Author |
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Kaili
Member
08-31-2000
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 7:32 am
Not that I disagree with the fact that it's real people with real feelings and everything playing a game, but just to note a distinction that I see in the football analogy: In football- they may be friends off the field (and in some cases family) and they can go and play a hard, rough game against each other- but they know that there are clear rules of play and conduct. If there's a foul or whatever- they get called out on it. They're all playing with the same set of rules and the same lines drawn at what is considered fair play. You can tackle someone, but you can't grab the facemask. Granted, the player who has his facemask grabbed by a friend on the other team most likey won't hold it against him and end their friendship over it. The point is, they don't see that coming because it's not what you're supposed to do and they will (sometimes- if it's to their benefit) ask that the play be reviewed if the officials don't see it themselves. In Survivor, they're all playing by their own set of rules in regard to how they will interact with people. To me, I say yeah it's a game but the gme players need to realize that emotions and feelings will be involved. Brian H didn't care to what level he used people because he wasn't looking for friends. It was all business and his eye was on the money. Others blend the two- they want the money of course but they won't compromise certain things on a more personal level (I'd use Colby as a good example of this, and Sandra, and probably Rupert if he had made it that far). I think they key is to understand that everyone is playing in their own ways- and I think you have to accept that. Rob may not have seen that some were playing at a level where they felt their outside the game relationships with each other would matter. Rob was playing at a level where he was there to win and he was a lot more cut-throat. It's their choice to see this, to ignore it, to acknowledge it, to do whatever with it.
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 7:39 am
Ah but Kaili take the up with Mark Burnett...he is the one that invented this little game and made what rules they do and do not have, leaving everything else fair game. Just cause we may not like it, doesn't mean it's wrong lol. Truthfully I think they encouraged the meanspiritedness in this game in general. Look at how Jeff's questions have changed over the years. They used to be fluff, then went to issues, then went to stirring up issues and nailing folks. I'm sure they did it for rating/interest, but they played a role in it becoming a harsher, less friendly Survivor environment IMHO. But you raise an excellent point...some seem surprised that emotions and friendships will be used. I find that ironic since they were all doing the same thing...some just more successfully than others. To me the ONLY one who has a right to complain is Ethan, as he is the only one who remained true to his words through 2 Survivors. And last I heard he didn't have one word of complaint. He played the game as he choose to and respected those that did it differently.
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Kaili
Member
08-31-2000
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 7:45 am
I wish they would release DVDs of all the seasons that include the full tribal councils- I'd be soo interested to see what else goes on- a lot of the time I feel like Jeff is giving hints and leading people to give up secrets and change their votes- sometimes he pretty much gives away secrets/alliances to the tribes. I have no problem with the pretty much lack of rules- I think it actually makes the show better because it allows people to play at different levels and really, as players, it's up to them- it's the point of the game- to figure out when they're being played and who they can trust.
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Jimmer
Member
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 7:46 am
The fact that the rules are so basic allows the contestants a lot of latitude. Therefore, you have some contestants playing it like a game and other contestants playing like it is real life. Once again, what I respect is a contestant that decides how they want to play and sticks with one philosophy and doesn’t go back and forth like Lex did depending how it favours them at the time (one moment it’s business, the next it’s friendship). I was astonished that Lex did not ally with Ethan. To me Ethan was the ideal ally. He had already proven fully trustworthy, he was a good competitor (help in the team challenges) and he had already won the million. What could be better? For that matter Jerri was ideal as well. For whatever reason, she seemed to think very highly of Lex, he could trust her, and no one else really liked her (perfect).
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Spygirl
Member
04-23-2001
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 7:52 am
Season I of Survivor came out on video yesterday, but I haven't heard whether it has "extras" or not.
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Kaili
Member
08-31-2000
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 7:58 am
I just checked Contains all 12 episodes plus the Grand Finale and Post-Show Town Hall Meeting on four discs Commentary on two episodes by host Jeff Probst, and contestants Richard Hatch, Gervase Peterson, and Rudy Boesch "Survivors Leave Los Angeles and Arrive in Borneo" featurette "The Late Show with David Letterman" Top Ten List "A Look Back with Richard, Rudy, & Gervase" featurette Fifth disc is the previously released "Survivor Season One: The Greatest and Most Outrageous Moments" I don't think the greatest/outrageous moments would really be extra TC footage. Anyway it doesn't say anything specifically about never before seen stuff. II've read they go on for hours sometimes, but I'd like to be able to get a more complete picture of what they think and reveal to each other there. They should have 2 shows a week and one could be an hour or half hour showing of TC.
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Rupertbear
Member
09-19-2003
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 12:39 pm
I think Survivor is more than just a game. It was 18 players in this case and they knew each other before it started. These people all have egos...they can't/don't check them at the door. Same with emotions. In football you are paid a weekly salary. You play...you win some...you lose some..but it is a weekly job that you are paid for irregardless of the outcome. In Survivor...the purse is large enough that some will toss morals to the wind and do anything to gain the first place position. Live with people for weeks on end, with sleep deprivation, insect infestation, lack of proper hygiene and privacy...no entertainment...poor sleeping facilities...and the human interaction takes on much bigger proportions, especially when you know every one else is plotting. Life at these camps is a microcosm...you have players assuming different roles within the tribes...some try to blend, some...there strategy is to stir up trouble. But to live in such close quarters and suffer privations along with others for up to 5 & 1/2 weeks...this game is way more than football. That is over in a matter of a couple hours, once a week. The game is played 24/7 ...it is relentless.
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Kep421
Member
08-11-2001
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 12:41 pm
*thinks Rupertbear should be writing the promo's and copy for the next and subsequent Survivors*
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Rupertbear
Member
09-19-2003
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 12:44 pm
Lol...merci sweetie ((hug))
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Rupertbear
Member
09-19-2003
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 12:46 pm
Kep!...lol...that hilarious piccy of the kitty in the sci-fi hat...I found that the other day at a funny picture site & was going to post it in Sanfranjosh's Caption thread...too funny! ;)
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 5:21 pm
mark Burnett didnt invent Survivor. The show's concepts and name was taken from a European show. ** Like BigBrother,also originating in Europe, the USA versions were changed to suit the American viewing habits and needs for more drama.
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Rupertbear
Member
09-19-2003
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 5:30 pm
I thought Survivor was based on Eco-Challenge, which he also invented.
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Kep421
Member
08-11-2001
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 6:52 pm
You are right Rupertbear... My survivor watching buddy was a Eco fan. He actually thinks Survivor is a tamed down version!! PS Isn't Mark Burnett british?
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Rupertbear
Member
09-19-2003
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 7:01 pm
Yeppers, Kep Birthday: July 17, 1960 Birth Place: London, England Birth Name: Mark Burnett Biography: Mark Burnett was born on July 17, 1960 in the east end of London, England. He was the only child of two Ford Motors factory workers. He was raised in London, and later moved in Dagenham, a small town in Essex. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the British Army. He later became a Section Commander of the infamous Parachute Regiment and fought in Northern Ireland and Falkland Islands, where many of his fellow soldiers died in the advance on Port Stanley. In October of 1982, he decided to leave Britain for the United States of America. His original plan was to fly to Los Angeles, then take a flight south to Central America where he could work for the British Special Air Service as a military advisor. At that time, Central America was in great turmoil. In order not to make his mother worry about his intention, he told her that he was just going to pick up a security job in Los Angeles. By the time the plane landed in America, he decided not to go to Central America, but to stay in Los Angeles to chase the American Dream instead. Upon his arrival, he met up with a friend who had also immigrated from Britain a few years earlier and was working as a chauffeur. His friend told him that he had heard of a live-in nanny job in Beverly Hills and that the interview was on that night. Mark immediately grabbed at the opportunity, eventhough he knew nothing of what a nanny or even a babysitter was like. His military background paid off, because the family realized the advantage of hiring him as a nanny and a bodyguard at the same time. After a year of working for the Jaeger family, he moved on to another family in Malibu, taking care of two boys for $250 a week. He was eventually given a position in the insurance office owned by Burt, the father of the two boys. Two years later, Mark and his girlfriend, Kymberly, decided to rent a portion of a fence at Venice Beach and sell T-shirts for $18 each during weekends. After making his fortune from selling shirts, he left his insurance job and started a credit card marketing business. On February 21, 1991, he was able to read an article in the newspaper written by Jon Markman about a French adventure competition called the Raid Gauloises. With four other members, he joined the Raid and called his team American Pride. Aside from adventure, he saw a business opportunity in the competition. He told himself that he would bring a similar race to America, and the rest was history. He had created and produced several award-winning reality competition programs and TV shows like Eco-Challenge, Combat Missions, and Survivor. His entrepreneurial spirit has helped pioneer the success of the reality 'unscripted' drama series and bring it to mainstream television. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California. We also lived in the east end of London, when we lived there for six years and me Da (Dad) also worked at Ford's in Dagenham, same as his parents.
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Tobor7
Member
07-19-2002
| Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 8:26 pm
Lance-- Great post. I wish I had made it. Your one line, "Games are a dime a dozen." is really true. What makes this show interesting is the real-life cause-and-effect. That effect is what everyone strives for in TV. The producers of the Olympics try VERY hard to put human drama into the competitions. Drama that would not really be there with a bunch of no-names. They do all the "up-close-and-personals" before the comps... they want you to care... they want you to have a PERSONALITY to root for. Just a bunch of no-name people running around a track doesn't mean nearly as much as it does when you understand the years of sacrifice one of them went through, or the struggles with injuries... yadda yadda yadda. They inject drama into the events to make the victories sweeter and the losses more traumatic. What they really love is when someone breaks someone else's leg in order to win... or when a judge is revealed to be bribed. What do you remember most about the last winter games? The Canadian skaters that got 2nd when they should have won 1st and the scandal with the judge-- right? So, of course we like the lying and backstabbing. It makes it interesting. Just don't fool yourself into thinking that the people are putting it on for the show. They're not. Rupertbear-- A well-thought-out post. Great points!
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Rupertbear
Member
09-19-2003
| Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 7:56 am
Thank you, kiddo ;)
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