Pirate Master
Pirate Master | |
---|---|
Created by | Mark Burnett |
Starring | Cameron Daddo (host) |
No. of episodes | 2 |
Production | |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | May 31, 2007 – Present |
Pirate Master is a CBS reality television show created by Mark Burnett following 16 modern-day "pirates" on their quest for gold, which will total US$1,000,000. The show is hosted by Cameron Daddo, and takes place in the Caribbean island nation of Dominica. The show premiered on Thursday May 31, 2007. The show also airs on CTV in Canada, Sky One in the UK and soon to be Network Ten in Australia.
Premise
As of the airing of the second episode and based on information from the CBS website,[1] the contest appears to follow the pattern described below; it is uncertain at this point whether or not these procedures will change.
The premise is based on the fictional legend of the pirate captain Henry Steel and the Treasure of Zanzibar.[2][3][4] Based on this tale, Steel divided his loot into 14 parts and hid them across the island of Dominica. A special chest, the Chest of Zanzibar, was created with 15 locked compartments, each containing maps and clues to find each of these stashes. The treasure found through the clues in one compartment will contain a key that can be used to open another compartment. The 15th compartment, which can only be opened once each other compartment has been opened in order, contains a map showing the location of every gold stash on the island of Dominica and would lead to the largest prize.
Each week, the contestants are divided into two crews, Black and Red, to hunt for the treasure indicated by the maps and clues obtained from the most recently opened compartment on the Chest of Zanzibar. The captain and his officers are automatically part of the Black Crew, and the remaining players are randomly assigned to the other crews, with the Black crew gaining the extra player when an odd number of players are available. For the first expedition only, crews are randomly assigned. Both crews simultaneously go on expeditions and decipher clues along the way to find gold coins hidden around the island of Dominica. During the expedition, there is the potential for the currently leading crew to "sabotage" the other crew at a given point and slow them down in the hunt, such as by causing a net to fall to block passage along a river. Should the Black team win (lead by the current Captain), the Captain retains his position, and has the option to replace his Officers prior to divvying the winnings. Should the Red team win, they elect a new Captain who will select two other crew members as the Officers. For the first expedition only, the winning crew gets to elect the Captain in this same manner. The Captain claims 50% of the total gold discovered, the Officers share 25% of the gold, while the rest of the winning crew members share the remaining 25% of the gold. The prized gold is given to the crew members immediately, and allows them to strike deals with each other and vie for long-term security. This money cannot be stolen by other players.[5] Of the total $1 million prize that the show offers, $500,000 will be distributed through the show in this manner.
At the end of each episode, there is a Pirate's Court. Prior to this Court's proceedings, the Captain distributes letters, three of which contain a black ink blot (called a "black spot"). The three contestants marked with a "black spot" are the ones nominated to be voted off and cannot take part in the voting process that follows; the Captain nor his officers cannot do so, either. The remaining crew members then cast their votes by impaling their ballots on an upturned dagger. The contestant with the most votes is then "cut adrift" (i.e., voted off the show). It is unknown what happens in case of a tie. However, if the crew band together and unanimously vote for a mutiny against the Captain, then the officers will have a chance to vote; if they both agree with the crew, the Captain is cut adrift instead. If either Officer disagrees with the mutiny, the mutiny fails, and the Captain can then choose any player (including those that did not have the Black Spot but that voted for mutiny) to be set adrift.[6]
In the end, Captain or not, only one pirate will win the largest booty, worth $500,000, and claim the title of "Pirate Master."
Features of the Show
The show is notable for its very atmospheric setting and props. Much of the show takes place on the ship, called the Picton Castle, but the contestants also disembark and explore island rivers and muddy riverbanks in search of gold. Skeletons, keys, and other pirate-themed paraphernalia are scattered about the foggy island environment.
Other stereotypically "pirate"-like features include pirate-themed music, pirate-like clothing (note that the Captain and the Officers don costumes signifying their superior rank), and the performance of laborious chores aboard the ship. The ship's main mast sports a Jolly Roger, stylized with a "Pirate Master" logo.
Contestants
Contestant | Current Rank, Week Notes |
Cut Adrift | Number of Votes | Total Booty1 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Joe Don "J.D." Morton 36, Fairbanks, AK |
Captain | $42,500 | ||
Ben Fagan 23, Charleston, SC |
Officer | $10,625 | ||
Cheryl Kosewicz 35, Sparks, NV |
Officer | $10,625 | ||
Christa DeAngelo 29, Tamaqua, PA |
$2,250 | |||
Louie "Rufus" Frase 43, Fishing Creek, MD |
$4,250 | |||
Kendra Guffey 38, Los Angeles, CA |
Black Spot | 4 | $2,000 | |
Jay Hatkow 37, Detroit, MI |
$0 | |||
Azmyth Kaminski 26, Los Angeles, CA |
$2,250 | |||
Jocelyn "Joy" McElveen 21, West Columbia, SC |
Black Spot | $0 | ||
Elicia "Jupiter" Mendoza 30, Los Angeles, CA |
$4,250 | |||
Nessa Nemir 29, Berkeley, CA |
$2,250 | |||
Laurel Schmidt 21, Los Angeles, CA |
$0 | |||
Sean Twomey 27, Venice, CA |
$0 | |||
Alexis Shubin 26, Laguna Beach, CA |
$2,000 | |||
Christian Okoye 45, Enugu, Nigeria |
Cut Adrift | Second Episode | 5 | $0 |
John Lakness 25, Carlisle, MA |
Cut Adrift | First Episode | 10 | $2,000 |
Template:FnbBooty Awards are based only on the amount of money directly given to each player as a result of winning the treasure hunt. Booty that may be exchanged afters is not counted in this column due to the inability to verify these amounts from the show as presented ; however, the CBS Pirate Master Wiki includes a "Treasure Tracker"[7] that may include these values.
Episodes
Episode Title | Air Date | Winning Crew | Amount of Gold Found | Captain | Officers | Black Spot | Mutiny | Cut Adrift | Vote | Prize Money |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I Want That Treasure | 2007-05-31 | Cheryl |
Joy Louie |
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Pirates, Guns and Money | 2007-06-07 | Cheryl |
Kendra Joy |
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Bribes, Lies, and Vengeful Eyes | 2007-06-14 | |||||||||
Death by Coconuts | 2007-06-21 | |||||||||
Loose Lips Sink Ships | 2007-06-28 |
Weekly Crew Assignments
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | ||||
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Crew Name | ||||||
Crew Members |
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Voting history
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | |
---|---|---|---|
Alexis | |||
Azmyth | |||
Ben | |||
Cheryl | |||
Christa | |||
Jay | |||
Joe Don | |||
Joy | |||
Jupiter | |||
Kendra | |||
Laurel | |||
Louie | |||
Nessa | |||
Sean | |||
Christian | |||
John |
Voting Reasons:
- Episode 1: John - His attitude initially put off a few people. In the end, his cockiness and attempt to steal the compasses sealed his fate.
- Episode 2: Christian - Seen as physically strong, but his size made him slower and held his team back. Also, he lacked an obvious alliance and others saw his unpredictability as a threat.
References
- ^ CBS - Official Pirate Master website
- ^ The Legend of Henry Steel from the CBS Pirate Master Wiki
- ^ Long Island Press: A pirate's life for me
- ^ Canada National Post: Reality TV, meet the puffy shirt
- ^ - Interview with Cameron Daddo
- ^ Reality News Online - “A Series of Rhetorical Failures” – An Interview with Pirate Master’s John
- ^ Treasure Tracker at the CBS Pirate Master Wiki