David Cooper (host)

This is The Last Show and someone who teaches a university course on Survivor and its legacy next.

The show Survivor.

It celebrates its 50th season.

It's a program where millions of people watch strangers outwit, outplay, outlast.

And we're here with one super fan who loved it so much,

He now teaches a university course on the show.

So let's ask, how did this show change television?

And maybe us.

I'm here with health sciences professor at McMaster University, Hartley Jaffein.

Hartley, what a pleasure it is having you here.

Thank you so much for having me, David.

So we were young kids when that first fateful season of Survivor dropped.

What do you remember of it?

Season one, Survivor, I don't know, year 2000?

What is it about watching people backstab each other, connive, strategize, lie?

What is it about all of that that makes the show so addictive?

I remember in the year 2000, it was such like a cultural moment.

SNL was talking about it.

You don't really get that anymore.

It was sort of like a narrative that everyone had at the same time, just talking about how amazing this show was.