Random Rambling: 24 Years of “Survivor”

I promised a review of Civil War, but it was a very long week, and that movie deserves more than a half-assed review. So, instead, I have something I have been thinking about lately. I have watched every single season of "Survivor." That is 23 years or 46 seasons. But in the past few years, it has felt like more of an obligation than a show I want to watch. 

I never watch it on Wednesday when it airs, and when I do watch it (sometimes not until the following Wednesday), it is usually a show I put on in the background while I do something else. The show has become a very low priority, and part of me feels guilty that I am not the fan I was before. 

I was glued to the TV when it premiered and watched it live through college and even grad school. I have dedicated untold hours to the show between watching it, reading recaps, or listening to podcasts talking about it. 

Part of this is that last year, they moved to 90-minute episodes. It just makes the show too long. There are still moments from the show I enjoy, such as the challenges and Tribal Councils, but a lot of the show feels a bit like filler. Host Jeff Probst said that the move to 90-minute episodes was to give us more time with the players at camps, but more often than not, it is not that compelling and, honestly, makes me dislike the players more. 

In a world where there are incredible TV shows (seriously, if you haven't watched "Shogun" yet, you still have time before the finale on Tuesday), where does a show like "Survivor" fit? Right now, it is still a good background show and still gets good enough ratings to justify more seasons (reality shows are cheaper to produce than scripted shows). The fanbase is still there, but I don't know if I am in that group anymore.