confidence that they would win. Most of them won their matches with confidence and strength rather than technique.

[Alfredo]

Discovery Channel and the BBC once again have shown how awesome they are. You are getting programming like no other on planet earth. This is a reality show based on world culture not pothetic families or rich whores. Way to go Discovery and BBC.

[Miriam]

Perhaps it is called Last One Standing because there was a show put off in the States by Sylvester Stallone Called Last Man Standing. It was a reality show about boxers.

[Curt]

This is a great show to watch. It's worth watching to just seeing what tribes around the world do for competition. The guys are very likable and fun to watch. It's a bit unfair to have them compete with just a week of training, but they are all holding there own which is very impressive.

However, what would the show be like if you had 6 professional mixed martial artists. The guys I've seen competing in the UFC would be incredible to watch in these competitions. How amazing would that be?

[jonny]

Alexis, shut up and watch the show.

[John]

How do I audition for this show? I love it!

[roberto]

I think what makes the show interesting is how they describe the tribes, the fact that the people on the show are entertaining and that they are NOT professionally trained fighters going in their with a blood lust. They are average athletes who want to see how they can do in extreme situations. I love the show and hope they bring it back for another year.

[Matthew Wall]

This is one of my FAVORITE shows on TV. I like the fact that it's a reality show and that Discovery chose great guys. Overall, my wife and I love the show and hope it's back again next year.

[chris alikakos]

last one standing is truly one of the best shows on tv. I get to learn about a different culture and society each week. Great show, keep it up Discovery.

[kate Pittsburgh, PA]

whats up with the one blonde kid? he never finishes a competition and always bails the last minute? get him outta there and put someone else in that WANTS TO PLAY!!

[Redondo2007]

Kate, I think you mean the red head, not the blond british guy.
My wife and I both think this is a great show. We admire all the athletes with the exception of Corey. Corey is a total wimp and couldn't punch his way out of a wet paper bag. Every time the heat is up he has an excuse, pathetic. This opinion was only strengthened more by tonight’s episode in Peru where both Brad & Corey refused to take part in the whipping initiation. Brad claimed he could not take part because of something to do with the how badly black people were treated hundreds of years ago, which I totally agree was terrible. However, this was a tribal initiation, nothing more. I really believe that if this had been a wrestling or a strong man event, there wouldn't have been an issue. Corey though, he really is a little girl. Surely the athletes have a duty to the viewers to participate in the events.
The British guys have the right attitude, and show the respect and the stiff upper lip that is all about being from the little island nation that conquered the world.
Jason, he's a cool guy and shows real determination and his attitude rules!
Looking forward to next week

[Leo]

Great show!!! It's called Last One Standing because we don't have real men here in America. (I'm being facetious) How embarassing to say that Brad doesn't want to get whipped because of a cultural thing. Then when Rajko said that he would get whipped standing and they would trade whippings, Brad says that he just can't do it. Americans get tough, people are watching the show. Corie (yes, spelled that way on purpose) doesn't want to get whipped because he doesn't want to participate in violence. What does he think most of the competitions are? Those are two poor excuses for not being able to take a whipping. (like a man) Size of a person doesn't matter. Size of a heart does. Love the shows. Jason doesn't have the real drive, but when the competition is on, that's when he kicks it in. The Brits are mentally tougher.

[G]

Great show as far as reality TV goes. All good athletes considering the conditions they had to train in. And they all had excellent sportsmanship in this day of overpaid, steroid induced egomaniacs that call themselves 'athletes' here in the US.

Now it's time for Discovery to give the women a turn. How about 6 well conditioned, non-professiondal female athletes doing the same type competition? Discovery, if you are listening, that would be a great follow up to this first season of Last One Standing.

[steve]

Great job Discovery Channel/BBC. Keep it up. I hope you continue with this show. I would even like to see more of the six guys we just watched, maybe never seen before footage or bloopers. I have so much respect for Richard, I truely think he was to one who kept the group together. Small but mighty. Congradulations Jason on your win, you made this american very proud...

[SAGE]

I agree with Alexis. The people selected for this show are pretty bad at everything they have done. They should have chosen some athletes with different backgrounds to compete. I wrestled D1 in college and also train MMA, so far the only competition I would not have won would have been the 27 mile run, all else would have been pretty easy.

[Ha]

How the hell is a show with constant nudity, and, in some shows, graphic violence, parent-approved? What a crappy review :/. Hope you don't have kids, mate.

[Chris]

First of all... every single one of you who says what they did was easy is talking out of your @ss. Second, every single sport they competed in is completely different than what any of you do even the wrestling. The rules were different than typical wrestling. Also, as awkward as they may have looked, all the the events they competed in are of the type that everyone looks stupid doing them at first especially compared to those who have been doing it their whole life. Stop complaining and give a little credit where it's due, i'd be willing to be none of you would have done any better. Get over yourselves...

[Yeni]

I don't think Jason deserved the title, I think Rajko deserved the title he was very good in all the events.

[anthony]

Why did they stop showing it they show make a season 2 with new people every seasson.

[Evan]

Last One Standing is a tribute to the brilliance of the BBC/Discovery channel collaboration. The whole point of this show was to take six average atheletes and put them into extreme situations. I loved the blend of sport with tradition that each episode presented. It was a great learning experience.

For all of you who think that these atheletes didn't try hard, all I have to say is that you are watching from a couch, on a full stomach next to the refrigirator. Congrats Jason.