“Is that show still on?” How one of the most successful TV shows ever still struggles to get noticed Grant Shepherd Follow Mar 10, 2015 · 4 min read

It is currently celebrating it’s 15th year on television screens and 30th season. It attracts a loyal fan base of more than 10 million US viewers every episode and has an equally strong global audience. The season one finale attracted a stunning 51.69 million US viewers. It has had 52 Emmy nominations. It is the longest running show of it’s type in history. I could keep going and going with statistics about the success of what is arguably one of the most successful shows of all time but I have to get something off my chest, why do people not give it the credit it deserves?

When I tell people that Survivor is my favourite show they always look at me with a quizzical gaze and say “is that show still on?”

I have been watching the CBS reality show since the very beginning. I was thirteen years old at the time and I have not missed an episode since. The show mesmerised me from the moment Richard Hatch and company took their first steps on the beaches of Borneo.

The show had everything I had ever wanted. It was set in a beautiful destination, had a plethora of interesting and diverse characters, a charismatic host, incredible production value and a strong focus on psychology and strategy.

Over the years Survivor has changed in many ways. It has been set in 19 different countries, has experimented with the makeup of tribes (along racial lines, socio-economic backgrounds etc), brought back all-star contestants and introduced new strategic elements like hidden immunity idols.

While many shows need to implement changes to keep the ratings up and encourage new viewership, Survivor’s changes happened more organically to help make the show better. Yes, some changes have been hit and miss (The Medallion of Power is something Survivor fans have tried to purge from their memory), but overall the changes that have occurred have been of value and in response to what the loyal viewers wanted to see. If the viewers didn’t like something, more often than not that twist was dropped in future iterations of the show.

But despite changes, the initial elements I mentioned earlier have remained. While the focus has definitely shifted to a more startegic focus, the core elements still remain and this is why it still has a die-hard fan base that will watch the show forever.

No other show on television can offer what Survivor does. It is the only show that actually encourages you as the viewer to use your brain and think about different outcomes. What would you do if you were being targeted as the next to go? How would you handle a situation where a tribe mate has a meltdown and might become violent? How would you convince people you had betrayed to write your name down as the winner and be awarded the one million dollar prize?

Despite its long list of awards, demonstrated ability to last 15 years in a tough TV climate and solid, consistent viewership, if you tell someone you are a Survivor fan you feel like an outcast.

I had to hide my love of Survivor for many years and if you happened to stumble upon a stranger that also loved the show it was like running into an old friend, swapping stories and discussing their favourite players and seasons. This always baffled me. If the show is still on the air, has strong audience figures and marketing, and still gets hundreds of thousands of applicants every season why does it seem like I am alone in my love for it? Why did Survivor turn into a taboo topic? Did other reality shows give Survivor a bad rap?

Thankfully over the past few years the online Survivor community has grown immensely and it is easier to feel accepted as a Survivor fan. Survivor fans can now turn to online groups like Reddit to discuss the show and converse with other viewers. Why did the show become more accepted online recently? I think it is partly because of a past contestant, Rob Cesternino.

A two-time contestant, Cesternino created ‘Rob has a Podcast’, which was initially very small but over the years transformed from a hobby into a full-time career. He now works around the clock to run this podcast and RHAP community. While it may not have necessarily created more fans for the show, it has definitely demonstrated to the previously closet Survivor fans that it’s okay to discuss the show you love and not be ashamed. Just because all your other friends don’t watch Survivor doesn’t mean no one else does.

So, I know I have been rambling, but I just needed to get this off my chest. If one more person asks me whether Survivor is still on TV I think I will scream.

YES SURVIVOR IS STILL ON!!

It is still on and it shows no sign of stopping. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the show last at least to season 50. Who knows what the future holds.