CBS orders more ‘Survivor’ - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety By JOSEF ADALIAN

‘Survivor’ host Jeff Probst and his reality skein will return for two more years.

CBS and Mark Burnett Prods. have pacted on a deal that will keep “Survivor” on the Eye through at least spring 2009.

Eye has greenlit two more cycles of the reality warhorse. Deal will take the show through its 18th edition.

In addition, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst has inked a deal to continue as host.

CBS reality supremo Ghen Maynard credited the “creativity and passion” of Burnett and Probst, along with the show’s production team, for its longevity.

” ‘Survivor’ is a show that defies ratings gravity,” Maynard said. “It is truly remarkable feat to be winning your time period in all ratings categories after 15 editions.”

While “Survivor” has suffered ratings erosion in recent years, skein’s most recent edition still won its 8 p.m. Thursday time period in viewers and all key demos, despite fierce competition. Skein averaged 15.2 million viewers and earned a 5.1/14 among adults 18-49, according to Nielsen.

The 16th edition of “Survivor,” featuring a battle between fans of the show and past stars, premieres Feb. 7. It will square off against another Burnett-produced hit, Fox’s “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”

Casting has already begun for the 17th cycle of “Survivor,” which helped launch the current reality bonanza in 2000.

The Star Online eCentral: Reality king By MUMTAJ BEGUM

From paratrooper to nanny, Mark Burnett has done it all.

One wouldn’t expect a former British military man who has actively served his country (in Northern Ireland and then in the Falklands War) to look the way Mark Burnett does. The ex-paratrooper and decorated war hero appeared both youthful and stylish during a recent visit to Singapore. Burnett, 47, looked dapper in a pinstripe suit, not unlike a successful businessman from the West visiting a thriving division in Asia.

Burnett may easily be mistaken for an American. After all, he has fully immersed himself in the Hollywood lifestyle, having lived in Los Angeles for over 20 years. He is top dog in TV-land, the brain behind huge reality series, including Survivor, Rock Star, The Apprentice and The Contender.

Getting up close and personal with him is a tad intimidating. Burnett does not mince his words and he is very daunting when he decides to give you his undivided attention. One just knows that he has high expectations of the people around him and he lets them know it, too. More… »

Survivor: Johnny Fairplay Is A Dad!
- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer

Congratulations are in order for former Survivor contestant Johnny Fairplay and former America’s Next Top Model competitor, Michelle Deighton.  According to PageSix.com, the reality couple welcomed a baby daughter this morning and named her Piper Addison.  Piper was born at 9:34am this morning at Danville Regional Medical Center, weighing in at 6lb 7oz.  Both mom and daughter are reported to be doing very well.  More… »

The new application has been posted! It looks like Jeff will be around for at least one more season. The taping of the show will be June -August 2008.

Click here for a link to the application.

     Survivor 17 Application

Do you have what it takes to be on the next Survivor? Fill it out and send it in!

‘Survivor’s’ first amputee contestant to speak on ‘Diverse Minds, Bodies and Spirits’ here Dec. 4

Survivor’s’ first amputee contestant to speak on ‘Diverse Minds, Bodies and Spirits’ here Dec. 4

Chad Crittenden, the first amputee to compete on the CBS reality television show “Survivor,” will discuss “Acknowledging Diverse Minds, Bodies and Spirits” in an 8 p.m. lecture Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the auditorium of O’Shaughnessy Educational Center at the University of St. Thomas.

The lecture is free and open to the public; co-sponsors are the University Lectures Committee and STAR (St. Thomas Activities and Recreation).

Crittenden surprised viewers of “Survivor: Vanuatu” in 2005 when he revealed that he only had one leg. At age 33, he discovered a lump on the bottom of his right foot. He was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare and potentially deadly form of cancer; doctors amputated his leg below the knee. More… »

From TMZ… These guys are everywhere!

Bonaduce Bloodies “Survivor” Star - TMZ.com

UPDATE: We’ve just talked to a friend of Jonny’s who tells us he’s sleeping now. We’re told that after the incident, he was taken to a hospital where and treated for his wounds. There was no on-call dentist on site, but they were able to find Dr. Dean Carlston — through 1-800-DENTIST! — who worked on Fairplay’s effed up mouth from 2:00 - 4:30 AM. We’re told Fairplay did file a police report and that he “has every intention of seeing this through.” Jonny’s friend also says that Fairplay absolutely did not attack Danny Bonaduce.

Danny Bonaduce is a felony suspect.

Fairplay was taken to a nearby hospital, where police were called. TMZ cameras were rolling as the bloody reality star was loaded into an ambulance. Some jerk can be heard taunting the injured Fairplay, yelling the phrase “Team Bonaduce” as he got into the ride.

Bonaduce is named as the suspect in a felony battery report.

On The Adam Carolla radio show today, Bonaduce said hes had a thing against Fairplay ever since he pulled the famous “grandmother stunt” on Survivor, lying that she had died in order to get sympathy on the show.

Bonaduce on the Adam Corrola show
Danny said he thought the show was over and he was leaving, and Fairplay was on the stage, asking the audience why he was booing him. Danny says, as he walked by, he said “They’re booing him because they hate him.”

Someone then asked Danny to go on stage and tell him that, which he says he did. Danny says he was off the first step of the stage when Fairplay suddenly ran at him, jumped on him and wrapped his legs around him.

Danny says he didn’t know if Fairplay was joking. He then says he grabbed the butt of Fairplays jeans and threw him over his head, not realizing how light he was. Danny says Fairplay face planted into one of the seats behind him.

We couldn’t make this stuff up. Where is Rob and Amber’s baby?

Survivor’s Jonny Fairplay and Former Top Model Michelle Deighton to Have a Child

Infamous Survivor contestant Jonny Fairplay or, Jon Dalton, if you prefer the technical truth, told TMZ earlier today that he and girlfriend Michelle Deighton former America’s Next Top Model contestant are pregnant with their first child. The two have been dating for roughly two years. According to Fairplay, Michelle is already 17 weeks into her pregnancy.

Fairplay is widely regarded as the most hated man in reality TV and, whether this is true or not, it’s by design. Fairplay, whose real name is Jon Dalton, got his start in the world of wrestling the fake kind. He actually worked under “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, but he mostly learned how to become a quality villain or, in wrestling terms, “heel”. Fariplays performance on Survivor and subsequent reality shows is more or less an act, him playing a character that will stir up drama. While in full-on Fairplay mode he can certainly be pretty despicable, but he’s more normal than he’d like audiences to believe.

Fairplay is as prolific a reality star as you’ll find. Since competing on Survivor: Pearl Islands, he’s appeared on Fear Factor, True Life, Celebrity Poker Showdown, and Judge Mathis weirdly. He also was a star on the E Networks Kill Reality, which documented numerous reality stars as they filmed a horror movie called The Scorned. Jonny was in his full heel glory during Kill Reality and was eventually kicked out of the house for defecating on a housemate’s bed. Not one of his best moments, but a noteworthy exit nonetheless.

However, we wish Jon and Michelle our best. Both have appeared on BuddyTV to do TVj sessions for Survivor and Americas Next Top Model. They’ve been great every time they’ve been on and, hopefully, well see more of the couple this upcoming fall season.

-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Image Courtesy of TMZ

“Survivor” Fairplay and “Model” Michelle: Baby Reality - TMZ.com

Wrestler/reality villain Jon Dalton — “Jonny Fairplay” to “Survivor” fans — tells TMZ exclusively that he and “Americas Next Top Model” contender Michelle Deighton are expecting a little bundle of reality joy — their first, and its already 17 weeks along

And were pretty sure hes not fibbing: “Michelle and I couldn’t be more happier [sic] and I wouldn’t LIE about that” says Jonny, who’s perhaps most famous for concocting what “Survivor” host Jeff Probst called “the greatest lie” in the shows history. He came third in the seventh season.

The sweethearts have been dating for two years. Wheres an island when you need one?

Some very interesting information in this articles about Survivor and other reality shows. Read the whole thing.

‘Survivor’ casts getting less real each year - ASK THE REALITY TV EXPERTS - MSNBC.com

“Survivor” has come a long way from the days of grizzled Rudy and tough-talking Sue. You’ll find more models and actors on reality shows these days. Monty Brinton / AP

Whether it’s “Survivor,” “American Idol,” “The Apprentice,” “Real World” or another show, send in your questions. Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, MSNBC.com’s Television Editor, and Andy Dehnart, creator of Reality Blurred, will try to answer them.

Q: Why have “Survivor” and other reality shows gone to “casting” them? I loved watching all the audition tapes. –Jennifer, Maryland

A: A year ago, after CBS announced that the cast of “Survivor Cook Islands” would be divided by race, host Jeff Probst revealed that most of the cast had not applied for the show. Instead, the show’s casting director and her staff found about 85 percent of the group. That seemed almost scandalous for a reality show.

However, producers did that because the show had primarily attracted applications from white people. “We really just took off all blinders and said we want to find 20 people to play this game and we’re really gonna have to source them out,” host Jeff Probst told The Slug blog.

Still, that wasn’t the first time cast members had been recruited; some of the most memorable players, like Jon “Johnny Fairplay” Dalton, who lied about his grandmother’s death during his season to gain favor, were people who did not apply for the show on their own. And the recruiting continued for last spring’s “Survivor Fiji,” which also featured a more diverse cast than “Survivor” has seen in the past.

Besides trying to diversify the cast, there’s another problem that makes recruiting a necessity. Lynne Spillman, who casts both “The Amazing Race” and “Survivor,” told RealScreen magazine in 2005 that “20,000 (applications) isn’t enough for us to choose from because at least a third who apply have already either applied to or been on every other show. With ‘Survivor’ you really want to stay on top, so why would you pick another show’s rejects, or someone who’s already had the reality TV experience?”

In other words, there simply aren’t enough people applying to continue to cast these shows, and thus they must go out and find people. It may mean the loss of those home video audition tapes, but in return, we get dynamic, interesting casts full of real people who weren’t desperate to become TV stars. —A.D.

You’re mostly asking two forms of questions these days: How can I audition for X show, and when does X show return?

For the audition questions: Even though this column was published in February, it contains some good solid info to where online applications live for various shows. Check it first if you have an audition question. We also answer a few questions below. More… »

Variety.com - Emmy snubs Survivor, Showtime by JOSEF ADALIAN

Survivor
Survivor got the cold shoulder from Emmy voters this year.
“Survivor” has been voted off of Emmy island — and it’s not the only show that’s not feeling the love this year.

For the first time since the TV Academy launched a reality competition category in 2003, Mark Burnett’s CBS skein has not been nominated in the category. Voters appeared to have subbed in Bravo’s “Top Chef,” which is making its first appearance in the competion.

Despite being credited with launching the reality competition boom in 2000, “Survivor” has never won the Emmy for reality competition. Another CBS skein — “The Amazing Race” — has snagged the statuette each of the past four years. More… »

“Survivor” Champ Spits Venom at Snake Eater - TMZ.com by TMZ Staff

Jenna Morasca — the winner of “Survivor: Amazon” — is biting the CBS hand that fed her, after a wannabe contestant skinned and bit into a live snake during auditions for the next “Survivor. ” Jenna screamed for cops to throw the snake-chomper in the slammer

Morasca, through The Humane Society, thrashed “Survivor,” saying that its “billed as a reality show, but sadly, cruelty to animals is a reality that occurs every day. I hope local authorities fully investigate this case, and I hope the man who did this gets to experience the reality of jail time.”

The Bakersfield Californian first reported that a man from Tehachapi skinned and ate a live snake for his audition, and gave his name only as Rusty Shackleford, a common pseudonym used on “King of the Hill.”

“Survivor” has been littered with live animals killed and eaten, including a live chicken in “Survivor: Vanuatu,” and a wild pig hunted and killed in the “Australian Outback” edition.

Ahh… Rosie…

Usmagazine.com

Rosie ODonnell pokes fun at Elizabeth Hasselbeck during a cruise ship performance on July 8, 2007.

Looks like Rosie O’Donnell has some issues about her premature departure from The View.

The comedian, 45, laid into Elisabeth Hasselbeck — her former friend and cohost — in front of a 1,500-person audience on her cruise from NYC to a private island in the Bahamas for gay and lesbian families.

A witness tells Us that O’Donnell trotted out a giant photo of Hasselbeck doctored up as the devil, made a “crazy” gesture at the poster and said, “Her only f–king credit was Survivor. Come on”

And O’Donnell implied that the pair’s famous last battle wasn’t held on an even playing field.

“I can’t fight with pregnant people. Just go have your baby and have a nice life.”

O’Donnell also told the crowd that when you do a show with a group of gals, “before you know it, you’ve got a Jimmy Choo in your back”

Finally, she targeted Donald Trump.

Recalls the witness, “Rosie said she’d love to break into his apartment and rub her belly all over him.”

Hasselbeck’s rep had no comment. Trump’s rep could not be reached.

www.buddytv.com

Rumors concerning Survivor are everywhere these days. Its hard to separate the fact from the fiction, mostly because theres just so much noise out there. Some outlets are reporting that Survivor: All-Stars II has been confirmed, although CBS has had nothing to say on that subject. I found one rumor stating that CBS was filming back-to-back seasons of Survivor while in China, and that the second would be an All-Star edition. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make much sense. Casting calls are going on right now across the country. But, what exactly do these casting calls mean? Could something diabolical be going on?

This is what we know for sure about the next two seasons of Survivor: More… »

CBS.com

An Open Casting Call is an event your local station holds for SURVIVOR. When you attend an Open Call, you will fill out an application and be put on camera there. You do not need to bring your own tape, and you do not need a copy of your passport. Open Calls alleviate the headaches and expenses of making your own tape, transferring it to VHS format and mailing it.

These events are also lots of fun. Meet fellow SURVIVOR fans, make some new friends, enjoy. Your local station will send the tape directly to the casting department, where it will be watched by the casting team and the same as it would be if you sent in an individual tape yourself.

Good luck, and have fun

CBS2 Los Angeles
June 22, 2007 Friday
Time: 10a-4p
Living Spaces
14501 E. Artesia Blvd
La Mirada, CA 90638
For more information, go to the station website.

KCTV5
Kansas City
June 23rd, 10a- 2p
Metro North Mall
400 NW Barry Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64155
For more information, please contact Beth Stockton, beth.stockton@kctv.com or 913-677-7151.

CBS 5 Phoenix
June 28, 2007
5-9pm
At Fort McDowell Casino
Highway 87 and Fort McDowell Road, Scottsdale, AZ
For more information, visit KPHO.com or call 602-650-5405.

KXII
Sherman, TX
Saturday, June 30th, 10a-4p
Midway Mall
4800 Texoma Parkway
Center Court
Sherman, TX
For more information, please contact Sarah Loyd at 903-891-1249, or sarah.loyd@kxii.com.

WWTV-WWUP/TV
Traverse City, MI
Monday, July 9th, 10am-4pm
9&10 News WTCM Marketplace
At the National Cherry Festival
For more information, contact Tessia Klix at 231-775-3478, x3154.

KMEG
Sioux City, IA
July 10th, 4-6pm
Jensen Imports
1901 E. 6th Street
Sioux City, IA 51101

WCAT-TV
Charlottesville, VA
July 14th, 10am – 2pm
Rivals Sports Bar & Grill
1525 E. Rio Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901
For more information, please contact Daniel Adams at daniel.adams@wcav.tv.

The new Survivor 16 Application is now available Click the link below and fill out the form. We’ll mail the file link to you.

SURVIVOR 16 APPLICATION

Hope you make it!

www.buddytv.com

Lisi Linares became the eighth cast-off on Survivor: Fiji last night, another victim of the seemingly cursed Ravu tribe. Lisi began the season at the comfortable Moto camp but after a tribal shake-up, she found herself the only female member of the new Ravu tribe. Lisis spirit got somewhat broken down near the end, but understandably so: she took many a trip to Exile Island. Earlier today, Lisi stopped by and spoke with us about her time on the show.

Below, you’ll find the transcript of the interview, as well as the full audio.

BuddyTV: How did you find yourself on Survivor? Was it something you had always wanted to do? Were you a fan on the show beforehand?

Lisi: I was very unfamiliar with the show but I just went in it for fun. I wanted to see what happens. I wanted to see how I was going to deal with certain situations. You know, challenge.

One of the challenges, for you especially, was going from the Moto camp to the Ravu camp. That has to be one of the worst transitions you can think of. How bad was it?

It sucked. It sucked really bad. I knew that it was the beginning of the end for me. Because that meant that I would have to readjust and I would have to really deal with unpleasantness like bugs and living on palm fronds and like stuff that was just really out there for me. And I was really happy that I was doing all my like campfire stuff at Moto and I got to sleep on a bed. And I was like, “Yea This is fun. I’m roughing it” And then all of a sudden it’s like, “Oh no”

Well you know there were a couple instances in those last few episodes where you kind of expressed your desire to leave the show. I mean was it just the camp, the transition to the have-not camp that sparked that or was it something else, losing the challenges and what not? More… »

www.buddytv.com

Survivor - Jeff ProbstJeff Probst says he doesnt know if he wants to continue hosting Survivor after his current contract ends, apparently not feeling challenged enough by his role as host of the top-rated reality show.

“I honestly don’t know,” he told Canada.com this week. “I think I’m at the point in my life where I’m considering, What do I do for me? I want to make sure that I push myself.”

Probst believes that Survivor would continue to enjoy the same success without him, and that the viewers would accept a new host, even though its “its asking a lot” of the audience.

However, at the same time he realizes it could be a mistake to quit while the show is doing so well. He says that fellow actor Robert Forster, with whom he worked in The A-List in 2001, once gave him some words of advice that he’s remembering these days.

“He told me: Don’t you ever walk away from that show. When you have work, you take it.”

Probst adds that not only has the show given him years of steady work, its helped him grow as a person.

“I have worked harder on myself and invested more time in myself trying to get to know who I am and what I want to be – and its a direct result of Survivor.”

While Probst is wondering if he wants to continue as host, he still enjoys the show itself.

“I am most fascinated by people and why we do what we do,” he said. “I am fascinated by watching how people justify their ethics and make the same mistakes we make because we are all human.”

If he does decide to leave, it wont be right away; Probsts contract lasts until the end of the sixteenth season of the show; that means two more, as the currently-airing Survivor: Fiji is the fourteenth.

TimesDispatch.com BY CYNTHIA MCMULLEN

We caught up with Virginia’s favorite reality contestants on “Survivor.”

Despite naysayers’ prayers and predictions to the contrary, televised reality shows have taken the airwaves.

They rule. They rock. And, according to Nielsen Media Research, they rate.

The top two of the Top 10 TV shows in the country last week were prerecorded tryouts — tryouts, mind you — for Fox’s “American Idol.”

“AI” is phenomenally popular, but “Survivor” is the mother of American reality shows.

Make that grandmother, given that the original “Survivor,” which made its debut in 2000, has spawned more than a dozen tropically cutthroat competitions. Season 14, “Survivor: Fiji,” premieres at 8 p.m. Feb. 8.

As it turns out, Virginians are pretty good at playing the game of outwitting, outplaying and outlasting . . . no matter how many naked beachcombers, greedy beauty queens or mosquito-bitten hustlers get in their way.

No natives, to our knowledge, have won the title of sole survivor. But half a dozen of the Old Dominion’s finest have given viewers some prime island viewing time.

Pop the corn, gather the kids, sit back and find out whatever happened to . . . . More… »