The Summit EP Kevin Lee Explains Risk Of Blindsiding Contestants With Challenge Of Climbing A Mountain, And How The ‘Dramatic Moment’ Was Pulled Off

The Summit EP Kevin Lee Explains Risk Of Blindsiding Contestants With Challenge Of Climbing A Mountain, And How The 'Dramatic Moment' Was Pulled Off

As a die-hard fan of reality TV, I have to say that The Summit is shaping up to be the most exhilarating and adrenaline-pumping series on the 2024 schedule. The concept of contestants having to climb a mountain for a share of a million dollars is nothing short of genius, and it’s going to captivate viewers from the moment the premiere airs.


In 2024, The Summit could very well be the most exhilarating reality show on television, and viewers will certainly agree once the first episode airs. Gathering in New Zealand are 16 individuals from diverse backgrounds, who discover for the first time that they stand a chance to split a $1,000,000 prize. However, there’s a twist: they must work together to carry the money up a mountain, something none of them were aware of prior to being chosen. Given how risky and daunting this reveal appeared, TopMob had to get the behind-the-scenes story from the show’s executive producer.

Prior to the exclusive preview of The Summit on CBS, I had a chat with Executive Producer Kevin Lee, and asked if they were concerned about how the contestants would handle their first-time mountain climbing experience during the premiere. Lee admitted that there was some risk involved, but fortunately for them, everything turned out well in the show’s favor.

Absolutely, there’s a give-and-take situation here. You stand to benefit, but you also take on some risk. The magnitude of their responses when they discover it is quite significant, and it’s clear that they are affected by it. This moment is quite intense, which is why we decided not to disclose it earlier. However, the potential drawback is that, as you pointed out, four of them may have declined the opportunity, causing complications for the show. Fortunately, none of them chose to withdraw.

Luckily, none of the competitors wavered, and everyone consented to carry a portion of the million dollars in their rucksacks, with the understanding that whoever reaches the peak within fourteen days would divide it among themselves if they succeeded. In addition to conquering the challenges of mountain climbing, they are also bound by the rules set by the “Mountain Guardian,” who has the power to make difficult choices for them throughout the journey, such as eliminating contestants from the competition.

It’s compelling television readers won’t want to miss whether they watch on CBS or with a Paramount+ subscription, but is it real? I wondered how a show could legally find participants, not all of whom are peak athletes, and blindside them with the reveal they’re climbing a mountain. Kevin Lee was more than happy to explain how they were able to make it happen:

Though they weren’t aware they would specifically be scaling a mountain, they were well-informed that they would engage in physically demanding activities during the selection process. In their contract, it appears they understood that they might encounter tasks such as climbing steep cliffs, traversing snow, and ascending ice (and so on). Essentially, all the activities they ended up doing are detailed. They had a general sense of what they might be doing, but eventually, they seemed to disregard these details at some point.

Indeed, it’s quite similar to the old trick of overwhelming someone with details under the guise of “terms and conditions,” which often makes them forget about earning money by scaling a mountain. It’s crucial to remember that anyone participating should be in good physical condition, as I wouldn’t want to find myself in the role of the spectator who suddenly has to trek miles daily uphill. The individuals who dropped out during Survivor Season 45 might serve as a comparison – it could very well turn out to be an equivalent experience.

Despite not having a youthful and athletic cast throughout, Lee made sure to vet everyone involved in The Summit, ensuring their participation only after they were medically cleared. This precautionary measure enabled them to film with maximum safety while also delivering an exhilarating kickoff for the series premiere.

They visit their physicians, who have a specific set of tasks related to physical ability as a reference. We aimed to prepare them for these tasks without disclosing the details, saving the surprise for the initial encounter.

In addition to the excitement and tension that “The Summit” provides, the series also brought on board Manu Bennett, a former actor from “Arrow”, as its host. After viewing the initial four episodes, I believe he could become just as closely associated with this new show as Jeff Probst is with “Survivor”. However, only time will tell if the show can endure as long. It seems promising, offering an engaging blend of elements found in “The Amazing Race” combined with the ruthless nature of “Big Brother”.

The television premiere of ‘The Summit’ is set for Sunday, September 29th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time on CBS. Don’t forget to tune in again every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET, where you can also catch the latest shows, such as the new and intriguing take on ‘Matlock’, featuring an unexpected twist.

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2024-09-26 19:07