For several decades now, the reality competition show Survivor has taken over the CBS screens with its grueling tasks and challenging the participants’ mental abilities. Premiered in 2000, this is the American adaptation of the Swedish series Robinson and is currently in its 47th season. While the basic premise of leaving certain individuals on an isolated island, with basic amenities, was known to many.
But there is also a set of rules and guidelines that every cast member must adhere to while competing on the show. In this article, we will explore the top 5 rules that every Survivor contestant must follow – rules that even host Jeff Probst and CBS have kept under wraps.
5. Contestants Are Required to Submit a Video in Order to Secure a Spot on Survivor
Survivor brings together an unlikely group of individuals, who are then pushed to their maximum capacity with several mental and physical challenges. Not only this, but at the same time they are also gunning for the coveted $1 million prize money.
However, amid grueling tasks, there is one thing that all the past and present members of the show would agree on. That is the intense selection process of the show.
For those who want to try out their luck on the show, they need to submit an application through the CBS casting site. After which they are also required to submit a video, which according to the production team of the show plays a crucial factor in assessing a candidate.
If the video manages to intrigue the casting team, a producer will then get in touch with the candidate. After this, the rest of the formal casting process would take place. All in all, it’s the initial video submission that ultimately opens the door for potential contestants to take the first step toward becoming a part of the iconic reality show.
4. Physical Fitness Is a Must for Survivor Players
In an interview via People, executive producer and host Jeff Probst added that there isn’t any official checklist to assess a candidate’s physical fitness. But in order to be prepared for the harsh reality and conditions of the show, they should be at a good fitness level.
In this, there’s no requirement to be an elite athlete; they should at least have the agility to face the physical challenges thrown their way during their isolation on the island.
On the same subject, Probst added that when a task involves swimming in the ocean, the contestants don’t need to be great swimmers, but at least they should know the basics so that they don’t get in trouble. The producers also work closely with those individuals who have had a physical injury in the past, along with their doctors.
To ensure that they get full medical clearance before they are allowed to take part in the show. This showcases the producers taking every possible precaution to ensure that the contestants are not only ready but also protected during their time on the island.
3. Every Contestant Must Attend Survivor School Before Competing in the Show
Realizing the crucial need of the show, the topmost producers have made it a rule that every participant has to attend Survivor School before the real show. This would provide the individuals with a basic overview and framework of what to expect from the show.
As well as, they are also taught the basics of survival, such as lighting a fire, how to build a simple shelter, and maintaining personal hygiene.
Not only this, but they are also educated on what nuts and fruits are safe for consumption, how to identify poisonous plants and general jungle safety. This is done in order to prepare them for the harsh realities of the wilderness.
However, these are just surface-level awareness, and despite attending the mandatory school, participants still struggle with these tasks during the game. As learning something theoretically and doing the same thing practically are two different things.
2. Why Survivor Contestants Must Wear Different Colored Shirts?
Reality television pays more emphasis on how participants are showcased visually on the screen. In the same manner, even the producers of Survivor have made it a rule that no two participants are allowed to wear the same-colored clothing. To maintain the visual element, they allow the contestants to pitch in their own outfit ideas, which must reflect their own everyday style.
This is done in order to differentiate the players and avoid generic adventure clothing. The production team, via the same People interview, noted that “90% of the players are very adaptable to the wardrobe process.” Further, they work closely with them to ensure that they are happy with their choices.
But for the ones who do not, it suggests that maybe they are not mentally ready to be a part of the show.
1. The Environmental Rules Every Survivor Player Must Follow
For more than two decades, the show has filmed in several exotic locations like Kenya, Malaysia, and Fiji, among others. In order to make sure that they have a minimum impact on these environments, the show must follow the strict local guidelines of each country.
However, despite these stringent rules and regulations, the guidelines do not interfere with the contestants’ activities such as fishing or building shelters. This is done to make sure that the show respects the local environmental concerns but also keeps the games engaging for the players as well as the audience.
You can watch all the seasons of Survivor on Paramount+.
