RTV Equivalents?

[amplify26]

Hello everybody!

Just a random thought exercise; which Endurance contestants remind you of others in the competitive reality TV world?

For example, I've heard someone describe Sabrina as a "15 year old female version of Russell Hantz“ from Survivor. Though I get shades of Parvati's flirtatiousness there too, particularly with Aaron.

[carsonvega]

I haven't followed Big Brother, The Amazing Race, The Challenge, or lots of other reality TV shows. But I have followed Survivor. I'll fully admit that the comparisons I'm about to make are extremely limited, but I think they're fun anyway. So I will compare each Endurance winner to a different Survivor winner.

Aaron Thornburg -> Jud "Fabio" Birza, Survivor 21 Nicaragua - neither was considered the smartest person on their show. Both were in early alliances that didn't pan out (the Brotherhood in E1, Shannon/Alina in S21). Both won a lot of missions/challenges near the end of the game that got them to the finale. Both had to deal with key female superstrategists/supervillains on their seasons (Sabrina in E1, Brenda in S21). Both had relationships with females other than the superstrategists that helped them win (Jonna in E1, Na'Onka/Purple Kelly in S21).

Jonna Mannion -> Kim Spradlin, Survivor 24 One World - both were excellent at both physical and mental missions/challenges. Both dominated their games at various points (the List in E1, getting Jay/Troyzan voted off in S24). Both had long-term strong alliances with other female players, at least one of whom was named Sabrina (Sabrina and Ashley in E1, Sabrina and Chelsea in S24). Both dealt with drama from other female contestants and handled it extremely well (Lana's issues with Trevor and Sabrina's manipulation of Aaron in E1, Kat trying to get Sabrina out and Alicia trying to take control near the end in S24).

Max De Leo -> Rob Mariano, Survivor 22 Redemption Island - both took more than one time playing to win the game. Both were known during their games as being manipulative and willing to cut just about any deal if they felt it would help advance their games. Both were in strong alliances with other strong male players that eventually broke down near the end of the game (Mike in E2, Grant in S22 - albeit to very different degrees here). Both had to deal with a late surprise from someone who wasn't considered especially strong throughout their season (Tyler/Michelle in E2, Ashley in S22). Both had wins that divided their respective shows' fanbases a bit, not because they did anything particularly awful during their games but because of the advantages they had in playing more than once.

Jenna Jimenez -> Amber Brkich, Survivor 8 All Stars - both took more than one time playing to win the game. Both often played good cop to their male alliance partner's bad cop (Max in E2, Rob in S8). Both largely steered clear of major drama that occurred on their seasons (the Calley/Annie fight in E2, the Rich/Sue incident on S8). Both had key relationships with a female contestant which ended before the finale but helped them win (Calley for Jenna in E2, Shii Ann for Amber in E8). Though neither was absolutely dominant in missions/challenges, they both scored some important wins.

Chris Vanderweir -> Tom Westman, Survivor 10 Palau - both led large alliances on their seasons. Both were largely able to coast through the first halves of their games (other than having to win missions/challenges) due to their alliance/tribe being dominant. Both had to deal with a late attempt to take control away from them (the Yellow/Orange alliance at final 4 in E3, the near Gregg/Jenn/Katie alliance at final 6 in S10). Both were involved in bullying, for lack of a better word (the continual targeting of Yellow on E3, the manipulation/guilt-tripping of Ian on S10). Yet somehow, there ended up being mutual respect between them and the targets of their bullying at final 3.

Lindi Oest -> Sophie Clarke, Survivor 23 South Pacific - both won some key physical missions/challenges on their seasons. Both were seen as bratty at times during their games and both were among the youngest contestants on their seasons, but those characteristics ultimately did not define them. Both had to deal with returning players in their games. Both were in the majority alliances for the majority of their seasons, yet faced some difficult situations near the very ends of their games (Orange suddenly winning the Temple missions on E3, the Brandon vote-out on S23). Both were overshadowed by other players on their seasons (Monroe/Bryanah on E3, Ozzy/Coach on S23).

Franke Sisto -> Chris Daugherty, Survivor 9 Vanuatu - both lost allies in the early/middle game (Callie/Chris on E4, Sarge/Chad on S9). Both were outnumbered by an opposing alliance in the late game (Purple/Green on E4, Twila/Scout plus the other women on S9) and yet pulled through. Both were good at giving confessionals. Both had to deal with frustrations at camp (the multiple Samadhis on E4, Twila/Julie going back to the other women after the merge on S9) and yet largely kept a lid on their frustrations while around the other players. Both were overshadowed by the players and seasons that came immediately before them and immediately after them.

Erika Cook -> Danni Boatwright, Survivor 11 Guatemala - both lost allies in the early/middle game (Callie/Chris on E4, Brandon/Bobby Jon on S11). Both were athletic and great at physical missions/challenges and not bad at the mental missions/challenges either, though their overall mission/challenge winning records do not look especially dominant in hindsight. Both were well-respected on their seasons (Red got Yellow and Orange's pieces/Jeszie tried to save Red the Samadhi at Final 4/Amelia complimented Erika's positive attitude on her way out in E4, Danni got 6 of 7 jury votes to win in S11). Both were friends with and yet had to overcome another female player who had a strong personality, had a strong male ally, and was dominating the game (Jeszie with ally Isaac in E4, Stephenie with ally Rafe in S11).

Alex Carignan -> Aras Baskauskas, Survivor 12 Panama Exile Island - both were in large alliances that had some dysfunction or at least disagreements but still held together through the final 3 of their seasons as they dealt with a big threat. Both were overshadowed in their own seasons by a dominant male player (Dakota in E5, Terry in S12). Both were fairly good in physical challenges but didn't win very many missions/challenges on their seasons. Both worked closely with a female alliance partner who seemed to drive their strategy (Cealey in E5, Cirie in S12). Both seemed a bit immature at times but as with other winners, that didn't completely define them.

Cealey Godwin -> Jenna Morasca, Survivor 6 Amazon - both had a very strong alliance with another female player (Kelsey in E5, Heidi in S6). Both pulled out some impressive and perhaps unexpected mission/challenge wins (It's a Drag and Slingshot Alley in E5, the blind maze and the headdress challenges in S6). Both were viewed as attractive by the other contestants within their games. Both dealt with a rather notable teammate/tribe swap. Both had a hand in plenty of drama. After their games, both were viewed by some within their fanbases as undeserving (Cealey to Dakota/Kelsey in E5, Jenna to Rob C. in S6).

Ben Scheuer -> Todd Herzog, Survivor 15 China - both were among the smallest guys on their respective seasons and were not especially great at physical missions/challenges. Both had strong alliances with female players who were also not great at many physical missions/challenges (Jordyn on E6, Courtney on S15). Both were well-liked by their respective casts. Both helped to orchestrate the elimination of a strong player/team at a key point in the game (Ben by revealing what he knew about the Green/Orange alliance to Red on E6 during 3 to Go/Shark Bait, Todd by getting James blindsided while James was holding 2 idols on S15).

Jordyn Barbato -> Sandra Diaz-Twine, Survivor 7 Pearl Islands - both were not good at many physical missions/challenges. Both were at times spunky/sassy but their respective casts largely loved them for that. Both faced and overcame alliances that were very strong pairs (Green/Orange on E6, Burton/Jon on S7). Both seemed to be significant underdogs going into the finales of their respective seasons and yet they both won.

[Cruise meerkat Youssy]

Great analysis carsonvega!! I would have never thought to compare Jordyn to Sandra, lol

[carsonvega]

Yes, I agree that the Jordyn-Sandra comparison seems a bit odd, particularly if one considers what Sandra went on to do in winning Survivor 20 Heroes vs. Villains. I just struggled to come up with any other Survivor winner that matched Jordyn any better. More recent winners than the ones I listed are hard to compare because Endurance doesn't really have a lot of great analogues for all of the various advantages that Survivor has incorporated in the last 10 years or so. I think if one just considers Sandra's game in Pearl Islands alone, it makes a little more sense for the Jordyn comparison. I don't think I'd expect Jordyn to win an All Stars-type season of Endurance.

I also think that the Aaron-Fabio, Chris-Tom, and Jenna-Amber comparisons are pretty questionable but as with Jordyn-Sandra I don't know if there are any other comparisons that are much better.