Stacey Seaside

I. who do not watch television with any kind of regularity, am now addicted.

For a person who has not had a television set in their living room, kitchen or bedroom for the better part of a decade, this is very discerning.

It’s not that I am against television or a tv snob; I just don’t watch it.

I subscribe to 5 daily newspapers, I check in to Face Book daily, I have a peak at Instagram weekly, I view YouTube for music, “how tos” and documentary info. Oh yeah–and I have a Netflix subscription. I watch it in my bedroom off an old computer monitor when I don’t feel like reading a chapter in my current book before bedtime.

January 2024 the plot line changed. My beau has been faithfully viewing the Greek version of Survivor for the last few winters. When the new season began in January he wanted to watch so I went along. It took me a couple of episodes of viewing to understand the dynamics of the show.

Survivor is a reality show where a group of contestants are “stranded” in a remote location with little more than the clothes on their back. The lone survivor of this contest takes home 100,000 Euros in prize money!

Survivor has been airing on SKAI TV for 7 years now. Hosted by Giorgos Lianos, the show follows the intense survival experiences of contestants in the Dominican Republic. This season features both celebrities and challengers, facing unprecedented rules and revamped battlefields.

By March I found after we went out for our evening drink–cafe, beer or something stronger, I would be checking my watch so we could skedaddle back to the ranch by 9 so we wouldn’t miss the evening’s episode. Production upped the ante and went from 4 weekly broadcasts to 5 so Sunday to Thursday became wall to wall Survivor. And oddly, I didn’t mind. Moi, who is bored so easily with such simplistic shows was interested.

Addiction is a complex, chronic brain condition influenced by genes and the environment that is characterized by substance use or compulsive actions that continue despite harmful consequences.

For me, addiction, has been watching Greek Survivor 2024.

There is actually no negative consequence aside from my own guilt!

At 9 pm, religiously, I would be sure to be in front of a television set so I could catch the latest episode.

Survivor Greece 2024 | Trailer | 16/01/2024 (youtube.com)

British television producer Charlie Parsons developed the format for Survivor in 1992 for Planet 24, a United Kingdom television production company; the Swedish version, which debuted in September 1997 as Expedition Robinson, became the first Survivor series to be broadcast on television. As of January 2024, the flagship American version of Survivor has aired 45 seasons of the show since its launch in 2000; the 46th season premiered in February 2024.

The premise of “Survivor” involves a group of contestants who are marooned in a remote location, typically a tropical island, where they must fend for themselves, build shelter, gather food, and compete in various challenges to win rewards or immunity from elimination. Each week, contestants vote to eliminate one of their own until only one player remains and is crowned the Sole Survivor, winning a cash prize.

While sitting in the comfort of a living room, on a comfortable couch, you can’t help but wonder about what takes place behind the scenes.

While engrossed in the drama, questions inevitably crop up–particularly when you take a potty break or grab a cold beer from the fridge or munch on some popcorn.

Where do they poop?

Who cleans it up?

Do they have soap?

How do they bathe?

Toothbrush–razor for the girls?

What happens when you have your period?

Do the contestants have sex with each other?

What happens if someone snores really badly, or farts?

It is called “reality tv” but it seems scripted–is it?

So as I am pondering all the various logistics and hygiene challenges for the contestants I am also clocking my feelings about each one of them.

I like certain players; hate others. When the players I despise come on camera, I can’t wait for the angle to change to focus on someone else; I am so disgusted by their “me. me. me” diatribes.

I have developed an affinity for certain players–I truly like the attitude and the  demeanour these kids exhibit. They have real gumption and a sense of humor.

To learn more about them personally, I checked out their social media pages–some used Facebook others Instagram and others X.

I developed great empathy for these contestants.

They shared personal stories about their normal lives in Greece, as they managed to survive on a diet of coconuts, rice and lentils.

Some of these youngsters were screwballs or just too full of themselves.

Others reminded me of my sons–both in good and bad ways.

I felt badly for one young man who exited the show because his father’s sailboat capsized in the Pacific–adrift at sea on a rubber dingy for days, he was finally rescued by a fishing boat–he wanted to go to his dad.

On the Easter Sunday episode in May, one of the players collided with one of the props and got a serious spinal injury. She was moved off the playing filed by ambulance. The runs were cancelled for the day and all the players returned to their camps in a black mood.

Because although it is fun and games, there is the fear that yes indeed, you really can get hurt.

That suddenly made it quite real and it was no longer fun to HATE certain players. after all they were just kids taking a shot at making a lot of cash fast. They did not plan to come and camp out in the Dominican Republic and walk away scarred for life with an injury that could impair their movement or their cognitive abilities.

So I started to wonder why I was so hooked–addicted to the point that when my beau would change the channel when the commercials came on, I worried he would not get us back to the action in time to see the next run, the next race.

I was in a bad way–so I wanted to try and understand why I got hooked and was it just the injury of the player that unhooked me or did I finally come full circle back to not tv for me?

It reminded me of reading a really good novel where you really get attached to the characters. You finish the book but for days you go through withdrawal as you wonder about what the next steps will be for the protagonist or whoever else became dear to you in some way. Not real people but suddenly a part of your reality as you exhibit concern and empathy for them!

This is what I learned:

Reality shows like Survivor appeal to viewers because they make social comparisons, like competition, identify with the contestants, enjoy the escapism of imagining themselves competing,

Social Comparison:

Viewers often engage in social comparison while watching reality shows. They compare themselves to the contestants and their behaviors, decisions, and strategies. This can lead to feelings of superiority, admiration, or even empathy, depending on how they perceive the contestants’ actions.

Competition and Achievement:

Humans have an inherent drive for competition and achievement. Watching contestants compete against each other in challenges and strategize to outwit, outplay, and outlast each other can be highly engaging. Viewers may experience vicarious satisfaction or disappointment based on the outcomes.

Identification and Parasocial Relationships:

Viewers often develop parasocial relationships with contestants, feeling a sense of connection or identification with them despite never having met them in person. This sense of closeness can deepen as viewers follow the contestants’ journeys throughout the season.

Escapism and Entertainment:

Reality shows offer a form of escapism from everyday life. They provide entertainment and drama, allowing viewers to temporarily immerse themselves in a different world and forget about their own concerns and stressors.

Narrative and Storytelling:

Reality shows are carefully edited to create compelling narratives and story arcs. Viewers become invested in the storylines of different contestants, rooting for their favorites and following their personal growth or downfall throughout the season.

Social Dynamics and Group Behavior:

Shows like Survivor highlight social dynamics and group behavior in high-pressure situations. Viewers are often fascinated by the alliances, betrayals, conflicts, and alliances that emerge among the contestants as they navigate the game.

Risk and Uncertainty:

The uncertainty of reality shows, particularly competitions like Survivor where outcomes are unpredictable, adds an element of excitement and suspense. Viewers are drawn to the unpredictability of who will win, who will be voted out, and how the game will unfold.

Psychological Strategies and Manipulation:

Reality shows often involve psychological strategies and manipulation, both by the contestants and the producers. This can include tactics such as deception, manipulation, and strategic gameplay, which add layers of complexity and intrigue to the viewing experience.

One thing that was different about the 2024 Greek Survivor was the lack of audience interaction. In previous seasons, viewers voted on who stayed each week and who remained. The more popular contestants remained, regardless of physical skill or dexterity. This year, each show was a competition to see who would remain at the end of the week and who would depart based on their wins within each competition.

This changed the dynamic in the show but it also affected audience numbers. In January they had a 33 percent market share; at the beginning of June the number had dropped 3 percent.

My favorites were Stavroula–who came to the game in February to replace another player as well as James and the guy who seems to be the most obsessed and talented–Fanis.

Stavroula

James

Fanis

The show had its season finale last night.

The last of the competitions moved the contestants from the Carribean back to Greece.

Tuesday and Wednesday night the show was broadcast live from a park in the northern suburbs of Athens. Friends, family and former contestants were there to cheer on the players.

I watched the final episode on You Tube–in Scotland.

I am thousands of miles away from Greece and about to begin “A Survivor” of sorts in the Scottish Highlands.

To be continued …