Reality TV: Can Survivor Contestants Attain Celebrity Status?

There's certainly no arguing that Survivor is one of the more popular shows in the reality TV genre. Survivor consistently posts high ratings for CBS and continues to offer viewers an entertaining "island sim game" with memorable contestants all vying to "Outwit, Outlast and Outplay." Yet out of seventeen seasons so far, the Survivor reality TV show has really only produced a handful of what one could call "celebrities."

The general public doesn't remember the names or faces of the Survivor contestants, unless they've somehow been able to extend their 15 minutes of fame. As a fan of the show, I've watched every Survivor episode since the first one in 2000, but I don't remember very many of the contestants. It stands to reason then, that casual viewers of the show won't remember them either.

Nevertheless, there are a few Survivor contestants who didn't quickly fade from public view and lose their instant celebrity status once the show was finished. Rob and Amber Mariano (aka Romber) have probably parlayed the most fame out of their initial Survivor reality TV show experience.

Rob and Amber met on Survivor: All Stars and seemed genuinely attracted to one another beyond the typical "showmances" the reality genre produces. Indeed, during the live finale of Survivor: All Stars, Rob proposed to Amber (before she was proclaimed the All Stars winner) and she accepted. Next came their fantasy wedding in the Bahamas broadcast live on CBS in 2005. In 2006, they filmed the 10-episode Rob and Amber: Against the Odds, for the Fox Reality Channel, which chronicles Rob's attempt to become a professional poker player.

Next, Romber was off and running on the CBS hit show, The Amazing Race, where they finished second. But wait, there's more. CBS darlings Rob and Amber came back to compete in the Amazing Race All Stars edition. Given their competitive nature and scheming ways, it was a shock to see them get eliminated very early in this race.

For many people, a little Romber went a long, long way. Regardless of whether you loved 'em or hated 'em, Rob and Amber did make reality TV interesting to watch. And they have without a doubt been able to extend their 15 minutes of fame the furthest of any Survivor contestant. But what is this celebrity couple up to now? Who knows! And more importantly, does anyone care?

Another Survivor contestant who was able to elevate herself to celebrity status following the show was Elizabeth Hasselbeck, who went on to be a talk show co-host of The View. Survivor contestant Richard Hatch attained celebrity status because he was the first winner of this brand new hit show. Hatch also made a name for himself by running around the Survivor camp without a stitch of clothing, prompting an outcry of "Somebody please get that naked fat man a fig leaf!" He further cemented his celebrity status by repeatedly being in the news, first for allegations of child abuse and later, for tax evasion which landed him in jail.

Beyond Romber, Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Richard Hatch, I think it would be a stretch to call any of the other Survivor reality TV contestants "celebrities." Sure, Survivor has had many noteworthy contestants, but just because we remember their days on Survivor, doesn't elevate them to celebrity status.

For instance, Susan Hawk from Survivor Season One will always be remembered for her infamous "Snake and Rat" speech; images of Rupert Boneham in his self-made "skirt" are burned into my brain; and "Johnny Fairplay" will be forever known as the Survivor contestant who pretended that his grandma had died so he could get sympathy. But does anyone know what these three are doing now? Obsessed Survivor fans might well be keeping tabs on a few (or all) of the Survivor contestants. But does that mean they've attained celebrity status? I suppose the answer to that depends upon how one defines the term celebrity.

Survivor 18: Tocantins premieres on Thursday, February 12. Filmed in the Brazilian Highlands, the 18^th season of Survivor promises reality TV fans yet another wild time in the jungle. Will Survivor 18: Tocantins produce any celebrities? Only time will tell.