At one point, CBS was the leader in reality TV programming. Apparently it's not ready to give up its crown in the 2003-04 season.

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The Associated Press reports that CBS's only remaining reality show, Survivor, will air its long-rumored "tournament of champions" "All-Star" edition as the 8th installment, airing in the spring of 2004. Among the former players who may return for the show are Survivor: Pulau Tiga's Richard Hatch and Rudy Boesch, Survivor: The Australian Outback's Tina Wesson and Jerri Manthey, and Survivor: Africa's Ethan Zohn. Zap2It reports that although the final list of the full sixteen returning players has been determined, the details are not yet available. The show will also reportedly feature a double-size $2,000,000 grand prize.

Although CBS will finish as the top-ranked network in the 2002-03 season, its lack of programs with strong youthful appeal other than Survivor has consigned it to third place in the 18-49 demographics behind reality-heavy Fox and NBC. Nevertheless, CBS president Les Moonves was chortling at the reality-show misadventures of rival networks. In an article on CBS MarketWatch, Moonves dismissed Fox's success as "coasting" on some reality shows and zapped ABC by noting that Survivor was starting its seventh installment but "don't hold your breath for the seventh installment of 'Are You Hot.'"

All we can conclude is that Les Moonves doesn't really watch Survivor. Anyone who DOES watch it would be all too aware of the danger of hubris.

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