Clark's Boot Camp

Why the Four-Star General took a reality tv job.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark is a retired four-star general who served as the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO’s forces in Europe. So when he describes a combat situation as exciting, he knows what he’s talking about.

“Imagine you’re carrying 60 pounds of equipment,” says Clark, who co-hosts the new NBC military adventure series, “Stars Earn Stripes,” that premieres Monday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. “You’re sitting in the open door of a helicopter, with weapons. You fly over a lake, and you’re 15, 20 feet high. The helicopter jerks to a hover, and you’re told, ‘Exit! Now!’ Out of the helicopter, helmet on, weapons, 60 pounds of equipment, boom. Into water. You don’t know if it’s 10 feet [off the ground], or 15, or 30. You can’t tell.”


What makes this description especially fascinating is that the people viewers will watch trying to meet this otherworldly challenge, and more like it, are not stunt professionals, but mere celebrities, including Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street, boxer Laila Ali, former “Superman” actor Dean Cain, WWE wrestler Eve Torres, actor and former NFL player Terry Crews, “Biggest Loser” trainer Dolvett Quince, singer Nick Lachey and political hubby Todd Palin.

Conceived by producers Mark Burnett and Dick Wolf, “Stars Earn Stripes” pairs each celebrity with one of a collection of military and law enforcement personnel, including a veteran of the Army’s Delta Force, a former SWAT commander, and several former Navy SEALs and Army Green Berets.

These eight two-person teams faced off in combat-related missions that were filmed in June at secret locations throughout Southern California.

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/clark_boot_camp_vCDFgLycLrWUgjh74OCglK/0