Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
#126
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
The law of diminishing returns has absolutely nothing to do with it. After 12 years, the show is still in the top 20. In this day and age, a top 20 hit for a network is practically a gold mine. No way this show is going away anytime soon. It's still one of the top-rated reality shows on, probably THE top-righted one not counting singing/dancing competitions.
While I think Jeff Probst's days are probably numbered on the show (I think he'll bow out eventually), I think the show will continue on several years without him. It's got major name recognition at this point, plus the bragging rights to being the father of reality shows (although honestly that "honor" should go to "The Real World").
Consider this: "Survivor" gets better ratings than "The Office," which is NBC's #1 rated show overall. It's solid.
While I think Jeff Probst's days are probably numbered on the show (I think he'll bow out eventually), I think the show will continue on several years without him. It's got major name recognition at this point, plus the bragging rights to being the father of reality shows (although honestly that "honor" should go to "The Real World").
Consider this: "Survivor" gets better ratings than "The Office," which is NBC's #1 rated show overall. It's solid.
You're comparing apples to oranges, puppies and a glass of lemonade as far as I can tell. The show is NOT on NBC. It's on CBS. To compare it's ratings to The Office is silly. NBC will continue to air The Office partly because it owns the show and sees profit on the backend in syndication and also because it's one of the few shows on its schedule that does OK. That's the difference between the No. 1 network and the No. 4 network.
There are just a handful of shows that have not shown serious viewer erosion after the host/star leaves. No amount of name recognition is going to change the fact that the only real constant on the show is Jeff Probst. The day he leaves, the show will see major viewer erosion. It's inevitable.
If you want a perfect example of this, read up on "Without a Trace." The show was in the top 20 when CBS canceled it. Why? Because it's viewership was eroding and it got the the point it was going to cost too much money to keep the cast together. WAT was averaging about 13 million viewers during its last season in 2009. That's a few million more than Survivor has gotten the last four seasons. Suvivor is different because it doesn't have a cast, but it will still reach this point.
And the "father" of reality shows is "An American Family," which aired on PBS in 1973. Not the Real World.
Last edited by madcougar; 03-27-12 at 12:55 PM.
#127
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
The cost do not necessarily go up at all for a Reality Show. The winners purse is the same now in 2012 that it was when the show started in 2000. You add to the fact the show has cut costs by filming seasons in the same location back to back and the show has a ton of product placement I would say the only reason the show would be more expensive to produce now is a few Producer salaries. And in adjusted for inflation dollars from 2000-2012 I would be really shocked if this shows budget is at most more then 10%-20% higher.
And I am not familiar with specifics for Without A Trace however that seems like an entirely different case because a scripted show you have to increase the salaries to keep on the actors,writers and directors each year even if ratings go stagnant or decrease.
If something like American Idol could chug along with the loss of Simon Cowell where the personalities of the judges are a much bigger part of the show or at least should be, then Survivor should be fine if Jeff decided to quit at some point.
And I am not familiar with specifics for Without A Trace however that seems like an entirely different case because a scripted show you have to increase the salaries to keep on the actors,writers and directors each year even if ratings go stagnant or decrease.
If something like American Idol could chug along with the loss of Simon Cowell where the personalities of the judges are a much bigger part of the show or at least should be, then Survivor should be fine if Jeff decided to quit at some point.
#128
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
The cost do not necessarily go up at all for a Reality Show. The winners purse is the same now in 2012 that it was when the show started in 2000. You add to the fact the show has cut costs by filming seasons in the same location back to back and the show has a ton of product placement I would say the only reason the show would be more expensive to produce now is a few Producer salaries. And in adjusted for inflation dollars from 2000-2012 I would be really shocked if this shows budget is at most more then 10%-20% higher.
And I am not familiar with specifics for Without A Trace however that seems like an entirely different case because a scripted show you have to increase the salaries to keep on the actors,writers and directors each year even if ratings go stagnant or decrease.
If something like American Idol could chug along with the loss of Simon Cowell where the personalities of the judges are a much bigger part of the show or at least should be, then Survivor should be fine if Jeff decided to quit at some point.
And I am not familiar with specifics for Without A Trace however that seems like an entirely different case because a scripted show you have to increase the salaries to keep on the actors,writers and directors each year even if ratings go stagnant or decrease.
If something like American Idol could chug along with the loss of Simon Cowell where the personalities of the judges are a much bigger part of the show or at least should be, then Survivor should be fine if Jeff decided to quit at some point.
Happy?
#129
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
I already agreed with this point. But you're ignoring the fact that while production costs are going up, so is the price of commercial air time. As long as "Survivor" is a top-20 hit, it can continue to demand top-20 prices for commercials. And, as other posters have pointed out, not only does "Survivor" not have writers or actors to pay for, they've also found other ways of cutting costs (like shooting back-to-back seasons in one location).
There are just a handful of shows that have not shown serious viewer erosion after the host/star leaves. No amount of name recognition is going to change the fact that the only real constant on the show is Jeff Probst. The day he leaves, the show will see major viewer erosion. It's inevitable.
But as much as I appreciate Probst, I'll keep watching the show (as I have been since season 1) even if he leaves, and will continue to do so unless the quality of the show suffers.
If you want a perfect example of this, read up on "Without a Trace." The show was in the top 20 when CBS canceled it. Why? Because it's viewership was eroding and it got the the point it was going to cost too much money to keep the cast together. WAT was averaging about 13 million viewers during its last season in 2009. That's a few million more than Survivor has gotten the last four seasons. Suvivor is different because it doesn't have a cast, but it will still reach this point.
Sure, it was first, but most people site "Real World" as the first (rightly or wrongly), and "Survivor" as the show that single-handedly popularized the concept.
Last edited by Mr. Flix; 03-27-12 at 02:06 PM. Reason: felt like it
#130
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
Jeez, I guess old women don't mellow after menopause.
I think if they get the right host Jeff is not that critical.
I think if they get the right host Jeff is not that critical.
Last edited by arminius; 03-27-12 at 02:30 PM.
#131
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
I wonder if they would cancel Survivor if a contestant got killed?
#132
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
#133
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
They would have to up the ante elsewhere on the show to compensate for Jeff's departure. He'd be a tough one to replace.
Whether Jeff will come back or not will depend a lot on what happens this year outside of Survivor. He's directing a movie and he has a syndicated talk show that's airing later this year. If those go fairly well, he may hang up his cargo shorts.
I think it would be cool to have Jeff come back as a contestant in another all-star Survivor. That could be ratings gold
Whether Jeff will come back or not will depend a lot on what happens this year outside of Survivor. He's directing a movie and he has a syndicated talk show that's airing later this year. If those go fairly well, he may hang up his cargo shorts.
I think it would be cool to have Jeff come back as a contestant in another all-star Survivor. That could be ratings gold
#134
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
They would have to up the ante elsewhere on the show to compensate for Jeff's departure. He'd be a tough one to replace.
Whether Jeff will come back or not will depend a lot on what happens this year outside of Survivor. He's directing a movie and he has a syndicated talk show that's airing later this year. If those go fairly well, he may hang up his cargo shorts.
I think it would be cool to have Jeff come back as a contestant in another all-star Survivor. That could be ratings gold
Whether Jeff will come back or not will depend a lot on what happens this year outside of Survivor. He's directing a movie and he has a syndicated talk show that's airing later this year. If those go fairly well, he may hang up his cargo shorts.
I think it would be cool to have Jeff come back as a contestant in another all-star Survivor. That could be ratings gold
I can't see what Jeff Probst could bring to the world of talk shows and I actually like him.
#135
DVD Talk Legend
#136
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
I'm looking forward to seeing if the thread for tomorrow night's episode (post Colton) generates nearly as many posts as this one.
#137
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
I'm surprised there hasn't been a B-list celebrity Survivor. Make it a 5 million prize, maybe for charity.
#138
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
I dunno either. The only thing I can think of is since the talk show will be syndicated, it's being produced by CBS. Maybe he stipulated in his last contract that he'll sign if he gets a shot at a talk show.
#139
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
If the movie makes any money, or his show lasts more than one season, I will be VERY surprised.
#141
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
If people think the celebs for a dancing show or celeb apprentice are d-list imagine the quality of celeb for a harsher show where you have to stay one month on an island.
#142
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
There was it was called I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and it was boring and unwatchable once Heidi and Spencer quit.
If people think the celebs for a dancing show or celeb apprentice are d-list imagine the quality of celeb for a harsher show where you have to stay one month on an island.
If people think the celebs for a dancing show or celeb apprentice are d-list imagine the quality of celeb for a harsher show where you have to stay one month on an island.
#143
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
Now I'm picturing Jeff pulling out this big hunting knife with "THE TRIBE" etched on the side... STAB... followed by Jeff looking down at the body while menacingly reciting his popular catchphrase...
#144
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Survivor: One World -- "Thanks for the Souvenir" -- 3/21/12
I'll give him one more chance. If he stabs him at the reunion, where he will predictably talk like he's the victim, I'll watch Jeff's totally unnecessary talk show.