Survivor (TV series)

Survivor is a popular reality television program produced in many countries throughout the world. The show consists of contestants isolated in a remote location competing for a cash prize. The format was created by Swedish production company Strix. It is now considered to be the father of reality TV, because since its premiere reality TV has gained a nationwide popularity, and other reality TV shows similar to Survivor have appeared.

Controversies and Legal Action

Turmoil between players is commonplace for any reality series, but Survivor has had a few instances which went beyond mere intertribal squabbles:

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• In February 2001, Borneo player Stacey Stillman filed a lawsuit claiming producers interfered in the process of the game by persuading two members of her team (Sean Keniff and Dirk Been) to vote her off instead of Rudy Boesch. Been supported her allegations. Mark Burnett countersued Stillman for $5 million dollars. The case was eventually settled out of court.
• At the trivia immunity challenge for Africa's final four players, host Jeff Probst asked which female player in their season had no piercings. Kim Johnson answered Kelly Goldsmith, got the point, and went on to win the challenge, which pushed her to third and ultimately (after another immunity win) second place. Tom Buchanan was eliminated. Months after filming, the cast and producers gathered for the reunion show. The cast and producers watched the finale broadcast, and when Probst was shown asking who had no piercings, Lindsey Richter shouted to the TV that she had none. Lex van der Berghe's answer had been Lindsey, yet the show had not awarded him a point, thus drastically changing the outcome of the game (van der Berghe was eliminated in third place). Realizing their mistake, CBS paid van der Berghe and Buchanan a settlement.
• In the fifth episode of the All-Star season, a naked Richard Hatch may or may not have come into contact with Sue Hawk after she blocked his path during an immunity challenge. Hatch was voted out that day for other reasons; Hawk quit the game a few days later (episode six). Hawk considered filing a lawsuit against the parties involved, but appeared with Hatch on The Early Show the morning after the sixth episode aired, stating she opted out of legal action because CBS had helped her "deal with the situation".