Survivor: 10 Rules You Never Knew Existed | Screen Rant
Survivor has been on the air for over 20 years. And in that time, it is still finding ways to surprise fans. Of course, some rules keep changing, owing to the nature of the game and its numerous advantages, and modern viewers are learning along with the players in regards to new and never-before-seen advantages.
However, there is also a Survivor rulebook that contestants are forced to sign before playing the game. This dictates a certain number of rules and regulations that are rarely, if ever, seen on television. As a result, even the most seasoned Survivor viewers may not know that they exist.
Some viewers may ask: why don't the contestants just steal each others' Hidden Immunity Idols? In some cases, it's very obvious that someone has a Hidden Immunity Idol, whether it's just common knowledge through deduction or whether they actively show it at Tribal.
However, a Hidden Immunity Idol is considered a "personal item," and it falls under the rule that "Stealing personal items from other contestants is strictly prohibited." So even if player X knows that player Y has an Idol, they are strictly prohibited from taking it.
Survivor contestants have been forced to eat some gross things during challenges. And outside of these challenges, they are only allowed to eat what the producers tell them they can eat. One rule in the rulebook states, "Castaways may only eat food items (both flora and fauna) that are approved by the producers."
It is unclear what types of flora and fauna are off-limits, and it's hard to speculate. Regardless, it's fun to know that the contestants can't just pick and eat whatever they want.
It should probably go without saying, but the contestants are strictly prohibited from physically harming each other. Sure, they may get into odd scrapes every now and again, but full-on fights, punches, slaps, etc. are never allowed.
The rulebook explicitly states, "During conflicts between castaways, they are not allowed to purposefully inflict physical harm on each other." Doing so will result in the elimination of the instigator and complete forfeiture of their prize money.
It's not uncommon to see tribes throwing a particular challenge - typically for the sole reason of voting off someone undesirable. But it's also possible to forfeit a challenge even after winning it.
The rulebook states, "A tribe may forfeit a challenge, whether before or after the challenge (where there is already a winner), as long as it is a unanimous tribe decision." It's unclear why a tribe would play the challenge, win it, and then forfeit it rather than just throwing it outright, but it's possible!
It's possible for Survivor players to get themselves voted out, but they are not allowed to refuse to vote. And if they do refuse to vote at a particular Tribal Council, they will be severely punished. According to the rulebook, "If a castaway refuses to vote, he/she will either face expulsion or become ineligible for immunity at the next Tribal Council."
Therefore, it's likely that refusing to vote will mean the end of a player's game, whether it's getting kicked off immediately or being voted off at the next Tribal for being a poor sport.
The jury is an important aspect of the game. Not only do they determine the winner, but they also provide some wonderfully memorable Survivor speeches. However, the number of jury members can change at the whim of the producers.
According to the rulebook, "The Producer has the sole discretion to increase/decrease the number of jury members. There is a possibility that the jury may be fewer than seven, depending on circumstance." This explains the massive jury that was seen on Winners at War.
Survivor viewers will notice that players openly discuss the events of tribal once returning to camp. And some may ask, "Why are they only talking about this now?" It's because the players are strictly prohibited from talking to each other when the cameras aren't rolling.
The rulebook states that "Castaways are forbidden to speak to each other during transport to and from challenges. Along with a certain time period before leaving for Tribal Council, as well as transport to and from. This is to prevent strategies that cannot be filmed from being discussed."
Nicaragua left a real sour taste in everyone's mouths, as both NaOnka and Kelly quit in the same episode. It was one of Survivor's biggest controversies ever, and many fans felt that it made for spectacularly boring and anticlimactic TV. After that, a rule was put in place that players cannot quit. Of course, they can still leave the show if desired, but they will face severe punishment.
According to the rulebook, "Not only is quitting considered a violation of [the] contract, but [it will] result in a contestant's exclusion from the jury (if the quitter left the game during the jury phase of the game) and withholding their consolation prize."
Typically, winning immunity means that the victorious tribe does not visit Tribal Council, and as a result, does not lose one of their members. It's Survivor 101, but this rule can actually be broken. According to the rulebook, it is entirely possible for a winning tribe to still visit Tribal Council.
In its own words, "If a tribe wishes to go to Tribal Council after winning an Immunity Challenge, they may do so, as long as this choice is a unanimous decision."
The game of Survivor would be completely broken if players could conspire to share the winnings, for example, if players X, Y, and Z could conspire to bring each other to the final three in exchange for an even split of the prize money.
As a result, talk of sharing prize money is a strict no-go. According to the rulebook, "Conspiring to share winnings between castaways is strictly prohibited." Of course, winners are still welcome to share their money after the show ends. There just can be no talking about it in front of the camera.