ôOutwit. Outlast. Survive.ö This is the theme of Survivor, one of the most successful reality television shows of all time. The premise of Survivor is simple: drop a group of strangers in the middle of nowhere, force them to battle both the elements and each other to remain in the game, and award a $1 million prize to the last player standing. The show tests the physical, mental, and social skills of contestants.