Fat Guys in the Woods
For thousands of years, man lived wild. He made fire, built shelter, and hunted food with his own two hands...but as he got smarter, his waist got bigger. Now, it's time to get guys off of the couch and into the weather on TWC's "Fat Guys in the Woods." The Weather Channel's Survival Expert, Creek Stewart, will train these men in how to build shelter, start fire and hunt with nothing but their bare hands, and maybe a condom or a gum wrapper. Three men, one week and one objective: to learn the skills that make a man... a man. This show is not about making fun of fat guys. It's about giving regular Joes the chance to do something they've only seen done by Brad Pitt-types. These guys may not have a clue how to survive on their own, but by the end of their week in the woods they'll have the knowledge, and courage, to survive. Creek takes a very simple approach to survival. He says, "Mother Nature breaks us down to our bare essentials. She reminds us of our most basic human needs and she does not have time for our excuses. We've lost this understanding. We've made everything so complicated. Survival's simple. Don't give up... and don't die." With that in mind we'll take three men who love their creature comforts, but believe they have the survival instinct to do without them, and test them against the elements. Creek will take the trio into the woods for a week-long immersion into potentially deadly conditions, and learn who does and doesn't have what it takes. With weather as their enemy, everyone will fight to discover their survival instinct, and learn who they really are. Creek is more than up for the challenge of turning these couch potatoes into men. "I've taught survival for 15 years to people from all walks of life. I don't just teach a skill set, I teach a mind-set. I thrive on seeing that change in people," Creek says. With Creek as their guide, can these "Fat Guys" conquer mother nature?
- 2014-2015
- 2 seasons
- The Weather Channel
- Reality
For thousands of years, man lived wild. He made fire, built shelter, and hunted food with his own two hands...but as he got smarter, his waist got bigger. Now, it's time to get guys off of the couch and into the weather on TWC's "Fat Guys in the Woods." The Weather Channel's Survival Expert, Creek Stewart, will train these men in how to build shelter, start fire and hunt with nothing but their bare hands, and maybe a condom or a gum wrapper. Three men, one week and one objective: to learn the skills that make a man... a man. This show is not about making fun of fat guys. It's about giving regular Joes the chance to do something they've only seen done by Brad Pitt-types. These guys may not have a clue how to survive on their own, but by the end of their week in the woods they'll have the knowledge, and courage, to survive. Creek takes a very simple approach to survival. He says, "Mother Nature breaks us down to our bare essentials. She reminds us of our most basic human needs and she does not have time for our excuses. We've lost this understanding. We've made everything so complicated. Survival's simple. Don't give up... and don't die." With that in mind we'll take three men who love their creature comforts, but believe they have the survival instinct to do without them, and test them against the elements. Creek will take the trio into the woods for a week-long immersion into potentially deadly conditions, and learn who does and doesn't have what it takes. With weather as their enemy, everyone will fight to discover their survival instinct, and learn who they really are. Creek is more than up for the challenge of turning these couch potatoes into men. "I've taught survival for 15 years to people from all walks of life. I don't just teach a skill set, I teach a mind-set. I thrive on seeing that change in people," Creek says. With Creek as their guide, can these "Fat Guys" conquer mother nature?
Season 2 Episode Guide
9 Episodes 2015
Episode 1
Operation Desert Patrol
Sun, Jun 7, 2015
Creek and three guys consult a military survival manual as they trek 30 miles through Arizona's Sonoran Desert. A week in a parachute-teepee with little water, disgusting desert grub and failed fire attempts prove to be both mentally and physically exhausting.
Episode 2
Lumberjack 101
Sun, Jun 14, 2015
Creek and three highly competitive southern football coaches venture out in the vast woodlands of Drummond Island, MI with only one goal in mind - staying alive and not getting lost in the dense, frozen forest. Creek teaches the guys how to make a fire lay and uses ferro rods to ignite the birch bark tinder. As night falls, Creek and the guys rush to build a wind-proof log cabin lean-to under a large pine tree. Waking up hungry, Creek and the guys hike all day with axes and throwing sticks and stumble upon a deer carcass in the snow with an arrow in its side. Unfortunately, they are far from base camp and the sun is setting, so they have to quickly start a fire and set up an emergency shelter for the night.... using only the fire and emergency blankets for warmth. With minimal sleep, the group heads back to camp in the morning to roast the deer meat. Creek teaches them how to prepare a deer jerky and bone marrow which none of these avid hunters have had before. After successfully completing solo day, Creek informs the guys they will be competing for the knife rig by taking turns trying to stick their knife. In the end, Martin is the one to stick the knife and wins the knife rig.
Episode 3
Bare Bones Survival
Sun, Jun 21, 2015
Creek and three strangers face the drastic climate of Mendoza Canyon, AZ using primitive bare bones skills to survive. Creating a fire is the first priority as the canyon can experience freezing temperatures at night. The guys build a primitive fire saw and by rubbing two sticks together, the desert grass is ignited. With the fire secured, Creek instructs them on how to make sleeping mats to protect the from the cold desert ground using a constructed Ocotillo plant and bundles of reeds. After an entire day without any water, Creek looks to elevated areas finds a gunk hole covered in a bright green film of muck and Creek shows them how to use reeds grass, sand, and charcoal to make an effective survival water filter before using water purification tablets. The group discover barrel cactus with edible fruit that they can consume and with the fruit as bait, Paiute deadfalls are constructed. After their traps initially fail, the guys create more and uncover a scorpion hiding under a rock. It is taken back to camp to be roasted and consumed... one of the grossest insects eaten by Fat Guys (or Creek) to date. A rat is later caught in the deadfall and the foursome roasts off its bacteria ridden fur and dine on the surprisingly delicious meat for some much-needed calories for solo day. After a long night alone, the guys make their way back to base camp. Michael proved himself a changed man after a week in the desert and is rewarded with the knife rig as a reminder of all he has accomplished.
Episode 4
Knife Skills in the Swamp
Sun, Jun 28, 2015
Creek and three buddies put a giant knife arsenal to the test in Florida's Dead Lakes swamp and use their blades to construct a "swamp nest" tree house, build a "fire thong", and hack into some interesting wild edibles. Tensions flare when cracking open a turtle is the only option for food.
Episode 5
North Woods Trapper
Sun, Jul 5, 2015
Creek and three strangers brave northern Michigan temperatures like old-world trappers and as their hunting plans fail, the starving group resorts to eating tree bark, pine needles and squirrel. Frustrations peak when the guys are abandoned for the last cold, rainy night.
Episode 6
Swamp MacGyvers
Sun, Jul 12, 2015
Creek teaches three self-proclaimed DIY'ers the skills to survive a natural disaster on debris-covered Cutoff Island in Florida's Dead Lakes swamp. They create a "tampon fire cigar" and build a "swamp cot" from duct-tape. Creek shocks everyone when he adds a new challenge to solo day.
Episode 7
Modern Cavemen
Sun, Jul 19, 2015
Creek uses primitive skills like a "zero-gravity bow drill" and "one-tree shelter" to teach three guys how to live like modern cavemen in Cave Country, KY. They also learn to make maple syrup and navigate through dangerous, bat infested cave systems to find food and water.
Episode 8
One Armed Survival
Sun, Jul 26, 2015
Creek and three office pals repel down a cliff into Kentucky's Red River wilderness and are faced with the most challenging circumstance yet...surviving with the use of one arm. Their patience is tested when they attempt a "strap drill" fire, build a moss-covered hut and fend for themselves when Creek gets sick.
Episode 9
XXL Edition
Sun, Jul 26, 2015
Never before seen footage, behind the scenes moments, bloopers and crew confessions on what it really takes to pull off an episode. Former cast share some amazing transformations and fans ask questions about Creek Stewart and the show.