"Survivor" launches its 20th cycle by bringing back some of its most popular past players in an edition dubbed "Heroes vs. Villains" (debuting 8 p.m. Thursday, CBS).
The edition also marks the 10th anniversary of "Survivor," the longest-running network reality series. It's also largely responsible for the emergence of the reality genre that currently dominates network and cable schedules.
The cast includes Tyson Apostol ("Tocantins"), Randy Bailey ("Gabon"), Rupert Boneham ("Pearl Islands"), James Clement ("China"), Sandra Diaz-Twine ("Pearl Islands"), Danielle DiLorenzo ("Panama"), Colby Donaldson ("Australian Outback"), Cirie Fields ("Panama"), Russell Hantz ("Samoa"), Amanda Kimmel ("China"), Jessica "Sugar" Kiper ("Gabon"), Stephenie LaGrossa ("Palau"), Jerri Manthey ("Australian Outback"), Rob Mariano ("Marquesas"), Parvati Shallow ("Cook Islands"), James "J.T." Thomas Jr. ("Tocantins") Ben "Coach" Wade ("Tocantins"), Tom Westman ("Palau"), Candice Woodcock ("Cook Islands") and Courtney Yates ("China").
The usual motto for the game - "Outwit, Outplay, Outlast" - is being replaced with the slogan "Return, Revenge, Redemption." All challenges in this season will be based on challenges used in previous seasons.
For CBS, "Survivor" has been perfect elements working together. The show is relatively cheap to produce, much cheaper than most scripted shows. That also helps make it more profitable for the network.
The series also has history and a very dedicated fan base, which would follow no matter the quality.
Though "Survivor" had record ratings during its first edition in the summer of 2000 (an "American Idol"-like audience of 30 million viewers), the show's ratings have slowly dropped over the following decade. Still, "Survivor" manages to stay in Nielsen's top 20 most weeks - quite a remarkable feat considering its age.
"Survivor" also set the template for several reality-show staples today. The more outrageous the contestant, the more the audience responded. Now, almost every reality show competition casts at least one schemer to throw a wrench into the game.
A voting system is also part of most reality show competitions, whether it be players eliminating each other or a panel of judges doing the deed, adding suspense to the stories.
For better or worse, "Survivor," now hailed as the grandfather of all reality shows, is an influential series that helped spawn an entire trend in programming.
Other highlights for the week of Feb. 7-13. All times are Eastern. Listings subject to change; check local listings:
SUNDAY
n "Super Bowl XLIV" (6:25 p.m. CBS). The Saints face The Colts. The Who performs at halftime.
MONDAY
n "Heroes" (9 p.m. NBC). The season finale has Peter taking on a new and unlikely ally for a rescue mission.
TUESDAY
n "American Idol" (8 p.m. Fox). The action moves to the Hollywood Rounds.
WEDNESDAY
n "Modern Family" (9 p.m. ABC). Valentine's Day spurs the romantic side within the family, for better or worse.
THURSDAY
n "Parks and Recreation" (8:30 p.m. NBC). Lesley goes looking for her mother's long-lost love.
Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxville.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/.
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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