Survival
of the
or cunning?
CBS' summer of'Survivor'hypnotized audiences
PT EMILY rTCAl I ANU JOSH NICHOLS
For many people in the United States this sum
mer, Wednesday nights meant one thing: the tele
vision series “Survivor."
Tonight, that will all come to an end.
The show that cast a group of total strangers on
an island and allowed them to vote one another off
one by one, has dwindled down to just four
remaining survivors.
At the conclusion of tonight’s show, there will
be one remaining cast-away.
That person will go home with $1 million, thus
ending a summer of mayhem over a show original
ly looted upon as a network experiment.
What was so intriguing about the show that
motivated audiences to sit in front of the television
for one hour every week and simply watch human
nature at work?
It’s called live television.
But it wasn’t a totally new idea.
You may have previously gotten hooted watch
ing shows like MTV’s Real World or Road Rules, but
neither of those shows was raved over like CBS’
“Survivor."
The show that left its cast on an
island in the middle of the
South China Sea to test
strength of character and
physical body stands out
from other live television
productions, as well as
every otner television production. It s like watch
ing a car wreck - or maybe a bicycle wreck since
that’s not as violent - but it is interesting because
audiences like to feel as if they are participating,’’
said Laurie Thomas Lee, Associate Professor of
Broadcasting.
“It is not truly interactive television, but it is
more engaging than a sitcom,” she said.
Challenging the re-runs summer television
programming brings, CBS pitched “Survivor” to
test audiences’ responses.
The show’s success has proved speculation and
strategy at work in the broadcasting industry can
be a risk worth taking.
Today, CBS emulates constant support by its
programming. David Letterman covers the late
night spoofs of the show, while “The Early Show”
interviews cast members who have been voted off
the island.
The network’s promotion has definitely
reached the fans.
Devout audiences are now sipping
out of beer mugs that read “This
one’s for my immunity,” and
—wearing "Don’t Vote me
female cast
u”The show is a aways).
microcosm of life "SuTyi?r’ **“
that shows the
tug between of production
getting ahead and that has captured
getting along." SfKSKg
that is really
Richard Dienstbier interesting,
psychology professor “The show is a
microcosm of life
that shows the
tug between get
ting ahead and getting along,” said Dr. Richard
Dienstbier, professor of psychology. “That’s just
how life is.”
What we consider “real life” does not include
eating rats and sting rays for dinner, of course, but
it does demonstrate the facades and games people
play psychologically just to “get ahead,” or gain an
advantage over another person.
Audiences have been fed entertain
ment edited from “real life.”
It is not just the vicarious living
and adventure audiences have
gotten from “Survivor,” but an
example of an industry at
work 24/7 on your senses.
I
Reality show gets
mixed reactions
from students
BY MELANIE MENSCH AND JOSH NICHOLS
“Survivor” caught the attention of the nation this
summer, not excluding Lincoln, Nebraska.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln students had
mixed reactions to die show.
Many loved it, evident in the fact that one floor in
Cather Hall is having a get-together for the final
episode.
But some despised it, including Michelle
Villarreal, a freshman English major, who compared
the competitiveness and ruthlessness of the program
to the book and movie, “Lord of the Flies.”
“I was turned off because it’s everyone against
' everyone,” she said.
“It's showing bad qualities in people. They’re
friendly to then faces, but at the same time, back stab
bing each other.”
lyier Rains, a freshman athletic training major,
didn't even bother to watch it because of the similar
shows htfs seal on television.
“I didn't watch it because I worked all summer,
but I think people are fed up with liveTVlike Regis, Big
Brother and other spin-off shows," he said.
It might be a spin-off, deveriy marketed, short liv
ing phenomenon, but to some, that doesn't matter.
They love the drama.
“1 can't miss it,” said Jason Essd, a senior architec
ture major who’s rooting for Rudy to be the final sur
vivor.
“You can totally connect to the characters on
‘Survivor.’”
Essel felt like such a part of the show, that he
would actually like to become a part of it
He filled out an online application to be a mem,
ber of upcoming “Survivor” shows being planned.
“I’d totally do it if I had the
chance.” he said.
Black Sabbath tribute is a pounding mix of rap. metal
BY KEN MORTON
The past few years, the worlds
of rap music and heavy-metal
music have slowly begun to
merge. So it shouldn't be a sur
if
prise, then, that big names from
both genres have teamed at the
corporate level.
Priority Records, perhaps the
premier rap label of the 1990s, has
merged with Ozzy Osbourne’s
Divine Recordings to forge an
alliance that will benefit both
sides.
One of the first offerings from
the joint venture is “Nativity In
Black II: A Tribute to Black
Sabbath.”
"NIB2” brings together some
of the hottest heavy-metal acts to
play their favorite Sabbath tunes.
With bands like Static-X,
Pantera and Monster Magnet, I
expected a lot of screaming and
loud guitars, which is exactly
what I got There’s enough testos
terone on this album to fuel a
small fraternity house for a whole
semester. All the chest pounding
aside, some of the bands actually
turn in some decent performanc
es on the CD.
The songs are quite a bit heav
ier than the originals, but remem
ber, we’re dealing with a totally
different generation of music.
When Black Sabbath first
emerged, nobody out there was
heavier or darker. Now Black
Sabbath is played on classic rock
stations. But the bands on “NDC”
can draw a straight line back to
Sabbath, and they stay pretty true
to the originals.
Most of the songs fall into that
mid-level hit category - the songs
you probably recognize if you’re a
Black Sabbath fan but probably
only hear when you play the
album.
To give you an idea of how
heavy this CD is, Megadeth, who
covers “Never Say Die,” almost
sounds mellow compared to
some of the other bands.
Perhaps the best perform
ance of the album is “n.i.b.,” by
Ozzy himself and backed by
Primus.
Ozzy "covered” another one
of his own songs, "Iron Man,” on
the first “n.i.b.” release, but can
you really call a song a cover if die
guy who wrote die song sings it?
Legendary bassist Les
Claypool finds the right mix of
showing off without treading all
over the song.
The only hints of any rap are a
track by rap-rockers, Hed(pe),
and a version of “Iron Man,” by
Busta Rhymes, which is much
more of a remake than a cover.
Ozzy provides a revamped
chorus for Busta's version, also
entitled “This Means War.”
Expect a lot more cross-ven
tures between these two labels.
All parties involved know how to
package and sell music, as well as
tours. Don’t be surprised if more
I .., )
Navity in Black II:
Tribute to
Black Sabbath
<
-(Musicians. Various artists
—(Label: Priority/Divine
Recordings
of 4 stars
and more hip-hop acts start
showing up on Ozz-Fest
V «? I