The biggest problem IMO is that Probst is both the showrunner and the host. There is nobody to pressure test his ideas. It feels like he now convinces himself whatever is good for Jeff (i.e. shorter seasons, contestants who won't push back or be at all difficult to him, a reunion show with no opportunity for the cast or previous winners to speak) will make the show good. And he's almost always wrong.
Holiday weekend here in Baltimore looks to be soggy every day. I haven’t watched the show you wrote about. I’m so damn caught up in politics that my reality tv intake has slowed down. Sometimes I watch short segments of shows about religious families that have a lot of children. I’m not religious and I don’t have children. I find these people fascinating for ten minutes, then maddening, then boring. They’re so in a bubble.
I mean if you're open to suggestions for writing inspo... :D
I love your intellectual takes on Bravo and reality TV in general. One of my favorite Bitch Sesh episodes was one where you were talking about the cast of RHOBH's relationship with food, among other things. Not sure if you listened to Jon Lovett's mini-series "Bravo, America!" where he interviewed reality television stars and juxtaposed the industry with the current political climate, but between that and the fact that the "President" is a former reality star and we see people like Spencer Pratt running, I'd love to read your thoughts on what seems to be a dementedly reciprocal evolution of this warped relationship between entertainment, politics, and culture overall.
Just a thought! I'd also be thrilled to get your hot takes in the comments on Bravo shows if this doesn't warrant a full essay.
I never watched Survivor until a few years ago when I was in outpatient treatment for five months during a mental breakdown. When I was at home I binge watched Survivor from the start. It kept me safe, and even inspired me. It really meant so much to me. I hate that they stay in Fiji now, they don't have normal people anymore, they have the same challenges every time, and no (as you said) "inhospitable conditions." I actually enjoyed Season 50 even though some of it was cringe- literally no one cares about Billie Eilish idols (love her but wtf) or Jimmy Fallon twists. I was glad about who won based on who it was down to. As for Cirie, she can have all of my money. She can have everything I own. What does she need? It's hers. Forever the Survivor Queen!
It is a gorgeous autumn day here in Whanganui a Tara (Wellington, NZ). I watched the first season of survivor; absolutely novel and fun and a team experience (I was a counselor at a summer camp and we watched the finale as a group; it was an EVENT! I don’t think I’d enjoy it now. Have a lovely weekend, everyone.
It's a surprisingly sunny and temperate Spring day here in the Pacific Northwest. We're all making the most of it. My partner is excitedly gardening today. Tomorrow we're going out to participate in the Ballard Book Crawl!!
Speaking of pop culture and what's been top of mind...I was watching Send Help on Netflix and thought it was a really interesting display of the more nuanced discomforts of feminism, in which the preoccupation of many women who are socialized into Whiteness is this revenge fantasy of topping the social hierarchy and finally accumulating the power that has been wrongfully denied to them. Notably there is no genuine interest in thinking critically about the systems and structures that create the hierarchy itself. ***spoiler*** Even the ending where Rachel Mcaddam's character has "won", winning is portrayed as conventional beauty standards, being rich, famous, and powerful. It's very unintentionally the clearest depiction of White feminism I have seen in a while, and it takes me back to the "Man vs. Bear" spinoff of "White man vs. White woman" that contentiously played out on the internet some time ago.
Over here in Amsterdam it’s a summery long weekend after way too much cold and rain. The parks are full of people barbecuing. We’re hitting the beach and spending time at our neighborhood pool. 🥰
I'm new here, hi! I hope I don't offend anyone if I go in hard with some survivor takes... because, oof, Survivor. You just know it's going to end the way it always does. Bye, Cirie. Bye, Tiff. Of COURSE Jonathon is still there at the end. OF COURSE. Did anyone else notice that Tiff got screwed every single tribal, and every single time there's footage of her calming herself down so as not to appear angry in front of the others -- until the last time. She knew she couldn't look like the Angry Black Woman. Because look what happens the one time she does. To add misogyny upon misogynoir, Aubry was the only castaway who even bothered to console Tiff -- the men spent the time complaining that Tiff was too emotional. It's just so predictable. By the way - Riz, Joe, and Jonathon versus Tiff -- who's too emotional?
I had to watch this season out of the corner of eye only so I could contribute to the family dialogue about it, because otherwise, watching this show fills me with rage.
Roxane, thanks for your reflection on Survivor 50.
I’ve watched Survivor from the jump and my viewing habits have evolved with the game.
I started watching Podcasts about the series during Covid and have developed a strong habit of checking in with the talking heads while watching the episodes.
I just finished watching the episode of “The Pod Has Spoken” with winner-the-third-time-around Tyson, Ashley and Riley during which they interviewed the final five.
I like the braided element of social media commentary, being able to chime in on reflections —like I’m doing now with you— and going with the flow of “what is” rather than “in my day.”
It’s going to be rainy this weekend, which we very much need, so I plan to relax and only do quieter activities than I’ve been doing the past two weekends. I made cinnamon raisin bagels today to have for breakfast tomorrow. My husband and I are going to see I Love Boosters sometime tomorrow afternoon, and Sunday Pasta this week will be Cacio e Pepe with rosemary focaccia and red wine.
The biggest problem IMO is that Probst is both the showrunner and the host. There is nobody to pressure test his ideas. It feels like he now convinces himself whatever is good for Jeff (i.e. shorter seasons, contestants who won't push back or be at all difficult to him, a reunion show with no opportunity for the cast or previous winners to speak) will make the show good. And he's almost always wrong.
yes x1000000000
Stephanie campaigning for Jonathan during the final tribal council was SO annoying. Girl, he is not giving you that money!!
Of all the survivors, ever, they chose Stephanie. I'm still not over that.
Holiday weekend here in Baltimore looks to be soggy every day. I haven’t watched the show you wrote about. I’m so damn caught up in politics that my reality tv intake has slowed down. Sometimes I watch short segments of shows about religious families that have a lot of children. I’m not religious and I don’t have children. I find these people fascinating for ten minutes, then maddening, then boring. They’re so in a bubble.
Hope everyone enjoys the weekend.
I mean if you're open to suggestions for writing inspo... :D
I love your intellectual takes on Bravo and reality TV in general. One of my favorite Bitch Sesh episodes was one where you were talking about the cast of RHOBH's relationship with food, among other things. Not sure if you listened to Jon Lovett's mini-series "Bravo, America!" where he interviewed reality television stars and juxtaposed the industry with the current political climate, but between that and the fact that the "President" is a former reality star and we see people like Spencer Pratt running, I'd love to read your thoughts on what seems to be a dementedly reciprocal evolution of this warped relationship between entertainment, politics, and culture overall.
Just a thought! I'd also be thrilled to get your hot takes in the comments on Bravo shows if this doesn't warrant a full essay.
I never watched Survivor until a few years ago when I was in outpatient treatment for five months during a mental breakdown. When I was at home I binge watched Survivor from the start. It kept me safe, and even inspired me. It really meant so much to me. I hate that they stay in Fiji now, they don't have normal people anymore, they have the same challenges every time, and no (as you said) "inhospitable conditions." I actually enjoyed Season 50 even though some of it was cringe- literally no one cares about Billie Eilish idols (love her but wtf) or Jimmy Fallon twists. I was glad about who won based on who it was down to. As for Cirie, she can have all of my money. She can have everything I own. What does she need? It's hers. Forever the Survivor Queen!
It is a gorgeous autumn day here in Whanganui a Tara (Wellington, NZ). I watched the first season of survivor; absolutely novel and fun and a team experience (I was a counselor at a summer camp and we watched the finale as a group; it was an EVENT! I don’t think I’d enjoy it now. Have a lovely weekend, everyone.
It's a surprisingly sunny and temperate Spring day here in the Pacific Northwest. We're all making the most of it. My partner is excitedly gardening today. Tomorrow we're going out to participate in the Ballard Book Crawl!!
Speaking of pop culture and what's been top of mind...I was watching Send Help on Netflix and thought it was a really interesting display of the more nuanced discomforts of feminism, in which the preoccupation of many women who are socialized into Whiteness is this revenge fantasy of topping the social hierarchy and finally accumulating the power that has been wrongfully denied to them. Notably there is no genuine interest in thinking critically about the systems and structures that create the hierarchy itself. ***spoiler*** Even the ending where Rachel Mcaddam's character has "won", winning is portrayed as conventional beauty standards, being rich, famous, and powerful. It's very unintentionally the clearest depiction of White feminism I have seen in a while, and it takes me back to the "Man vs. Bear" spinoff of "White man vs. White woman" that contentiously played out on the internet some time ago.
Over here in Amsterdam it’s a summery long weekend after way too much cold and rain. The parks are full of people barbecuing. We’re hitting the beach and spending time at our neighborhood pool. 🥰
I'm new here, hi! I hope I don't offend anyone if I go in hard with some survivor takes... because, oof, Survivor. You just know it's going to end the way it always does. Bye, Cirie. Bye, Tiff. Of COURSE Jonathon is still there at the end. OF COURSE. Did anyone else notice that Tiff got screwed every single tribal, and every single time there's footage of her calming herself down so as not to appear angry in front of the others -- until the last time. She knew she couldn't look like the Angry Black Woman. Because look what happens the one time she does. To add misogyny upon misogynoir, Aubry was the only castaway who even bothered to console Tiff -- the men spent the time complaining that Tiff was too emotional. It's just so predictable. By the way - Riz, Joe, and Jonathon versus Tiff -- who's too emotional?
I had to watch this season out of the corner of eye only so I could contribute to the family dialogue about it, because otherwise, watching this show fills me with rage.
Roxane, thanks for your reflection on Survivor 50.
I’ve watched Survivor from the jump and my viewing habits have evolved with the game.
I started watching Podcasts about the series during Covid and have developed a strong habit of checking in with the talking heads while watching the episodes.
I just finished watching the episode of “The Pod Has Spoken” with winner-the-third-time-around Tyson, Ashley and Riley during which they interviewed the final five.
I like the braided element of social media commentary, being able to chime in on reflections —like I’m doing now with you— and going with the flow of “what is” rather than “in my day.”
It’s going to be rainy this weekend, which we very much need, so I plan to relax and only do quieter activities than I’ve been doing the past two weekends. I made cinnamon raisin bagels today to have for breakfast tomorrow. My husband and I are going to see I Love Boosters sometime tomorrow afternoon, and Sunday Pasta this week will be Cacio e Pepe with rosemary focaccia and red wine.