August 3, 2000

7:53 AM

One of the best media manipulations of modern times: CBS and Mark Burnett fool everyone about the ultimate Survivor. For weeks now, it's been more or less common knowledge that Gervase was going to be the last one standing on the island. Why? The two main reasons: An unused graphic discovered in the bowels of CBS.com's site showing all the contestants with Xs over their faces, except for Gervase; and a quick snippet of a Tribal Council in the opening credits a few weeks back showing only four people, one of whom was Gervase. There have been other bits of evidence conveniently popping up lately, such as reports that Gervase has been seen driving around Philly in an expensive new sports car. So guess who got voted off last night?
posted by aaron (13 comments total)

I can't stomach the show, but I occasionally enjoy the Reading of Signs and Portents by fans and anti-fans. It's that much funnier now that it appears that Burnett has been playing the viewers for marks.
posted by harmful at 8:00 AM on August 3, 2000

I think it's beautiful. The suits at CBS beat us at our own game with that missing Gervase X graphic.

Serves us right for under-estimating them.
posted by ratbastard at 8:01 AM on August 3, 2000

I can't stomach the show, but I occasionally enjoy the Reading of Signs and Portents by fans and anti-fans. It's that much funnier now that it appears that Burnett has been playing the viewers for marks.
posted by harmful at 8:02 AM on August 3, 2000

Needless to say, alt.tv.survivor is up in arms over this, as most of them have been completely had. The best part is that the bulldog edition of the New York Post has a big article on the front page of its TV section detailing just why Gervase is the ultimate survivor. This article is conspicuously absent from their web site; I'll bet it's not in the final edition either.
posted by aaron at 8:03 AM on August 3, 2000

Furrfu. Sorry about the double-post. Again. My flaky net connection here sometimes times out between MeFi receiving my post, and sending the response back.
posted by harmful at 8:08 AM on August 3, 2000

I thought the modern electoral system was the best media manipulation of modern times.

Still. Good on whoever thought that ruse up at CBS. I guess they're not all brain-dead idiots there after all.
posted by chicobangs at 8:17 AM on August 3, 2000

I heard the Survivors 2 are getting outfitted with Lee Jeans
posted by tomalak at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2000

Anyone who is even remotely interested in this crap needs to go take a walk, read a book or do anything else that might be worthwhile or informative.
posted by Mr. skullhead at 12:47 PM on August 3, 2000

I guess that's me. I'll go out for a walk in a minute.

Also up in arms are the rec.gambling.sports people, who put bets on the Survivor outcome at Intertops sportsbook. Profanity abounds. Heh. Well done, CBS.
posted by danwalker at 1:11 PM on August 3, 2000

Anyone who is even remotely interested in this crap needs to go take a walk, read a book or do anything else that might be worthwhile or informative.

You mean like Steely Dan and cannibis?
posted by rcade at 1:39 PM on August 3, 2000

Anyone who flames people because of a TV show they like to watch should go soak their head, play with matches or do anything else that might be worthwhile or useful to the rest of the world.
posted by daveadams at 1:44 PM on August 3, 2000

*snicker*

rcade, too funny...
posted by centrs at 1:59 AM on August 4, 2000

exactly the same thing... graphic "found" on the show's site etc... and i do mean *exactly*... happened last year when the show (here called robinson-ekspedisjonen or "expedition robinson") ran in norway. except here, the "exposed" winner really did win.
posted by anjarchista at 9:36 AM on August 4, 2000