American Idol, Keeping up with the Kardashians, The Traitors, and Love is Blind are just a few shows that should be sending CBS and Mr. Jeff Probst a very nice thank you basket in the mail. Because if not for the immense popularity that came with the premiere of Survivor all the way back in 2000, then those shows and so many others would just simply not exist. While not the actual first reality t.v show, as I know The Real World, and probably others came before to crack open the door to what Survivor could be. But it was Survivor that pushed the door all the way open, and in doing so opened up the floodgates to what might be the most reliable form of television entertainment for producers. Squid Game is the most popular show in the world right now and I think you could see the impact a show like Survivor mixed with elements of Saw made that show what it was. Similarly, one of my favorite shows ever made, LOST, drew clear influence from the social experiment aspect of Survivor when crafting its show. I just say all of this at the beginning to really try to show the importance of what Survivor was at it’s heights and still exist today, 25 years later.
I think there are two different buckets of reality television. One is a competition show, like an American Idol or The Amazing Race. Where you have a group of contestants who are on a show to win some prize money and it’s all about the adventure. Then you have the more drama induced reality shows like Real Housewives or Kardashians. Where the cast is full of larger than life characters and they are always stirring up the pot, and making you question why you are watching this, and also how real what you are watching actually is. I think Survivor and the reason I like(d) it is that it is a perfect combination of the two. In a cast of 16-20 people, there are always a few who are so over the top with their antics that you are simultaneously rolling your eyes while not being able to turn away. But also has that challenge aspect, where you are watching people compete for a million dollars. It’s all in the edit, and the perception that the show wants to show us, but you really get to “know” the castaways who go far in the game.
I think from a concept standpoint, the idea behind Survivor is pure genius and why it stands out so much around its competition in the reality game, and has had such an influence on some of the most popular reality television today. Taking a group of people, who in most seasons have never met one another, and sticking them on an island for over a month, where they will have to simultaneously work together, while also backstab each other to win a million dollars is brilliant. It really is an ultimate social experiment, as the show has always done a good job of getting people from all walks of life on there as not to have too much of the same person. The dynamic between the castaways is what makes the show interesting, and makes it that much more dramatic when you get to that tribal council to see who is going home. I think in recent years, the show has casted more super fans of the show, who kind of are trying too hard to be an idealized version of what they think a Survivor should be instead of just being on Survivor. Which could be part of the reason why I have not watched the show since season 40, Winners at War. Or also because after that season, I sent an audition into Jeff Probst and CBS, and ever the sore loser, I have refused to watch until I hear back.
25 years is a long time for anything, let alone for a television show to be on the air. And outside of a one year gap caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Survivor never missed coming out with a new season on time. Fans everywhere could expect to see a new batch of castaways every fall and spring on their t.v’s to fall in love with. Sure, those fans and viewers have been ever dwindling since the early seasons of the reality t.v show juggernaut. But almost every show on network television has seen the exact same trajectory in this age of streaming and so many options of what to watch, and when. I would bet outside of NFL or any other sports packages that CBS has, that Survivor is one of, if not their most successful show. The costs for the show have to be pretty minuscule outside of Jeff Probsts’ button down shirt and khaki budget. So not to step on the end of this article, but I don’t see any world where this show is ending anytime soon.
I will also give the show its credit as well, as it has constantly over the past 47 seasons tried out new things. From successful “twists” added to the show like hidden immunity idols and having tribe swaps mid-season (which are still on the show to this day). To less successful ideas that they were quick to admit their failures on like the medallion of power and fire tokens proved to be stuff worthy of getting it’s torch snuffed. Another reason why on the competition reality side, I think Survivor has remained king, due to its ability to be ever-changing. Stuff like The Amazing Race and American Idol have remained the same since its inception, just now able to watch in higher quality. Some of these tweaks that Survivor has implemented over the course of the past 25 years have even led to some of its greatest players, moments, and seasons. I would like to real quick run down some personal best/favorites of the show as it hits the milestone 25 year anniversary.
BEST PLAYER
Parvati Shallow (Cook Island/Micronesia/Heroes vs Villains/Winners at War)
Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano (Marquesas/All-Stars/Heroes vs Villains/Redemption Island/Winners at War)
Cirie Fields (Exile Island/Micronesia/Heroes vs Villains/Game Changers)
Tony Vlachos (Cagayan/Game Changers/Winners at War)
Jeremy Collins (San Juan Del Sur/Second Chance/Winners at War)
Richard Hatch (Borneo/All-Stars)
Sarah Lacina (Cagayan/Game Changers/Winners at War)
Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pearl Island/Heroes vs Villains/Game Changers/Winners at War)
J.T Thomas (Tocantins/Heroes vs Villains/Game Changers)
Michelle Fitzgerald (Kaôh Rông/Winners at War)
BEST CHARACTER
Benjamin “Coach” Wade (Tocantins/Heroes vs Villains/South Pacific)
Jonny FairPlay (Pearl Island/Micronesia)
Rupert Boneham (Pearl Island/All-Stars/Heroes vs Villains/Blood vs Water)
Parvati Shallow (Cook Island/Micronesia/Heroes vs Villains/Winners at War)
Jerri Manthey and Colby Donaldson (Outback/All-Stars/Heroes vs Villains)
MOST ICONIC MOMENTS
Sue’s Snakes and Rats Speech (Borneo)
Jonny FairPlay’s dead Grandma (Pearl Island)
Boston Rob proposes to Amber (All-Stars)
Black Widows convince Erik to give up immunity (Micronesia)
Parvati’s double idol play (Heroes vs Villains)
A tie?!?!?! (Ghost Island)
Blindsiding your own Mom (Blood vs Water)
Coach’s trip to exile island (Tocantins)
Going home with no votes (Game Changers)
BEST SEASON
Those are my quick thoughts on Survivor before the upcoming 48th season. Let me know if it is a show you watched, and if so who you think the greatest survivor player/character/season of all time are! THANK YOU as always for reading and not voting me out of the tribe and coming back week after week to support!
P.S If you know Jeff Probst tell him to go through the archives and give my Survivor audition a watch.