Survivor needs more outright hostility and brutality.
In fact, screw all the voting-people-off crap. They need to either drive them off (shunning — more like Lord of the Flies) or just wear them down till they leave on their own. And all the game show contests? Come on. I want attacks by native tribesmen, and by local fauna. More work on building better shelters. Robinson Crusoe never had to assemble a jigsaw puzzle. And like Tom Hanks in Cast Away, I say just leave 'em out there for years and only check back now and then, unannounced. Don’t let them know they’ll ever get home. Last person to leave the island alive gets the cash.
I’m also thinking: instead of selecting a few camera-ready contestants, just let anyone play. You’ve got to get yourself to the pickup point — Honolulu or something — and then they take everyone out and drop them on the island. Bring whatever supplies you can carry. Being a cameraman would probably be pretty hazardous duty as well. Have volunteer cameramen too — provide them some food incentive, give 'em sturdy videocams and solar chargers.
Of course I won’t be satisfied till there’s outright cannibalism.