On "Survivor: Australian Outback", Michael Skupin, a software
developer, was sitting next to a campfire on the beach. Skupin apparently began
to fall asleep and fell, hands first into the fire. Skupin sprinted into the
tide for relief and has taken by helicopter for medical assistance, becoming
the first contestant to leave the show as a result of an injury.
Skupin, who has made mention of a possible political career
in his home state of Michigan, suffered another Survivor-related injury when he
was off the show. Skupin, who had killed a pig for food on the show, was
pepper-sprayed by a PETA member in June 2001, for the action.
The First Season
With ten seasons having been filmed and more on the way,
"Survivor" has rarely found a better contestant that Richard Hatch, the premiere
season’s champion. The contestants of the first season were attractive (Greg
Buis and Coleen Haskell), curmudgeonly (Rudy Boesch) or annoying (Sue Hawk) and
were a big reason for the season’s amazing success.
It was Hatch, however, who not only stole the show, but also
managed to connect his name to "Survivor" forever. Openly homosexual and fond of
being naked, Hatch’s arrogant demeanor rubbed fellow contestants and viewers
the wrong way. Hatch seemed to understand the game quickly, however, becoming
the first to create “alliances” with other players to enjoy voting blocks
against other contestants. Hatch’s
“Love-to-hate-him” personality helped make Survivor a huge hit, as the final episode
drew an estimated 52-million viewers.