3. Survivor
One of the most popular shows on network television, Survivor was created to put an end to the age old question of what you would do on a deserted island. Contestants of all backgrounds and ages are dropped on an island with little resources and the clothes on their backs. As with most game shows, the last person standing wins, but contestants do have the chance to switch up the odds in their favor should they win immunity from elimination. The way to win immunity is to take first place in the sometimes disgusting challenges the show arranges for the survivors to partake in. The survivors themselves are responsible for deciding who goes home next, so contestants are encouraged to form relationships with each other and hold true to pacts that are created early in the competition. The torture of this show is another trifecta of physical, mental, and emotional stress. Living on an island, forced to fend for yourself is hard enough, but to then add the deception and undermining of your island residents is enough to push anyone over the edge. In addition to all of the above, contestants are also subjected to harsh weather, drinking water contamination, and physical danger while governing themselves so far outside of society. Fear and panic meshes very well with hunger and paranoia, which run rampant on the island. What makes this show entertaining is seeing the plot thicken and unravel in each episode. We select our favorite survivor and hope to see them get to the finish and evade the inevitable deterioration of civilization. Seeing how quickly a person will throw another under the bus after not eating a proper meal in six days makes for great television and a wide fan base. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRJPwrkEyBA