Watching Survivor

Borneo: Episode 01. Original Airdates: Summer, 2000.

Hey, have you heard of this new Reality TV show called Survivor? Well, they took 16 Americans to a tiny village in Malaysia marooned them on Borneo for 39 days. They were given only 2 minutes to salvage whatever they could off the boat they rode to the island in the middle of the China Sea where they’ll be left to fend for themselves. They scrambled for supplies as Jeff Probst (How cute is HE? Look at those dimples!) gave an introduction to the game.

The 16 contestants were separated into two tribes.

Tagi/Orange : Sean, Kelly, Rudy, Sonja, Richard, Susan, Dirk, Stacy
Pagong/Yellow: Gervas, Colleen, BB, Ramona, Gretchen, Greg, Jenna, Joel

The survivors met just 4 hours before they were dropped off and marooned. This is a test of not only survival skills, but social skills. To win, you must survive the Island, survive the vote, and? Survive each other.

It doesn’t take long for different personalities to emerge and start to hint at upcoming conflict. Rudy and Richard on Tagi try to take control a bit, and Rudy is instantly seen as a cranky old man. They try to discuss things, but it seems that there are too many cooks in the kitchen. They can’t even decide on what to do first. Richard tries to get them to talk - but everyone wants to do, do, do! Now, now, now! Richard just sits by and watches as everyone is done talking. He’s already annoyed Dirk who appreciates the effort, but not the execution.

Richard is cocky right off the bat, of course, and in confession claims he’s already got that million dollar check written. He admits that attitude is what will make people hate him. But eventually, they pull it together and start throwing up a camp.

At Pagong, Ramona is out of her comfort level instantly. They find their water map though, and Ramona and BB get lost looking for it. It takes a couple hours, but they finally find their water hole. They even manage to laugh about it - if they’re the only ones that get water, Ramona and BB will have to be kept around!

Day Two:
Tagi: Rudy admits he doesn’t know what MTV is, and he’s going to have to fit in with the youngins, not the other way around. They’re lucky to have a doctor on board, as Sonja, the older woman and cancer survivor, bangs her self up a bit. But she has a lovely ukelele as and quips about Therapists and bye bye blues.

They have fish traps, and rat traps - they used the later to bate the former and caught nothing. Richard takes care of the dirty work.

Pagong: Ramona is still complaining about the noises and rats and not being able to sleep. BB is a working machine. He’s doing his best to put together a plan for the shelter, and works circles around all the young pups. He’s a little frustrated by that, and who wouldn’t be. He hates laziness more then anything, and BB isn’t happy at all. Gretchen tries to get him to rest, but he refuses and keeps working.

[Hey, wait! Gretchen started the fire with BB's glasses? They don't show it, but mention it. I thought Michelle (S14: Fiji) was the first to do that? And also - how'd they start the fire they were around the night before? Something isn't right there!]

Tagi prove that where there is smoke, there is not always fire.

Jeff explains the concept of Tree Mail to us, and they are given the first clues about the challenge, which is a combination of reward and immunity challenge.

They boat out to the sand pit, where they are welcomed to the first challenge. They’ll be playing for 50 waterproof matches, and Immunity. Everyone touches the idol, and gets a good feel for it, and Jeff explains the challenge, Quest for Fire.

There are two rafts in the water. Each tribe member has to have a hand on the raft at all times - they are to light torches in the water, and along the sand until reaching the fire spirit. Whoever lights their side of the fire spirit’s burden first wins immunity.

Jeff implores them to hit every torch not let go of the raft, and not put him in the position of making a judgment call. He gives the signal to go, and there is a mad scramble as they light torches.

[Wow. The challenges have come a LONG way, and the music and occasional noted "Pagong leading" is not near as exciting to watch/listen too without Jeff's commentary. It's interesting to see how much he's grown into the part of Host over the years!]

Pagong pulls ahead and wins a very close challenge to get immunity and the matches!

Day Three:
Taki: Rudy admits he’s already changed his mind on some of the opinions he’d formed at the beginning. About Richard “He’s fat, but he’s strong.” He and Richard are starting to form a bit of a friendship.

They receive the tree mail alerting them to the upcoming Tribal Council, and alerting them to the fact they have to pack up and carry their things there. Sonja is a little worried as she fell during the competition and couldn’t keep up. There’s a lot of commentary about how they’re going to decide their votes, and it seems like everyone is voting for someone different.

The first Tribal Council:
Jeff explains the concept of Tribal Council to us, and gives a little bit of insight as we watch the dangerous trek through the jungle, to bang their stick against the gong, and take their seat for judgment day. They begin Tribal Council with the ritual of lighting the torches. On the Island, fire represents life. They get to take them when they leave, and will thus have fire.

Jeff gets things started and talk about the journey to TC, and the snakes and the competition. They’re starving, but still in good spirits. Jeff explains that they go, write their vote, and speak their peace to the camera, as they can’t be heard. Whoever has the most votes must leave immediately. It’s time to vote!

Jeff gathers the votes and reads them off: Sonja, Sonja, Stacy, Sonja, Rudy, Rudy, Rudy, and the first person voted off the island - Sonja. For the first time, Jeff asks for her torch, sets it in the holder, and says the words we’ll come to love: The Tribe has Spoken.

[Wow - has Survivor come a long way! I found myself watching this first episode and being astounded by just HOW MUCH they had when they were dropped off. Not just the supplies they were able to salvage, but also information on the game itself. They know when the merge will happen, they understand the challenges, they have food and supplies and multiple outfits, and luxury item and just... I think the Ravu Tribe of Fiji would have considered it living like kings if they had all of that!

The Challenges are also rudimentary. Today's Survivor's would scoff at the simplicity of the first challenge. I know I watched it with a feeling of "...that's it? Why not just give it to them, then!" Of course, it's one thing to say that while sitting here in my comfortable chair, vs. actually attempting it, but that's the way it is for all things like this. Anyway - tune in next week for episode 2, where Rudy discovers he likes Richard, but not in a homosexual way!]