Survivor-Should it be Canceled?

The first season of Survivor was an instant classic of silliness, nudity, loyalty, betrayal, and just plain fun. During that first season, host Jeff Probst went on the CBS Early Show and announced that the person who won Survivor was the last person you would have thought it would be. It became a ritual not only to watch the show, but to watch the Voted Off Contestant the next morning on the CBS Early Show. We were totally addicted to Survivor. When Richard Hatch won it was both shocking and expected. You never knew how the votes were going to go.

But that was the first season-after that it was all about the Alliance. It was not uncommon for there to be several different votes at a Tribal Counsel on the first season, where the previously stupidest player on Survivor voting by Alphabetical Order. But after Season One it was rare to see anyone get less than a unanimous vote in Tribal Counsel. This ganging up strategy has really ruined the game-but it seems that this is what the creators of Survivor want.

Then there is the issue in recent seasons of major injuries-what would happen to The Price is Right if one of every ten people walking on stage suffered a serious injure and had to be rushed off to Hospital? Survivor is a little too dangerous for ‘just a game.’

Survivor Microenesia was the best season in a long time, as there were all these blind side votes and Erik-The Biggest Idiot in Survivor History giving up his immunity. But there were also injuries and potential for a lot more injury due to the nature of the group challenges which encourage people to hurt each other or themselves. There was also the issue for me of the Fans vs Favorites bit-whose Favorites exactly were these people?

I have watched at least part of every season of Survivor-none have been as good as the first season and it is unlikely that any ever will be. Survivor doesn’t need to be physically dangerous, it is hard enough already. No shelter, seldom enough food, you can’t trust anyone-is being bruised and battered really necessary?

So maybe it is time for Survivor to go the way of all the other Reality Shows it spawned. Parvati winning didn’t help any, but then, I didn’t really care at all which the finial four won.


Jon Herrera
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5 Replies on “Survivor-Should it be Canceled?

  1. It was time to hit the highway after the 1st season, as far as I am concerned. I watched it with a certain state of rapture the first year, then quickly tired of it, as with other reality shows. Don’t know why. Short attention span, I suppose.

  2. Well, there is that whole bit about knowing what is going to happen, even if you don’t know exactly who it is going to happen to. Tends to cut down on the whole suspense thing.

  3. I feel the best season was Panama with Rupert. and the All star show was fun to watch. I wish they would do a super all star show then end the sears. I like the blog.

  4. Well, they would have to wait till Richard Hatch gets out of jail, but I guess a SuperStar Survivor would be fun to watch.

    Yeah, I liked Rupert,too.