'Survivor' Creator Eyes 'Combat Missions'

[Bad_Karma]

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REUTERS

'Survivor' Creator Eyes 'Combat Missions'
Melissa Grego
11/20/00

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HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - USA Network's new reality series from the executive producer of "Survivor" may just turn out to be one of TV's great "Combat Missions."

Mark Burnett, who is on location Down Under for "Survivor: The Australian Outback" and USA have been negotiating the 15-episode deal for "Combat Missions" by long-distance for several weeks.

The cable channel plans to premiere the hourlong show in primetime sometime after Memorial Day 2001.

The series will pit four-person teams made of existing and former members of elite combat units of the U.S. military, such as Green Berets, Recon Marines and Navy SEALS, in missions that test the limits of their abilities.

Participants will live on a secret military base, which will likely be in California. Hostage rescues, sniper attacks and urban assaults will all be part of the action. The show will also highlight the drama occurring at the secret base and the real-life dramas of combat histories.

"The show is something I thought about for many years" said Burnett, who served in a specialized British parachuting unit himself. "We are making it so viewers feel like part of it, what's in the minds of the people doing these missions and that they're people with families, brave people who protect us all."

Industry insiders indicated that Burnett could be getting as much as half of the ad revenue generated by the new show, and that USA is footing the hefty production costs to the tune of about $1 million per episode. Burnett and Jim Miller, executive VP of original programming for USA Network, wouldn't elaborate on the terms of the deal.

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BK

[Sharky]

Not sure if I'm comfortable with this. The people he is talking about using for the show would not be doing Hollywood combat but rather utilizing real techniques and tactics that would be broadcast all over the world. Maybe not a violation of OPSEC but definitely makes me uneasy. I just think that this stuff should be kept as low-profile as we can keep it. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

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F.I.D.O.

[Whammer]

Agreed,

1) You will never be able to recreate the actual scenarios under a tv camera-type lab environment.

2) How hokie will that look with some operators being paraded around as some sort of mystical spectre that makes the skin crawl on the backs of all those soccer moms. The military doesn't need to be kicked around any more than it has (and fearfully, will be under Gore) for some a-hole's entertainment...

di


[This message has been edited by Whammer (edited 11-22-2000).]

[nightinsertion]

Sounds to me like he wants to turn SOF into MTV's "The Real World". Sounds like the biggest mistake yet. I made a comment on another board, not even including OPSEC, the general public and media have no real clue as to what SOF actually do, why feed their self diluted minds any more ammo about " those scary men with big guns and in all black" (then again I could qualify as that and I'm not a BTDT I was told last night that my gun was pretty big while I was taking off my black jogging suit LOL) When the hell did actual operators and tactics become unclassified for a t.v show. Lets not even mention the crackpots that'll surface once the show airs. Bad idea. Just my opinion

[This message has been edited by nightinsertion (edited 11-23-2000).]

[SolidStrike]

Yeah, bad idea. Teens are gonna get all giddy and think they know everything after watching this...god..I don't want this show to go on. This is official right? The show is definately going on?

[TonyM]

This fellow "served in a specialized British parachute unit" Which unit is that? Anyone know?

[FutureRanger2000]

Does anyone really think that any civilians would have a fighting chance in hell against Spec Ops personnel in a mock battle?? I mean, come on... .

[Guardin2k]

yes, FutureRanger2000, I think they would. Men with weapons are men with weapons, after all, not to digress too much, but it was a ragtag band of peasants with dilapidated muskets who more or less defeated the most highly-trained well-armed army in the world to make us independent.

[FNG]

TonyM: Para Regiment

[12884-SHOOTER]

Guardin2k,
There is absolutely,positively no way we could have one the revolution without the French. The colonists lost almost every battle up until the French came. and lets not forget that Britain was fighting 3 other wars at the same time. The colonists won because of being in the right place at the right time and nothing else.

[FutureRanger2000]

I just can't see a bunch of retired buisnessmen and college students fending off attacks from SEALs, Rangers and SF in a modern warfare setting. Unless the producer sets it up so the Spec Ops personnel lose on purpose, there is just no way in hell. And also, keep in mind that the "ragtag band of peasants" you refer to were aware that if they didn't win, they would either be killed outwright, or oppressed for the rest of their lives. No producer could match that kind of motivation, I don't care how much prize money is at stake.

[Ranger002]

TRAAAACY!!! Where the Hack(worth) are you? Is this the show you're consulting on? Please hold my hand and tell me everything's gonna be ok and I am NOT going to see what these guys are talking about.
William Hazen

[Tracy]

Hazen: Nope. They contacted me and asked for me as a possible point of contact. Never heard from them again.

I first learned about this particular one in June. The producer lives in Hawaii and 'commutes' to La-La land as required. I should be so lucky...

[Terry Jones]

http://combatmissions.com

have a blast

[DFC5343]

Where do i sign up for opfor?

[RogueExec]

Ya beat me to the question, DFC....LOL

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"Don't think of it as theft. Think of it as creative augmentation of your operational capabilities."

[justagrunt]

They souldn't call it "Survivor" because everyone survived...
They should call it "Conqueror" because someone has to comquer everyone else and win.

Why Survive anything when you can conquer it!

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Can I get a "HooAh" from the Congregation?!?!

[Enfield]

Well, this should be a bloody disaster and PR nightmare for the military.
1) Why only US SOF/LE? I thought the creator served in the Paras, why aren't all NATO SOF included?
2) They're including teams from all military and LE.. but, somehow I think the Rangers and Dept. of Corrections have different missions and training..
3)They're certainly talking big... "the toughest special forces competition in the word" the "most gruelling team competition" (still think Best Ranger would be harder...)

Oh well.. should entertaining. Oh yeah, how do you "check" to see if somone was in Delta? And what are the chances of active duty SOF taking the 21 days off to do this?

Enfield

[dmgedgoods]

sounds like a ticking timebomb. The world will be able to see the full effect of the US SOF. hopefully somebody has the brains to water this down...and not to let it fully demonstrate the capabilities of todays forces.

[jinX]

Originally posted by Enfield:
Well, this should be a bloody disaster and PR nightmare for the military.
1) Why only US SOF/LE? I thought the creator served in the Paras, why aren't all NATO SOF included?


Probably because of the legal implications involved with including the other countries. The US has a huge stake in television and the media; they will probably make it easier to "allow" members of those orgs to participate. Other countries will probably be more reticent. Just my .o2

[LRSC Grunt]

Id do it for the MONEY!!

[attila]

FutureRanger2000: Just because one is or was in the spec ops community doesn't mean they are bulletproof. Someone with no experience and a little intelligence can pick up a rifle, get cover and start shooting.

[This message has been edited by attila (edited 12-13-2000).]

[FutureRanger2000]

<<Someone with no experience and a little intelligence can pick up a rifle, get cover and start shooting.>>

Yes, you are right. I believe those people are called Marines. http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

I'm only kidding, I have nothing but respect for Marines, I just couldn't resist. But seriously you are right, anyone can pick up a rifle and start shooting. The question is, can they outsmart and outmaneuver trained U.S. Special Operations personnel? Unless the show's producer sets it up so the civilians win, I seriously doubt it.

[attila]

It depends on who is attacking who is defending. Who has the element of suprise. Who has more firepower. Who is leading the civilians.Are the civilians going to cry when things get hard or are they the type of people that will continue to fight. Will the civilians be instructed on any tactics or will they just be givin a weapon and told to go fight. What if the civilians are intstructed by retired spec ops personel in some of their tactics. What if the civilians are Wannabs from this board like you and I(of course I am assuming from your name that you are signed up to ship to basic or plan to be and that you are currently not in the military?) Would that make a difference? Seeing that most of us think we know everything.

[attila]

Quit insulting the USMC. I ship in a month and even though I am not a Marine yet I have got to defend them. (orders from the recruiting station)

[DFC5343]

Attila...no offense...yer talkin out yer ass son!

[FutureRanger2000]

Attila, first of all I am not in the military. I'm not even signed up yet because I am 16 years old. I said I was only kidding about Marines having little intelligence. As a matter of fact, I am seriously considering joining the Marine Corps. I have wanted to be a Ranger since I was 6, but in light of recent events, and the god awful beret debacle, I am reconsidering. I have done this before, and my ambition to become a Ranger has always won out over other services. Anyways, I am sure that the civilians will be taught some basic tactics, but any training they will get would not and could not come close to the amount of training that Spec Ops personnel receive. As I said before, unless the shows producer sets it up so that the civilians win, they don’t have much of a chance.

[Jeff Rambo]

The beret issue makes you want to reconsider becoming a Ranger?

Have fun in the Corps, you seem to be on the road of making a very good choice.

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Sincerely,
Jeff A. Rambo
NBTNDT
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Disrespect cannot be commanded, it must be earned.

[attila]

Of course I talking out of my ass. I have neither been there nor done that. Just saying, that i am willing to bet that some people who are determined enough and given the proper armaments plus a little training could hold their own against people from any military unit from any country.

[Sharky]

I would have to dispute that statement.

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F.I.D.O.

[FutureRanger2000]

I didn't say that. The beret issue is only one of the factors I am taking into consideration. There are about a million other things I have to think about. The fact that the black beret will no longer be exclusive to the Ranger Regiment is a minor issue in my decision.

[justagrunt]

This show will have the same effect that the Tay Bo work out tapes did... Do you know how many people probably got their collective dumb ass's kicked after watching those tapes and thinking they new a form of the martial arts!!! This show will get the same collective dumb ass's killed... Wait a minute that may be a good thing...

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Can I get a "HooAh" from the Congregation?!?!

[RogueExec]

attila, don't let a uniform issue affect your decision in the least. If you want to go Army, then Ranger (in THAT order, btw) then do it because that's a group you want to be in. The uniform issue shouldn't matter. It's what's inside.

btw, if you want to be in an elite unit right off the bat, go Marines. (Had to put that dig in here)

Whatever you do, do it with distinction and you'll be pleased with your results.

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"We're surrounded. That simplifies the problem!"

[FutureRanger2000]

Attila isn't the one who's thinking about the Rangers. Attila is going Marines. I'm the one who wants to go Army, then Rangers. The beret is just the latest thing that has me questioning my choice of service. Being in an elite unit right of the bat isn't my goal, in fact I think it would be better if I started out in a regular unit and proved myself before trying out for an elite unit. Ultimately the beret issue will have very little, if at all, to do with my decision. I wouldn't join for a beret, but I would for the respect and heritage that comes with the beret.

[TFRANGERMEMBER]

As a note to history the Americans did win a major battle before official aide from the French came. It was called Saratoga. but before that was another major victory called Trenton. Anyway, could civilians defeat a SOCOM unit. Sure could it is very possible.

RLTW

[Enfield]

Untrained, motivated, civilians could defeat professional soldiers... but it's damn unlikely, and will mostly result in very high casualties for the civilians. People without formal military training put up a good fight in places like Indochina and Vietnam, Algeria, Israel (first war), Yugoslavia during WW2, Somalia, and a few other places. Ok, it's debatable how much experience they had and some history experts might jump on me for some of this. But there are many non-North American "civilians" who, due to their lifestyles have excellent basic infantry skills (physical toughnes, resourcefulness, etc) But yuppies from California? The professionals will destroy them.

In a competiton like this, with small-units practising basic skills, the professionals will win hands down (hell, they practice every day, right?) So it would have to be rigged in some way. Hell, we all thought Survivor would actually involve surviving.. instead it was a popularity contest.

Enfied

[RAT]

My .10 cents,

It is all in the script. In a war as Patton said (I belive it goes) "No one every won a war dieing for their country, it is making the other son of a bitch die for his."

If the Civ's have 50 people and 100 rounds and the forces have 50 people with 1 round. If one person misses.... just as in battle... this is when skill runs out and Lady Luck begins.

RAT OUT!!!

[Almighty Bones]

on Entertainment Tv about 2 or 3 nights ago they had a small portion showing the Spec Ops Surviver, they were talking to the man behind Surviver and 2 and they quickly brought up his idea about the new Spec Ops show, didnt say much just that he wanted Rudy from the 1st show to help him with it.

Its only a matter of time now...