Reality television takes another great leap into the unknown, and possibly the gross, with the introduction next month of a Discovery Channel special going where no show has gone before.

"Eaten Alive, premiering in December, features a man being eaten whole by a giant anaconda snake.

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Animal rights defenders said the show was committing animal abuse. Others criticized it for taking away from the real issue of saving rain forests and saving endangered animals.

Show creator and wildlife filmmaker Paul Rosolie promises to be swallowed alive by the anaconda once he slathers himself in pig's blood and dons a special snake-eating body suit.

Promoting the show, Rosolie issued a clip in which he offered a savory tip: "You have to go head first." Tom Stalf, Columbus Zoo CEO, said, "No, you don't." Stalf went on to say, "maybe next they're going to show a mermaid or unicorns." 

The special already is in the can having been filmed last month. Rosolie apparently survived the ordeal since he was busy giving out interviews on Thursday. He's OK, but what about the snake, people asked.

Experts said the snake needs to eat very infrequently and typically takes many hours to devour prey. They were certain the snake didn't survive the TV event. Rosolie, however, issued a tweet saying, "If u know me - I would never hurt a living thing."

Maybe not, but the show's promotional campaign and subject matter makes it look like yet another ratings grab by the Discovery Channel already known for over-the-top reality shows like "Naked and Afraid" and "Tethered."

"Naked and Afraid" raised eyebrows and ratings as survivalist types learned how to get along in the wild while, oh by the way, not wearing clothes. "Tethered" bound people together as they sought to overcome a series of survival contests.

Those types of reality plus odd scenario shows have proved ratings gold for the channel that once was devoted exclusively to conservationist issues. Discovery posted double-digit viewership boosts this year due to that type of over-the-top reality nature TV programming and executives promised more of the same in future efforts.

Tagseaten alive, reality TV, television, discovery, snake, Anaconda, animal rights, PETA