TV is Entertainment First, Useful Information will be in small bits and sometime only accidental if it does not slow down the drama or entertainment value. If you find 10% of a show useful and realistic it a keeper!

Where's the TV entertainment value in plain, common sense advice? As a TV producer, what would give the most rating? A loonie that says something incredible stupid about how camel urine could aid survival in the Gobi desert? Or a normal person speaking of why you really should leave a note of where you're going and when you'll be back?

So, although most "normal" people have much better use for their time than making reality shows -- they also make for incredible dull TV.

Straight advice doesn't always inevitably mean boring TV, but it does require more effort from the producing staff. Some years ago, PBS had a very informative show along these lines. It lasted about three seasons, IIRC

Do you recall the title? I remember seeing a show that was decent, but it doesn't sound as good as the one you're talking about.

The other day I tried to watch an episode of Doomsday Bunkers, and did it drive me bunkers. People probably file the "survival" shows under "maybe I'll have to do this when I crash a plane int he Andes." But these home-based prep shows will give people the wrong idea of what economically and socially viable emergency preparation is about. They'll make people think preparation means spending a million dollars on an underground compound in a secret location, with tons of guns and ammo. That will deter people from doing some basic things that could come in handy when the storm hits.

When is Martin doing a show?

Title? What title? I do recall that the host was John Viehman, then the editor of Backpacking magazine... He would do segments with various experts, so they were always shifting locales and activities, typically three or four segments per show. That did a lot to keep the interest up.

Is that it? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570073/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Trailside: Make Your Own Adventure (1994–2003)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailside)

By the way, just watched the Hours movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2094018/ - total (and also misleading ) nonsense survival wise.

Bingo! Yes, that's the show. Looks like it was on longer than I thought.

Definitely looks like a non-crazy show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o6YXlfXNnk

That reminds me: I've always wanted to do dog sledding!

I sometimes watch the Prepper shows just to see what whack job they put on TV this week.
Personally, going on TV would be the last thing I would do.
And in my book ...only and idiot preps for ONE scenario ....or even chooses ONE as his/her most likely disaster scenario as in my book there are several realistic threats to destabilizing your everyday life ....however ...none will be very exciting to watch on TV ....which gets us back to how these folks are chosen ....at least in my opinion....its who would have the greater shock value.
Does make for some entertaining discussions and a bit of laughter are home when one is on ... nothing like laughter to take the edge off every now and again.