'Battleground Earth' gets down and dirty

Going green is hot, even on reality TV.

In the past year, shows such as "America's Next Top Model" and "Project Runway" have incorporated environmental themes.

But new cable network Planet Green has taken this a step further, developing a show which blends elements of "The Amazing Race" and "celebreality" and focuses on saving the planet.

The result: "Battleground Earth," a 10-episode "eco-smackdown" between rock and rap. Motley Crue's Tommy Lee and Atlanta rapper/actor Chris "Ludacris" Bridges competed in 13 challenges this spring, traveling in biodiesel buses to nine cities including Las Vegas, Dallas and Atlanta.

Each challenge focused on a different environmental issue such as recycling and water pollution. The overall winner headlined a season-ending charity concert in Los Angeles while the loser had to be the opener.

"It really opened my eyes," Lee said during a brief break in shooting in May in Atlanta. One thing he hopes to do: "Add solar panels to my house."

"I hope what we're doing will save lives," Ludacris added. "I want to lead by example. I never really recycled before, but I plan to do it now."

Stars pitch in to help out

Star power is plentiful. Episode one alone features cameos by musician Dr. John, Cedric the Entertainer, Diddy and actor Isaiah Washington. For the upcoming Atlanta episode, set to air at the end of this month, expect appearances by Magic Johnson, Jane Fonda and Big Boi from OutKast.

During the Atlanta episode, each team raced to see how much junk mail they could collect to recycle. Combined, they brought in four to five truckloads. Ludacris used Ryan Cameron's show on V-103 to solicit mail. Lee got on CNN using a connection through his teammate Johnny Colt.

Stylistically, "Battleground Earth" opted for a different look and feel than most reality shows, blending entertainment with dollops of news you can use.

"We wanted to do something a little bold, a little crazy," said Leslie Greif, the executive producer, who also produces A&E's "Gene Simmons: Family Jewels."

There's no host to bridge the scenes and no interviews with participants to explain what they're doing or thinking at the time of said activity. Instead, producers tried other ways to connect scenes and craft storylines.

Celebrities and environmental experts pop up to interact with Lee, Ludacris and their entourage and tell them what is coming up or why they are, say, installing solar panels for a church in New Orleans.

As a result, some scenes feel staged. During the Atlanta shoot at Midtown's Park Tavern in May, at least seven cameras hovered around Lee and Ludacris as they met Atlanta rock band Collective Soul, headlining an Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper fundraiser.

The producers asked the two teams to converge, walk up to the stage and gab with the band during a break in soundcheck. They talked about why the band was there and discussed water conservation. The scene took three takes. So did another scene in which Lee "happened to" walk by Ludacris and the two trash-talk each other as a segue to the next episode.

"By the end, we were getting our acting chops together," said Colt, an Atlanta real estate developer, bassist for Train and original member of the Black Crowes. Although he was never given a script, he did prep putdowns against the other team.

Rapper outworks rocker

Atlanta musician Tony "4-ize" Hayes, a childhood friend and part of Luda's team, said Ludacris was far more intense than Lee about the competition.

"Everything was game plan, game plan, game plan," he said. "We'd huddle and strategize and do research. Tommy was super cool, kind of went with the flow."

The toughest challenge? Shoveling manure to make methane. On the other hand, Hayes said he got to "ride horses, joust and rock climb. It was a fulfilling experience."

Colt said they taped 16 and 17 hour days for five straight weeks, a basic whirlwind of exhaustion. "Crew members were falling out," Colt said. "At one point, I said, 'Are we filming a green reality show or the heart of darkness?' Touring is a piece of cake compared to this! Tommy and I had developed hand tremors by the end of the shoot."