Where's Gabon in Survivor Gabon?
The popular US TV show Survivor is taking place in Gabon and I've forced myself to watch every episode this season because I was all excited about the location. Am I the only one that's disappointed in seeing absolutely nothing about the country or its culture? There are lots of beautiful quick shots of wildlife in between scenes, but no indication as to their proximity to the camps the survivor casts stay at. And usually the show gives a nod to the local culture and incorporates this in the challenges. But I get absolutely nothing from this season. It's as if Gabon is devoid of people and culture which is very far from the truth. The last time Survivor took place in Africa, it was filmed in Kenya. Contestants (and thereby the audience) learned about local Samburu and Maasai culture. The rewards the contestants received included going to local villages and delivering school supplies. At least one got a sense that the contestants were in Kenya and actually interacted with local Kenyans occasionally and possibly learned a little bit about the culture. In fact, the winner of that contest, Ethan Zohn used some of his money to help start Grassroot Soccer a non-profit organization that uses soccer to educate youth in their fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa.
At this rate, Survivor could save its money and just build a set in LA.
More about Survivor in Gabon...
Host Jeff Probst -- Getty Images/Kevin White and Lowland Gorilla -- Getty Images/Gerry Ellis
How do you know that they aren’t just filming the whole thing in a sound stage in Los Angeles. It’d probably be cheaper. Isn’t that what the US government do for the first landing on the moon?
Totally agree. In fact, are we sure they really *are* in Gabon? What a wasted opportunity…
I’m a U.S. American who lived in Gabon for three years and, thanks to Peace Corps and my extended curiosity, explored every facet of Gabonese culture. Sadly, I had to turn off this show 15 minutes through the first episode. Shows like this do nothing to educate people outside America of the African continent. They only encourage warped views of emaciated children covered with flies and men in camos with AK-47s in the jungle. Africa has huge cities, intelligent people, beautiful children, great art, just like every other continent…
Alas, I must agree. As another one time Gabon resident (Peace Corps Volunteer), I have tuned into a couple of episodes in hopes of seeing a glimpse of Gabonese culture or interior landscape/wildlife that I could point out to friends.
The folks on the show are “survivors” only in the same way that contestants on America’s Next Top Model or Big Brother “survive” to later rounds of a contrived competition, and for as little local flavor as is actually presented in the show, I don’t understand the necessity of spending money and time on the logistics of filming one of these shows in a place like Gabon.
Indeed, it seems that the producers could probably film this show more easily (and with equal effect for the viewing audience) on the backlot at Universal Studios Orlando and just use the same Gabon-wildlife-from-a-helicopter-clips that they already intersperse with the actual footage of the “survivors.”