Is ‘Survivor’ Fake? 7 Secrets of the Reality Show Revealed

Is Survivor fake?

Season 41 of Survivor just wrapped up, and fans cannot help but wonder, “is Survivor scripted.”

The survival-themed reality show has been entertaining viewers for over two decades.

In the series, contestants try to fend for themselves on a stranded island, hoping to win the cash prize.

Players have to survive starvation, natural disasters, sleepless nights, and more; making Survivor one of the most challenging reality shows ever.

But, of course, no one knows how much of the show is scripted and fake, so here is a breakdown of some interesting facts about the show.

1. Contestants Get Sufficient Information about Challenges

Although it might look like contestants get into the challenge immediately after getting the instructions and explanation from host Jeff Probst, that is not the case.

Instead, the challenge production team walks the contestants through the challenges. 

The tribes can ask questions and strategize separately from other tribes. The challenge production team also ensures that each tribe has the same information to maintain fairness. 

2. Challenges Are Demonstrated by Crew Members

Before the contestants complete the challenge, it is practiced by crew members, also known as the “Dream team,” twice.

The first time is to see how it works, and the second time, the challenge is filmed so that the crew can practice filming. 

The recorded footage is then shown to viewers when Probst explains the challenge to the cast. 

3. Tribal Council Duration

The tribal council might wrap up in 10 minutes on TV, but this is the edited version.

In reality, it usually lasts anywhere between 45 to 90 minutes.

Producers watch the confessional voting footage live, and based on what they have seen, it is edited for maximum entertainment. 

4. Off-Camera Medical Box

When contestants need access to supplies like sunscreen, bug spray, and vitamins, there is a medical box stashed in the woods.

Competitors can also submit a personal bag of items, such as feminine products, contact lenses, vital medications, etc. 

Survivor Contestants (Source: Survivor Instagram)

And if they need any of the stuff, they can go get it from the box, but only one at a time so that they aren't clustering back there.

The contestants aren’t filmed when they go to the med box to maintain the illusion of a reality show. 

5. Players and Their Backup Outfits

Every player is given only one outfit to wear throughout the competition, but sometimes certain incidents might require a change.

When that happens, the productions crew gives them an identical replica of their outfit.

They do not show that on TV, but the productions crew has a backup ready.

For instance, when Survivor alum Malcolm Freber lost his flip-flops during Survivor: Philippines, he was given a replacement.

6. Scene Re-enactment

Executive producer Mark Burnett once admitted that some scenes of the show were reenacted to get a picturesque shot.

And for the same reason, the show sometimes uses body doubles. 

Burnett assured that the reenactment was done only for aesthetic purposes and that the scenes were not planned or scripted. 

Former contestant Karishma Patel once revealed that the players had to film the walk to the tribal council several times to get the camera shots right.

“They do that shot about three times. Then, we have to rewind and do it again from different angles,” she said. 

7. Models and Actors as Players

The show also occasionally casts actors and models as they are already comfortable on camera and can take direction.

These actors and models are also recruited because the vast majority of the applicants for the show are not qualified.  

But these recruits still go through the rigorous casting process.