CBS Rigged Survivor -- Fox Network

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Ocean_Islands

Thursday, May 10, 2001 - 01:29 pm Click here to edit this post
Fox accuses CBS of rigging 'Survivor'


May 10, 2001
Web posted at: 11:06 AM EDT (1506 GMT)

HOLLYWOOD, California (Reuters) -- Fox Broadcasting Co. has launched a broad-based attack against CBS, charging that it rigged contestant voting on the "Survivor" series, Daily Variety reports.

The allegation was contained in an answer filed Monday in the "Boot Camp" suit. Last month, the producers of the phenomenally popular "Survivor" series and CBS, which broadcasts the show, sued Fox in federal court for copyright infringement, claiming that "Boot Camp" is a rip-off of "Survivor."

In its answer, Fox accused CBS of "unclean hands," a legal doctrine under which a court will refuse to reward a wrongdoer. According to Fox, CBS is attempting to monopolize reality-based television game shows by bringing frivolous copyright actions while at the same time manipulating the results on "Survivor" to make it more appealing to its audience. In contrast to "Survivor," Fox says the outcome on "Boot Camp" is not manipulated.

Fox declined to comment further on its answer.

CBS spokesman Chris Ender said, "Their answer has about as much credibility as a Rick Rockwell background check." Rockwell was the discredited groom on the Fox television special, "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire."

Relying on Stillman
For its court reply, Fox relied heavily on a statement by Stacey E. Stillman as evidence that the outcome on "Survivor" is rigged. In February, Stillman sued CBS for arranging to have her voted off the show. She was later sued by the producers of "Survivor" for defamation and breach of contract.

Earlier this week, "Survivor" producer Mark Burnett admitted that portions of "Survivor" are re-enacted and body doubles have been used to re-create scenes in order to get overview footage without seeing the original camera crews.

As part of its defense, Fox also relied on statements made by CBS in the "Race Around the World" lawsuit. Late last year, Fox sued CBS, alleging that CBS' upcoming "Global Adventures" infringed its copyright in the Fox reality series "Race Around the World." In that case, CBS executive Ghen Maynard said there was room for similar series to run on television at the same time, citing as an example CBS' "Chicago Hope" and NBC's "ER."

Fox claimed that CBS cannot take a position in the "Boot Camp" case that is inconsistent with the position it took in "Race Around the World."

A source knowledgeable about the case termed Fox's allegations of vote-rigging "a sideshow," adding that the case will ultimately boil down to whether the elements of "Boot Camp" are so similar to those of "Survivor" that they constitute copyright infringement.

Copyright 2001 Reuters.

Twiggyish

Friday, May 11, 2001 - 08:08 am Click here to edit this post
I find the fact they rigged part of the show very ridiculous. I know it is suppose to make things more exciting, but I think the show has merits without resorting to those tactics.

This childish bickering between the networks is also disturbing.

Grooch

Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 11:15 am Click here to edit this post
Here's an article on the Survivor story that Dateline did on Stacy's lawsuit.

http://www.realitynewsonline.com/article1108.html

Fruitbat

Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 12:31 pm Click here to edit this post
Interesting, Thanks Grooch. Good show no matter how they did it. :)

Highlander

Friday, June 15, 2001 - 03:47 pm Click here to edit this post
June 15, 2001 | LOS ANGELES (AP) --
A judge refused to dismiss a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Fox network, rejecting Fox's contention that its "Boot Camp" reality show differs from CBS's "Survivor" because it's not rigged.

Even if the outcome of "Survivor" is found to have been manipulated, CBS still has the right to protect its show from being copied, U.S. District Judge Lourdes Baird said in a ruling released Thursday.

"Moreover, permitting such allegations to be developed at trial will simply distract from the core issue of copyright infringement, and will needlessly complicate the proceedings," the judge said.

The network sued Fox on April 9, charging that "Boot Camp" copied "Survivor's" idea of putting contestants in harsh conditions and requiring them to complete difficult tasks and vote members out. Fox denies copying the show. A trial date is pending.

Fox lawyers argued that allegations from "Survivor" contestant Stacey Stillman that votes were rigged meant the show, unlike "Boot Camp," was not a reality program.

CBS officials say their show's outcome has never been predetermined although some scenes have been reshot with stand-ins to get better camera angles.