**Sitcom Survival: Everyone Can Find Something Funny**
It took 15 years and 31 seasons, but “Survivor” finally got me. Despite watching hours of television weekly, I had always avoided “Survivor,” perhaps out of principle. The show, which revolutionized reality competition, seemed unappealing with its extreme conditions and relentless pace. However, something funny happened this year. For its 31st season, “Survivor” assembled an “all-star” cast of past contestants, allowing fans to vote on who they wanted to see compete again. This “Second Chance” season featured not just fierce competitors but also shrewd strategists who had studied both the game and each other.
Every week, my roommate took over the living room to watch “Survivor: Second Chance,” and it became harder to pretend I wasn’t paying attention. The show was one of the most engrossing television experiences I had this year. The high level of gameplay made a 15-year-old formula feel new again. The twists and turns of the tribal council, especially those orchestrated by Kelley Wentworth, created unprecedented chaos and excitement.
“Survivor: Second Chance” proved an old reality show truism: if you screw up on casting, you’re doomed. The season’s success was largely due to its committed, contentious, and crafty group of players. Without such a group, the season would have faded into obscurity. The show managed to find magic amid the typical bombast of reality competition shows, making it clear that everyone can find something funny and engaging in a well-crafted sitcom or reality show.
In a similar vein, Indigenous humor has been a key coping mechanism, helping communities survive 500 years of colonization. Indigenous people are masters at taking hurt and pain and weaving it into comedy gold. This humor is now being showcased in shows like “Rutherford Falls” and “Reservation Dogs,” which capture the fine line between laughing, mourning, and healing that Indigenous people do so well.
The small screen isn’t the only place where Indigenous folks are sharing their joy and jokes. Online platforms like Native Twitter, Indigenous TikTok, and NDN meme accounts have exploded, becoming the latest iteration of Indigenous resilience. Whether it’s poking fun at themselves or calling out societal hypocrisies, laughing is how Indigenous communities connect, find community, and ultimately heal.
In both “Survivor” and Indigenous humor, the common thread is the ability to find something funny and engaging, no matter the circumstances. This ability to laugh and find joy is a testament to the resilience and creativity of people, proving that everyone can find something funny in the world around them.
Source: Vox, Refinery29
