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I don't understand the current appeal of television shows like Survivor, Big Brother, Temptation Island, or The Mole. What is this programming saying about our society? Do you think these types of shows will become even more daring in the future?

"I decided to go against my own principles and actually watch one of these shows before responding," says Jean Berko Gleason, CAS professor of psychology. "So I joined the audience of about 26 million people who saw an episode of Survivor, which was mostly about killing a pig. We didn't see the actual slaughter, but there was a good bit of running about with a knife and the sounds of a struggle, after which the main pig killer was shown with blood on his face and there was a big, greasy feast.

"Here's what I've been able to figure out about this particular show. The contestants are trying to win a lot of money by outlasting one another in the Australian outback. Periodically, they get together and vote one of their fellow contestants off the show. The last person gets the money.

"For some reason the contestants are referred to as tribe members, and the whole show seems to have been designed by someone who didn't pass Anthropology 101.

"So, in response to the first question, I don't know what the appeal of such a show is either. What I saw was really boring and hokey. Presumably people are watching because someone will win $1 million. Shows of this sort are thought to represent some sort of 'reality' - i.e., real life means struggles with nature (catch a pig, or you'll miss dinner), and real life means there will be interpersonal treachery.

"But the true reality is that the shows exist in order to make money from advertisers and to increase a network's market share. Obviously, some viewers are interested in what's going on, while others are watching because of the hype. But I think it would be a mistake to think that such shows are saying much of anything about our society. After all, millions of people also watch programs as diverse as the Antiques Road Show, Nightline, and Will and Grace, but it wouldn't be reasonable to then characterize our society as obsessed with antiques, current events, or comedies about gay people.

"Shows like Survivor are aimed at one particular segment of the viewing population. Some people will watch shows like this until they get bored and move on to another kind of entertainment - similar to what has happened with the much-hyped XFL, aimed at males ages 18 to 34, which debuted at a peak and since has lost most of its audience.

"While shows may get more daring as producers try to hold onto their audience, I suspect that the novelty will gradually wear off and that Survivor - and other shows like it - won't survive for many more seasons."

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9 March 2001
Boston University
Office of University Relations