Making Reality TV Reality

As a kid, Clinton* was always finding creative ways to entertain his brother and friends, arranging performances based on their favorite TV shows. When he was a teenager in the year 2000, a new show began: Survivor. It was the first of its kind he had seen, and Clinton was fascinated by the concept. Before this, all his favorite shows were either scripted, or game shows that took place in a studio. But this—taking regular people, setting them free in the wild, and then videotaping to see what might happen—this was altogether new and intriguing. Inspired by the idea, Clinton felt that if they could do it, so could he. He began planning a party for his next birthday. He gathered volunteers to help with cameras and setting up, and sent invitations to several of his friends. Had they known then what they were getting into, they might have thought harder before accepting…

Like lambs to the slaughter, the “partygoers” stood on the lawn of Clinton’s church, where the game would take place. He split the contestants into two tribes, and they participated in challenges modeled after the show Survivor. For instance, they paddled across a lake in an inflatable boat, put together a giant puzzle, and ate crickets and head cheese for lunch. After each task, everyone gathered into Clinton’s backyard for a tribal council. The losing tribe was forced to kick out one of their teammates. One by one, members of the tribe went to a voting booth where they wrote a name on a slip of paper and explained why they chose that person to the camera. Clinton read each name out loud, and once the votes had been tallied, announced the unfortunate loser. He concluded each council with, “The tribe has spoken.” Although this may seem to be a ploy to incite hostility among teammates, kindness and amiability would be a critical asset by the end of the game. 

After several challenges however, the plot thickened: the tribes merged, and each player was on their own. This time, if a player won a contest, they gained immunity or the inability to get voted out that round. Challenge by challenge, the number of players grew smaller and smaller, until only three remained. This trial was an endurance challenge, which required all three to stand on pedestals and place one hand on a pole in the center. The last to remain standing with their hand touching the pole gained immunity, and one of the other two was voted out. 

As aforesaid, the good deeds of those who had been kind and compassionate toward their peers would pay off in the end. For the last council, the last eight players who had been eliminated voted to decide whom they thought should win. Each of the potential winners stood up to make their defense and share why they should be the winners, and then the votes were taken. After the winner had received their prize, everyone gathered for a big dinner. Later, the video “Clinton’s Survivor” would be premiered, so everyone could enjoy watching the challenges and councils they’d participated in.  

When Clinton was in college, a new TV show became popular that was right up his alley.

It was called the Amazing Race, a marathon across the world that involved checkpoints in several countries. As Clinton and a couple other students were preparing for summer missions overseas, he realized that this could be a great way to raise money for the trip. After all, if they could do it, so could he.

This time, Clinton’s competition had an entrance fee, so the money that didn’t go to the winner could support the mission trip. Instead of around the world, the race spread across the state of Ohio, from the border of Indiana almost all the way to Pennsylvania. The night before the race, Clinton warned the competitors that they would be getting a phone call the next morning. He woke early and called each team to give them their first clue. Then they were off!

The clues took them to all manner of places, and on different legs of the race, contestants had to walk or find public transportation. In the middle of the day, Clinton took all their cars and parked them at the last checkpoint of the race. For one challenge, they were led to a Mexican restaurant, where the owner ordered them to make arepas before he gave them the next clue. This guided them to a bridge, where, looking off, they could see a large stone with the next instructions scrawled upon it. Then, they found a small town where an old lady was selling paper flowers. She gave them a photo and directions to a mall, where the teams searched the throng for the next clue-giver, having only a small picture of her to go by. One challenge included eating a giant bowl of oatmeal, and one had them making a toast tower in the night at an abandoned car wash. Sometimes, the clues were trickier. On one, each team was given a website address and a crossword puzzle. When they opened the website, they realized they needed a password to access it. On the puzzle, every answer had a clue except one, which simply said “Password.” To open the website, the team would have to solve the puzzle and find the word. Another time, a phone number was hidden in a sudoku, which came with a hotel room number. Inside the room, they found a box with a calling card in it and used it to call the number. This would give them their next instructions. 

The game continued until the last challenge, where the winning team would be awarded one hundred dollars. The event was such a success that Clinton decided to use it again to help fund the next year’s mission trip. Not only did Clinton’s creative challenges help support the trip, but they created lasting memories that his friends in high school and college will always remember.

*Name changed

Picture Credit:

Survivor: https://www.ddmmilevsko.cz/program-akci/4951-lt-survivor-prezij-stedronin

Amazing Race: https://img.etimg.com/thumb/width-1200,height-1200,imgsize-49286,resizemode-75,msid-104025164/news/international/us/the-amazing-race-season-35-heres-airtime-where-to-watch-tentative-schedule-and-more.jpg