In December 2014, the Discovery Channel launched a particular that sounded prefer it got here straight out of a nature-run-amok horror film: “Eaten Alive” was an overhyped, one-off documentary that promised to indicate viewers snake knowledgeable Paul Rosolie willingly being swallowed entire by a large anaconda.
Discovery’s advertising and marketing for the slithery particular precipitated a media circus, piquing the curiosity of viewers curious to see if a person would really survive being swallowed by a serpent — whereas additionally drawing criticism from animal rights teams like PETA, who noticed it as nothing greater than a merciless stunt that tormented animals for the sake of scores. In response, each Rosolie and the Discovery Channel insisted it was all for the sake of science and Amazonian conservation.
In “Eaten Alive,” the primary 90 minutes of the particular follows Rosolie as he explores a distant part of the Amazon, hoping to discover a appropriate snake for his promised stunt. Sadly, although, the particular fails to reside as much as the hype. After hours of build-up, Rosolie — who’s carrying a protecting carbon-fiber swimsuit doused in pig’s blood — does certainly develop into constricted by a large anaconda, however the supposed feast by no means goes any additional. After the snake extends its jaws round his helmet, Rosolie worries that his arm would possibly snap, and the stunt is promptly referred to as off.
Eaten Alive was a scores success for Discovery
Rosolie later spoke about his failed stunt in an interview with Leisure Weekly. “The snake didn’t wish to eat me, at first. She wasn’t ,” he stated. “However as soon as I confirmed myself as a predator and she or he obtained spooked, then she defended herself. She nailed me proper within the face and the very last thing I noticed was her mouth vast open at the beginning went black. After which she wrapped me and I felt the swimsuit cracking and my arms ripping out of their sockets. It was completely terrifying.”
A swift backlash adopted the particular. After social media erupted with viewers accusing “Eaten Alive” of false promoting, Rosolie pushed again towards the criticism. “I did dozens of interviews earlier than the present and I by no means stated I obtained eaten,” he advised PIX11 Information. “I stated we had been going to strive however you recognize, we gave it one of the best shot we may. We actually obtained shut.”
Even with that overwhelming controversy, all of it paid off for Discovery in the long run. In line with Deadline, the particular pulled in 4.1 million viewers, making it their highest-rated nature telecast since 2010’s “Life,” and its best-rated telecast of 2014 amongst males ages 18 to 34.
