Why Kan’t Doc Zoe Write?

Doc Zoe goofing around with the First Pinoy Sole Survivor JC Tiuseco during the Reunion Show.

Some four or maybe five months ago, I had a casual discussion with one of the staff members of Survivor. We had concerns that Filipinos who didn’t follow the American version of the show would not comprehend the politics that went with this game. Having been familiar with its different seasons, we knew how dirty and how unpredictable the show can get. The question was: Do you think the ordinary Filipino will be ready for this?

I unwittingly replied, “I think with this pilot show, we will be able to educate the ordinary Filipino with the intricasies and the reality of a group’s dynamics and that this is really going on in our lives. The pilot season of CBS Survivor also invited a lot of discussion and a lot of negative reaction regarding its politics. I think it would be a normal reaction what we would be getting. Eventually, they’ll warm up to it and accept the game with all its ruthlessness.”

“You see, you admitted it yourself: we have to educate them. That means they’re not ready for this.”

“You’re right. I did say that.”

And for the first time, I had fears about the show’s success. I also feared that because you have to follow the game, some of the members of the “virgin” audience might lose interest and switch programs.

But that fear didn’t last long. Not even 2 hours, I think.

I had newfound confidence in it when the show started. And, as expected, we did get the negative and violent reactions we anticipated from the virgin audience.

And as expected, there were some from the virgin audience who couldn’t understand the intricasies of the game because they weren’t able to watch it from the very beginning. There are also some members of the virgin audience whom I thought would appreciate a strategic reality show. Instead, they would want nothing better at night than to just be entertained by anything that would not require logic. My dad belongs to this latter group. I can’t blame him; the man wants to relax. I’m still trying to get over the fact, though, that my own dad doesn’t watch the show I am on. However, most of the time, I think it’s bizaarely funny.

What I didn’t expect, however, was how quickly the virgin audience accepted Survivor for all its ruthlessness.

I discovered this after being the “man on the street” and interviewed people from different walks of life on how they would prepare physically and mentally for Survivor if they were to become a castaway. (The blog post for this will be published here when the right time comes, I promise.)

What was surprising was that even the ordinary, mild-mannered Filipino admitted that you have to be pretentious at first to gain the others’ trust; that you have to be harsh if needed; that this was never a game of good manners and this was never a popularity contest.

Survivor has always been on my list of favorite shows since its inception. I am a fan of how each season would produce sole survivors with differences in strategies. I am amazed that you can either be nice, unnoticeable, tactless, villainous, or would have to befriend the villain to get you to the top. It’s not very surprising that you could apply this in your everyday battle to survive you work, your life.

This may be odd, but I am proud that the show has fulfilled the goals that I had in mind. It has enticed many Filipinos to think and analyze. I am pleased that I have been a part of something that has affected a large number of Filipinos as much as a TV show has; I have never experienced such with medicine so far. Survivor Philippines has penetrated our target audience and has changed our viewing choices.

Now I only have to convince my dad.

This post is tagged JC Tiuseco, politics, Survivor Philippines Season 1