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From Mind Games To Real Games: Here's Why We're Excited For 'Snake In The Grass'
Hosted by Bobby Bones, "Snake In The Grass" is a survival competition show like no other. There is a lot to know before its premiere in August.
USA Network’s newest reality competition series, “Snake In The Grass,” premieres on Monday, August 1 at 11 P.M ET/PT and promises a physically and mentally taxing game viewers have truly never seen anything like before.
For those unfamiliar, each episode will see four survivalists dropped into a remote part of the Central American jungle to compete in challenges and survive for 36 hours, all while knowing one of them is actively working as a saboteur.
As you may have guessed, there’s a lot more to it than simply pointing fingers and hiking in the wild. That’s why, ahead of the show’s release date next month, we're tallying up all the exciting things in store for viewers when “Snake In The Grass” debuts.
The Host
A competition show is only as good as its host, and “Snake In The Grass” has tapped an absolute top-notch personality to not only lead the contestants through each challenge but narrate their journey along the way.
Bobby Bones is a radio personality best known for the massively successful "Bobby Bones Show." However, his accolades don’t end there. Bones has appeared on TV in guest roles for dramas like “Nashville” and as himself in things like “Running Wild With Bear Grylls.” Perhaps his biggest claim to fame, though, is winning “Dancing With The Stars” Season 27 alongside Sharna Burgess.
When it comes to hosting, he’s acted as a guest host on “American Idol” in 2019 when Ryan Seacrest was out and filled in on “Live! With Regis And Kelly" in the past as well. In short, he’s no stranger to stepping up and leading an audience through a competition show and he’s excited to do more on “Snake In The Grass.”
The Location
Most of the contestants on “Snake In The Grass” have survived in some high-stakes situation or another, but the unforgiving wilderness they find themselves in now will put even the most seasoned survivalists to the test. That said, it’s also one of the most picturesque parts of the globe.
“Snake In The Grass” is filmed in beautiful Costa Rica, specifically by Liberia in the Guanacaste province. While it offers incredible sights to behold, it’s also home to wildlife and natural environmental hazards that make it a very dangerous place for people to live without certain precautions, particularly when someone among them is acting against the best interests of the group.
The Contestants
“Snake In The Grass” is pulling survivalists from various backgrounds to see how well their skills stand up to the various tests the game offers. However, not everyone is a complete stranger to survival situations or reality TV. The first crop of contestants is pulled heavily from other shows that might be familiar to viewers such as “Survivor,” “Naked and Afraid,” “The Amazing Race,” “Big Brother,” and more.
Not only have they handled these kinds of outdoor situations before, but they’ve also played high-stakes games for big cash prizes, so they know what’s on the line if they fail either as a Snake or a regular player.
The Challenges
The show gives contestants several chances to compete in challenges that will allow them to unlock a clue to the identity of the saboteur among them. When the time comes to ultimately accuse someone of being the Snake, they will have had three chances to unlock clues through physical challenges that will put their teamwork and physical prowess to the test.
However, the challenges also offer opportunities for the Snake to strike and waylay their progress in order for them to remain hidden.
Challenges include long endurance hikes and feats of athleticism like zip-lining, rock climbing, lifting, and more. They’ll also test them mentally with puzzles and various clue-finding adventures that force them to be observant and communicative in order to meet success as a team.
Mind Games
Above all, the goal of “Snake In The Grass” is not to be the best survivalist in the wild or perform well in any of the challenges. While those things certainly help, it all comes down to whether or not the contestants are able to properly identify the Snake.
Each episode ends with the four survivalists and Bones discussing the events of the last 36 hours before they vote on who they think the Snake is. If the three regular players get it wrong or aren’t unanimous in their vote, they go home empty-handed and the Snake walks off with the full $100,000 grand prize.
There are many ways for the average person to spot a liar, but how well will they be able to do that with all the other stressful things happening around them? Meanwhile, will the at-home viewers be able to see through the mind games the Snake is playing any better than the contestants they’re tricking?
Tune in on Monday, August 1 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network for the "Snake In The Grass" premiere to find out.
