# So, we're supposed to watch Survivor II and pretend like we don't know...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 26, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913 "2001-01-26T20:39:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/1 "2001-01-26T20:39:11Z")
…that THEY already know who wins? Am I the only one who survived the aliens’ mind wipe concerning Survivor I? All last spring and summer, we heard, “Oh, the participants and the network execs already know who wins, it’s all on tape already.” “Oh, no!” said other people, shocked. “It’s all _completely spontaneous_! It’s actually happening, right now!”
Well, so then it’s finally over and we all find out that yes, they knew, and the network execs knew, who won, and they all had had to sign non-disclosure agreements ahead of time.
So now we’re all just supposed to park our obedient little butts in front of the TV for the Super Bowl, and then leave them there so the network can pretend like nobody knows who’s going to win. And of course nobody has signed any non-disclosure agreements or anything like that, it’s all _completely spontaneous._
We’re supposed to pretend that it’s high drama unfolding while we watch, when in actuality it’s all in the can, same as an episode of _Friends._
The really laughable part was that the Chicago _Tribune_, an otherwise sensible newspaper, called in a [psychic](http://chicagotribune.com/leisure/tempo/printedition/article/0,2669,SAV-0101260009,FF.html) to give predictions:
> [@](#):
>
> We gave Chicago-based psychic Joseph DeLouise the 16 biographies of the “Survivor” contestants and asked him to predict the fortunes of the new crew. His technique? He studied the years they were born, examined their faces, then came up with his gut take on each.
So, um, this psychic isn’t predicting the _future,_ he’s predicting the _past_?
I ran all of this past the Better Half this morning, and he doesn’t see any problem with it. Time for new tinfoil in his hat?
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### Author:  [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/2 "2001-01-26T20:53:35Z")
Me -\> My Parents -\> My Parents’ Friends -\> Their Daughter -\> Friends with Elisabeth
I’m rooting for her.
(By the way, it may be their niece, not their daughter’s friend, I forget)
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### Author:  [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/3 "2001-01-26T20:59:36Z")
There’s a button on my TV that allows me to vote my opinion on the quality of the programming, “off.” I watch TV but haven’t had mine on for more than two hous this week. As for _Survivor_, did any of them die? No, then I guess they all survived. They may have had to endure sunburn and yuckky food but no one’s survival was ever at stake. No one can force you to be a good little automiton droid and suck up the pablum that passes for entertainment except you.
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### Author:  [@boli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boli)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/4 "2001-01-26T21:51:05Z")
Duck Duck - I’m confused. Are you saying that there are people out there that really believe this show is happening in real time? There are people that don’t KNOW that this was taped months ago? I find that hard to believe.
Even if you had no interest in the whole concept, it would be hard to avoid all of the news reports that state the fact that it was taped last year, that everyone has signed a gag order, etc.
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### Author:  [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/5 "2001-01-26T21:59:03Z")
QUEL publicity? i never heard about it all being taped last year. I mean, I thought it was fairly obvious when I heard just now but I wasn’t bombarded with people telling me it was taped in the past…
What difference does it make? I mean, if the Super bowl was known in advance, it would still be the Super bowl, right? I don’t see the difference. :o
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### Author:  [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/6 "2001-01-26T22:39:47Z")
Um, nearly every article I’ve read so far has mentioned the fact that it was taped last fall. Even last fall, I was reading articles about the security on the taping of the show. Any casual reader of the entertainment section of a newspaper should know that.
> [@](#):
>
> …then leave them there so the network can pretend like nobody knows who’s going to win. And of course nobody has signed any non-disclosure agreements or anything like that, it’s all completely spontaneous.
I don’t get this part. Yes, they all signed non-disclosure agreements. They don’t get any money if they spill the beans. Every participant gets some money just for being on the show, although the big money is for the finalists. They also agree to get sued for millions if they do disclose any information ahead of time. I read a quote in todays paper from a participants husband saying that even he didn’t know, so he’ll be watching it every week along with everyone else to find out if his wife won or not.
It is unfolding as we watch, in a sense. Very few people know who the winner is, and the only ones that do are sworn to secrecy.
I just don’t get what is so objectionable? Or did I miss the point of your rant? No one is passing this off as something that is happening right now. IIRC, the last one wasn’t passed off as that either. Logically, I can’t see how anyone would think that a show that well edited could be shown live.
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### Author:  [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/7 "2001-01-26T22:59:10Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by boli \*
> \*\*Duck Duck - I’m confused. Are you saying that there are people out there that really believe this show is happening in real time? There are people that don’t KNOW that this was taped months ago? I find that hard to believe.
>
> Even if you had no interest in the whole concept, it would be hard to avoid all of the news reports that state the fact that it was taped last year, that everyone has signed a gag order, etc.
>
> \*\*
I would be inclined to agree with you, **boli** , but then I remembered all the hours I spent convincing my b-i-l that The Blair Witch Project wasn’t real (and I don’t think he believes me anyway, I think he finally agreed with me to make me stop weeping).
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/8 "2001-01-26T23:12:22Z")
_sigh_ sounds like he needs a new layer of tin foil. No offense. 🙂
I’ve had a hard time with the Blair Witch thing, as well as convincing one or two people that Titanic wasn’t a documentary.
I’m just waiting for the spaceship to take them home.
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### Author:  [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/9 "2001-01-26T23:21:30Z")
Yes. I knew actual people who were convinced that Survivor I was happening in real time, and who still think that Survivor II is going to be the same. Strangely enough, many of them are the Better Half’s coworkers at the Post Office. Could this mean something?
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### Author:  [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/10 "2001-01-26T23:31:04Z")
And like **Zoggie** said, last spring when the whole Survivor I thing started, and suddenly the network had this huge runaway hit on their hands, there wasn’t a whole lot of publicity about the fact that it was already in the can. There were rumors, but they didn’t exactly noise it around town at first.
And I had an awful time explaining _Blair Witch_ to my kids. They finally “got it” about the fourth time the “camera crew” picked up and started wandering around in circles. _Again._ Even La Principessa, at age 10, knows that’s not what you do when you’re lost. Ergo, it’s “only a movie”.
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### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2001, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/11 "2001-01-26T23:59:50Z")
How long does the Super Bowl last? What if there is overtime? We could be waiting a long time to see Survivor. sigh
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### Author:  [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/12 "2001-01-27T00:49:36Z")
Had no interest in the first one, have less interest in the second. Absolutely no difference between Survivor & Daytime soaps, IMO.
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### Author:  [@big\_yellow\_kingswood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/big_yellow_kingswood)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2001, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/13 "2001-01-27T01:04:06Z")
I just hopes that one of them killed a kangaroo or something and gets arrested and gaoled (or at least heavily fined) when the authorities see it on TV. But I’m a bastard that way…
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### Author:  [@big\_yellow\_kingswood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/big_yellow_kingswood)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/14 "2001-01-27T01:06:10Z")
Hope. I just hope…
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### Author:  [@Jeannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeannie)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/15 "2001-01-27T01:18:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I’ve had a hard time with the Blair Witch thing, as well as convincing one or two people that Titanic wasn’t a documentary.
Wow. I know people that believe the “Blair Witch Project” was real, and I could believe that there are people that could believe that Survivor was actually happening last summer (despite the fact that it lasted all summer, and yet the show constantly referred to the “39 days” they spent on the island). But thinking that “Titanic” was a _documentary_?? Please, tell me you’re joking, because that’s just sad.
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### Author:  [@south333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/south333)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-supposed-to-watch-survivor-ii-and-pretend-like-we-dont-know/51913/16 "2001-01-27T01:34:34Z")
IMHO, survivor isn’t a very thrilling show. I would much rather watch a drama. I think that the shows the real world and road rules are better. Either way though, it does get kinda old. It’s not like they are in any immediate danger, or are deeply affected by the whole thing. They have camera guys and a lot of people making sure nothing goes wrong. IMHO, I think that the people who went down to the north pole and had no way out until the planes were able to come back (I’m talking about the doctor who had to perform her own bi-opsy (just about)) were a lot more courageous than the people off survivor.
As for the people who thought that the show went on at about the time they were watching and that the producers and other people didnt know anything about it, I know two or three people who made sure that they watched every episode so they would know exactly what would happen. But I guess thats about the same for any Tv show.🙂