'Survivor,' an off year in Thailand

'Survivor,' an off
year in Thailand

Boring cast in a pretty setting. Bet on next season.

By Ethan Alter

     Now that the fifth edition of "Survivor" has reached its midpoint, it’s become increasingly clear that CBS’s flagship reality series is suffering from the same syndrome that plagues the “Star Trek” movies: Namely, that the even-numbered installments are great, while the odd-numbered ones are more akin to watching grass grow.
   Of course, this rule doesn’t apply to the show’s groundbreaking first season, which was far better than "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." The second season is also exempt, as "The Australian Outback" in no way measures up to "The Wrath of Khan."
   But "Africa" easily rivals Kirk & Company’s third film, "The Search for Spock," in terms of sheer boredom, while "Marquesas" is a blast of silly fun a la "The Voyage Home."
   As for "Thailand," the latest entry in the "Survivor" franchise, it’s nowhere near as unwatchable as "The Final Frontier," better known amongst Trekkies as "William Shatner’s Folly"-- but it is still a somewhat dull and plodding affair.
    The major problem with "Survivor": Thailand" (Thursdays, 8 p.m.), as with "Africa" before it, boils down to casting.
   No matter how hard Mark Burnett and his crack team of editors try to hide it behind whip-fast cutting, the fact remains that this is a seriously boring group of castaways.
   In a way, the show’s fate was sealed during the first episode, when all the nubile twentysomethings wound up on one team and all the old fogies on the other.
After all, generational conflicts are what fuel much of the show’s drama. But even if the tribes had been more evenly divided, this cast lacks the outsized personalities -- like last season’s Boston Rob, the "Outback’s" Jeri, or, of course, the infamous Richard Hatch -- who make "Survivor" such great fun to watch.
   Burnett has tried to compensate for the dull contestants by fiddling with the show’s format and designing more elaborate challenges. Some of these tweaks are successful, while others simply smack of desperation.
   At least the producers chose a great location for the show, so whenever the proceedings grow too boring viewers can instead marvel at the sheer beauty of the island’s jungle and beaches.
   After five seasons, it’s no surprise that "Survivor" is struggling to stay fresh. Fortunately, if the show’s track record holds true, the sixth edition should hail a return to form.
   Until then, be glad that "The Amazing Race" (Wednesdays at 9 p.m.) is still around to show audiences how reality TV should be done.
   Although the show faces stiff competition from The "West Wing" and the repugnant ABC series "The Bachelor," it has enough of a fan base to keep it from the chopping block. I myself wasn’t too keen on it at first, but I got hooked midway through its second season and now I’m proud to call myself a true-blue "TAR" junkie.
    Unlike "Survivor," which has a lot of downtime in between challenges, this show rarely stops to catch its breath. From the opening moments, the contestants are constantly on the go, rushing from event to event, country to country with the cameras constantly on their heels. Watching "The Amazing Race" is like getting a weekly shot of adrenaline.
    It’s also a great way to see the world without leaving your living room. So far this season, the teams have visited Mexico, Scotland, Portugal and, most recently, Morocco. Aside from the gorgeous scenery, the lively challenges provide a great reason to tune in. From skydiving and rappelling to driving a tank and delivering wine, the contests here are well-designed and hugely entertaining to watch.
   If there is a drawback to "The Amazing Race," it’s that the show, by its nature, favors the younger contestants.
   It is no accident that the previous installments were won by almost identical teams of young, white males.
    Fortunately the producers have recruited a more diverse cast for the third season, which has made it more difficult to predict the victors. In fact, the current leaders of the pack -- and my personal favorites -- are a pair of portly, middle-aged brothers who spend most of their time bickering.
    The highest praise I can pay "The Amazing Race" is that this is the one reality show I might actually consider participating in.
   How about it? Anyone care to take bets on Team TV Critic?

-Ethan Alter is a New York writer and a regular columnist for Media Life.

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