'Survivor: The Australian Outback' (2001)

( Associated Press / February 4, 2013 )

The plot: In the second season premiere, viewers were introduced to 16 memorable contestants as they vied to be the last person standing in the Northern Queensland locale.

How many watched: 45.4 million

Touchdown or fumble? Touchdown. This season of "Survivor" became the top-rated show of 2001 and launched the reality show career of Amber Brkich (who later won "Survivor: All Stars" and then married fellow contestant Rob Mariano before they went to "The Amazing Race") and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of "The View."

-- Hanh Nguyen, Zap2it