SURVIVOR

MAY 31, 2000-PRESENT

Survivor was like no other show on television at the time of its premiere.  Today, there are so many reality game shows that use physical challenges to entice contestants to pursue large purse winnings. 

Over the many (22) season, Survivor has sent some contestants into obscurity for being the first to be voted off. There were the famous tribes(wo)men who, due to their personality, craziness, longevity or manipulating skills, were voted off early.

There are a few things about survivor that most contestants do not take into consideration.  First, the producers ask leading questions to draw information from the contestant, which is great for ratings if the answers intrigue the viewers.  This opens the door for questions from Jeff Probst during tribal council.  Second, it allows for information to come to light. The contestants who chose yes or no answers are the ones who are good at the game.  They avoid being drawn out into the light where the other contestants can read between the lines and get information privy to the producers, crew and Jeff. 

So many fools who have no idea how to play the game get picked.  They get picked because they can raise ratings with their animated personalities.  They are the ones who put the money in the pockets of the producers: Charlie Parsons, Mark Burnett, David Burris and now Jeff Probst.

Probst has interjected himself in the game almost as a silent player.  There have been times at tribal council where he has engineered a change of direction.  The host of a reality-challenged game show cannot and should not ever manipulate the course of the game.  Does anybody remember Dan Enright and the game show Twenty-One?  The only difference is that twenty-One scrupulously fixed the show behind the scenes, while Jeff often influences the game while the camera is rolling. 

There will never be a challenge game show that will have the impact that survivor had.  Many shows have tried to compete with the level of survivor.  No matter how popular some become such as “The Amazing Race” they will always be second, with “Survivor” leading the pack.

Mark Burnett, whose book “Dare to Succeed: How to Survive and Thrive in the Game of Life” was a look at how this producer started small and built large.  Burnett never became discouraged by the ups and downs of becoming successful.  He came to this country with very little in the way of cash but what he had in business smarts allowed Mark to convert one to ten dollars into $100.  His positive attitude along with the “never take no for an answer” philosophy drives him. 

SURVIVOR: CARAMOAN

-2/13/13

SURVIVOR: ONE WORLD

-3/7/12

LETS CHANGE THE NAME OF THE SHOW TO JEFF PROBST'S SURVIVOR BECAUSE HE IS NOT ONLY THE MASTER OF CEREMONY, THE BAND LEADER BUT THE THINGS HE SAYS DURING CHALLENGES AND INSIDE THE TRIBAL COUNSEL RING PUT HIM MORE AS A PLAYER IN THE GAME THAN A MCEE, BUT NOW HE CALLS PLAYERS OUT AFTER THE COMPLETION OF A CHALLENGE.  THIS BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THE SHOW "TWENTY ONE" WHERE THE ANSWERS WERE GIVEN TO THE CONTESTANT PRIOR TO THE TAPING OF THE SHOW.  PROBST CONTINUALLY IMPACTS THE THOUGHT PROCESSES OF THE PLAYERS WHICH IN OUR OPINION IS THE SAME AS PREPARING THE PLAYERS.  MAYBE IT IS TIME THE SHOWS PRACTICES ARE CALLED INTO "PLAY." 

NOW LETS DISCUSS THE CRAZY TWIST WHERE THE MEN WERE WILLING TO TAKE THE IMMUNITY IDOL FROM THE GIRLS TO SEND HOME A PLAYER THAT WENT AGAINST THE TEAM PHILOSOPHY.  THEY ARE NOT INTENDING TO VOTE HIM OUT THOUGH AS COLTON NEEDS TO GET HIS NEMESIS BILL VOTED OUT.  DURING TRIBAL COUNSEL THE DARKER SIDE OF COLTON REARED ITS UGLY HEAD.  A PREJUDICED GAY MAN, WHAT AN OXYMORON COLTON HAS TURNED OUT TO BE.  WHAT IS A RICH KID DOING ON SURVIVOR?  HE SITS AS THE QUEEN BEE OF THE TRIBE, WHICH I AM SURE HE DOES NOT MIND BEING REFERRED IN THAT LIGHT BUT THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEMSELVES TO BE THE CONDUCTOR OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES DERAILED QUICKLY.  THE GREAT PLAYERS OF SURVIVOR NEVER HAD TO PRESENT THEMSELVES TO THE TRIBE AS CHIEF IT WAS JUST UNDERSTOOD.  THEY WERE ABLE TO WIN THE CHALLENGES AND WON ON MERIT AND SPORTSMANSHIP NOT GAMESMANSHIP.  THE WOMAN NEED TO KEEP THEIR TRAPS SHUT CONCENTRATE ON WINNING EACH CHALLENGE STAY STRONG AS A TRIBE AS THEY CAN EAT EACH OTHER LIKE HUNGRY VULTURES ONCE THEY HAVE ELIMINATED THE MEN.  SO COLTON CAN BE THE LAST MAN/FIRST WOMEN TO GET VOTED OUT IF THE LADIES PUT THE NIT PICKING ASIDE UNTIL THEY GET FURTHER INTO THE GAME.

-2/29/12

-2/15/12

--TWO TRIBES ONE CAMP NO RULES

WHAT THE HELL  DO ANY OF THESE PEOPLE EVER WATCH THE SHOW.  THE WOMAN WEAR THE MOST RIDICULOUS CLOTHING OF CHOICE KNOWING THEY WILL BE SPENDING OVER A MONTH IN THE OUTDOORS WITH FEW AMENITIES.  THE GUYS ON THE OTHER HAND WITH THEIR DOMINATING PREJUDICES  AND DISCRIMINATION'S WHO ARE REPRESENTING THE STEREO TYPICAL  AMERICAN MALE.  MEN HAVE CHEERED FOR YEARS WHEN FEMALES FAIL EVEN IN THE MILITARY.  THESE FOOLISH MEN HAVE DONE THE WOMAN A FAVOR BY TAKING THE WIN AND KEEPING THEM ALL ALIVE FOR ANOTHER DAY EXCEPT FOR KOURTNEY MOON WHO WILL NEED SURGERY DO TO HER INJURY.  TO TOP OFF THIS EPISODE JEFF PROBST AND MARK BURNETT HAVE INJECTED THEMSELVES INTO THE GAME BY MAKING UNREALISTIC RULES.  WHAT GAME HAS ANYONE EVER SEEN WHERE ONE TEAM HAS AN INJURY THEN THE OTHER TEAM GETS TO CHOOSE TO WHETHER THEY TAKE THE WIN OR CONTINUE PLAYING THE GAME.  HOW FREAKIN' RIDICULOUS THIS SHOW HAS BECOME.  NEITHER PROBST OR BURNETT WOULD EVER SURVIVE "SURVIVOR".  ANOTHER LOW POINT IN THE HISTORY OF A GAME THAT BEGAN ON A HIGH NOTE BUT IS SLOWLY LOSING GROUND IN THE RATINGS.  CHANGIN' UP THE GAME IS A GREAT WAY TO KEEP THE VIEWERSHIP BUT WHEN YOU BECOME A PLAYER DIRECTING THROUGHOUT THE GAME THAT COULD IMPACT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL. 

SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC:

-12/18/11

-11/30/11

-10/26/11

-10/5/11

-9/28/11

--REAP WHAT YOU SOW

 REDEMPTION ISLAND:

-4/20/11

--RICE WARS

I KNOW SURVIVOR LOVES PEOPLE LIKE PHILLIP, COACH AND ALL THE REST OF THE CRAZIES BECAUSE IT PROMOTES BETTER RATINGS ESPECIALLY FOR A SHOW IN ITS SO CALLED 22ND SEASON.  BUT PHILLIP HAS PROVED REVERSE PREJUDICE FLYING OFF THE HANDLE THAT HAD NO CREDENCE.  HIS ALLIANCE IS PICKING THE OTHER TRIBE MATES OFF ONE BY ONE AND YET HE THINKS THEY SHOULD GO ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THEY ARE TOLD.  BOGUS!!!!  THIS MANS MENTALITY IS SURELY IN QUESTION AND HE IS JUST AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS,  HIS LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE AND MENTAL STATE OF MIND IS EASILY COMPARATIVE TO THOSE WHO STILL BELIEVE THERE ARE ENOUGH VIRGINS IN HEAVEN AND SO THEY KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE WHILE TAKING THEIR OWN LIFE.  IF THESE ARE THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO CAN PASS A MENTAL FITNESS TEST TO GET IN THE FBI, WHO IS PREPARING THESE TEST.  HE HAS NO ABILITY TO PRONOUNCE NAMES, REMEMBER THE THINGS HE SAYS OR HAS ANY ABILITY TO READ THE LABEL ON HIS UNDERWEAR LET ALONE A HUMAN BEING.  SURVIVOR, PLEASE STOP EMBARRASSING AMERICA WITH THESE JERRY SPRINGER WANNABE'S.

-3/9/11

--DONT YOU WORK FOR ME?

HERE WE GO, ANOTHER IDIOT GETS HIS 15 MINUTES OF FAME AND NOBODY THINKS HE SHOULD BE VOTED OFF.  PHILLIP SHEPPARD, AN EX FBI AGENT, IS UNABLE TO KEEP A SECRET OR PLAY THE PART OF THE SURVIVOR GAME CALLED OUTWIT.  I HOPE HIS TIME IN THE FBI DID NOT INCLUDE UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS.  IF THIS WAS THE CASE THEN IT IS NO WONDER OUR GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIND OSAMA BIN LADEN.  I WOULD BE ASHAMED TO BE ANY TRAINING OFFICER WHO HAD AN IMPACT IN SHEPPARD'S DEVELOPMENT.  CAN YOU SAY "FRANCESCA."

-RUSSELL AND BOSTON ROB ARE GREAT FOR RATINGS BUT HOW LONG CAN THEY LAST WITH TARGETS ON THEIR HEAD.  SO FAR IT SEEMS RUSSELL HAS POTENTIALLY CHANGED HIS WAYS BUT ROB HAS LEARNED NOTHING ABOUT GETTING THE MILLION HE MAY AGAIN ONLY GET TO THE FINALS.