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May 25, 2012

Ratings news: Survivor slips a bit, but still beats West Wing

by Bob Sassone, posted May 16th 2006 9:35AM
Jeff ProbstThe first hour of the two hour season finale on Sunday beat everyone, including the series finale of The West Wing. Even so, the ratings for the last West Wing episode ever were actually the highest of the year for the show.

But back to Survivor. The ratings for this finale were actually down from the last two seasons (Palau and Guatemala), and the L.A. Times thinks that this might mean that CBS will cut the number of seasons the show has in a year when it announces its fall schedule this Wednesday.

This was bound to happen. The show has two different seasons every single year, and it was inevitable that the ratings would get lower and lower as the seasons go by. I'm waiting for the same thing to happen to American Idol.

Maybe we need a change for the show. How about something in a cold climate for a change? Maybe Survivor: Canada, or Survivor: Ice Station Zebra? For reward challenges you get parkas and gloves and hot chocolate! Maybe you can get exiled to a hot tub!

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Kevin

Aaron Clow: "My question for the last two seasons or more is this: Why isn't Survivor shot in HD? It seems to me that when you're in an exotic locale such as the ones featured on Survivor, there's a great opportunity missed by airing the show in SD."

If you don't already, read HD Beat.

The problem with "exotic locales" is that they are the HARDEST to shoot high-definition in. HD equipment is still new, where as SD is tried and true. Unline HD equipment, SD can stand up to EXTREMLY harsh elements. Survivor used digital betacam, a PROVEN rugged format.

Yes, I love HD, but I understand it's just not in the cards for survivor. With the number of cameras they have, the price would be UGE! [/donald trump]

Also, Mark Burnett NEVER EVER uses HD. Ever.

May 17 2006 at 12:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael

I doubt Mark Burnett will move the show to a colder climate any time soon. No shots of young bods in bathing suits there....

May 16 2006 at 2:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
R Green

The reality shows are not interesting and have no entertainment value to them. Is this the networks way of making more viewers go to the pay channels for entertainment.

May 16 2006 at 2:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tammy

Survivor was kind of boring this time around. You kept wanting Terry to use the idol, make a bolder move and it didn't happen. So no one cared by the end and Grey's Anatomy was more exciting at the 10 pm hour anyway. Now that Sunday has some interesting shows on it, don't put the finale on Sunday.

May 16 2006 at 12:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
maryann smith

I think survivor is still a good show. It just needs some refreshing. Maybe when you get down to the final three the jury should come into play so you dont get undeserving people like you did this time. I think terry should of won.also it wasnt fair the way you sent the tribes together terrys tribe did not have a shot. everything else was excellent this show.

May 16 2006 at 11:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aaron Clow

This was the first year I didn't watch Survivor. There was simply too much great fictional television (Grey's Anatomy, Boston Legal, Invasion, Lost), and American Idol was about all I could leave on my viewing list for reality television.

My question for the last two seasons or more is this: Why isn't Survivor shot in HD? It seems to me that when you're in an exotic locale such as the ones featured on Survivor, there's a great opportunity missed by airing the show in SD. Not only that, but if you REALLY want to get a better feel for how the contestants are living, you can get all that gritty detail in HD.

May 16 2006 at 11:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dries

there is a program in Belgium (it's a format that runs in many european countries) which is called '71 degrees North'. They have to hike in the snow, swim at airtemperatures of minus -20°C and such stuff ..
Though, it's not that popular its certainly different.

May 16 2006 at 10:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
doc

I think it is a little early to be worrying about the ratings for Survivor. It is still a regular top 10 show and you can't discount the fact that it is cheap to make by comparison.

The thing that actually surprises me about this story is that the LA Times is using freaking typepad to host their content? I get that they want to hop on the blogging bandwagon and all but holy smokes, they can't get someone on the web development team to install a copy of WordPress?

May 16 2006 at 10:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jo

Survivor producers: please don't tinker with the Survivor format. Remember the demise of "Millionaire?" The more they played with "Celebrity Week" etc., the show lost the reason people tuned in in the first place. Real people. Recall how the "Survivor All-Stars" show kind of flopped? (At least it did for me, with the exception of Rupert.) Anyway, just keep doing the same thing. Pick compelling contestants. Keep doing two shows a year. Warm locales are the most feasible. My family loves Survivor. Still can't get enough of it!

May 16 2006 at 10:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mark

nbc only tries to satisfy one segment of it's audience over & over, canceling surface & e ring perfect example.

May 16 2006 at 10:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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