Viking Magazine - February 2016 - 24

The Making of a Hit Show
The idea for " Alt for Norge " began
in 2008 when a two-man company
called Oxymorons pitched an idea
to Discovery Networks Norway.
Americans David Berner and Eric
Williams moved to Norway, and lived
through what they described as a
" culture shock " when moving to their
new home.
Hometown: Edina, Minn.
Current home: Zionsville, Ind.
Occupation:
Real estate agent/manager
* His Norwegian heritage: I've
always been interested, as my mom
made it a part of our upbringing.
However, it wasn't until I started
having a family of my own that it
became even more important.
* Favorite challenge: My favorite
challenge was the biathlon, where
we got to cross-country ski and
shoot. I loved it! However, my most
memorable challenge was one
that I was exempt from having to
compete in. We fl ew in and landed
a helicopter on an oil rig out in the
middle of the North Sea! We spent
the day there as the rest of the
cast competed in several events. It
was my fi rst fl ight on a helicopter
and, obviously, my fi rst trip to an
oil rig in the middle of an ocean!
Unbelievable!
* How he's changed: The show
has made me focus a lot more on
family and realizing the importance
of celebrating your heritage. I've
had the opportunity to bring my
wife back to Norway, but I can't wait
to get the whole family over there.
" From this came the idea of making
a reality show about Americans of
Norwegian descent who identify
strongly with their heritage [but
don't know very] much about the
motherland, " says Sverre Nordbø,
head of programming at Discovery
seasons casting 12). They, along with
host Henriette Bruusgaard, appeared on
air for the fi rst time in April 2010.
" It became an instant success, " says
Nordbø. In fact, " Alt for Norge " has
won the Norwegian Emmy, Gullruten,
twice for Best Reality Show.
All in Good Fun
Networks Norway. " TVNorge acquired
the idea, and worked with the creators
and the production company, Monster
Entertainment, to make it into a
complete series. "
In February of 2009, a team of
producers came to Chicago and met
with O'Connor Casting to choose
the Norwegian-American contestants
for the fi rst season, Nordbø says. Ten
people were cast that year (with later
Unlike many American reality shows
that feature lots of produced drama,
bickering contestants and win-at-allcost
competitions, " Alt for Norge " is
centered around positivity.
" It's a truly feel-good program, "
says Nordbø. " It's a fun, playful show
aimed at bridging the cultural gap
between America and the rest of the
world through adventure, travel, humor
and interaction with the local culture.
The contestants are good-natured
and optimistic, as the focus of 'Alt for
Norge' is more on 'fi sh-out-of-water
humor' than confl ict within the group. "
Thor Oreld, who has been a producer
on the show for the past fi ve years,
agrees. " In an episode, you'll never fi nd
people conspiring or backstabbing each
other. It has absolutely no 'cut-throat'
elements, since the contestants are not
voted off the show: They are eliminated
based upon their performances in
fair competitions. And we change the
teams up every episode to ensure that
we maintain an atmosphere in which
everyone feels they're in it together,
instead of being competitors. "
What also sets " Alt for Norge " apart
from other reality shows, Oreld says,
is that the contestants are not typecast.
The producers don't attempt to create
An " Alt for Norge " Timeline
Casting, production and editing
for a season of the hit show takes
almost a year. Here's a peek at
the production cycle.
24 VIKING FEBRUARY 2016
sonsofnorway.com
September:
O'Connor Casting begins
contestant selection.
January:
Ideation for the crazy competitions begins
along with fi nding beautiful locations.
Todd Ferris
Season 3 contestant
WINNER!
http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - February 2016

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