Survivor...Is Still Surviving?

So, the other night, I was participating in the best kind of surfing Iowa has to offer: Channel Surfing. I was doing pretty good, weaving in and out of waves, until suddenly, the whole wave came crashing down on me. As I stared at the TV in disbelief, as Jeff Probst described a challenge to two groups of emaciated, malnurished, and weary looking contestants.

I couldn't believe it. There's just no way. Survivor was still on television! I was shocked. My first thought was, "You mean someone still watches this show?" my next one was, "Jeez, it must be season 3785 by now." (I would later find out it was only season 16, but I wasn't too far off) Flashback time! I remember watching the first season, way back yonder in 2000, and thinking the idea of a reality show was something totally radical. Back then, they had two tribes with 18 people, each one competing for an ultimate cash prize at the end of the show, if they could "Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast" all the other players. They would compete in challenges, the winning tribe gaining immunity from having a member voted off, until the game was over and someone had won. There were always people making making secret aliances, back stabbing, and the general drama of dramatic people.

As I watched this latest episode, I realized, there was basically nothing different from the show I watched eight years ago. How disappointing. You still had the token drama queens and the six pack toting guys, the smart ones, and the just plain clueless ones. They still competed for immunity and what not, with a few minor twists thrown in there. But overall, it was still the same old boring plot. Sure, I understand people will watch something for the first few seasons, but by season 5 or 6, I just don't see the appeal anymore.

But for all of you die hard fans out there, I hope that you never have to go throw the trauma of Tribal Council.