Few reality competition shows can claim milestones as illustrious as Survivor. Ever since the year 2000, the survival-based game show has managed to pull in a dedicated stream of viewers. It’s an ingenious combination of traditional skill-based challenges mixed with constant mind games and manipulative tactics that no other show has been quite able to replicate.
With a unique concept, a charismatic host in Jeff Probst, and a consistently entertaining cast of contestants to root for and despise, it’s no wonder that the series has endured such massive success for such a long period of time. Its whopping 42nd season is now hitting the small screen, so here’s everything you need to know before Survivor returns yet again.
What Is Survivor About?
Probably the only way one could not have heard about Survivor is to actually be stranded on a real-life deserted island, but in case you’re new to the party, here are the basics:
Survivor is a biannual reality competition series where around 16 to 20 people are transported to a usually tropical and isolated location, where they must “survive” for a little over a month with limited tools and resources. Their prize? A whopping one million dollars. The contestants’ host is the lovable Jeff Probst, who’s been hosting the show since its inception back in the year 2000.
The contestants are divided into two teams, or “tribes” as they’re called as a way to fit the theme of the show. The two tribes then, in addition to having to build shelter and find food at their base camps, also compete in two types of intricate games and challenges.
The first is a reward challenge, where the winning tribe shall receive a prize in various forms including but not limited to special types of food, tools to improve their living situation, or even opportunities to see their loved ones from…