Survivor is the original reality competition show, the one that started a movement that
would change the television landscape forever.
The series, which strands contestants in the wild while they compete for a $1 million prize,
puts its players through starvation, terrible climates, sleepless nights, and more, making
it one of the most difficult reality shows around.
However, there are elements of Survivor that aren't as "real" as they seem on TV.
Such as ...
Costumed cast
It's allegedly written into the contestants' contracts that the show can decide what they
wear.
For example: Winner John Cochran's sweater vest from his first appearance on Survivor
has become iconic, but the self-admitted nerd says he never actually wore sweater vests
before being cast, and the producers talked him into it by noting that Justin Timberlake
wears them.
Contestant Candice Woodcock confirmed the wardrobe rumors, as well, saying, "They pretty
much choose what they want you to wear.
If you don't send them what they want, they make you go out and get it."
Cochran claimed he was intentionally styled to be a nerd, and Woodcock said the crew wanted
her to appear more athletic, so she was ordered to wear a sports bra.
Take a load off
Anyone who's watched Survivor has seen the shots of contestants walking up to a challenge
or tribal council with walking sticks and packs.
According to long-time reality TV journalist and critic Andy Denhart, contestants don't
actually trek on foot from place to place.
Instead, they are transported in vehicles off camera and then kept in a waiting area
until it's time to go out and film.
The competitors are reportedly not allowed to speak to each other during this time.
This means they're often forced to simmer and have to wait to confront each other instead
of working out their issues off camera.
Prep time aplenty
Before each televised challenge, host Jeff Probst gives a brief explanation of the event,
and then contestants appear to dive right into the competition.
However, there's actually much more that competitors have to do before they begin the challenge.
After the filmed TV instructions, Probst and the crew reportedly walk each tribe through
the event in detail to show them exactly how it will go down, allowing the tribes time
to ask questions and strategize during that time — something you don't see in the final
edit.
Condensed council
In the televised episodes, the typical tribal council appears to last around 10 minutes,
but in reality, they usually last for at least an hour and include a long list of questions
from Probst on a wide variety of topics, according to former contestants and a former cameraman
in Reddit AMAs.
Apparently, much of the tribal council ends up being boring and irrelevant, so all that
dull footage gets tossed before the episode airs.
Another potentially fake element of the tribal council?
The contestants' walk to the council, which is sometimes filmed more than once to ensure
the shot is dramatic enough.
Secret assistance
Past contestants have dished that there were times when producers helped them get some
much-needed food or fire.
Contestant Erinn Lobdell says while she competed on Exile Island in Survivor: Tocantins, a
camera operator lit a fire for her with a lighter.
Kelly Goldsmith of Survivor: Africa says her tribe was given matches, while Mookie Lee
of Survivor: Fiji revealed that a fire apparently lit by a pair of glasses was actually ignited
by a lighter.
Contestant coaching
Yes, Survivor contestants do have to hunt, fish, and find their own food in the wild.
But according to a former cameraman, contestants are given a book upon their arrival on the
island with helpful information such as what plants can be eaten, what the native animal
and fish species are, and tips for good hygiene.
However, most contestants reportedly never even open that book, so when they're unable
to find food, that may very well be their own fault.
Camera crew clues
The camera crews know when to follow contestants for a secret meeting or when competitors are
headed in the direction of an immunity idol.
This can have an effect on the game, according to that same ex-cameraman, who puts it this
way: "The smart ones will get away one at a time and rendezvous.
Rarely do we miss those events.
It is up to them to be stealthy.
The more savvy ones will tip us off that they are having a meeting, and ensure they have
a smooth cover."
Practice makes perfect
The speeches jurors give at the final tribal council range from boring and predictable
to explosive and shocking, depending on how bitter the juror is feeling about his or her
exile.
According to former contestant Corinne Kaplan, juror speeches are written in advance and
rehearsed for producers before they're delivered.
She says the producers "freaked out" after hearing her speech, and Probst said "please
don't change a single word of that."
Kaplan says she didn't, because she had it precisely memorized.
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