Survivor - Jumping the Shark? CBS says new day/time and a "twist" (+ a "celeb" will be a survivor )

[dr.strangelove]

If you are not familiar with the term "jump the shark" it refers to the moment when a good TV series goes "bad." It references the Happy Days episode where Fonzi jumped over live sharks on his motorcycle.

Anyway, I suspect that Survivor may have just jumped the shark. I was upset when CBS announced that it was moving the show to Wednesday (a HUGE mistake IMO) and returning to an old twist/gimmick (old v. young). But we have ridden out mistakes like these before. The real problem, ESPN leaked that former Dallas (NFL) and Miami (NCAA) coach Jimmy Johnson will be a survivor.

I hope the "celeb" news is not true. But I doubt ESPN would get that wrong.

[dmr]

1. Helmet hair Jimmy Johnson?

He's got to be pushing 70 about now, I think. What's Johnson doing these days besides fishing down in the Keys?

When I hear his name the first thing that comes to mind is that f'in' 62-7 loss to the Jags. Johnson resigned the next day.

But what Dolfans remember most is it was an embarrassing loss, especially for Dan Marino who ended up retiring after a kick-ass career. Johnson just didn't put together a good defense to Marino's offense. Cecil Collins was a total bust (pun intended, I guess).

That was a lifetime ago, but still stabs the heart.

I'm with you, the young vs old is a bad gimmick.

[dr.strangelove]

2. Johnson

I think he will be voted out quickly, but I'm sure he is publishing a book or something and this is just a publicity thing. I hate the old v. young thing. I like it better when they keep the gimmicks a part of the game (like exile island).

[lazarus]

3. not a problem with any of these

Survivor started on Wednesday night, and did fairly well there. SO that's not a problem. I haven't heard anything about a new time, so we'll see.

We've seen ages as a tribal split before (Panama), and inadvertently, the tribes were split mostly along age lines in Thailand. The older tribe kicked the younger tribe's collective ass, too. Tribal gimmicks are old hat.

As for Jimmy Johnson, I don't like a celeb's being on, but we've come close a couple of times. Gary Hogeboom was a NFL quarterback, if not a tremendously famous one, and he got spotted fairly quickly. And Taj from Tocantins had a one-hit-wonder sort of singing career, but never got noticed.

Apparently, Johnson tried to get on in Gabon, but failed the physical. He's gotten himself into shape now. He's also rumoured to be a huge Survivor fan, which we need more of, I think. His celebrity will likely not be an issue after the first day or two. I could be wrong, but look at the most recent season.

One of the contestants in HvV was a "celeb", Boston Rob, even outside Survivor, and that celebrity isn't what cost him the game. He pissed off Russell and Tyson made the dumbest move in Survivor history, and Jerri completely misremembered what happened in ASS. (She for some reason thought Rob was responsible for her ouster, when it was really Lex.)

[dr.strangelove]

4. Hey Laz

Hey Laz, by new day/time, I meant the Wednesday 8:00 slot thats it is written in. I always refer to schedule shifts as new day/time, sorry if I was confusing. Its been on Thursday for every season following season 1. There are lots of fans that can't get to the TV on a Wednesday night like they can on a Thursday night, me included. I'll be reordering tivo I guess and watching it late.

Neither Gary or Taj were remotely celebs. Jimmy Johnson is a huge name for men 18-35. The target ratings group will know him VERY well. I don;t like it one bit.

[lazarus]

5. Honestly

I assume his celebrity will be a big deal for about three days, and that's it. And there was talk when Hogeboom's identity got out. Yes, Johnson is a much bigger celebrity, but it will either cause him to get voted off first, in which case, the whole thing will go away, or it won't be a factor, in which case, the whole thing will go away as a thing to be worried about.

That's not to say I'm happy about it, but I don't view it as a shark-jumping moment by any means. People have been claiming shark-jumping moments for Survivor from the beginning, but it will remain a top-ten show so long as they keep casting interesting people, and keep the format roughly the same.

The closest to a shark-jump for me was the editing in Samoa, with Russell getting the Greatest Of All Time edit, while in reality he was the biggest goat in the game's history, twice. The editing better improve, and quickly.

[dr.strangelove]

6. Russell

I enjoyed the russell edit the first time around. It was fun to watch him implode at tribal. But the second time, It was silly. So many good things to focus on and they choose russell.

[Suich]

7. Jimmy Johnson is doing commercials for "Extenze."

He's also 67 years old.

Bad choice, imo.

:thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

[lazarus]

8. Rudy was older

and made F3. Sandra has proven conclusively, beyond argument, that challenge ability has nothing to do with the ability to win Survivor. Twice. :hi:

[Suich]

9. Hey, laz!

My main complaint against him is those ASININE Extenze commercials; I hate the Cialis ones, too. I think all the players will know who he is, and unlike Rudy, that will work against him.

As a former NFL and NCAA coach, he doesn't strike me as a team player (as weird as that sounds). He's more of a leader, imo.

We'll see...at least I don't have to watch Russell this time around!

:hi:

[lazarus]

10. at least we'll have that

Rumours are already swirling about the next season. Some say it's Rob v Russell, and Hatch has already said he's in no matter what. So apparently, the rumours about every other season's being retreads are true, which may come as close as anything to a shark-jump, I think.

[romana]

11. I hope not

I'm tired of Russell now. He was mildly amusing the first go around, but seeing him swagger back to back is too much. I do not want to see Russell for a third go around so soon, and mYbe not ever.