The latest addition to the “reality competition show with a twist” category isThe Snake, airing on Fox.The Snakeseason 1promises to be an exciting show thatrelies on players' personalities and powers of persuasion more than their physical prowess, as the premise of the show is that one player is named The Snake each week, and that player has the power to eliminate anyone. Relationships and connections are everything onThe Snake, as the 15 contestantsall have jobs that require some form of manipulation and persuasion.
The contestants range from a pastor, Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz; a tech executive, Kethryn Cavender; a cop, Kailee Victoria Fesock; a lawyer, Amanda Short; a cheerleader, MacLaine Funsch; a bounty hunter, Mena Samara; an OnlyFans creator, Alyssa Grassie; a poker player, Devonte Kavanaugh, and even an ex-con, Bryan Sobolewski. While professions like a cheerleader or a tech exec might not lend themselves to being particularly persuasive, there are elements to almost all professions that require a bit of social savviness. And since the show is described as “social survival of the fittest,“it’s game on for these contestants.
5The Snake Is Executive Produced By SallyAnn Salsano
SallyAnn Created And Produced Jersey Shore
The name “SallyAnn Salsano” should be familiar to any reality fan who knows their stuff, as she is the brains behind MTV’sJersey Shore, the juggernaut of a reality show that is celebrating 15 years since it first premiered.Jersey Shore, of course, made stars out of its cast of “guidos” and “guidettes” like Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Pauly “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio as they raised hell on the shores of Seaside Heights, New Jersey every summer.
SallyAnn is a legendary TV producer, so her involvement inThe Snakebodes well for the show.
IfThe Snakeis even half as successful asJersey Shore,it would be a win for Fox, the network which has struggled to find the same kind of success in the reality competition genre as other networks and streaming platforms like Peacock and Netflix. In an interview withOK! Magazine,SallyAnn said thatThe Snakeis a “fresh” approach to the reality genre. “Expect pacts, betrayals, and jaw-dropping moves that will keep you hooked all summer long,” she said.
4The Snake Combines Aspects Of The Traitors And Million Dollar Secret
The Difference Is Players Know Who The Snake Is
The idea of one player secretly having more power than the others by having a title that the others aren’t aware of is a common trope on reality competition shows. OnThe Traitors, three (or more) players are secretly designated as Traitors and must fly under the radar enough to not be suspicious to the others. OnMillion Dollar Secret, one player is the Millionaire, unbeknownst to the rest of the cast.
The idea onThe Snakeis similar, but with one big caveat: the players all know who the Snake is.
As a person is crowned “the Snake,” they have the power during the show’s Saving Ceremony, their version of an elimination. The Snake kicks off a chain reaction by saving one person from elimination, and each player saved gets to save another. In the end, whoever isn’t picked to be saved goes home. The show’s tagline, “befriend, betray, or be gone,” rings true here.
3The Snake Is Hosted By Comedian Jim Jefferies
Jim Takes Example From Alan Cumming, Peter Serafinowicz
Aussie Jim is well-known in the stand-up world as a snarky, sarcastic comedian. He’s best known for creating and starring on the critically-acclaimed show,Legit, and for his various stand-up specials. A foreign host is another thingThe Snakehas in common withThe Traitors, which is hosted by Scottish actor Alan Cumming, andMillion Dollar Secret, hosted by English actor Peter Serafinowicz. Jim poked fun at the similarities in the series premiere, saying “I’m Jim Jefferies. I’m a guy with an accent. And I’ll be your host.”
2The Snake’s Players Range From An OF Model To A Pastor
Other Occupations Include A Tech Exec, Non-Profit Director, Ex-Con
One of the most compelling aspects ofThe Snakeis the variety of people chosen to compete. The show chose people who are in lines of work that might rely on persuasion and even some manipulation. One of the most controversial players? Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz, a pastor from California. He said in a promo that, “It’s not a sin to win,” and said he’d rely on his faith to carry him through the competition.
Another controversial player is ex-con Bryan Sobolewski from Texas. He spent three years in prison for a string of high-end jewelry store robberies, and has since become an author and speaker. A show that has a priest and an ex-con compete for a $100K grand prize seems like just the right amount of absurdity to keep viewers hooked.
1The Snake Relies More On Personality Than Skill
Anyone Could Emerge Victorious
Like Jim said in the beginning of episode 1, “all of us find ourselves in situations where we have to win people over,” whether our job relies on it or not. It’s an interesting concept for a reality show, which normally has players rely on physical strength or mental stamina to be successful. OnThe Snake,a gregarious, likable person could go far.
It opens up the show to a whole new array of contestants, and gives it something different than other shows. All the contestants are unknowns, again, different thanThe Traitors, but it allows them to construct a narrative on the show that may or may not be true, similar toMillion Dollar Secret. They’re from different backgrounds and places, and nobody knows the truth, unless their special skill is reading people. For these reasons,The Snakepromises to bethis summer’s must-watch action reality competition show.
