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Robinson Reality TV Series in Norway Posted by on Nov 4, 2010 in Culture

Have you seen ´Survival?´ If so, you would recognize ´Robinsonekspedisjonen´as Norway´s version of this reality show.  Norway obtained the rights to air their own version of the show in 1999 after its success in Denmark and Sweden.  It is aired on TV3.  As you might imagine, the name derives from Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson, of which both of the premises were people marooned on an island by shipwrecks.  After a two year break in 2005-2006, Robinsonekspedisjonen returned in 2007 and has seen significant growth in ratings since.

Similar to ´Survivor,´each episode consists of 16 contestants who are split up into 2 groups (in this season North vs. South) who compete against each other through physical challenges in survival situations.  At the end of each episode, one contestant gets voted off the show by the ´island council.´  After a ways into the season, the competitions become individual vs. individual.

This season is especially exciting because the 2 teams, as mentioned above, are North and South.  Finally a TV series that plays off of the very apparent, I would say almost rival, between nordlendinger (northerners) and sørlendinger (southerners).  The show examines typical stereotypes of the two groups.  Are nordlendinger as gruff and boastful as sørlendinger are sleek and snobby?  Here you can see pictures and bios of all of the participants in this years Robinsonekspedisjonen.  Christer Falck is once again the director.

The beginning of the season brought with it some real drama.  There was an outbreak of Dengue Fever on the island where the show was to be filmed.  Luckily, Falck was able to find another island that would also serve the purposes of Robinsonekspedisjonen well.

Here is a very entertaining video showing stereotypes and characters from the north and the south-in a rap!

Try to catch the show sometime on TV3.  It´s aired in Norway on Sundays at 8 pm.

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About the Author: kari

I attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where I majored in Norwegian and History. During college, I spent almost a year living in Oslo, Norway, where I attended the University of Oslo and completed an internship at the United States Embassy. I have worked for Concordia Language Villages as a pre-K Norwegian teacher and have taught an adult Norwegian language class. Right now, I keep up by writing this Norwegian blog for Transparent Language. Please read and share your thoughts! I will be continuing this blog from my future residence in the Norwegian arctic!


Comments:

  1. Whitney:

    Hi Kari! I have been considering making a move to Norway within the next year or so. Your blog is very informative – thank you! Would you please email me? I have a few specific questions I would greatly appreciate some advice on.

    Thank you!
    Whitney
    whitney.perry
    @q.com

  2. Marie:

    It looks a funny video! Just wish I could understand it. Interesting how the differences between nordlendinger and sørlendinger in Norway sound like the differences between northerners and southerner in England. 🙂

  3. H. William Harrier:

    Kari I am of Norwegian descent, my grandmother emigrated to Brooklyn in 1908, I was just interested in the Robinson Report was because Joe Nesbo refers to it in his Norwegian crime novels I am trying to learn Norwegian through Duolingo I will keep reading the blog thank you