Raw Survival

"What the hell do you mean you're cutting funding?!" Jenna Glades spat angrily at the woman across from her on the other side of the desk. "Do you have any idea what my show has done for your network?!"

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about, Jenna." The Network Executive said with a sigh, "I'm afraid that 'Raw Survival' is not doing so well with the ratings. We're only two episodes into the first season, and the ratings are down the tube."

"And just what's wrong with my show?!" Jenna shot back, "I'm dropped out into the middle of the wilderness for a month and use only my survival skills to get back to civilization! Yeah, the premise is kinda overdone, but -"

"It's not so much the premise as it is the execution." The Woman said, "Many viewers think you're faking the whole experience. Which, admittedly, you are. Just like every other, quote-unquote, "Survivalist Show'."

"And your point is...?"

"My point is, if your ratings sink any lower, I'm gonna have to pull the plug on Raw Survival." The Woman said, "If I don't, I could lose my job."

"Fine!" Jenna spat, "If those idiots think my show is fake and staged..."

"Which it is..."

"Then I'll just have to whoo them with my top notch survival skills. No crew, no supplies. Just me and my camera vs Mother Nature!" Jenna exclaimed with a smug grin. Her grin disappeared and was replaced by an annoyed frown as she heard hysterical laughter, turning to the woman across the desk. "Did I say something amusing, Carolyn?"

"Jenna, I'm your sister." The woman, Carolyn, said with a laugh, "I know you like the back of my hand, and I know you wouldn't last one day in the wilderness by yourself, let alone one month. Remember when we were in The Ladybirds on our big camping trip? You were crying so much they had to have Mom come pick you up on the first night before the sun even went down!"

"That's not fair! I was a little girl back then!"

"You were fourteen."

"I was only afraid because there was a bear in the bushes!"

"It was Mrs. Winston's mastiff, Chuck."

"Oh, whatever! I still got my Wilderness Badge!"

"Only because the councilors felt bad for you missing out."

"I can survive for more than one day!" Jenna snapped, slamming her fist on the desk. "And the ratings will skyrocket once I show those non-believers my skills in the wild!"

"Even if I did believe you, and I don't," Carolyn began, "what makes you think that viewers will think you're not faking it by yourself like you do with the film crew? At best, they'll think the network put you up in some low grade found footage film."

Jenna began to think for a bit. That was a good point. She had to do something that would show that what was happening was real and not staged like she usually had it. Something that showed she was going at it solo with no one else around.

That was when Jenna snapped her fingers, her smug smirk returning as an idea began to form in her head. "What if I were to show them that I have nothing to hide?"

"Excuse me?" Carolyn asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

Several weeks later...

"Hey, everyone! And welcome to a very special episode of Raw Survival!" Jenna said into the handheld camera that was feeding the footage to the network. "I'm here in the beautiful Rocky Mountain range this month. Now, you may be noticing that we've gone low-tech this episode in comparison from when I was in Valley in Episode One, or when I was in The Everglades in Episode Two. Well, many people seem to be under the impression that me surviving out there was faked and/or staged. Thay were, admittedly, but not anymore! To prove my skills as a survivalist, we will be doing something different this episode. For the next four weeks, one full month, I will be surviving the Colorado wilderness by myself and with nothing but my wits and skills. No crew. No equipment. No supplies. No compass. No map. And to prove my dedication..."

Jenna placed her camera down on a rock and walked over to the edge of the mountain trail, revealing her outfit: A pair of hiking boots and socks, and nothing else!

Jenna looked over her bare shoulder at the camera with a confident smile. She wasn't worried about her nudity. It would just be censored by the network anyway.

She hoped.

"I'm Jenna Glades, and this... Is Raw Survival!" Jenna said. After a few seconds, she muttered, "And here's were the intro goes, and... Good!"

Jenna turned around and walked towards the camera... Tripping on a branch and falling face first into the dirt with a yelp as she did so. Getting back to her feet and spitting out dirt, Jenna smiled and laughed sheepishly. "Lets... Put that on the cutting room floor, okay?"