There has been 39 seasons aired
of the iconic and rather definitive reality competition TV series “Survivor,”
ever since it premiered on CBS back in the year 2000. Based on a TV show
originally aired in Sweden, with executive producers Charlie Parsons, Mark
Burnett and Jeff Probst, who also serves as longtime host, “Survivor” has put
teams of “castaway” contestants in numerous exotic locations around the world
to compete against each other for a million dollars and “Sole Survivor” title.
Players are eliminated per episode by votes from their teammates, and on
occasion a player has been evacuated after suffering serious physical injuries
on location.
But on the 12th
episode of the current 39 season of “Survivor,” subtitled “Island of the Idols,”
a castaway was for the first time ejected from the competition by the
production unit, without a tribal council vote or a case of injury. Rather, as USA Today tells it, castaway Dan Spilo
was removed from the game after repeat violation of a warning he received
earlier in the season for “inappropriate touching.” The episode, which aired
Wednesday, December 11, saw host Jeff Probst explain to the remaining castaways
at tribal council that Spilo has been ejected.
Probst explained that the show’s
production has made a decision to remove Spilo, age 48 and a Los Angeles talent
manager. “Dan will not be returning to the game," he said. "He won't
be coming back to camp, he won't be on the jury. He's gone." No
elaboration had been made regarding the specific offense Spilo committed, and
an episode card was flashed at the end of the episode stating that “another
incident” involving the castaway was reported, though no player was involved
and the event happened off-screen. But castaway Kellee Kim might breathe a
little easier with Spilo away.
Dan Spilo caught negative
reactions from his fellow contestants, the production team, and the “Survivor:
Island of the Idols” viewing audience when Kim complained during a confessional
interview segment that he was touching her inappropriately since Day 1 of the
competition. The harassment allegedly continued until on Day 22 (part of
episode 8) Kim finally broke down in confessional. Said episode also featured a
screen card explaining that producers intervened by speaking with all castaways
as both a tribe and one-one-one, with reminders on maintaining personal
boundaries. Spilo was singled out with a warning, and a reminder that the
producers are now actively monitoring them.
Jeff Probst later revealed in a
post-episode interview that Spilo was initially upset at being thrown out,
though after lengthy discussion with him the ejected castaway respected the
decision and was transported off the contest location, in Fiji, by boat. Only
one episode is left for the finale of “Survivor: Island of the Gods” next
Wednesday, December 18 on CBS, followed by a Reunion Special.
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