Naked and Afraid

{{Infobox television

| image = Naked & Afraid logo.jpg

| genre = Reality

| narrated = Michael Brown

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 18

| num_episodes = 202

| list_episodes = List of Naked and Afraid episodes

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

David Garfinkle
Jay Renfroe
Jim Morton
Sean Foley

}}

| runtime = 60 minutes

| company = Renegade 83

| channel = Discovery Channel

| first_aired = {{Start date|2013|6|23}}

| last_aired = present

| related = {{Plainlist|

Naked and Afraid XL
Naked and Afraid: Alone
Naked and Afraid: Solo
Naked and Afraid of Love
Naked And Afraid: Last One Standing
Naked and Afraid: Castaways

}}

Naked and Afraid is an American reality series that airs on the Discovery Channel. Each episode chronicles the lives of two survivalists who meet for the first time naked and are given the task of surviving a stay in the wilderness for 21 days.{{cite web|last=Kurp|first=Josh|title='Naked And Afraid' Star Explains How She Caught Fish With Her 'Private Parts'|url=http://www.uproxx.com/tv/2013/04/naked-and-afraid-star-explains-how-she-caught-fish-with-her-private-parts/|work=UPROXX|date=April 7, 2013|access-date=July 6, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Kaplan|first=Don|title=Discovery Channel bares all with upcoming 'Naked' shows|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/discovery-bares-new-naked-shows-article-1.1308199|work=Daily News|date=April 5, 2013|access-date=July 6, 2013}} Each survivalist is allowed to bring one helpful item, such as a machete or a fire starter. After they meet in the assigned location, the partners must build a shelter and find water and food.

Synopsis

The events of each couple's journey play out in a single episode. Partners strip down and meet each other. They are provided with rough cross-body satchels containing a personal diary/camera, for use when the camera crew is not there at night, and a map. They all wear identical necklaces with a center bead, which is a microphone with a wire that connects to a wireless audio transmitter hidden in the satchel. Some personal jewelry is allowed. Each survivalist is allowed to bring one helpful item, such as a hatchet or a fire starter.{{cite web|title="Naked and Afraid" producer: "We didn't develop the show to be exploitative, ever" Executive producer Denise Contis defends the premise of "Naked & Afraid"|date=June 24, 2013 |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/06/23/naked_and_afraid_producer_we_didn%E2%80%99t_develop_the_show_to_be_exploitative_ever/}}

There is a camera crew who are not allowed to intervene except for medical emergencies when it is "absolutely necessary". Castmate Alison Teal reports that she was granted an "emergency" tampon.{{cite web|title=IMA:I'm Alison Teal from Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid and Alison's Adventures — AMA;-)|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1i34j2/%29|publisher=Reddit}}

At the beginning of the fourth season, the survivalists were given a third "surprise" option. A team is allowed to "tap out" at any point during the 21-day challenge. If they do not tap out, they must arrive at the designated extraction point on the final day to be picked up by a helicopter, plane, automobile, boat or other vehicle suitable for the environment. Viewers are updated throughout with statistics, including how many days have passed, the time, and the temperature. Naked and Afraid computes and then updates the cast members' PSR (Primitive Survival Rating), which is based on predictions and observations of survival fitness in skill, experience, and mental strengths. Before and after weight measurements are also revealed at the end of an episode.{{cite web|title=Naked & Afraid review|date=June 21, 2013 |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/reviews/naked-afraid-1200498863/|publisher=Variety}}

Episodes

Spinoffs and versions

Naked and Afraid XL consists of six pairs of contestants trying to survive 40 days.
Naked and Afraid: Alone follows one contestant at a time trying to survive 21 days with no partner or tribe.
Naked and Afraid: Solo follows several contestants in parallel, though they never meet.
Naked and Afraid of Love takes place in gentler climates and the contestants are dating-minded.
Naked And Afraid: Last One Standing pits the contestants against each other for a cash prize.
Naked and Afraid: Castaways groups the contestants into threes and takes place on tropical islands.

Production

= Locations =

The production's home base is in the United States (the Louisiana Bayou, Florida (Everglades and Seminole County) and Alabama). Panama was used as a setting twice in the first and fifth seasons, Nicaragua was also used twice as well in the third season. Like the first season, the second season visited six countries as well, using Malaysia as a setting once again (Season 1 shot on the Malaysian Borneo, while Season 2's survivalists were stranded in Peninsular Malaysia). Season 10 took contestants to the frozen tundra of Alaska and an African Kill Zone.{{cite web|url=https://renewcanceltv.com/naked-and-afraid-renewed-for-season-10-by-discovery/|title='Naked And Afraid' Renewed For Season 10 By Discovery|last=RenewCancelTV|date=February 12, 2019}}

;United States

Region ! Locations (season number)
class="wikitable"
Southern	{{flagicon\|Alabama}} Alabama (6), {{flagicon\|Florida}} Florida (4, 6, 9, 12), {{flagicon\|Georgia (U.S. state)}} Georgia (12), {{flagicon\|Kentucky}} Kentucky (18),{{flagicon\|Louisiana}} Louisiana (1, 7), {{flagicon\|Mississippi}} Mississippi (9), {{flagicon\|Tennessee}} Tennessee (9), {{flagicon\|Texas}} Texas (8, 12)
Western	{{flagicon\|Alaska}} Alaska (10), {{flagicon\|Arizona}} Arizona (12), {{flagicon\|Colorado}} Colorado (12), {{flagicon\|Montana}} Montana (10, 12), {{flagicon\|New Mexico}} New Mexico (15)
Midwestern	{{flagicon\|Illinois}} Illinois (18)

;International

Continent ! Locations (season number)
class="wikitable"
Africa	{{flagicon\|BOT}} Botswana (3, 14), {{flagicon\|MAD}} Madagascar (2), {{flagicon\|MOZ}} Mozambique (10), {{flagicon\|NAM}} Namibia (3, 5, 6, 12), {{flagicon\|RSA}} South Africa (7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17), {{flagicon\|TAN}} Tanzania (1), {{flagicon\|ZAM}} Zambia (14, 15, 16)
Asia	{{flagicon\|CAM}} Cambodia (3), {{flagicon\|IND}} India (3, 4), {{flagicon\|MAS}} Malaysia (1, 2), {{flagicon\|MDV}} Maldives (1), {{flagicon\|PHI}} Philippines (5, 6, 18), {{flagicon\|THA}} Thailand (4, 6)
Europe	{{flagicon\|CRO}} Croatia (6, 8), {{flagicon\|BUL}} Bulgaria (11), {{flagicon\|UK}} United Kingdom (7){{efn\|name=UK\|Only visited the overseas territory of {{flagicon\|MSR}} Montserrat (7), it is located in the Caribbean.}}
North America	{{flagicon\|BAH}} Bahamas (3, 8, 9), {{flagicon\|BLZ}} Belize (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18), {{flagicon\|CAN}} Canada (6), {{flagicon\|CRC}} Costa Rica (1), {{flagicon\|DMA}} Dominica (3), {{flagicon\|HON}} Honduras (6, 9), {{flagicon\|MEX}} Mexico (4, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18), {{flagicon\|NIC}} Nicaragua (3, 4, 6, 9), {{flagicon\|PAN}} Panama (1, 5, 7, 9, 10), {{flagicon\|TRI}} Trinidad and Tobago (7, 16)
South America	{{flagicon\|ARG}} Argentina (3, 15), {{flagicon\|BOL}} Bolivia (2), {{flagicon\|BRA}} Brazil (3, 9, 10), {{flagicon\|COL}} Colombia (4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, 17), {{flagicon\|ECU}} Ecuador (7, 8, 10, 12, 13), {{flagicon\|GUY}} Guyana (4, 15), {{flagicon\|PER}} Peru (2)
Oceania	{{flagicon\|AUS}} Australia (6, 7), {{flagicon\|FIJ}} Fiji (2)

= Casting call =

On July 31, 2013, Discovery Channel posted a casting call and a dare to "survive the 21-day challenge" via their Twitter account.{{cite web|title=Discovery Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/Discovery|date=July 31, 2013}}

= ''Naked After Dark'' =

Following the success of the live talk show Shark After Dark, Discovery aired Naked After Dark in season two, which aired after each new episode. Host Josh Wolf talked with the cast from the episode, showed behind-the-scenes and never before seen episode footage and has in-studio stunts.{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |title='Naked After Dark' Hosted by Josh Wolf to Premiere Sunday, March 16 on Discovery |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/07/naked-after-dark-hosted-by-josh-wolf-to-premiere-sunday-march-16-on-discovery/243047/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308040305/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/07/naked-after-dark-hosted-by-josh-wolf-to-premiere-sunday-march-16-on-discovery/243047/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2014 |work=TV by the Numbers |access-date=March 7, 2014 |date=March 24, 2014}} It aired for 1 season with 6 episodes.

= Pop-up editions =

Starting in June 2014, Discovery started airing repeat episodes of the show with "pop-up" text on the screen. These graphics shed light on the countries and the survivalists with interesting and often humorous factoids. These shows premiere on Wednesday nights.{{cite web|url=http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/naked-and-afraid/tv-schedule.htm|title=Discovery.com}}

Reception

= Critical reception =

By the time of the 2015 season premiere, Brian Moylan of The Guardian called it the "best reality show on television" as it "takes the outrageousness of other reality genres, but applies it to celebrate human strength and fortitude rather than exploiting the frailty and narcissism of those that just want to be noticed."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/apr/20/naked-and-afraid-best-reality-show-on-television-discovery|title=Naked and Afraid is the best reality show on television|first=Brian|last=Moylan|newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 20, 2015|via=www.theguardian.com}}

Reviewing the premiere in 2013, Brian Lowry of Variety found Naked and Afraid to be "typical of the genre, but it's still kind of a risible kick, if only for how seriously the show takes itself."{{cite web|last=Lowry|first=Brian|title=Review: "Naked & Afraid"|url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/reviews/naked-afraid-1200498863/|work=Variety|date=June 21, 2013}} Melissa Camacho of Common Sense Media, and David Hinckley of the New York Daily News, gave the show 3 out of 5 stars.{{cite web |url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/naked-and-afraid | title=Naked and Afraid | publisher=Common Sense Media|access-date=June 23, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Hinckley|first=David|title=Two strangers test out their survival skills on Discovery Channel's new reality show 'Naked and Afraid'|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/survivalists-test-skills-naked-afraid-article-1.1378405|work=Daily News|date=June 21, 2013}}

Mike Hale of The New York Times expressed skepticism that the dangers implied by the situations faced by the couples in each episode were authentic, even by the standards of reality television, observing that the couple in the series premiere appeared to be cleaner and more shaven than he would have expected. Hale also was not impressed with the interaction between the two participants, whose personalities he found uninteresting, stating that he found the snake bite suffered by the field producer shown in the beginning of the episode to be more riveting.{{cite web|last=Hale|first=Mike|title=They Didn't Pack Sunscreen, or Anything Else|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/2013/06/22/arts/television/naked-and-afraid-jungle-reality-on-discovery.html|work=The New York Times|date=June 21, 2013}}

= Ratings =

Discovery Channel issued a press release which announced some Nielsen ratings milestones for the series. Naked And Afraid was the "#1 Ad-Supported program in cable among men on Sunday, July 28." They also noted that the program now shares the Discovery Channel record for the highest-rated survival telecast in the network's history since June 2009.{{cite press release|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda|title=Discovery Channel's 'Naked and Afraid' is the #1 Ad Supported Program in Cable Among Men on Sunday July 28|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/07/30/discovery-channels-naked-and-afraid-is-the-1-ad-supported-program-in-cable-among-men-on-sunday-july-28/194760/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116054012/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/07/30/discovery-channels-naked-and-afraid-is-the-1-ad-supported-program-in-cable-among-men-on-sunday-july-28/194760/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 16, 2014|work=TV by the Numbers|date=July 30, 2013}} The "Surthrive" episode in season 4, featuring Bo Stuart and Debbie Harris, is the highest rated episode in the history of the show.{{Cite web|url=http://tv-shows.prettyfamous.com/l/114996/Naked-and-Afraid|title=Naked and Afraid (2013-)|website=tv-shows.prettyfamous.com|access-date=2016-04-01}}

= Controversy =

There has been controversy related to how real the show is. Former contestants have said that the locations are not as isolated as portrayed.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-03|title=5 Little Known Facts About 'Naked And Afraid'|url=https://www.inquisitr.com/6494643/5-little-known-facts-about-naked-and-afraid|access-date=2021-08-04|website=The Inquisitr|language=en}} A contestant was treated with IV fluids so she could continue, but this was not shown.{{cite web |title=Former Naked And Afraid participants raise new concerns about whether the show is real or fake |date=August 19, 2016 |url=https://starcasm.net/former-naked-and-afraid-participants-raise-new-concerns-about-whether-the-show-is-real-or-fake/ |access-date=25 August 2019}} Les Stroud, of the survival show Survivorman, has been very vocal with his criticism.

International versions

Country	Local title	Original channel	Premiere date	Season	Ref.
class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; line-height:14px; background:#F8F8FF; width:100%;"
{{BRA}} \| Largados e Pelados Brasil \| Max \| November 9, 2021 \| 3 Season \| {{Cite web \|url=https://observatoriodatv.uol.com.br/noticias/largados-e-pelados-brasil-estreia-junto-com-o-lancamento-do-discovery \|title=Largados e Pelados Brasil estreia junto com o lançamento do discovery+ \|last=Carlos \|first=Henrique \|date=9 November 2021 \|website=Observatório da TV \|language=pt \|access-date=21 July 2022}}
{{FRA}} \| Retour à l'instinct primaire \| RMC Découverte \| August 29, 2018 \| 2 Seasons \|
{{ESP}} \| Aventura en pelotas \| Max \| January 12, 2025 \| 1 Season \|{{Cite web \|last=verTele \|first=Redacción \|date=2024-01-11 \|title=HBO Max recupera 'Pekín Express' con famosos y anónimos, y anuncia otros dos formatos 'al desnudo' para España \|url=https://www.eldiario.es/vertele/noticias/hbo-max-recupera-pekin-express-famosos-anonimos-anuncia-formatos-desnudo-espana_1_10828658.html \|access-date=2024-01-11 \|website=Vertele \|language=es}}