In just five years, the CBS show “Survivor” has become a part of the American National fabric. Here you’ll find all you need to know about the show and the contestants, including how it began, synopses of all 11 previous seasons, a review of Season 12 and some secrets you’ve always wanted to know but didn’t know where to look.
On May 2000, U.S. viewers got their first taste of a new
phenomenon. Sixteen average and diverse Americans were abandoned on the island
Puala Tiga in the South China Sea. Over 39 days, viewers saw the 16 battle in
events, struggle for basic survival necessities, and bicker like it was a new
Olympic event, all for the $1-million prize that came with being the winner. The audience was paying attention
The Basics
Out of a pool of literally hundreds of thousands of
hopefuls, "Survivor" producers picks 16 (or 18, or even 20) contestants. They then maroon
the contestants in some exotic, yet ecologically challenging location (marooned
with along with host Jeff Probst, cameramen and the "Survivor" crew, mind you).
The contestants are broken into two separate “tribes” based
either on some type of random choice, or occasionally, men against women. In a
three-day cycle the contestants get together as teams to have two specially
designed event. The first event is a “Rewards” one, with the winning team
sharing in some booty to help their survival in the harsh, sometimes barren
environments. The second event is an immunity challenge, with the losing team
forced to gather together at a “tribal council” to vote someone out of their
tribe and off the show.
Normally, the show will follow this routine for six or seven
episodes or until six people are voted off. Then the two teams “merge” creating
one larger tribe where alliances are tested while the contestants battle in
rewards and immunity challenges for themselves.
When a contestant receives immunity, that person cannot be
voted against at the following tribal council. The final
seven contestants voted off are then pooled into a “jury.” During the show’s
penultimate episode, the jury debates the show’s final two contestants over why
they deserve to be the winner. The seven then vote for the person they feel
most deserving, with a majority vote needed for the victory. The show/contest
lasts 39 days in real time with new seasons aired in the Spring and Fall.
One of "Survivor’s" better ploys throughout the past five
years has been to subtly tweak the rules when the show seems to need a punch.
So while the rules are usually followed, producers can often shake things up in
the middle of a show to create better competition and more suspense.