--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Survivor' was, to me, an absolute…" description: "\"'Survivor' was, to me, an absolute reaction that the audience was having to the sort of staid nature of narrative drama on television.\" — Thomas Schlamme" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/thomas-schlamme-40378_absolute_survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction_1306476.jpg" --- # 'Survivor' was, to me, an absolute reaction that the… ![“'Survivor' was, to me, an absolute reaction that the audience was having to the sort of staid nature of narrative drama on television.” quote by Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/thomas-schlamme-40378_absolute_survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction_1306476.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/thomas-schlamme-40378_absolute_survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction_1306476.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/thomas-schlamme-40378_absolute_survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction_1306476.jpg) > “'Survivor' was, to me, an absolute reaction that the audience was having to the sort of staid nature of narrative drama on television.” [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 'Survivor' reacted against bland TV drama, injecting raw, unpredictable energy. **In simple terms:** The show challenged boring TV storytelling. Key Takeaway Embrace bold, unconventional storytelling. Themes television innovation audience reaction drama authenticity Mood critical analytical Type critical insightful When to use this quote - scriptwriting - show development - producer meetings Key Concepts narrative disruption reality TV media criticism Questions to Reflect On - How can authenticity be balanced with entertainment? - What risks arise when breaking narrative norms? A Different Perspective Risk of sensationalism over substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-television-853713/) [Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Narrative Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative-drama-2423373/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction/) [Reaction Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction-audience-2578016/) [Sort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sort/) [Survivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survivor/) [Survivor Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survivor-absolute-4308279/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [The power of music, narrative and drama is of the greatest practical and theoretical importance. ... We see how the retarded, unable to perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sacks/the-power-of-music-narrative-and-drama-is-of-the-greatest-practical/) [Oliver Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sacks/) > [I love doing the radio, and it's different every day. But stand-up is just you and the immediate reaction of the audience. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-love-doing-the-radio-and-it-s-different-every-day-but-stand-up-is/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [I wanted to have a reaction from the audience. I wanted to be able to talk to somebody, and not be talking just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-wanted-to-have-a-reaction-from-the-audience-i-wanted-to-be-able-to/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [The most charming thing about theatre is that you get an instant reaction from the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/supriya-pathak/the-most-charming-thing-about-theatre-is-that-you-get-an-instant/) [Supriya Pathak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/supriya-pathak/) > [There is always over-the-top drama in television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hina-khan/there-is-always-over-the-top-drama-in-television/) [Hina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hina-khan/) > [My feeling is there's a lot of straight drama on television. My goal in life is to try to create something unexpected, and genre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/my-feeling-is-there-s-a-lot-of-straight-drama-on-television-my-goal/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [We need to look to our laurels a bit with television in this country. I don't think enough risks are being taken in drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/we-need-to-look-to-our-laurels-a-bit-with-television-in-this-country/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [I've done so much drama on television that it's very hard to sit down and watch other actors work. I find my interest is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/i-ve-done-so-much-drama-on-television-that-it-s-very-hard-to-sit-down/) [John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/) > [There was one family drama on television when we took out 'The Fosters' - 'Parenthood'. Everybody thought it sounded like a great show, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-paige/there-was-one-family-drama-on-television-when-we-took-out-the-fosters/) [Peter Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-paige/) > [When you're onstage you have a certain faith that somebody's gonna yell somethin' back. Some nights it's louder than other nights and some nights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-you-re-onstage-you-have-a-certain-faith-that-somebody-s-gonna/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [Having a live audience makes a world of difference to the acting. It keeps your timing sharp. When something doesn't work, the actor can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/having-a-live-audience-makes-a-world-of-difference-to-the-acting-it/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [An actor must communicate his author's given message--comedy, tragedy, serio- comedy; then comes his unique moment, as he is confronted by the looked-for, yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-robson-belmont/an-actor-must-communicate-his-author-s-given-message-comedy-tragedy/) [Eleanor Robson Belmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-robson-belmont/) > [When you dance and move around it creates a different reaction from the audience - they love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/when-you-dance-and-move-around-it-creates-a-different-reaction-from/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [“If you simply present data, it’s easy for your audience to say, “Oh, that’s interesting,” and move on to the next thing. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-nussbaumer-knaflic/if-you-simply-present-data-it-s-easy-for-your-audience-to-say-oh-that/) [Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-nussbaumer-knaflic/) > [I love playing live, I don't like studios all that much. I need the reaction of the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-rossdale/i-love-playing-live-i-don-t-like-studios-all-that-much-i-need-the/) [Gavin Rossdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-rossdale/) ## More by Thomas Schlamme > [When you're part of history, you don't know it. You're just sort of living your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/when-you-re-part-of-history-you-don-t-know-it-you-re-just-sort-of/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > [I remember running into Aaron's Sorkin office and going "The show's West Wing going to work! I know it's going to work!" And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/i-remember-running-into-aaron-s-sorkin-office-and-going-the-show-s/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > [I think 'The West Wing' hit at a moment in time that was just right for that show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/i-think-the-west-wing-hit-at-a-moment-in-time-that-was-just-right-for/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > [I'm engaged: I'm interested in other people. I think that's just as important as knowing how to do the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/i-m-engaged-i-m-interested-in-other-people-i-think-that-s-just-as/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > [I worked as a production assistant on a couple of films, and finally, I got a job at an animation studio as an editor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/i-worked-as-a-production-assistant-on-a-couple-of-films-and-finally-i/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > [I'm a voyeur. I say that with no embarrassment. If I could have a superpower, being invisible would be it, no question. I'm fascinated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/i-m-a-voyeur-i-say-that-with-no-embarrassment-if-i-could-have-a/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > [There's always been an ongoing struggle between commerce and art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/there-s-always-been-an-ongoing-struggle-between-commerce-and-art/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > [Aaron Sorkin whole thing was that he didn't want the pomposity of the presidency in the West Wing. But once we cast Martin Sheen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/aaron-sorkin-whole-thing-was-that-he-didn-t-want-the-pomposity-of-the/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > [When we were doing 'Sports Night' and 'West Wing' at the same time, I thought I was the luckiest guy in the world because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/when-we-were-doing-sports-night-and-west-wing-at-the-same-time-i/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > [Just besides how smart Aaron Sorkin stuff is, really, is how visceral it is, how sensual it is. Not sexual, sensual. Always tactile. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/just-besides-how-smart-aaron-sorkin-stuff-is-really-is-how-visceral/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) [Explore all 11 Thomas Schlamme quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) ## More Absolute quotes > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Absolute is a game with only one player where Absolute forgets itself so it would have a reason to fulfill the motion while returning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/absolute-is-a-game-with-only-one-player-where-absolute-forgets-itself/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“The necessity of nothingness does not create anything. The real value and meaning of the Being are not in its necessity but in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/the-necessity-of-nothingness-does-not-create-anything-the-real-value/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I can like something. You can like something. It's not an absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-can-like-something-you-can-like-something-it-s-not-an-absolute/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/nothing-is-absolute-everything-changes-everything-moves-everything/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [What is liberty? There is no such thing as absolute liberty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-liberty-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-liberty/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [“Energy is the world-born phenomenon, the world that puts itself in motion and flies into space by receiving space into itself. From this point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/energy-is-the-world-born-phenomenon-the-world-that-puts-itself-in/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“As we see it, space is possible only when the primordial Being swallows emptiness. Space is born when the Being accepts emptiness, the Nonbeing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/as-we-see-it-space-is-possible-only-when-the-primordial-being/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Absolute faith can blind you to the consequences of the actions you allow. It can tell you it's okay to drop bombs on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-denton/absolute-faith-can-blind-you-to-the-consequences-of-the-actions-you/) [Andrew Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-denton/) > [“Zero is a gateway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/zero-is-a-gateway/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Absolute perfection is here and now, not in some future, near or far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/absolute-perfection-is-here-and-now-not-in-some-future-near-or-far/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) [Browse all 631 Absolute quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Survivor' was, to me, an absolute reaction that the audience was having to the sort of staid nature of narrative drama on television.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Schlamme" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction-that-the-audience-was-having/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absolute" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction-that-the-audience-was-having/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/thomas-schlamme-40378_absolute_survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction_1306476.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/thomas-schlamme-40378_absolute_survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction_1306476.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b3/thomas-schlamme-40378_absolute_survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction_1306476.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“'Survivor' was, to me, an absolute reaction that the audience was having to the sort of staid nature of…” — Thomas Schlamme", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Schlamme", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "'Survivor' was, to me, an absolute...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction-that-the-audience-was-having/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/survivor-was-to-me-an-absolute-reaction-that-the-audience-was-having/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```