Entertainment

End of the World? TV Competition to Award Winning Survivalist Family With a Fortified Bunker

Spike TV to Launch Competition Show Giving Survivalist a BunkerGlobal and domestic uncertainty has led to angst among a great many Americans. As a result, “preppers,” those individuals who are stocking up food and supplies in case of a financial or political meltdown, have been gaining increasing press over the past few years.

This trend is evidenced in continued coverage in media and through programming concepts. Now, yet another television network is entering the fray with an upcoming competition this fall to award a fortified bunker to a family who believes the end of the world is near.

(Related: See the Luxury Doomsday Prepper Shelters Being Built Into an Abandoned KS Missile Silo)

The Spike network said Tuesday that it will air a six-episode series called “Last Family on Earth” in which survivalists will compete to show how tough and resourceful they are. And the grand prize? The winner gets an underground bunker in an undisclosed location. The Hollywood Reporter has more:

The doomsday preparation genre is gaining steam, with more than 4 million viewers tuning into Nat Geo’s Doomsday Preppers two-hour premiere earlier this year. In Last Family,the competition will not only test the contestants’ endurance and physical skills, but also their leadership abilities, integrity and character. A panel of three survivalist-expert judges, along with viewer input from social media, will help determine which family is eliminated each week.

Host, casting and challenge details are being kept under wraps until the summer. Pilgrim’s Craig Piligian will serve as an executive producer, with Ralph Wikke, Mitch Rosa, Ken Schur and Jason Adler joining him as co-EPs.

Spike TV to Launch Competition Show Giving Survivalist a Bunker

Peter Larson and his family use their underground bunker as a weekend getaway in National Geographic's "Doomsday Preppers." (Image source: National Geographic Channel)

Spike executive Sharon Levy says the series isn’t a comedy. She also says it isn’t necessarily tied to a theory that the ancient Mayan civilization predicted the end of the world to arrive in December 2012. These details, of course, wouldn’t be surprising to anyone familiar with survivalism and prepping.

While “Last Family on Earth” is surely going to be an interesting program, it’s also not the first of its kind. GBTV aired a series last year called “Independence USA” about a family living “off the grid.” National Geographic also has a series called “Doomsday Preppers.” Other outlets, too, have run specials and explored the lives of those who — pending disaster — will be more than prepared to handle tragedy and upheaval.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (18)

  • cosmic dogma
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:27am

    Any student of history will inform average Americans that wars and disasters do occur, and will occur, even in America. It does no harm to have some extra food and water. It harms no one to plant an apple tree or garden. If being prepared for extraordinary happenings is illogical, why have the civil defense sirens tested every month?

    Report Post »  
  • Texred
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:57pm

    Bunkers are a dumb idea, unless you have an escape route or tunnel that comes out some distance from the entrance. Even rodents that live undergound know this by instinct. You can have your million dollar bunker, water and food for months or years; I’m just a simple man with a rifle and a sidearm, but I’ll have you out of your bunker in 24 hours give or take, well maybe 48 but I think that’s about it. Then everything you have will be….mine! I’m not saying not to prep, by all means do, but as the old saying goes…”don’t put all your eggs in one basket”.

    Report Post »  
  • mrgromit
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:58am

    Step1: Get your survival gear at http://www.plan4zombies.com. Step 2: Win this sweet bunker. Step 3: Kick back and play chess during the zombie apocalypse.

    Report Post »  
  • HumbleCitizen
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:55am

    The gov’t. will just follow the construction crew to the home, wait until all the work is complete, then swoop in, fill the bunker with concrete and seize the land.
    http://www.theblaze.com/stories/72-year-old-suing-city-of-austin-for-seizing-his-home-and-condemning-it-for-building-fallout-shelter/

    Report Post » HumbleCitizen  
  • toomuchgovt
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:48am

    The more people that are self reliant the less civil unrest there will be. I for one am glad to see these shows. In my area, I see more gardens, my people buying a little extra (when on sale). I was got funny looks with all my coupons and canned goods. Now it is the norm. Now people who once asked me for a jar of some of my homemade jams, pickles, sauces are asking how to make their own. I ask anyone laughing at this, can you feed your family for a month? Do you have water? could you survive without government suppling you electricity? Many learned just that in the North last year.

    Report Post » toomuchgovt  
    • loriann12
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:54am

      There’s a free IPhone app that helps you keep track of your food storage items, and lets you know how much you need, makes a list of all those items you don’t have enough of, and you can customize it to how many family members, etc. I used to get funny looks when I started this almost 3 years ago, but now I get comments from the cashier, yea a lot of people are stocking up. I can almost feed my family of 4 for 6 months, but we only have a month’s worth of water. We are close to a creek so I figure I can filter/purify. We also have a friend to run to (since we‘re in an urban center and he’s not) about an hour and a half away if it gets really bad. He’s not stockpiling food, but arms and munitions.

      Report Post »  
  • PROSECUTE_PUBLIC_SERVANTS__FOR_CONSTITUTIONAL_TREASON
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:39am

    Russia has stated a nuclear missle is pointed at every US city larger than 10K people. Russia has stated a conventional war is unwinnable and nuclear weapons would be required to win in a US conflict. Russia is Irans friend as is China. Iran has plans to attack and usher in their messiah. They expect many Iranians to die in a nuclear war and accept this as just part of the cost. The Bible having accurately prophecied history states these types of wars are going to happen. The timing appears to be soon.

    The Bible decribes future nuclear war – Isa. 66:15, Isa. 39:6, Ezel 39:6, Ezel 20:47, Joel 2:3,30, Zep. 1:18 ,Mal 4:1, Rev. 8:7, Rev. 9:18

    For Christians the concern is not dieing. Christians pass into heaven. The concern is living through it if Jesus delays. You might want to buy some emergency protection even as a Christian.

    When it happens the wind may determine whether you live or die if you are unprepared.

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    • loriann12
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:57am

      I stockpile, but if it comes to the rapture, I know where I’m going and someone else can have my stock pile of food. I have family members I’m not so sure would go with me, so I’ll leave it to them. Not too many people I know personally know I‘m doing as much as I’m doing.

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  • SageInWaiting
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:29am

    Rule #1: Don’t draw attention to yourself – blend into the landscape. If nobody knows to search you out, you’re 10 steps ahead. How many “This Old House” beneficiaries have had people knock on the door asking for a tour? I’m not sure that participating in such a show would be wise.

    Report Post » SageInWaiting  
  • PETTYDRAMA
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:22am

    Repent! Grab your bibles and shotguns! The Beckacolypse is upon you!…LOL!

    Report Post » PETTYDRAMA  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:54am

      Petty…
      Beck has nothing to do with…..Most people here…
      Can think on thier own ( dont need a union to do it for them).

      The Bible is used.. for our daily bread …For our SOUL

      The Other is for…. when the SHTF and you unprepared-idiots…..

      Try to come and “steal” …our daily bread…for our body…!

      Report Post » sawbuck  
    • Fubared
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:57am

      Go rent a Mexican family and try out for it lady.

      Report Post »  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:03am

      I was going to say I’ll grab my Bible and Shotgun..
      and you can just grab your ankles …
      But I don’t want to play into your bucket-list.

      Report Post » sawbuck  
    • Fubared
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:27am

      Well said Sawbuck; we live in the times of lefty ankle biters and ankle grabbers.

      Report Post »  
    • Meyvn
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:49am

      @sawbuck:

      I don’t have a
      bucket list, but my
      f u c k e t list is a mile long.

      Report Post » Meyvn  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:19am

    Great idea for a show but probably far to late to do any good.

    Report Post » historyguy48  
    • CABERNETQHS
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:38am

      People need to be ready to care for themselves, most of us are way too soft. Maybe this kind of stuff will make people think. Hopefully we have more time than my intuition tells me. Others will ingnore the signs and look to their cell phone for the answer when the sh*t hits the fan.

      Report Post »  
    • Wolf
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:59am

      Great idea for a Tv program, but a bad idea for OpSec.

      Report Post »  

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