By Bryony Vander Wilp
High expectations for Survivor 2: The Australian Outback threatened to overwhelm the show before it began.
The premise remains the same but would the Australian adventure deliver record-breaking ratings like the original?
Or would Survivor 2 suffer from sequel syndrome and fail to keep viewers’ attention?
An estimated 42 million people tuned in to watch the 16 contestants begin the game. But nothing has changed.
The Survivor formula is merely repeated in a different location and with different contestants.
There are unrealistic story lines, popularity contests and warring tribes.
So, is it the beautiful scenery that drew in so many viewers? Doubtful
The 16 survivors are the key to this show.
Nick Brown, a law student, used to model.
Jerri Manthey, an aspiring actor, is fully aware of the importance of body image and able to play her part.
Even the older members of the cast have aged gracefully, lending themselves at least to look poised and wise.
There will be no overweight naked men on this expedition.
And speaking of naked: notice how both editions of Survivor take place in a hot mostly sunny climate, where the men are forced to go around shirtless and the women all wear bikinis?
Why isn’t it Survivor 2: Northern Tundra?Bulky parkas and winter boots just aren’t sexy enough.
The third and fourth sequels, already in the works, are being scouted out in South America and Africa.
A hot climate and hot characters are always going to be a winning combination.
The beautiful people will mean big bucks for advertisers who snatch them up after the show is over.
Richard Hatch is nice but he can’t sell Hugo Boss.
In this installment, there are more people like the lovable Colleen who is in Stuff magazine this month as part of its top “101 Most Beautiful Women” list.
Survivor 2: The Australian Outback will be a success just like the original but the new contestants will have greater success once the show is finished.
Not because they accomplished more or the show done with better quality but merely because they look better on a box of Cheerios.
Survivor 2 needed to give something new to viewers in order to keep the ratings high and the sequels coming
It’s giving us beautiful people. Hot topics, hot climate, heated arguments and hot bodies have been proven to keep people indoors and in front of the television by soap operas for decades.
Survivor 2: The Australian Outback doesn’t surprise, it
sizzles.