I have noticed one recurring thing in the survivor series. The people they pick must be the most poorly prepared people in the world. Seriously, where do they find them?
If I knew I was going to spend 40 days with no help out in the middle of nowhere, I would make is a point to prepare myself as much as possible. Actually, I am trying to prepare myself now, and I don't even plan to go anywhere.
I know that they are restricted as to what they can take with them, but they aren't restricted as to what they can learn before they go. Why aren't they studying up on what kinds of edible and other useful plants will be in the areas that they are going to? How come no one knows this? How come no one can make a snare? Why hasn't it occured to anyone to make a pair of boot laces out of 550 cord? If you made them long enough, you could cut one and use it for both boots. That would free the other up for your bow&drill, bow string, snare, fishing line, whatever...