CBS reality series Survivor filmed its 19th and 20th seasons in Samoa, which has been devastated by earthquake and tsunami today.
Survivor was filmed on the island of Upolu, where damage is said to be very widespread, particularly on its south-east coast.
The earthquake reached a magnitude between 8.0 and 8.3, and its subsequent tsunami has resulted in loss of life that is expected to rise.
Jeff Probst and the Survivor crew, which regularly features Australian members, were not harmed with the 20th season not being filmed at the time.
The 19th season is currently airing in the US. Given the tragedy it is possible the series will become pro-active in fundraising following the disaster. It has a track record of supporting charities from its previous locations.
This isn’t the first time a reality series has been linked to natural disaster zones. The Amazing Race filmed in Sri Lanka and New Orleans before they were devastated by tsunami and hurricanes respectively.
Source: AAP, Canada.com
I like to see the latest bunch of loud mouthed Americans try to survive whilst helping to clean up and rebuild Samoa.
@Lewis
1. Budget cuts by CBS
2. Season 20 is a special 10th anniversary all-star edition. Usually they don’t waste a new location for such seasons (a la Pearl Islands, Micronesia).
Does anyone know why they’ve filmed 2 seasons in the same location?
Season 20 is scheduled for Feb-May 2010, hopefully the tourism industry will recover by then. I read in one artile that some crew memebers are still stationed in Samoa, presumably post-production. None were in any iminent danger though.
Yeah what crap timing for Samoa insofar as they were getting a huge amount of potential tourism advertising courtesy of Survivor and then almost immediately struck by this disaster which will do huge harm to the industry for months to come.
But as you say, they will likely get some beneficial coverage to raise awareness and fundraising for the recovery.
Plus, by the time season 20 concludes I’m sure they will have bounced back.