|
'Survivor' returns, it's the fans vs. 'favorites' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Verne Gay — MCT
|
|
Thursday, 07 February 2008 |
|
|
|
|
One quick thing to dispel about the new season of "Survivor: Micronesia" (Thurday night at 8 EST on CBS), which pits fans against favorites.
To be a "favorite" does not necessarily mean you had to win "Survivor" from seasons past or even be a crowd-pleaser. Quite the contrary, some not only lost but stretch the definition of the word "favorite."
Take (please) Jonny "Fairplay" Dalton, who helped make "Survivor: Pearl Islands" so memorable (and who's now effectively a professional reality star). But favorite?
Probably not to Danny Bonaduce, who allegedly assaulted him last fall during the taping of a reality awards show. Or to Jeff Probst, whose brother reportedly got in a fight with Jonny as well.
Then, there's favorite Yau-Man Chan, the computer engineer from California who really was a genuine fan favorite after his gutsy "Fiji" performance. But Yau-Man came in no better than fourth.
Meanwhile, Tom Westman, among the most memorable winners in "Survivor" history and an indisputable fan fave, won't be one of the "favorites" either. That's by his own choice, which you can call either a wise career choice or perhaps just a simple act of personal dignity.
Westman — still living in Sayville, N.Y., with his family and now working as an executive with Hartford Insurance Co. — said by phone, "I've got a year invested in a career," then added with a laugh: "The bottom line is, no one's going to give you the money the second time around."
"Survivor," now in its 16th edition, has an equally amazing ability to continually reinvent itself, even if that reinvention involves a bit of self-parody and semantic flights of fancy.
This season's gimmick is both: The show has summoned genuine names that will be recognizable to hard-core fans. But for the most part, they're not particularly well-known to the casual viewer.
The season works thusly: Ten "ultra-fans" — presumably people who live/sleep/eat/breathe "Survivor," will go to Palau (yes, again) where they will face off against the favorites.
Thursday night's "reveals" should be worth watching because these fans assume they're facing off against other fans, not 10 people that they idolize.
Same with the "favorites": Their assumption is that they'll be up against other "all-stars."
No such luck. This will be perhaps their strangest nightmare instead — they'll be up against fans. Why this twist?
For one, the obvious. As mentioned, this is a show that needs to constantly reinvent itself; plus the faves know how to play, while the ultra-fans are greenhorns. CBS helpfully points out, however, that the greenhorns know how the faves play, but the faves don't know how the greenhorns play.
Meanwhile, here are the rest of the favorites: James Clement (China); Ami Cusack (Vanuatu); Cirie Fields (Panama); Amanda Kimmel (China); Ozzy Lusth (Cook Islands); Eliza Orlins (Vanuatu); Jonathan Penner (Cook Islands); and Parvati Shallow (Cook Islands.)
————— | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
