Shark alert: It's time to jump the 'Survivor' ship
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Shark alert: It's time to jump the 'Survivor' ship
Amac | Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 10:54 am     This was in my local newspaper. What is everyone's take on this? (Note: The opinions expressed are NOT my own!) Published 2/27/2002 Now what? Shark alert: It's time to jump the 'Survivor' ship By Robin Schwartz Lansing State Journal On Thursday, CBS' Goliath reality show, "Survivor," returns for a fourth round of back-stabbing, conniving, trickery and whining. Spare us, please. In a culture where laypeople talk as easily about weekend box-office grosses as about their own vacations, there's this implied compulsion to stay in the pop-culture loop when it comes to shows such as "Survivor." Let's make a pact NOT to care about this one, shall we? In its first season, "Survivor" was a sometimes fascinating exercise in rubber-necking. We could glimpse the worst in some people (paging Susan Hawk) and the humanity of others (come on, you cried, too, when Jenna Lewis' mom forgot to send a video of Jenna's twin daughters). But by the second season, as the contestants were "stranded" in the Australian Outback, it quickly became apparent that they were less interested in playing a strategy game and more interested in landing an endorsement contract or a gig posing for Playboy. Yet we kept watching. So for Season 3, CBS sent the 16 contestants to the carefully constructed wilds of Kenya. And the show became one big promotion for cars and mass-market discount retailers. (Crates falling out of planes into Africa all bore an unmistakable red bull's-eye logo.) "Survivor: Africa" wasn't about the game. It was about "face time" on television. It was about making yourself look good by making others look bad. It was full of stupidity, such as behavioral research analyst Kelly Goldsmith lamenting how she "just doesn't understand" anybody. Duh. Yet we kept watching. But we can fight back. We can refuse to turn on "Survivor: Marquesas" Thursday night. We can refuse to get to know Neleh, the Utah college student, or Paschal, the Georgia judge, or Vecepia, the Oregon office manager. We don't have to care about life on Nuku Hiva, a distant neighbor of Tahiti in the South Pacific, as the new contestants munch bugs and try to create fire. The challenge of the game is gone. There is no real danger to the contestants. CBS would never let them actually starve if the castaways couldn't come up with food. The network wouldn't allow dehydration to set in. The show, as they say on the Internet, has jumped the shark. Jumping the shark is a wonderful concept based on the episode of "Happy Days" in which Fonzie did, indeed, jump over a shark - a hopelessly cheesy stunt. After that, the show went spiraling downhill. At www.jumptheshark.com, TV fans pinpoint the moment other shows take a jump. For the "Survivor" series, many voters say it has yet to jump, while others say the jump occurred anywhere from Day One to the live final voting to the blatantly obvious sponsorships. Regardless, it's time to jump ship on "Survivor." Make room in your brain for far more relevant information - like figuring out how Chris Carter is going to tie up all the loose ends when "The X-Files" concludes this season. "Now what?" runs Wednesdays in the Living section. It's a rotating column from newsroom staffers writing about life between college and middle age. |
Sunshinemiss | Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 11:18 am     They don't want to watch, change the channel. Pfft. Quality programming on TV is a totally subjective thing. Me, I already have the VCR set and I have been counting the days. |
Neko | Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 02:17 pm     1 DAY 2 HOURS 47 MINUTES!!! |
Discoinferno | Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 02:32 pm     I think the phrase "Jump the Shark" has Jumped the Shark! Robin sounds awfully bitter about the show... could she be Stacey Stillman in disguise? |
Catfat | Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 03:24 pm     I for one will always watch Survivor, even if it is as bad as S3, with people lying around in the dirt starving and acting like they were on Big Brother. Yet, I kept watching. I am totally hooked. I liked S1 the best. I quit watching the X-files YEARS ago, what a boring, sucky show that is. |
Resortgirl | Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 03:53 pm     Whenever a movie critic, book critic or Tv critic tells me NOT to watch or read... I'm watching! To each his own! If and when I get bored by Survivor, I'll figure out something else to do with my Thursday night! |
Max | Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 04:59 pm     I think the X-files jumped the shark about 3 seasons ago! This guy is entitled to his opinions, just as we are entitled to diagree with him. In a way, it sounds like he'd enjoy the show more if he thought someone was going to get hurt. Maybe this guy likes to watch car racing only when there's a 'good' wreck, too. Must be nice to get paid to write your opinions. Just think how much all of us could make! |
Pamy | Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 07:00 pm     i agree Disco!!!! How long ago did Fonzie jump the shark??? Late 70's???? I think I was still in Jr. HIgh! I agree author may be poor sport Skanky, oops I mean Stacy!
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Ketchuplover | Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 07:43 pm     Jumping the shark. Can you say FINAL challenge? |
Sunriverose | Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 12:34 am     Some people get it and some do not. Some people prefer canned laughter, canned applause, and scripted situations. To each their own. I am most entertained by non-professionals, no laugh tracks, and no music to "swell the heartstrings." I really don't appreciate having writers and producers attempting to manipulate my emotions. I love Survivor, BB, and AR. However, I do not like Fear Factor at all. I think I am typical of the viewers who come to care, to some extent, about the real people on these shows. |
Muse | Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 01:33 am     I personally don't think opting not to watch (or not watch) Survivor is such a bold statement. Survivor isn't as popular or "cool" as it used to be - in fact, I know more people who take pride in the fact that they *don't* watch it (because it's too centered on pop culture or whatever - I guess Ms. Schwartz would fit in this group) than people who *do* watch it. And I watch thousands of commercials each year...will seeing a few extra product placements hurt me? I also don't think that watching X-Files (as opposed to S3) will benefit me much. Both shows are primarily intended to entertain - not educate - their audience. If I wanted to "make room in [my] brain for far more relevant information", I'd watch the History or Discovery channels more often or something. To each his/her own, indeed. |
Firebird05 | Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 02:48 pm     My take on that would be  |
Hippyt | Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 08:53 pm     It's become very popular for "entertainment critics" to dog Survivor. And,after Africa who could blame them? Personally,let them sit secretly in their little closets at night loving Survivor,and writing crap about it the next morning. I couldn't care less! I think this first episode looks great,the people are interesting,the place is beautiful,and they have plenty to do,chasing animals and each other! I don't remember Target boxes being dropped in Africa either!I believe that was Survivor 1! |
Seamonkey | Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 09:49 pm     You said it well Firebird The place is great!!! So far I don't really "like" anyone but that is just because I don't "know" them much. Critics just love to hate, y'know? |
Sunriverose | Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 11:54 pm     I am so happy that Survivor is back I'm so happy that AR will be back in about 11 days. |
Bidasea | Friday, March 01, 2002 - 06:47 am     Survivor and AR are slices of real life. For some of us 50 yr olds, it is like taking a mini seminar of popular culture/behavior in the 2000's..I don't really waste much time watching made up situation comedies ( where people make not 1 million for the entire show, but per episode) that are scripted to turn out a certain way. Who could forget Drew and Kevin, or the Guidos...I enjoy watching HOW all kinds of different people, who would never travel in the same circles in real life, learn to interact with each other..Or not..These shows bring out the reality of life. All kinds of discriminations are brought out into the open. Of all the un-politically correct things to make fun of in people, age discrimination is still alive and kicking( as is weight) This Survivor is going to be a great show, and I will be a faithful participant... |
Tksoard | Friday, March 01, 2002 - 08:20 am     Welcome back, Bidasea!! Missed you!!  |
Bidasea | Friday, March 01, 2002 - 12:01 pm     Whoo Whoo owl..Thanks so much... |
Firebird05 | Friday, March 01, 2002 - 03:23 pm     Thanks Seamonkey! Long time no see. Glad to have you back for Survivor I have not picked favorites yet. Too soon to tell. Some do seem to come up unlikable pretty quickly tho. I'm just happy my deadpool picks were correct. |
Nanya | Friday, March 01, 2002 - 04:38 pm     I didn't watch 1 & 2, so maybe I am not qualified to judge. My daughter got me hooked on 3. I was adrift when it ended. We have been waiting with bated breath for 4. I'm a computer novice but I have been avidly reading you guy's thoughts and I have to say you help make it even better. I know that I will hunger for another episode no matter where it is. |
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