- Survivor (U.S. TV series)
infobox television
show_name = Survivor
caption = Logo for Survivor Borneo.
format =Reality competition
runtime = 60 minutes
creator =Charlie Parsons
starring =Jeff Probst
country = USA
network =CBS
first_aired =May 31 ,2000
last_aired = Present
num_seasons = 17
num_episodes = 220
related =Expedition Robinson
Survivor UK
website = http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/
imdb_id = 0239195
tv_com_id = 4742"Survivor" is an American version of the "Survivor"
reality television game show based on the Swedish television series "Expedition Robinson " originally created in1992 byCharlie Parsons . The show is based on stranding a group of strangers as one or more tribes in a remote location, where they must fend for food, water, fire, and shelter for themselves, while competing in challenges to earn rewards and immunity from being voted off by the tribe in progressive eliminations; the last challenger remaining at the end of the competition wins the one million US$ prize and title of Sole Survivor. The American series is hosted by former game show emcee and news reporter,Jeff Probst . Produced byMark Burnett , it currently airs first on theCBS television network and syndication to other cable networks. The theme song was composed byRuss Landau .The American version has been very successful, rating amongst the top ten most watched shows each television season for its first ten seasons. It is commonly considered the mother of American reality TV because it was the first highly-rated and profitable reality show on
broadcast television in the USA. The show has currently finished broadcasting its sixteenth season. CBS has ordered a seventeenth and eighteenth season and Probst has signed a contract to host the show until its twentieth season.cite web |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20175195_4,00.html |title='Survivor: Micronesia': EW's On Location Preview|accessdate=2008-06-01 |author=Dalton Ross |date=February 1 ,2008 |publisher=Entertainment Weekly ]Format and rules
The first US season of "Survivor" followed the same general format as the Swedish series, but since then, the show has introduced several twists to the core rules to keep players on guard in newer seasons from relying on strategies present in previous seasons. These changes have included tribal switches, seasons starting with more than two tribes, the ability to exile a player from their tribe for a short time, and a hidden immunity idol that a player can use to save themselves at the tribal vote.
U.S. Survivor seasons
The United States version is produced by
Mark Burnett and hosted byJeff Probst . It airs Thursdays onCBS .#"" (originally titled "Survivor"; later known as "Survivor: Pulau Tiga" or "Survivor 1") was set in the
South China Sea on the remoteMalaysia n island ofPulau Tiga . Corporate trainer Richard Hatch was its winner in a 4-3 vote over river raft guideKelly Wiglesworth . This is the only season to have aired on Wednesdays; subsequent seasons would lead off CBS's primetime schedule on Thursdays with the finale on a Sunday. This season was also the only season to reveal the winner on location rather than live.
#"" was set in theAustralian Outback (though the location was by Australian standards not particularly remote, nor was it arid). Registered nurseTina Wesson won 4-3 over custom car designer and actorColby Donaldson . During this series,Michael Skupin suffered burns and became the first contestant evacuated due to injuries. This is the only season to last more than 39 days (to date), running 42 days total. Also this is the most watched season to date.
#"" was set in Kenya's Shaba National Reserve, [ [http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,8472,00.html News Home ] ] (previously home to the filmBorn Free [waybackdate|site=http://www.roveafrica.com/itineraries/survivor_itin.htm|date=20070609173343|title=Survivor - Rove Africa - safari itineraries] ). This was the first season to feature a tribal swap. Former USL playerEthan Zohn won, defeating retired teacher Kim Johnson by a vote of 5-2.
#"" was set onNuku Hiva , the largest of theMarquesas Islands inFrench Polynesia marking the series' first return to a beach location since Season 1. For the first time the finalists were all women. Office ManagerVecepia Towery won by a vote of 4-3 over studentNeleh Dennis . This season was the only time the infamous Purple Rock tie breaker was ever used.
#"" was set on the island ofKo Tarutao off the coast ofThailand . For the first time the tribes were not predetermined by producers, but were rather picked by the two oldest players, Jake and Jan. Also, this season was the first to feature a fake merge and a delayed merge. Also, two opposing tribes lived together on the same beach. For the first (and so far only) time the finalists were both men. Used car salesman and former soft-core porn actorBrian Heidik beat restaurant ownerClay Jordan by a vote of 4-3.
#"" was set in the jungles of theAmazon River region ofBrazil . This was the first time the two tribes were divided up by males and females. It was also the first time a reality show contestant competed with a disability, the hearing impairedChristy Smith . Student and swimsuit modelJenna Morasca won by a vote of 6-1 over restaurant designerMatthew Von Ertfelda .
#"" was set in thePearl Islands off the coast ofPanama . This season was the first and only time players who had been voted out were allowed to return to the game as part of the Outcast Tribe. The winning tribe in the Reward Challenge was able to loot one item from the losing tribe. Office assistantSandra Diaz-Twine defeated Boy Scout leader Lillian Morris by a vote of 6-1.
#"" was again set in thePearl Islands ,Panama . The game featured eighteen past Survivor contestants divided into three tribes (the first season to use more than 16 contestants). This is the first season that featured an early merge of the 3 tribes down to 2. Administrative assistantAmber Brkich won by a vote of 4-3 over construction worker and bartenderRob Mariano . Just before the live vote was revealed, Rob proposed to Amber. was held four days later, and a second million-dollar prize was awarded toRupert Boneham for being voted by the viewers as their favorite contestant (making him the only player in the show's history to win a million dollars on the show without actually being the sole survivor).
#" - Islands of Fire" was set on islands in thearchipelago nation ofVanuatu , located in the SouthPacific Ocean . The tribes were also divided by gender. Highway construction workerChris Daugherty , the last male in the final seven, defeated highway repair workerTwila Tanner by a vote of 5-2.
#"" was set in the island nation ofPalau , located in thePhilippine Sea . The season started with 20 contestants, but on day two the number was reduced to 18 in a tribal selection process. The season concluded with firefighterTom Westman prevailing over advertising executiveKatie Gallagher by a vote of 6-1. This season was the only one in which one of the tribes, Koror, won all the immunity challenges. Due to this streak and the lack of any tribal swap, there was no usual tribal merge, instead the last member of the defeated tribe, Ulong, simply became a member of Koror. This season was first to feature Exile Island, though was only used once during the show.
#" - The Mayan Empire" was set in the Yaxha National Park. 18 Survivors (16 new contestants plusStephenie LaGrossa andBobby Jon Drinkard from ) were stranded amongst the ruins of theMaya civilization . This season was first to include a hidden immunity idol, hidden near camp, though was only available post-merge, and was not rehidden after its use. This idol was found byGary Hogeboom , a retired NFL quarterback who sought to conceal his past profession from fellow contestants, believing it would increase his chances of being voted off. The season concluded with sports radio hostDanni Boatwright defeating pharmaceutical sales representativeStephenie LaGrossa by a 6-1 vote.
#" - Exile Island" was set again in thePearl Islands ofPanama , marking the third time this location has been used for Survivor. This is the first time the contestants were divided into four tribes: Younger Men, Younger Women, Older Men, and Older Women. This was also the first season to include Exile Island throughout the show, and to offer the hidden Individual Immunity Idol throughout. The idol could only be found by being exiled to Exile Island.Bruce Kanegai became the second person in the history of the show to leave due to a medical emergency. The season concluded with yoga instructorAras Baskauskas defeating medical sales representativeDanielle DiLorenzo by a vote of 5-2.
#"" took place on theCook Islands in theSouth Pacific Ocean . Tribes were initially grouped into four tribes by ethnicity:African American s, Caucasians,Hispanic s, and Asians. Both Exile Island and the Hidden Immunity Idol were used throughout the season. This is the first time three castaways were involved in the final vote, with a jury composed of nine members (with some entering the jury before the merge). The season was won by management consultant Yul Kwon, who edged out waiterOzzy Lusth and attorneyBecky Lee by a vote of 5-4, with Becky receiving no votes.
#"", the fourteenth season, took place on the island ofFiji in theSouth Pacific Ocean . For the first time, the total number of castaways starts with an odd number (19 total) due to the last minute withdrawal of one contestant. [http://asapblogs.typepad.com/theslug/2007/01/jeff_probst_tal.html "The Slug" - Jeff Probst Talks "Survivor: Fiji"] ] As part of the twist to this season, one tribe enjoyed much better living conditions (such as ready-to-assembly structures, furniture, dishware, and a working shower) than the other tribe prior to the merge. Both Exile Island and the Hidden Immunity Idol returned, with 2 Idols in play, initially one on each beach. The same final three with a jury of nine format from "Cook Islands" was also used in "Fiji". The season concluded with advertising executiveEarl Cole defeating civil engineer manager Cassandra Franklin and cheerleading coach Dre "Dreamz" Herd by a 9-0-0 vote, the first unanimous vote in the show's history.
#"" was the fifteenth season of the show, taking place in remoteChina . A twist involving kidnapping players from the opposing tribe was introduced, replacing Exile Island from the prior three seasons. There were two Hidden Immunity Idols, which were hidden in plain sight at each tribe's camp. Flight attendantTodd Herzog defeated waitress Courtney Yates and hiking guideAmanda Kimmel with a vote of 4-2-1.
#" - Fans vs Favorites" was the show's sixteenth season, taking place in theMicronesia n archipelago. This season's twist was that ten self-proclaimed "Survivor" superfans competed against ten popular past contestants. Exile Island made a return after being absent for the China season, now with two contestants, one from each tribe, being sent to exile on occasion. This was the first season to have three castaways leave due to reasons other than being voted out. Charity organizerParvati Shallow defeated aspiring designerAmanda Kimmel with a vote of 5-3.
#" - Earth's Last Eden" was filmed inGabon ,Africa during late June usinghigh definition (HD) cameras, making this the first season shot and aired in HD.cite web |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6550937.html |title=NAB 2008: Sony Nets Big HD Camera Sales |author=Glen Dickson |publisher=Broadcasting & Cable |date=2008-04-13 |accessdate=2008-04-14 ] The show premiered onSeptember 25 as a two-hour event.cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117991129.html |title='Survivor' moves to premiere week |author=Michael Schneider |publisher=Variety |date=2008-08-25 |accessdate=2008-08-26 ]
#"Season 18" will be produced in 2008 and air in Spring 2009.cite web |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN2852322820080129 |title=CBS sticks with Survivor; Probst re-ups as host |accessdate=2008-01-29 |author=Nellie Andreeva |date=2008-01-28 |publisher=Reuters ] For this season, the minimum age requirement has been lowered to 18 in most states.cite web |url=http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor16/includes/about/casting/survivor18.pdf |title=Survivor 18 Application |author=CBS.com|format=PDF]*"Survivor: Marquesas" was not shown in Australia as the network was showing a series of "
Australian Survivor " instead. The latter was not a ratings success, and afterwards the American edition of Survivor resumed airing.
*Beginning with "Survivor: Vanuatu - Islands of Fire" through "Survivor: Fiji", an internet talk show called "Survivor Live " has aired the day after a show on "CBS.com".
*Since late2000 /early2001 the Irish TV stationTG4 has broadcast "Survivor". The show is narrated in theIrish Language , but all of the contestants' voices, including Jeff and any other person shown, are broadcast in English.U.S. television ratings
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of the United States version of "Survivor" on
CBS ."Note: Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May sweeps."
" doesn't have a ranking because it aired in the summer of 2000. It would have ranked #2 in the 1999-2000 U.S. television season, assuming it would have attained the exact same viewership numbers as it did in the summer of 2000."
Full seasons
Complete seasons on iTunes
ee also
*
Expedition Robinson
*Survivor (UK TV series)
*Survivor BG
*Survivor Philippines
*Australian Survivor
*Celebrity Survivor
*Obstacle course
*Survivor South Africa References
External links
* [http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/ Survivor: Gabon (most recent season) website]
* [http://www.tv.com/survivor/show/4742/summary.html Survivor at TV.com]
* [http://survivorwiki.cbs.com/ Survivor Official Wiki]
* [http://www.claycritters.com/map/survivormaps.htm Survivor Maps]
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