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Dream ONondaga: Preparing for Senior Year

Exclusive Interview with Viral Video Phenom Tyler Gildin of “Nassau (County) State of Mind”

Chill, Hippies

The Basketball Bible

The Essence of Suck

Don’t Cry Over Spilled Muscle Milk

While I’m stoked for what’s coming, it’s hard to remain in the moment. There’s no escaping the reality that this is my Syracuse University Farewell Tour, and no science fiction subplot can hide the fact that my future has never been closer to the now.

College is essentially one enormous “pre-game” that helps make your cultural, intellectual, and social integration into the real world less awkward. I still feel like an incoming freshman at heart, but no college kegger can compare to the wild party I’m about to join – a true “rager” called life.

Nevertheless, with only two semesters until graduation, I’ll strive to work and play harder than ever. Balancing academic responsibilities with the freedom from other demands is the best way to make these last months as exciting and memorable as my first days (back when I was a naive, orange lanyard-wearing neophyte in Brewster Hall).

College is also a place for students to pursue their life’s dreams in a dream-like atmosphere. The idea that “anything is possible” applies more here than anywhere else (except for maybe inside Christopher Nolan’s head).  While there are differences between dreaming while awake and asleep, our conscious goals and subconscious fantasies have much in common. We all want to visualize our happy dreams coming to fruition without interruption or nightmare. We also want to make discoveries along the way.

With this in mind, I’m excited to embrace new challenges, relationships, and ideas before my Syracuse dream comes to an end. I plan on “Carpe Diem-ing” my way through new experiences, while also making time for familiar friends and routines (as well as few Keystone Lights).

Although I’m starting the year with a positive outlook, I’m concerned that I won’t be able to accomplish everything I’ve set out to do in (and after) college. Dreaming big could ultimately set you up for big disappointments. I also realize that my determination alone may not be enough. While hard work can get you an A (at least in “Living Writers” class), it cannot guarantee success and fulfillment down the road. Still, there is no better time to explore the depths of our own curiosities and desires.

While my childhood dreams were shaped in Long Island’s Nassau County, my hopes for adulthood have been molded here in Onondaga. Syracuse University has provided me with liberation from adolescence, as well as a bridge to my life’s true journey. While a Magellan GPS can’t help anyone  arrive at a rewarding personal destination, maybe dreams can.

Inception, Hollywood’s biggest summer hit, teaches us the importance of adapting to life’s changes. With big changes on my horizon, I was moved by the idea that we are better served confronting our realities than looking for more convenient (or in the movie’s case, imaginative) escapes. Still, it’s beneficial to note how the blockbuster film also shows us that dreaming is often breathtaking, confusing, emotionally charged, and unpredictable. Sounds a lot like real life to me.

Check out some of Tyler’s live performance videos as well as some of our cinematic collaborations. This embedded film has over 11,000 YouTube hits (& counting).

Also, don’t miss out on his viral video Nassau (County) State of Mind.

Palin’s comment, “Ground Zero Mosque supporters: doesn’t it stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland? Peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate,” is equally as offensive to Muslim-Americans as it is to Noah Webster’s memory. Sure, Palin may be a self-proclaimed “maverick,” but using imaginary words isn’t nearly as brave or rebellious as it is stupid (either “refute” or “repudiate” would’ve been appropriate in this context).

Instead of simply revising the tweet, Palin suggested she was embodying the linguistic spirit of history’s most esteemed writer. She added, “ ‘Refudiate,’ ‘misunderestimate,’ ‘wee-wee’d up.’ English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin new words too. Got to celebrate it!”

Huh?

While Mrs. Palin may have been trying to make light of her mistake, her messages were written in bullshit, not Iambic pentameter. Yes, her overt prejudice is more of an issue than her foolishness, but a public figure with her track record needs to be more conscious of what she’s saying, and how she’s saying it.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg responded to Russia’s favorite next-door neighbor by asserting, “Sarah Palin has a right to her opinions but I could not disagree more. Everything the United States stands for, and New York stands for, is tolerance and openness.” He added that constructing a mosque would be “a great message for the world.” He’s right. A symbol of diversity, peace, and understanding would undoubtedly help America progress towards a future more rich in these very things.

Insensitivity to 9/11 victims and their families understandably concerns some, but Sarah Palin’s social and political relevance frightens me much more. While she may have our “hearts” in mind, this doesn’t mean we can stop using our brains. Oh, Sarah…”pls refudiate.” Maybe then we’ll have something worth celebrating.

While many star athletes are notorious for arrogance, self indulgence, and bad judgment, irreverence and disloyalty are currently the fastest spreading problems in the NBA.

Sure, the free-agency era has contributed to frequent roster changes and financial competitions rivaling those on the hardwood, but never before have we seen superstars carry out such public displays of ignorance, selfishness, and betrayal.

Whether the primary motive is competitive or fiscal, there’s usually NOTHING inherently immoral about a free agent choosing to leave his team for a better opportunity. Chris Bosh and Amar’e Stoudemire demonstrated this by fulfilling their contractual obligations to their respective teams, and venturing to new organizations with class this summer.

Unfortunately, the league’s biggest star couldn’t follow their lead.

We all know about the Lebron James “Decision,” and how the Ohio native essentially led a public execution of Cleveland in front of a national television audience on July 8th. Not even NFL prima donna Terrell Owens would be egotistical or foolish enough to host such an event (if he could still get a job).

...to you being a jerk.

The only thing more surprising than the King’s blatant disrespect for the Cavaliers organization, their fans, and the rest of the NBA, was his ability to out-scum reporter Jim Gray during this PR disaster (a feat most sports aficionados once deemed impossible). Justifying this “event” as a philanthropy endeavor had the opposite effect Lebron’s “inner circle” hoped it would achieve, as live television feeds revealed tearful Clevelanders turning their Lebron replica jerseys into “HEAT” uniforms by torching the hero-to-zero’s Cavs merchandise in the streets.

The Heat is On

Now, just several weeks after James embarrassed economically-depleted Cleveland, it appears another  NBA star could soon be abandoning a different struggling location.

Chris Paul, the league’s top point guard, is reportedly demanding a trade out of New Orleans, a city which has recently endured far worse than a few mediocre NBA campaigns. While it’s hard to believe any sports stories these days (many “Lebron-Watchers” errantly vouched for “sources” all summer), Paul’s departure would undoubtedly sting the city and franchise (Hornets pun-intended). Unlike Lebron, Paul  (a three-time All-Star who led the Hornets to the second round of the 2008 Playoffs) has not played out his deal. With two years left on his contract, leaving the Gulf Coast now would make CP3 look almost as negligent as BP (not quite, but you get my point).

Of course it’s unreasonable to expect long-term commitments from all athletes in cities facing hard times. It isn’t too much to ask, however, for such glorified public figures to honor their agreements in the short run. Paul can go wherever he wants soon enough (just as long as he doesn’t ”take his talents” to ESPN when announcing his intentions), so for now he should focus on rehabbing his injured knee (CP3 only played 45 games last season) and helping his current squad in 2010-11.

There's no ME in CP3

(SIDE NOTE: While Paul has supposedly indicated he’d like to be a New York Knick, seeing CP3 in Orange & Blue would, to me, be bittersweet. Having spent some time rebuilding homes in Katrina-devastated New Orleans, I know this city and the entire region needs a beloved figure like Paul a lot more than NYC does.)

For years, the NBA has done an incredible job supporting outreach programs for communities in need of role models and support. It’s amazing to see the kind of influence young athletes (including both Lebron & Chris Paul) can have on people throughout the country and world. Players like Sacramento’s Samuel Dalembert (the UNICEF National Ambassador for his home of Haiti) have been advocates for important issues, and as inspirational off the court as they have been on it. Still, recent trends are alarming. Basketball is starting to look more and more like professional baseball, where small market teams struggle to retain stars seeking bigger paydays and spotlights.

As part of a league that prides itself on caring about its history and fans, NBA stars need to monitor their sport’s direction. If not, the league’s ambassadors may one day be even more phony than a certain announcement that recently took place in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Heaven and Mel

Sure, Gibson’s phone recordings are alarming, but they certainly shouldn’t be surprising. For years, we’ve known this man is batshit, and while he may now appear crazier than his character in Lethal Weapon, there’s nothing wrong with still being a fan of this artist’s art.

While Gibson’s vulgar ranting makes Alec Baldwin’s infamous 2007 voicemail sound like a Joel Osteen sermon, this wouldn’t stop me from watching a film with Mad Max’s name in the credits. I don’t believe there’s anything shameful about exploring the work of a shameful individual. Of course, most filmgoers don’t share my position, as Gibson’s career and reputation are now dead (or at best, on life support).

The Joely One

Sure, I’m angered by this former icon’s arrogance, ignorance, alleged violent tendencies, and overt racism/sexism/anti-semitism, but I’m also disappointed that Gibson has blown his opportunity for future professional triumphs. Some troubled celebrities have continued to succeed after overcoming seemingly insurmountable personal woes (including the resilient, public-relations nightmare Charlie Sheen), but I can’t foresee another Braveheart or Apocalypto (two of the most ambitious and awe-inspiring films ever produced) hitting theaters anytime soon. Heck, the only thing less likely than another studio-financed Gibson epic would be a sequel to What Women Want.

Where Have You Gone, Helen Hunt?

I’ve frequently written about the “power of celebrity” and how America should hold its stars to higher standards. Still, I think the line between entertainers’ public and private lives needs to be stretched. We often confuse actors with the larger-than-life characters they portray, distorting our cultural values. TMZ may be entertaining, but it certainly isn’t interesting, and our obsession with stars’ “everyday” lives only sets us up for disappointment when we realize they are as flawed and fragile as the rest of us.

I often wonder if celebrities themselves lose track of their surroundings and remain in character when they’re away from their set. After all, wasn’t 24′s Kiefer Sutherland recently arrested for headbutting/”Jack Bauering” a fashion designer? Didn’t Christian Bale verbally “terminate” a crew member during a 2008 T:4 shoot?

Even Kiefer Sutherland wears Jack Bauer pajamas

If you listen closely to the Mel Gibson tapes, you’ll hear that he sounds a lot like a cross between his roles in Hamlet, Conspiracy Theory, and The Patriot (with a little Darth Vader added in). Essentially, Mel was just being who we knew him to be- the intense renegade we always loved to watch fight back on-screen. Only this time, unbenownonst to Gibson, it was real.

To be perfectly clear, I’m not defending Mel Gibson’s actions. I’m only trying to understand how an individual with so much to lose can throw it all away. For someone who once brought people so much joy, the fallen star has truly earned the masses’ animosity  (while NBA icon Lebron James has taken fair criticism for his egotistical “Decision,” Gibson’s actions were significantly more offensive and help put things in perspective).

While I could care less about Gibson’s image, I do want to protect his artistic legacy. Like the auteur himself, Gibson’s projects have often been controversial, unconventional, and uncompromising. Society may deserve better public influences, but cinema certainly needs more like Mel Gibson.

Throughout all of my television watching endeavors, I’ve never seen a more ambitious, realistic, patiently-written, and better collectively acted series.  From beginning to end, creator David Simon challenged the standard conventions of the medium by consciously producing a work that cared more about being sociologically important than culturally relevant.

Despite never winning any Emmy Awards during its 2002-2008 run (the show only received two writing nominations during this period), The Wire is regarded by many critics as one of the greatest TV dramas of all time. Contrary to most scripted programs, David Simon’s series avoids a glamorous central setting (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, etc.) and instead focuses on the struggling port city of Baltimore.

To most outsiders, Baltimore is best known for its beautiful harbor, Cal Ripken Jr, and as Bradley Cooper so eloquently put it in Wedding Crashers, “CRABCAKES AND FOOTBALL!” With other neighboring cities and districts receiving more tourist and media attention (like our nation’s capital), it’s easy to misunderstand and overlook Baltimore’s true, tormented identity. The Wire represents a bold effort to illuminate the greed, chaos, and corruption that have consumed this forgotten city for years.

In addition to its unconventional location, The Wire’s relatively unknown cast also helps distance the series from more traditional dramas. The city itself, is essentially the star of the show, as Baltimore is never overshadowed by the actors portraying its inhabitants (the same cannot be said of the CSI locales).  Still, the diverse and talented ensemble makes its mark.

Characters like Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), Robin Hood-like gangster Omar Little (Michael K. Williams) and junkie Reginald “Bubbles” Cousins (Andre Royo) resonate because they are raw and believable, not because they are likeable. McNulty, surely one of the most interesting (and flawed) TV cops in history, makes Dennis Franz’s NYPD Blue protagonist seem like a mormon.

While McNulty is usually the smartest guy in the room, he has no problem acknowledging this with an authority-challenging addiction only matched by another to Jameson Whiskey. While he’s not as dirty as Michael Chiklis’s Vic Mackey on The Shield, McNulty shares his ability to circumvent rules and manipulate others into following his lead (often unknowingly). Still, his superiors concede that he is perhaps the city’s most intuitive lawman.

During my Wire experience, I couldn’t help but see parallels between McNulty and the series as a whole. Both are in-your-face renegades that are surrounded (for the most part) by inferior company. Neither The Wire or its lead character were highly decorated, but both ironically stand out for the very reasons they couldn’t be publically honored. Just as McNulty watches conservative, less competent officers rise up the departmental ranks, The Wire got spurned by supporters of  more universally-appealing (and commercially viable) programs that played by the rules.

While many of the show’s core themes and main characters remain, each of The Wire’s seasons highlight different underlying forces contributing to many of the city’s problems (urban drug trafficking, labor shortages on the docks, policymaking conflicts, educational shortcomings, and vanishing journalistic integrity are some of the primary subjects explored). This helps paint a comprehensive and frightening picture of a population killing itself  from within.

I believe each Wire season is better than the preceding one. As our exploration of Baltimore widens, our understanding of the characters (both good and bad) also grows deeper. By examining the flaws within the city’s public school system (Season 4), we begin to understand how neglected students enter “The Game” and begin to follow the paths of violent criminal leaders like drug kingpin Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris). Our close observation of a hostile mayoral campaign (Seasons 3 & 4) helps explain why certain issues are buried behind others that can help generate more votes.

Individual greed inhibits collective growth, and this fact is painfully articulated by countless Wire characters. David Simon & Co. do an excellent job of asserting that they’re very few differences between drug addicts,ambitious politicians, weasel criminal defense attorneys, business savvy gangsters, and crime statistic-altering police leaders. Nobody is truly innocent.

As an aspiring writer, I appreciated Season 5 most because of its concentration on the influence of The Baltimore Sun. Much of the season dealt with a clash between an old school news editor named Gus Haynes (Clark Johnson) and journalist Scott Templeton. (Thomas McCarthy). Haynes believes Templeton is fabricating stories to better his career, and alienates himself while pursuing the truth. In an age where important facts are constantly being obscured, we need more series like The Wire to shed light on what others are too busy or ignorant to understand.

Perhaps the most famous quote from this groundbreaking series is “A man’s gotta have a code.” Whether cop, con, supplier, buyer, reporter, or bystander, one must have a fundamental grasp of morality to get by. No series in television history has provided us with a more stark and eye-opening reminder of this than The Wire.

It was fun while it lasted, but feigning love for a sport in the name of patriotism is exhausting and unfulfilling. I love America as much as the next guy (unless the next guy’s John Mellencamp), but buzzing Vuvuzelas, inexcusable blown calls, and tie games made my colors run faster than Landon Donovan.

Buzz off

Sure, the World Cup gave us all a great excuse to get drunk, paint our faces, and find a television substitute for American Idol, but there’s a profound difference between supporting your country and following the team that represents it. In fairness, though, it’s easy for this truth to be lost on an overcrowded bandwagon.

America, F**K Yeah!

For those who really do love soccer, I’m sorry. The World Cup is an amazing spectacle and I’m sure you got a real “kick” out of seeing your homeland valiantly compete against the world’s elite. At the same time, however, the phony soccer love generated by the masses must leave real fans feeling uneasy. While the sting of America’s loss to Ghana affected the masses for about four minutes, this outcome will last with you for the next four years.

As part of a consumer nation, it’s fitting that we Americans are so quick to buy into things and/or people (think President Obama) that are hot in the moment. Our inherent fear of missing out is equaled only by our quickness to jump ship when our collective dreams don’t live up to our often impossible-to-meet hype. Many times, this makes us appear attention-span challenged and ungenuine. No one ever said life in the Land of the Free has no costs.

With the Gulf Coast drowning in oil, controversial immigration reform nearing, and our growing involvement in two wars, I wish the public would give World Cup-like attention to issues that are more American! Even pretending to care can help our nation progress towards a brighter future. I guess phony patriotism is still patriotism, after all.

White Men Can Wave Towels

I nearly had a laughter-induced heart attack while watching Rasheed Wallace and Ron Artest (the league’s two most notorious players since Dennis Rodman) trade clutch threes in the final minutes. I can only imagine the look on commissioner David Stern’s face, as I’m sure he must’ve been very proud.

In a year when University of Texas QB Colt McCoy gave one of the most heartfelt (and awkward) postgame interviews of all time after the BCS Championship Game, Artest upped the ante with an awe-inspiring ode to his psychiatrist, and an infomercial for his newest “single.” Who needs Disneyland, anyway?

Last night’s victory cements  Kobe Bryant’s place as the NBA’s greatest active player (he’s now surpassed Tim Duncan in my mind), and one of the 5 to 8 best ever (he’s not quite MJ, Magic, Bird, or Russell, but he’s close). Even though Kobe struggled offensively throughout most of Game Seven, the league’s alpha dog demonstrated that even he can occassionally play Ringo and win with a little help from his friends (Artest, Pao Gasol, and Phil Jackson fulfilled the roles of John, Paul, & George, respectively).

Ringo & Paul?

Other players’ legacies were altered by Game Seven as well. Like Kobe, Derek Fisher also won his fifth ring, placing him closer to Robert “Big Shot Bob” Horry on the sport’s list of clutch role players. Artest, love ‘em or hate ‘em, will now always be a champion, and Gasol has added more credibility to his impressive Hall of Fame resume.

As for the Celtics, future H.O.F. players Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett missed out on the opportunity to become true Boston sports legends (while Pierce will likely go down as one of the greatest to ever wear the Green & White, he needs multiple rings to join the ranks of “Larry Legend,” Bill Russell, and Kevin McHale). With “The Big Three” growing older, it’s possible that he’ll never get this close again.

Jack Nicholson's Boys CAN handle "The Truth"

Strangely, the legacy that changed the most last night may belong to a player who wasn’t on either sideline. Kobe’s fifth championship and second Finals MVP adds to his historical image while detracting from that of his former teammate Shaquille O’Neal. For years, Kobe was criticized for never being able to win without “Kazaam,” but now it’s just the opposite (although Shaq did win a title with D-Wade in 2006, he hasn’t reached the finals since…even with Steve Nash in Phoenix and Lebron James with the Cavs).

While Kobe’s skills and legacy are improving, Shaq’s are both deteriorating. I get the sense that the former Magic, Laker, Heat, Sun, and likely soon-to-be ex-Cavalier will be remembered more for what he could’ve been, than for what he once was.

From Student to Master

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With the most highly anticipated offseason in NBA history beginning with next Thursday’s draft, there’s a lot of uncertainty about where the Lakers, and rest of the league’s teams are headed. With Phil Jackson undecided about whether he’ll return for a run at a dozen coaching championships (he only needs one more), and the most talented free agent pool of all time, many teams will undergo personnel shifts that will alter the landscape of the basketball world.

The biggest story of the offseason is obviously the fate of Lebron James. As the self-titled “ringleader” of the 2010 free agent class, an unparalleled domino effect will kick in sometime after July 8th (the day unsigned players can officially join new teams) when the King decides where he’ll place his castle.

King Without a Castle...

While money, ego, fame, location, and likelihood of winning will all play a role in Lebron’s choice, nobody knows for sure which will take precedence. Whether he stays in Cleveland or sets up shop elsewhere, no free agency decision in sports history will be more scrutinized.

As a Knicks fan, I’ve waited over a decade for the opportunity to land a franchise-changing player of this caliber. Signing Lebron would instantly make my favorite team a title contender. More importantly, it would make the Knicks relevant. Still, if New York’s unable to land ‘Bron, I’ll do my best to appreciate the excitement of an offseason that will likely be more entertaining than any on-season I’ve suffered through during the past ten years. With other stars like Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, and Joe Johnson available, there will be multiple winning teams this offseason. I can only hope that at the very least, the Knicks are one of them.

In a summer filled with questions, one thing is certain. Regardless of where Lebron and the rest of the free agents move, the Lakers will still be the team to beat in 2011. Kobe wouldn’t have it any other way.

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*For the hell of it, here are my 2010 NBA free agency predictions…

LEBRON JAMES:

Lebron should swallow his pride and make the intelligent basketball decision of joining the Chicago Bulls. He’d have the sidekick he’s always needed (Derrick Rose), and other talented veterans (Noah, Hinrich) to help lighten his load. With defensive guru Tom Thibodeau coming in as coach, The Windy City would be the ideal fit.

Robin to Lebron's Batman?

Still, I don’t believe Lebron will join the Bulls. While it’s Kobe Bryant he should be chasing, it seems like James is most often compared to Michael Jordan. For this reason, I just can’t see Lebron embracing the franchise MJ built.

I’ve always believed Lebron would remain in Cleveland or sign with my beloved Knicks. Unless Cleveland’s able to lure a big name coach (Phil Jackson, Mike Krzyzewski, John Calipari,) before free agency begins, I believe my dream will become a reality.

DWYANE WADE:

If Miami’s able to bring in Amare Stoudemire, D-Wade should and will remain with the team that drafted him. Although it would be cool to see him in his hometown of Chicago, this doesn’t seem likely.

CHRIS BOSH:

Many experts believe Bosh and Lebron are a package deal. I think this is only possible in New York, where both would get to play side by side in a major market. I can’t see Bosh agreeing to play in Cleveland, and it’s unlikely the Bulls would be able to bring him in as well.

Like Tim Horton's, Bosh will surely be moving from Canada to the U.S.

AMARE STOUDEMIRE:

Amare will stay in Phoenix or head to Miami to join Dwyane Wade. While he thrived under Mike D’Antoni, I don’t think New York is in the cards for the five-time All Star.

JOE JOHNSON:

A great fit with the Nets. A backcourt of Johnson and Devin Harris would be dangerous with the size coach Avery Johnson’s team will have at the forward and center positions. If he doesn’t end up in New Jersey, I expect Joe to be a Knick.

DIRK NOWITZKI:

A Dallas lifer. Can’t see Marc Cuban letting his biggest asset slip away.

DAVID LEE:

I’m not giving up on Lee as long-term Knick. If New York is unable to snag Lebron, I see them finding a way to keep David at a price that will satisfy both parties. Many expect a sign-and-trade deal with Toronto, but would Lee really want to play for another struggling franchise after all of the losing he’s endured?  Lee deserves his payday, but has the opportunity to join a winner. He should take it. Portland and Oklahoma City would be great fits for the 2010 first-time all star.

A Working Class Hero is something to LEE

CARLOS BOOZER:

A great fit in Portland or Miami. I see Boozer being one of the later free agents to sign, as his market value will increase when the other free agent bigs sign elsewhere.

RUDY GAY:

Rudy would be an excellent complementary piece on a winner. Struggling teams may panic and offer him Ben Gordon-like money (the Pistons were last off-season’s biggest losers), but he’d be a great asset on a team like Phoenix where he can run the floor with an elite point guard. Gay is a great sign-and-trade candidate, because of the unique skills he could bring to winning organizations lacking cap-space.

TRADES:

While free agent signings and increased player experience will help many teams improve next season, established veteran-filled teams like San Antonio and Dallas will need to adapt in order to stay competitive. Neither team has the cap room to compete for elite FA’s, but both will need to be creative if they want to contend with the personnel of up-and-coming teams like Oklahoma City and Portland. The Tony Parker to New York rumors are out there, and I can see a three-way trade being made to help make this happen.

Desperate House-Husband in NYC?

Next year’s free agent class may impact this summer’s moves as well. With Carmelo Anthony expected to re-sign with Denver, the premiere 2011 free agent will be Chris Paul. It’s unlikely that CP3 will extend his contract with New Orleans, so there is a small chance he could relocate sooner, rather than later. Watch out for teams like Houston (who would part with Aaron Brooks and draft picks) or Dallas (Jason Kidd can’t run the show forever and Dirk will need a future running mate) who could make strong efforts to acquire the second coming of Isiah Thomas.

]]> http://andrewbank.com/?feed=rss2&p=1067 2 http://andrewbank.com/?p=1047 http://andrewbank.com/?p=1047#comments Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:04:53 +0000 Andrew http://andrewbank.com/?p=1047 It’s funny how Survivor, one of the smartest programs in television history, has paradoxically contributed to cultural and intellectual regression in America. After concluding its twentieth season several weeks ago (that’s right…there have been twenty “sole” survivors), the groundbreaking show that ushered in the reality TV era is still going strong.

While ratings aren’t quite what they used to be, reality mogul Mark Burnett’s series will be back for another season with no end date in sight. Survivor was once my favorite TV show (I religiously followed seasons 1-5), and its “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast” concept was revolutionary. In addition to being a unique game show, Survivor pioneered showcasing unscripted human drama in the form of a contained social experiment on TV.

The show has been a unique examination of human physicality, philosophy, and morality. Intense “immunity challenges,” revealing side interviews and “Tribal Council” voting patterns reflect the measures individuals will take in order to carry on. Survivor has also shown how self-preservation can often be achieved through maintaining strong relationships with others. Past winners, such as the premiere season’s Richard Hatch, proved that forming and manipulating voting alliances with rival castaways can help one contend for the $1 million prize. Other successful contestants, such as Survivor: Africa winner Ethan Zohn, contrarily thrived by being more well-liked, despite being a physical threat (he was a former professional soccer player).

Long before LOST, we had had this "Hatch."

What makes Survivor most interesting, however, is that it is often anti-Darwinistic. Being the strongest, smartest, and most-well adapted candidate DOES NOT ensure winning the game  (blending in and getting lucky can help more), and this counters most competitions’ established conventions. Survivor: Marquesas winner Vecepia Towery demonstrated this by simply flying under the radar to take home the title.

Survivor still has a large fan base because it manages to stay fresh. Because there is no right way to play the game, each season unfolds differently. The introduction of new, exotic locales also keeps viewers intrigued. Still, with the show still airing, it’s easy to overlook its historical legacy.

No television show shaped the medium and society more in my lifetime than Survivor. After becoming a national phenomenon in 2000, the program spawned the creation of other quality reality shows like The Amazing Race (2001-present), Big Brother (2000-present), and other Burnett works like The Apprentice (2004-present) and the underrated Contender (2005-present). While these have succeeded in following Survivor’s lead, they’ve also contributed to programming changes that have made America dumber.

The emergence of intelligent, thought-provoking reality television inevitably led to an abundance of mindless, thought-inhibiting shows in the years that followed. For every show like Survivor today, there are 4 or 5 Real Housewives or Jersey Shores (although I did favorably write about the MTV hit here, “The Situation” certainly hasn’t symbolized progression in American television).

Without Survivor, John & Kate would probably still be married and more importantly, anonymous. Kim Kardashian’s on screen performances would’ve ended with Ray-J in 2007,  and Clay Aiken’s singing career would have been dead long before it was well, dead. Brett Michaels would just be a washed-up Bon Jovi, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck (a Survivor: Australia contestant) would still be leaning on the right…just not of Joy Behar on The View.

Television's biggest Bum.

While Survivor has always maintained high production value, most of its reality followers are cheap imitations. The genre has become characterized by fast and easy development, making scripted shows seem more complex and less desirable to cost-conscious networks. Although there are many brilliant dramas and comedies on air today, more could succeed with fewer reality programs hogging scarce time slots.

Reality TV is here to stay. The masses love observing everyday people (and B-list celebs) in the limelight. While I’m not sure why, I can only hope the genre improves by paying homage to its early influences and the show that has quite literally Outwitted, Outplayed, and Outlasted all others of its kind.