Seems as if the players are more savvy, and in it for the game not necessarily for the fame.
New 'Survivor': Betrayal! Deception! Cash prizes!
By DAVE MASON
September 13, 2002
This time, it's about winning.
The participants in last season's "Survivor: Marquesas" focused on having fun, but the contestants in the new "Survivor: Thailand" took the game seriously.
That's the word from host Jeff Probst.
The fifth "Survivor" series will premiere at 8 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 18) on CBS. Earlier versions have beaten longtime, popular shows such as "ER" in the ratings, but I personally am put off by this "reality" show that has players deceiving each other to win $1 million. Still, that soap opera aspect draws many viewers.
Deception and betrayal - it's how you win the game and the tribes in Thailand knew that, Probst said during a phone interview.
"Everyone was your best friend, so you couldn't trust anybody," he said. "It was harder to form alliances and true friendships. The people were more aware that this is a game.
"There is one person I think will be compared to Richard Hatch," Probst said, referring to the devious first winner of "Survivor." He wouldn't say the contestant's name.
"There's definitely a couple people playing the game in a dark way," he said.
"I think the key to 'Survivor' is adaptability. You have to be adaptable," Probst said. "Sometimes the key is to lose the immunity challenges."
That's one of the things Hatch did to win the first game.
"It's not about integrity; it's about the game," Probst said. "When I need to, I'll stab you in the back."
In Thailand, he said, "they played a lot smarter. I didn't see them making some of the same mistakes." It's important to eliminate emotions, he said.
I told Probst "Survivor" seems a lot like poker, but he reminded me of a difference: "When you're playing poker, you're playing with friends."
Contestants no longer are playing so much to become celebrities, Probst said.
Players in previous "Survivor" games have used their sudden TV fame to get movie and TV roles.
Today, just the "Survivor" experience is enough, he said. "There's something about the adventure. Where else will someone pay for a $21 million adventure for you?"
The new episodes were taped in June and July in an island off of Thailand, but the contestants are contractually bound not to reveal the winner (or who gets voted off the island and when) before the last episode. Probst declined to give away specific details about the immunity challenges.
Seems like the fame seekers and the overly friendly are not a part of the final 4 or so folks. Don't count on Erin or Robb going far. Probably not Jed or Penny either.Shii- Ann was never one of my favorites but maybe she sticks it to a couple of tribemembers before going herself.Stephanie, Ken and Jake are lookin' like the last few "pagong" Suk Jai.IMHO,Ted is looking like a F4, and Ghandia at Loser Lodge. and with Ted comes Clay and Brian, probably John too. Which leaves Jan, Helen and Tanya, to be booted first, from Chuay Gan.The Red Tribe
http://www.survivornews.net/article.php?id=99
It might even be an all male F4. Of course that is just spec. but,things are starting to fall into place.
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