# New Survivor Starts This Wednesday **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159 "2015-09-21T22:58:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/1 "2015-09-21T22:58:34Z")
I have kind of a bad feeling about this one. They let the fans choose the cast, and, to be honest, Survivor fans are a pretty nerdy bunch. You should read some of the fan sites. They’re much worse than the fans here, with the strong idea that anyone good looking must be stupid and terrible at the game. As such, there’s almost a total lack of eye candy, and a bunch of people who are pretty plain and boring. I fear that will make for a plain and boring show. The only ones with any character are ones that have some severe personality issues (Abi-Maria.) I hope I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/2 "2015-09-22T01:29:40Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > I have kind of a bad feeling about this one. They let the fans choose the cast, and, to be honest, Survivor fans are a pretty nerdy bunch. You should read some of the fan sites. They’re much worse than the fans here, with the strong idea that anyone good looking must be stupid and terrible at the game. > > As such, there’s almost a total lack of eye candy, and a bunch of people who are pretty plain and boring. I fear that will make for a plain and boring show. The only ones with any character are ones that have some severe personality issues (Abi-Maria.) > > I hope I’m wrong. My niece voted for one of them. She’s 7 years old but very smart. Still, it’s anyone’s guess what kind of season it will be. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/3 "2015-09-22T01:47:52Z")
I’m sure you are wrong, the whole thing is scripted. Reality TV my ass, more like sit come laughs, so obvious scripted. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/4 "2015-09-22T02:16:36Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I’m sure you are wrong, the whole thing is scripted. > > Reality TV my ass, more like sit come laughs, so obvious scripted. Survivor is not scripted. It’s a game show. They set up all the rules and challenges in advance, but they do not script out the show itself. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/5 "2015-09-23T21:15:09Z")
Sure. How’d Rupert win a million dollars again? ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/6 "2015-09-24T05:11:03Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Sure. How’d Rupert win a million dollars again? He won through a fan vote, not any scripted part of the game, so I’m not sure what your point is supposed to be. Anyways, I always enjoy all-star seasons, the veteran play is much more interesting than watching the few good players run circles around the dummies. There are clearly a few people who got voted in just because they’re interesting to watch blow up on TV (like Abi-Maria) but overall it seems like a fairly strong cast (though admittedly there are 3-4 people I don’t remember at all). Use this thread to discuss the opening episode or make a new one? ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/7 "2015-09-24T13:39:38Z")
Well, commenting then on last night’s premiere: I loved the new format - the challenges began as soon as they arrived, and then a tribal council immediately after the immunity challenge was over! And holy crap - how much plastic surgery has Kelly (1st season) had?? YIKES. I like the cast, don’t watch the show for eye candy (FYI - there’s plenty of shows on HBO for that!) Was shocked that Vytas was the first one voted out - big mistake - should’ve been Abi - chick it totally psycho! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/8 "2015-09-24T14:13:14Z")
Has there been any advertising for this? I completely missed that it was starting this week. Thanks for the reminder. I’ll have to get Ep1 OnDemand, and then set my DVR for the rest! ---
**Author:** ![Grsz11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grsz11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grsz11)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/9 "2015-09-24T14:13:29Z")
31 seasons? Good lord. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/10 "2015-09-24T21:52:52Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Sure. How’d Rupert win a million dollars again? People voted for him to win. It was crap, though, because the prize was way too big. Still, he didn’t have to win and it was something that they did outside the primary game show part. I agree they shouldn’t have done it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/11 "2015-09-24T22:48:55Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Well, commenting then on last night’s premiere: > > I loved the new format - the challenges began as soon as they arrived, and then a tribal council immediately after the immunity challenge was over! And by “immediately” they meant after waiting a few hours for the sun to go down. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/12 "2015-09-24T23:07:43Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Well, commenting then on last night’s premiere: > > Was shocked that Vytas was the first one voted out - big mistake - should’ve been Abi - chick it totally psycho! While I agree that the sensible vote would’ve been Abi since she brings nothing to the tribe except emotional drama, I’m not surprised they voted out Vytas first. That’s the thing with veteran players - they know you win by being the best player remaining, and so the threats always go first. And the first vote is a great time to vote off a potential threat before they can get their game going. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/13 "2015-09-24T23:30:43Z")
Abi may be a psycho but at she wasn’t trying to help all the girls with their yoga poses. That dude is a serious creep. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/14 "2015-09-25T14:15:29Z")
Who the hell voted for these folks to be on the show? A few of them, yeah, but most are either nobodies or assholes. Maybe people were voting for “entertainment value”. Still, what a stupid move to vote off one of the stronger tribe members so early on. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/15 "2015-09-25T14:29:41Z")
I think that’s another effect of having all returnees. The ‘usual’ pattern is that the first vote-offs are women because it’s thought important to preserve tribal strength until the merger. But for women, that pattern makes is MORE likely that you go before the merger, plus generally there are many fewer women than men after the merger, making it much harder to put together a men vs. women strategy. And since males putting together challenge streaks happen more often than female ones… overall, the ‘usual’ pattern tends not to work well for women. So for them it only makes sense to target the potential challenge monsters right away. Yes, it might mean your tribe ends up going to TC a few more times than otherwise, but your individual chances might be better. And these guys/gals are playing to WIN for themselves, not some pseudo team spirit. ---
**Author:** ![Gotlift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9fc348/32.png) [@Gotlift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotlift)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/16 "2015-09-25T14:56:14Z")
I thought it was a decent premiere. I was surprised to see them vote out a strong male first. I think fan favorites is interesting because each of these players knows how the other thinks based on previous seasons. It is difficult to gain the trust of your “alliance” if you were actively smearing them on camera in a previous season. Maybe it isn’t a factor, but it could be. My stand out favorites at this point are probable Spencer, Jeremy, Terry, and Woo. Part of me was begging for Abi to be voted out to raise the average IQ of the game, but when Vytas was voted (dumb) I figured it may be interesting to watch a weekly meltdown and see how intelligent people handle it. ---
**Author:** ![PeskiPiksi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@PeskiPiksi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeskiPiksi)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/17 "2015-09-25T18:41:15Z")
I, for one, am super excited for this season. I don’t mind return players as long as the entire cast are veterans, so everyone’s on an equal playing field. And one of my all-time favorites (Spencer) is back and looks to be well-placed, so I’m a happy camper. One thing to take into consideration is that when you have an “all-star” cast like this–there are pre-game alliances. These people are friends on the outside, have pre-existing relationships. It’s not just having seen each other’s previous seasons…they genuinely socialize. And that’s going to affect strategy for everyone. You can throw everything about how the game is usually played out the window. For instance, these players know they have friends on the other tribe, so voting off a challenge asset early on is no problem. (Also, experienced players will know there is bound to be at \*least \*one pre-merge tribe shuffle, so again, no reason not to get rid of physical threats.) Vytas was a social threat as well, having ties to both Terry (via his brother Aras) and Ciera on the other tribe. And Abi would make an excellent goat if you can tolerate her that long. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/18 "2015-09-25T19:23:14Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > People voted for him to win. It was crap, though, because the prize was way too big. > > Still, he didn’t have to win and it was something that they did outside the primary game show part. I agree they shouldn’t have done it, though. I hated that they gave that stupid “America’s Tribal Council” prize to Rupert, but at least it’s a good indicator that the game isn’t scripted. The producers obviously LOVED Rupert and desperately wanted him to win the game, and he never even made it to final 3 despite having _four_ opportunities. I enjoyed the first episode, and it was nice to see old-school players like Kelly Wiglesworth and Jeff Varner again. My early pick would be Andrew Savage, who played an excellent, rational game in his season but got screwed by the “outcast” twist. I was also intrigued that they voted out Vytas first instead of the more obvious Abi. These people know who the threats are, and I think we may see other strong players voted out fairly early. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/19 "2015-09-25T19:28:25Z")
> [@Grsz11](#): > > 31 seasons? Good lord. Well, they call each new show a season though there are two per year. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159/20 "2015-09-25T19:41:55Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Who the hell voted for these folks to be on the show? A few of them, yeah, but most are either nobodies or assholes. Maybe people were voting for “entertainment value”. > > Still, what a stupid move to vote off one of the stronger tribe members so early on. If you voted, you were required to vote for ten people of each gender. I didn’t find ten people of each gender that I wanted to vote for, so I threw away votes on people I didn’t care about, just to get the ones that I did care about. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-survivor-starts-this-wednesday/732159.md?page=2)