Phillip – the Perfect Survivor Character

Phillip Sheppard, a cast member of Survivor: Redemption Island, was absolutely made for reality television.  Let’s face it, by now, we can all identify the casting slots filled on reality shows: the schemer, the hunk, the bi^&%, the black bi^$%, the mother, the outsider and the wild card.  The wild card is the character that doesn’t fit into any other conceivable category.  Usually they are a little socially awkward, a little brash and a little zany.  Phillip is a whole lot of all of these things and more. At the beginning of the season, Phillip seemed to be so disruptive and uncontrollable that I figured  he’d be kicked off immediately.  My husband and I hoped he’d stay awhile just to keep the show interesting and he has. 

Phillip claims to be a special agent (which he reminds players constantly) but doesn’t project the wherewithal to seem to be able to do such a job.  He says he is stealth but then blurts out everything he is thinking during tribal council.  Just to hear him give dissertations on whatever comes to mind makes me laugh. For example, he has a tatoo of a lion on one arm to represent the ferocity of his ire if you mess with his family.  The gorilla on the other arm represents the attitude he will take if you mess with his country.  He says, “Hell hath no fury like a lion and a gorilla when he thinks he is being provoked.”  With a bird feathers attached to his head, he shared the message of victory given to him from his ancestors.  He walks around in tidy-pinkies that gross out his fellow players.  Phillis is what we call in my house “special.”  And just when you think he can’t get any crazier, he announces that he is playing the crazy card to further himself in the game.  Perhaps there is some method to his madness.

I’m glad Phillip has lasted as long as he has.  His particular brand of nuttiness is refreshing even for reality television. I do wonder, as he watches the episodes at home, if he is hurt by how he is being portrayed.  Then again, he has given the producers a lot to work with.   Despite his silliness, there is an air of mystery about him.  Was he really a special agent?  The producers have cleverly  added a “?” to his on-camera title.  Is he really a fool or just playing the part?  Maybe the truth will be revealed in time. Maybe not. Either way, I’m enjoying the show.

Survivor host Jeff Probst, didn’t give Phillip much hope in the beginning.  Check out Jeff’s predictions here.

Here from Phillip himself in his pre-taping interview here. 

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TV Reality Snobs

Oh come off it!  Stop giving me dirty looks when I say that I am a documentary producer who enjoys Reality TV.  I don’t enjoy ALL Reality TV shows just like I don’t enjoy all Documentaries or Sitcoms.  I have my particular poisons – Amazing Race and Survivor are long time favorites.  I love Amazing Race because I love international backdrops. I also like to see what happens to team communication when there is a lack of rest and nutrition as well as a lot of stress.  Okay, that IS a bit intellectual.

Concerning Survivor, I’ve watched every episode since season one when someone I knew appeared as a contestant. (Well, there is one season where I missed half of the shows because I was pregnant and had a toddler at home. I fell asleep in front of the TV a lot.) I admit I get sucked in emotionally. I really CARE about who wins or losses and get mad when the people I am routing against find a way to make it another day.  I go to bed imagining what I would have done .  There was a time when I didn’t have to imagine that hard because my job felt a lot like the show – cut throat politics and high school cliques.

Moving from a viewer stand point on to a professional one, I like to see what techniques are being used on the most popular shows. (My husband gets tired for me “working” while watching TV). I like to see what is going on with character development, editing, sound and story line.  Survivor, by the way, has great intro pieces and a wonderful use of low angles with wide lenses. They could back off the sound effects during challenges though.

What a blessing to be able to learn and grow in my profession while relaxing with my friends and family in the living room. It doesn’t really matter if it is high-brow or low-brow.  If borrowed techniques make it into a documentary or segment that I producing and it works, I just may have Reality TV to thank. I know a graphic artist who would get very upset if you so much as said “hello” to him during his lunch break while he was studying the commercials that were being played in the break room.

Is it hypocritical of me to develop a career around educational and informational programming and then go home and watch highly sensational shows? Perhaps. But at the end of the day I am a proud fan of TV.  Now excuse me. The DVR is calling with a new episode of Run’s House.

 

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