I’ve been a fan of Survivor since it began. I was excited for Heroes Vs Villains. It was the 20th season, 10th anniversary, and had 20 of the most notorious survivors EVER.
I’m from Alabama…never expecting to meet anyone famous…let alone the contestants of my favorite TV show…
I was in NY with my family last May for a family member’s graduation from college. We decided to spend a few days before the graduation in NYC since we have some family who live there.
I’m walking through the city with my parents like normal tourists on a Saturday afternoon when we pass the David Letterman Theater.
I see a security guard wearing a badge with a Survivor: HvV logo on it. I comment to my mom, “Hey, that man back there had a Survivor logo on his badge…”
I thought to myself, “It’s the CBS Theater and Survivor is CBS show…nothing strange.”
I continue to my mom, “Yeah, this has been a great season! I’m excited for the finale tomorrow ni…”
I stopped…the most amazing realization dawned on me…next thing I knew I screamed out.
“IT’S HAPPENING HERE! LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY!”
This couldn’t be happening…I was standing less than 10 feet away from where the finale of the greatest season of the greatest television show was going to take place in just over 24 hours…all of the best Survivors are in the city that I am currently in…holy crap.
I ran back to the security guard and asked him, “Is the finale of Survivor happening in here tomorrow night?”
“Yes” he replied (like it was no big deal), “that’s what they are setting up for.”
“How can I get in?”
“You can’t”
“But there has to be a way”
“I’m sorry; it’s a small theater you won’t be able to get in.”
“Watch me.”
The rest of the night I couldn’t stop thinking about how close I was to the finale of the 20th season of Survivor.
The morning of the finale I went to the CBS store next door to the theater and bought a bunch of Survivor buffs (the merged buffs from seasons 1-5)
Then I walked constantly around the block trying to start a conversation with someone who looks like they could get me in…or at least with a casting producer who I can charm with my personality and make them cast me…
I saw/met a lot of the survivor contestants that day…I was star struck…
But even better I met a ton of other crazy survivor fans…in my hometown…I’m one of very few fans and I’m by far the most dedicated of them. Here, I met other people that I could have in-depth conversations about the show with (favorite moments/contestants, strategy, etc.)
We spent the rest of the night until the live portion of the finale begin chanting at the security guards "LET US IN!" It was fruitless but it didn't matter because I was having so much fun.
I’ve been a fan of Survivor since it began. I was excited for Heroes Vs Villains. It was the 20th season, 10th anniversary, and had 20 of the most notorious survivors EVER.