Since Survivor first aired in the early 2000s, viewers have not seen many changes in the show's formula and many have grown tired of the overused clichés that are prominent in the show. Fans see the same phrases used in gameplay, methods in Jeff Probst's hosting, and tropes in casting selection, to name a few.
The show needs to keep the core of Survivor the same, but the producers should consider getting rid of the overused themes - such as boosting product placement and use of fake enthusiasm - to avoid the clichés common to reality TV as well as the ones that are unique to Survivor.
Jeff's Dated Narration
Jeff is equipped with no shortage of Survivor-themed phrases and anecdotes. While some are what makes the show Survivor, others are outdated clichés. One, in particular, is the notion that reality TV hosts should be overly critical of the contestants and create added pressure. His narration of the challenges includes phrases like "___ is quickly falling out of this," "dig deep," and "I got nothin' for ya."
This language is discouraging and unive and the repeated formula is unnecessary and implies Jeff's opinion when fans want to make an opinion of their own. As just one of many unpopular opinions about Jeff Probst, his sometimes harsh and overly critical formulaic dialogue has become a cliché many fans want to see gone.
Overused Confessional Phrases
Survivor's all-too-familiar contestant confessionals are the perfect way for audiences to connect with their gameplay. However, too often fans hear one of the oldest and most common reality TV clichés, "I'm not here to make friends." This is usually a phrase uttered after someone blindsided a tribal mate or went against their word.
Some argue this cliché is glued to reality TV forever, but fans of Survivor agree that it's not how this game is played. That, along with the use of "my back is against the wall," "I'm the swing vote," "I'm on the chopping block," and "there is a target on my back," are just a few confessional clichés that should be left out.
Repeat Character Tropes
Survivor relies very heavily on personality-based character trope clichés that fans are tired of seeing. For example, often a middle-aged mom is cast who claims she is there to prove a point, but throughout the season, she gets very little screen time only to end up close to the final tribal and not win. One example of this was Survivor season 41's Heather, who was dubbed "the most invisible contestant in Survivor history." Women over forty often get the short end of the stick on Survivor, and this trend should change.
Other character trope clichés include the young 'Ozzy type' millennial who wants to be the best in challenges, the overly strategic player who always has an early target on their back, and the "off-the-rails" contestant who tells far-fetched stories and is either out of touch with the game or too in-touch.
The Last Man Standing
The standing challenge is all-too-familiar in reality TV game shows nowadays and overdone in Survivor. Very few seasons have gone by without a challenge where contestants were required to stand or hold something for as long as they could - really playing off the cliché, 'the last man standing.'
At least with obstacle course challenges and puzzles, there is something in motion and captivating viewers throughout the entire sequence. The only benefit of a standing challenge is to give producers a break and keep the contestants quiet for a little while. It isn't interesting to watch, at least not anymore, and it should be time for the show to retire that particular challenge.
Accent/Strange Behavior Montages
With the diversity of people, comes diversity of languages. Survivor has made it a habit of upholding the reality TV cliché of pointing out accent differences and exaggerating them to drive the episode and make audiences comfortable with the player. A few examples of contestants with thick accents: JT from "Tocantins," Abi from "Philippines," and Keith from "San Jan Del Sur."
Fans are shown montages of contestants like these speaking unclearly with cuts to confused faces from fellow competitors. This happens frequently with players who are acting strangely or eating too much food - anything out of the ordinary or bothersome. This style of editing makes contestants look less intelligent or disorganized, and having done this many times over the years, it is time for Survivor to snuff that torch.
Finding An Idol
It's expected that Survivor contestants get emotional and overly joyous when they finally stick their hand into the right tree branch to find an idol, but the show has created an "emotional idol finding moment" cliché that has become too played out in the series. In the newest season, they tried to change it up a bit to elicit different reactions, but the moments were still too overdone.
Yes, there aren't too many hiding places for idols besides trees and rocks, but fans are desperate for some more innovative idol hiding spots in Survivor as well as reactions from contestants. They began to stray away from cliché 'in a tree' and 'under the shelter' hiding spots in past seasons but went right back to in the bushes for the last several years.
Family/Surprise Visits
The epic hugs when contestants see their loved ones for the first time on the show is sweet, but long-drawn-out scenes filled with tears and emotional goodbyes became cliche shortly after the first few seasons. It's too predictable when Jeff says the all too familiar "but only one person can have this phone call" and then that one person gives it up so that everyone can have their call.
These reunions quickly turned into strategic moves or pitty parties for weaker contestants to solicit last-minute redemption. It is a common occurrence in reality TV and it's been overdone for Survivor. The "Winners at War" premiere had fans nostalgic, so naturally, the family visit was wonderfully emotional for contestants and fans alike, but hopefully, one of the last times viewers see this cliché.
Product Placement
Gone need to be the days of Home Depot shelter building kits and rewards at Outback Steakhouse! Product placement is a reality tv cliché that continues to this day, but in a show where contestants are supposed to be surviving out in the wilderness with nothing but the clothes on their backs, seeing real-life products takes viewers out of the experience.
Usually, the placement of the product is strange, for example, why would contestants want their food reward to be a bag of Doritos? Not to mention, Jeff gives them just one chip to share amongst themselves as a 'tease' - another Survivor cliché worth noting. The use of product placement has slowed through the years, as the show has become more lucrative, but let's hope it never comes back!
Jeff's Mentorship
Jeff becomes like family to a lot of these contestants outside of the show, but during the season, it is important to fans that the contestants truly look like they are surviving, with no help from Jeff. There are many moments where Jeff takes some of the contests aside to question them on their purpose in life and the show, as well as try to guide them. The contestants are always able to make their own decision and Jeff's inopportune gestures of mentorship often come across as an excuse for Jeff to appear onscreen more often.
Cliché moments like this are seen too often on reality TV shows. They are also often unsolicited and disrupt the flow of the game.
Fake Enthusiasm
Survivor does a great job making the show look as natural and real as possible, but when contestants clap at the gesture of extra rice after a challenge, it's impossible not to notice the coaching that was given by the production crew.
Survivor doesn't need to solicit the cliché fake smiles and 'ooos' and 'ahhs' of its contestants to remain an engaging reality TV show. It's noticeably forced, and when the contestants are focused on the game, it's shallow and unnecessary to make them pretend to be happy. It may work for other reality TV shows, but not this one.
NEXT: 10 Flaws In The Show Survivor That Fans Choose To Ignore