Comparing The Real World and Survivor

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Comparing The Real World and Survivor

While MTV's The Real World places twenty-somethings in unique arrangements in which to live as they would like for several months, CBS's Survivor elicits peculiar behavior from contestants living in unusual circumstances. Despite fundamental differences, the continued success of both The Real World[1] and Survivor[2] illustrates that American viewers love to watch reality television shows with interesting locales, competitions or tasks, and natural personal relations.

In contrast to shows with static settings, The Real World and Survivor have perennially situated their casts in (varied) fascinating locations. The opportunity for viewers to vicariously experience unfamiliar milieus has proven an enticing element upon which both shows have consistently relied and improved. In the midst of a programming lineup dominated by sub/urban shows, CBS debuted Survivor in May of 2000 with the aim of replicating the 1997 success of Sweden?s Expedition Robinson (named after Robinson Crusoe)[3] . Instead of presenting viewers with Hollywood?s America, the first Survivor took place on the island of Puala Tiga in the South China Sea, though the location was not initially disclosed. Part of Survivor?s initial appeal was undoubtedly its exotic yet real setting that substantially differed from all viewers? surroundings. Survivor?s featuring American participants, not characters, with whom audiences can identify creates a vicarious viewing experience: unlike documentary programs on Discovery Channel or Travel Channel that showcase locales in their natural states, Americans? presence eliminates the socio-geographic isolation of foreign environments. Likely capitalizing on Amer...

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...port,? as this is a prominent part of the series. Amidst the myriad of promiscuity that occurs every season, many cast members (temporarily) pair off, including Rachel and Puck (San Francisco), Amaya and Colin (Hawaii), and Irulan and Alton (Las Vegas), who stayed together after the season ended.

Clearly the producers of The Real World and Survivor have refined both shows to tailor to audiences? interests; Viacom, owner of both MTV and CBS, has thoroughly invested in the commodity of voyeurism, as both long-running shows have been renewed.

[1] Any secondary information from http://www.mtv.com/onair/realworld unless otherwise noted.

[2] http://www.epguides.com/survivor/ served as my primary source of information.

[3] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1346936.stm

[4] Specific house locations from http://www.realworldhouses.com/

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