I still remember the first season of Survivor and the impact it had on television. Despite the prominence and impact of the long-running Real World franchise on MTV, Survivor is typically seen as the breakthrough reality TV show — the success story that changed the way networks handle prime time programming.
That first Survivor was built upon one surprise after another. It was our first exposure to the concept, the physical effects of living in a remote location for 40 days, the backstabbing, the strategy, all of it. There was nothing familiar about it. The next season was exciting because the new players really didn't know much more than the previous group, thanks to filming and release schedules. By the third and fourth seasons, the new angle was to watch the contestants try to anticipate the twists and turns that they had witnessed from their couches in prior years.
By about the fifth and sixth seasons of Survivor, the show seemed to grow stagnant. The ratings held up fine, but without the crazy twists and turns, it seemed too predictable. To fix this, the producers of the show made some tweaks. They added rules and gimmicks and even had an All-Star show that led to the "Romber" marriage. Now, they are in the middle of their 12th season, which is quite an accomplishment in this day and age.
However, as I watch the third Survivor to call Panama's Pearl Islands home, I can't help but wonder if the concept is on its last legs. Every player on the show knows the rules like she made them up herself. They tried to throw in the "Exile Island" gimmick this year, but so far, that has been a joke. Right now, the only hope for this season to gain some mystery lies in Terry's immunity idol. Other than that, we can only hope that the bizarre characters carry the day, like on The Real World and so many other reality shows.
Not everyone feels this way. Some find the familiarity with the rules and concepts to be a bonus. I've heard it compared to a sport. As new competitors try their hand, we have some perspective by which to judge them, because others have gone before. You can decide on best casts and seasons and challenges, because it all happens inside a framework that can be compared. Others say they like it because it proves how simple and good the original concept was, that it is still surviving (pun intended) and thriving.
Article comments
1 - Ty
I agree that Survivor is a borefest, I only watch because for some reason my wife does not tire of it.
It is beyond PATHETIC to use Panama's Pearl Islands for a third season of Survivor. Part of the fun used to be DIFFERENT locales, but now that aspect is gone.
My interest will return if they go to a cold weather spot.
Survivor: Antarctica. Now THAT would be good tv!!
2 - Brent
This leads to the question or whether simple familiarity with the concept on the part of the players renders a reality show boring. Is "The Amazing Race" boring because the players know about the Yield and the Fast Forward? Or does the fact that the show travels to a host of different cities and nations make it less boring? Where does casting come into making the show enjoyable? Does a show need constant gimmicks to succeed? Certainly when they tried a gimmick - the Family Edition - on "The Amazing Race" it was a dismal failure creatively and in terms of fan support.
3 - Adam Hoff
That's a great point. I think it is particularly important in a show like Survivor because the changes are supposed to throw people for a loop. Or maybe I am way off here. Perhaps the "merge" is meant to be an anticipated part of the game, the way a yield is in The Amazing Race. I didn't really consider that. I guess I was just bored with an immunity challenge where the tribe members were asking about possible cheeseburger bribes, because they had seen it in past episodes.
As for casting, I think it is huge. That's why they put so many bizarre people on there, knowing that nothing can top interpersonal drama.
4 - Stephen V Funk
Well said -- I'm afraid I'm growing tired of the show too -- for all of the reasons you state. Yet I loyally keep tuning in (and, like you, I have been wathcing since Season One), hoping for that old Survivor magic to return again.
I agree with Ty -- lose the desert island locale for a change. That alone could spice the show up. A cold climate would be great. Iceland... Greenland... or Alaska. Even up in the mountains during the summer months would be more interesting than yet another tropical island.
Another idea would be to have no tribes at all... just individual immunity from day one...
Anyway, the show is probably in it's last phase, but hoepfully it can find a way to go out with a bang rather than a wimper...