Survivor season one is the reality TV show that changed television. CBS’s genre-defining reality competition show wasn’t the first American reality TV show (PBS’s An American Family, MTV’s The Real World), nor the first competition (MTV’s Road Rules), nor even the first broadcast network reality show (ABC’s Making the Band).
But from its cinematic editing and dramatic game play to its exponentially increasing ratings, it was a hit that set the standard for reality competitions—and made it clear to other networks that the genre.
In 2000, I’d just been fired from my job recapping The Real World, and while I obsessively followed Survivor and blogged about in reality blurred‘s early pages, I didn’t recap or review season one—not until 20 years later, when I rewatched the show in 2020, a year that only had one new seasons of the CBS show..
While I don’t think there can be spoilers for 20-year-old TV shows, these recaps were written in hindsight, so they discuss both the events of the episodes and what’s ahead in the season. Enjoy!
1
Survivor Borneo: revisiting Survivor's first season, 20 years later
A recap and analysis of Survivor Borneo: season 1, episode 1, "The Marooning," which first aired on CBS Wednesday, May31,2000, stranding 16 Americans on the island of Pulau Tiga to play a game for $1 million.
2
Survivor Borneo's 'Generation Gap' manifests in two very different ways
Rudy Boesch memorably described his friendship with Richard Hatch on Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 2, “The Generation Gap,”which originally aired Wednesday, June 7, 2000.
3
The Survivor episode that led to a lawsuit claiming the show was rigged
Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 3, “Quest for Food,” originally aired Wednesday, June 14, 2000, and led to Stacey Stillman suing CBS and Survivor creator Mark Burnett.
4
The birth of Survivor's first alliance, and the roots of an epic betrayal
The first alliance in Survivor history was not Richard Hatch's creation, but began with Kelly and Sue on Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 4, “Too Little, Too Late,” which originally aired Wednesday, June 21, 2000.
5
God stops the fun on Survivor Borneo's fifth episode
Some players are content to just hang around and have fun while both challenges and editing perpetuated harmful stereotypes on Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 5, “Pulling Your Own Weight,” which originally aired Wednesday, June 28, 2000.
6
Survivor Borneo's merger looms, and so does some sketchy editing
In the last immunity challenge before the merge on Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 6, “Udder Revenge,” which originally aired Wednesday, July 5, 2000, Tagi takes a tiny lead, which sends it into the merge with a majority. That’s how close we were toTagibecoming a verb.
7
Survivor's first merge results in a stunning Tribal Council
Tagi and Pagong join together and the game shifts to an individual game for one tribe—but not for the other!—on Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 7, “The Merger,” which originally aired Wednesday, July 12, 2000.
8
Survivor's first loved ones visit comes via videotape
All but one of the Survivors got a visit from their loved ones via videotape, Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 8, “Thy Name is Duplicity,” which originally aired Wednesday, July 19, 2000.
9
Survivor Borneo's players actually strategize, and almost oust Rich and his ego
If Dr. Sean hadn't used his alphabetical voting method, Richard Hatch might have been voted out during Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 9, “Old and New Bonds,” which originally aired Wednesday, July 26, 2000.
10
A Survivor becomes a father, and the subject of gross gossip and scrutiny
Gervase's new kid gets a lot of attention Survivor: Borneo episode. So does strategizing: Jeff Probst's recap of Tribal Council to discussions of whether to break up an alliance, strategy has moved to the forefront of Survivor: Borneo, season 1, episode 10, “Crack in the Alliance,” which originally aired Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000.
11
Survivor Borneo's Pagonging is complete, but only after immunity saves Kelly
One tribe, Tagi, finishes off the other, Pagong, on Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 11, “Long Hard Days,” which originally aired Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000.
12
Survivor's cast mutinied, and Bud Light saved the show
The reward challenge for Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 12, “Death of an Alliance”—which originally aired Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2000—turned out to be pivotal for the show’s crew and host Jeff Probst, who told the story of what happened behind the scenes when the cast threatened to not compete in the reward challenge.
13
Survivor Borneo's finale changed Survivor, TV, and the world forever
A dramatic final challenge and an epic Tribal Council speech—plus the announcement of who's won the $1 million prize—conclude Survivor Borneo, season 1, episode 13, “The Final Four,” which originally aired Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000.
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