Survivor China: Castaway Sneak Preview

Survivor is around for Season 16 but this Fall Survivor goes to China. As host Jeff Probst says in his promotional lead in, previewed at the conclusion of Survivor Fiji, Survivor China " is slightly different".

Survivor has become a way for the everyday man to become famous. Millions of people watch Survivor, it's one of the CBS network's most successful shows ever. Many videos from Survivor fans live on into immortality and the people become household names.

Fan video from Survivor episodes can make someone into a celebrity. People from all walks of life are seen by millions as they compete for money amid squabbles, athletic competitions, and strategic manipulations. The tribal councils where someone is voted out, as well as the dramatic confrontations of personalities are shown in custom clips.

Amid 500 years of colorful history, 16 Americans will compete for the prize: $1 million. Every season of the Survivor series before now was centered on a tropical island, which played into the theme of the challenges and competition.

China is fast becoming the focus of almost every news or business story. Its fast paced modern rise has inspired lottery thieves, cities in the sky, and new travel business for cruises and the Olympics.

What does the average Chinese person think about a contest where people survive and outwit each other to win $1million? Chinese people are addicted to lottery games and may actually watch the show since it involves their own land in the background.

CBS will have to recapture the reality show magic lost when "Pirate Master" was canceled after a half dozen episodes broadcast. Over the many seasons of Survivor, the tribes voting each other out and the mystic symbols of the stories have become hokey and too familiar in places.

Fans are thirsty for fresh castaways and speculation about who will last until the end. Online communities and YouTube videos and custom message boards form a fan ban for each season of Survivor. Merchandise can be purchased online from the "Survivor store".