That last episode, despite the useless waste of time dedicated to Russell S. "Almost DYING!", it got me thinking about what makes for better
television.
I fall firmly on the side of strategy. I love listening to the inner workings and feel this facet of the show is often overlooked in editing attempts to
glorify certain cast members.
Then there is the suffering aspect. Every season somebody will tell you how "hard" it is but to the audience, it's hard to see. Of course, there
are seasons like Outback (flood, starvation) where the suffering is palpable. The wind storm in Palau. Last ep of Samoa...wow, everybody's hands and feet
looks so screwed up. How DO you sleep when you have no cover and it's raining for 48 hours?
Curious what others thoughts are on these viewing experiences?
-SJ™
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Strategy VS Suffering
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 SuperJude |
Strategy VS Suffering |
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Posts: 14806 (10/28/09 3:14 AM) Registered user |
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hpolo |
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Posts: 36 (10/28/09 3:29 AM) |
Of course strategy, unless you're a total sadist who wants other people to suffer.
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Kirblar |
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Posts: 8432 (10/28/09 3:42 AM) Registered user |
Survivor is first and foremost a game show. It's secondarily about Survival.
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SuperJude |
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Posts: 14808 (10/28/09 4:04 AM) Registered user |
Oh, to be certain but...
Let's use Mike Skupin as an example. Or Jonathan Penner if you will. Each removal created dramatic moments in the game on par with a total blindside. I wasn't watching them in the rain enjoying their suffering, I watched thinking how wet, cold and fucked up they feel and as any true fan would do, wondering how I'd fare in a similar situation. That's what I'm talking about, that part of the show where you think "if it were ME, I would do THIS", be it regarding strategy or suffering. -SJ™ |
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Olmec Donald |
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Posts: 914 (10/28/09 4:25 AM) |
It needs both. However (until recently) the last eight seasons have had neither.
Well, Micro had some strategy but there was hardly any suffering. |
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Kubin |
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Posts: 124 (10/28/09 4:33 AM) |
suffering because the last few seasons focused on strategy and scrambbling too much.
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CJPeters |
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Posts: 18 (10/28/09 5:21 AM) |
SuperJude wrote:Easy to get some personal background for your thinking. Get a hiking belt, the one that has two small water bottles and small storage area. Fill it with as much stuff as it will hold - no packs or extra gear - and go to a wilderness area that allows camping. Pick a date and go rain or shine for Friday and Saturday nights. I continue to be amazed at how little the players know about Survival. You would think somebody would read a book or two before they took off for the show. When Survivor 1 came on I took the kids out in the back yard and we build fires all over the yard with a metal match. Ever since the kids look at people trying to start fires and just shake their heads. As just a general fan it seems to me that players who are "providers" are welcomed by the tribes but there comes a time where the players think they can make it to the end without the "providers" and they are voted out because they are a threat. Seems the famous last words of "providers" are "They wouldn't vote me out, I'm the only one who can................" |
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SuperJude |
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Posts: 14809 (10/28/09 5:27 AM) Registered user |
CJ, I've roughed it before. I'm not talking about roughing it in the woods for a few days, I'm talking about 24/7, exposed to the weather, the only
food you get is what you've caught or what you've won (save for the seasons where they provide rice). That's the thing, I know I could hack all the
normal Survivor stuff and I know I could hack the insane 3 days straight of rain, I just wonder how I'd feel.
Would I want to talk strategy or just focus on staying warm? Probably both. -SJ™ |
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CJPeters |
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Posts: 19 (10/28/09 5:49 AM) |
SuperJude wrote: You have to talk about something to pass the time. Time passes quicker when you're doing something, even if it's only talking. We all know they are out there 24/7 and the editors cull through all the hours of tape and only give us 42 minutes or so a week with a few short clips on the side. You can kill a good half hour with "This sucks" - "No. This really sucks" - "I disagree. This positively sucks." - "This absolutely sucks" - "This absolutely, positively sucks." - "This absoluteley, positively fucking sucks." and so on. |
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token lunatic |
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Posts: 27280 (10/28/09 6:18 AM) Registered user |
First and foremost. It's all entertainment. CBS is trying to appeal to a mass audience, which means the cerebral crowd are going to continue to get fucked.
SuJu, why don't you start a reality show called Escape from Hell, which pits seemingly random people together ala Cube against a clock, like they did in that one M*A*S*H episode and see if they can figure a way out. If people give up, they forfeit any media chance along with their persona rights and any scale $$ they would normally receive. Fuck that quit shit. |
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JLK Name |
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Posts: 2132 (10/28/09 6:20 AM) Registered User |
I don't really care as long as the cast has personality because personality equals to entertainment!
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token lunatic |
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Posts: 27281 (10/28/09 6:22 AM) Registered user |
Izzat Carrie Underwood?!
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PrettyGoodYear1988 |
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Posts: 2801 (10/28/09 6:58 AM) Registered user |
Olmec Donald wrote:Jonathan's evacuation, the rain storm that caused Airai's shelter to collapse, and Kathy's mental breakdown all seemed pretty much like suffering to me. |
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hpolo |
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Posts: 37 (10/28/09 7:05 AM) |
PrettyGoodYear1988 wrote: Plus James's evacuation |
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token lunatic |
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Posts: 27283 (10/28/09 7:14 AM) Registered user |
Which season was James from? They are blurring together.
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BortBort |
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Posts: 1368 (10/28/09 7:32 AM) |
You see I dont really enjoy the "suffering" or even the faux suffering (people whinging about how its the most difficult thing they've done in
their lives). I dont want to see people struggling to survive, I dont care what the name of the show is. That stuff does not interest me, it may have in the
first few seasons, but certainly does not interest me anymore. Boring. I like watching the strategy and seeing people getting manipulated, the lies, the last
minute scrambling, people flipping and of course the blindsides. It makes the season more intense and unpredictable...I would be happy if they removed the
tough conditions altogether and just isolated in some corner of the earth. I mean really, does anyone enjoy people complaining about lack of food and shit like
that?
In summary, I am rambling... |
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token lunatic |
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Posts: 27285 (10/28/09 7:47 AM) Registered user |
I think they already have a show like that. It's called Big Brother, and it too is on CBS!
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SkyDreamer |
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Posts: 364 (10/28/09 7:50 AM) |
We don't care about people we don't know suffering. They should take example from China - focus on strategy and once in awhile show their struggle (and
not ignore half the cast).
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SuperJude |
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Posts: 14812 (10/28/09 8:03 AM) Registered user |
SkyDreamer wrote: This is the same blueprint they used for Micronesia as well, though I still think removing James from the game was utter bullshit. However, it was an awesome STRATEGIC season and fun to watch. A lot more fun than Bob and his Magically Appearing Fake Idols or the shitty Coachbag + JT show. -SJ™ |
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BortBort |
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Posts: 1369 (10/28/09 8:09 AM) |
token lunatic wrote: I think the US Big Brother is different from the Australian one. The Aussie BB was completely devoid of strategy, so much so that you were penalised and threatened with removal from the game if you even spoke about who you nominated for eviction... Thankfully that shit is no longer being produced in Australia... I take it US BB actually involves some strategy...? |
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SPunKeeMonKee |
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Posts: 12627 (10/28/09 8:51 AM) Registered User |
Samoa hasn't been excessive with the footage they've shown of the Survivors suffering. Maybe it really was so awful that it caused them to put strategy
on the back burner for a while.. I dunno. If it's relevant to the storyline and makes things interesting, I have no problem with it. Keep in mind that
there is such a thing as too much strategy, I end seeing them all as glorified chess pieces with no personality or heart.
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- Survivor Sucks
- Lions, Tigers, Survivors - Oh My!
- Survivor Spoilers
- MESS Hall Tribal Council
- MESS Hall Archive
- Survivor Speculation
- Survivor 20+
- The Amazing Race
- Big Brother
- Big Brother - PAST SEASONS
- The Apprentice
- American Idol
- American Idol PAST SEASONS
- The Mole
- Lost
- Other Shows That Suck
- Off Topic
- Clubs That Suck. No, Really.
- The Dump
- Monster Island
- Purgatory
- FAQ
- In Memory, 9/11/01
