An hour before The Abbey’s inaugural “Survivor” watch party is set to begin, the bar’s substantial interior has become a standing-room-only affair. Some superfans are even trying to heave patio chairs inside to get an up-close seat to the action, which, in this case, is the gargantuan screen that will be projecting the first episode of the show’s 50th season.
The high-energy room becomes even more spirited once the premiere begins. The crowd, which ranges from buff-donning “Survivor” die-hards to franchise newcomers, claps and clamors over fan favorites: “The White Lotus” creator Mike White’s abs get particularly raucous applause, as do Benjamin Wade’s infamous “coach-isms.”
“It’s like the Super Bowl for fans of the show!” exclaims the celebrated two-time “Survivor” winner Parvati Shallow, who’s hosting the evening.
It’s a scene not unlike another “Survivor” watch party happening just four miles east at The Palm & The Pine, or the ones “Traitors” devotees have been attending around the corner at Beaches Weho every Thursday since Season 4 premiered in January. There are also the “Heated Rivalry” viewings (and communal rewatches) that attracted hundreds to Gym Bar and, on the opposite coast, Wilka’s Sports Bar in Manhattan. Looking to catch the latest season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”? Chances are, a bar will be playing it.
While “Love Island USA” watch parties became a nationwide phenomenon last summer, the months since Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales’ anointing as winners have proven communal viewings are more than a fad. In fact, television aficionados have never been more eager to reinstate the medium to its rightful place in culture: as a spectator sport. And it doesn’t hurt that they often bring a welcome financial upside for venues suffering from post-COVID slowdowns. The premise is simple: Come, watch, enjoy. Then cheer, gasp or exclaim. Preferably all three.
The popularity is partly due to how uniting the environment is, says Oly Innes, who oversees events and programming at Tryst Hospitality venues like The Abbey. “Real-life experiences are extremely important right now, and the watch party is a very literal way of saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to show your favorite show. You will meet other people that love that as well, and you’ll have a bonding experience together.’”
Of course, viewing parties didn’t spring up overnight. Bars began weekly broadcastings of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” back in 2009 — those are widely considered “the OG modern watch party,” says Maddy Biebel, whose Reality Bar pop-up hosts free parties for of-the-moment reality shows in venues across Los Angeles. Even earlier, fans gathered in dives and lounges to watch shows like “Sex and the City” and “Queer as Folk”; the “Seinfeld” finale was broadcast in Times Square. And viewing parties have been a part of The Abbey’s programming for more than 20 years.
Of late, though, they’ve become a point of collective interest as fan culture reaches new heights. “It’s really exciting to watch these premieres when you’re also surrounded by people who love the show,” says Sophia Portelli, senior manager of partnerships at Fox Entertainment. “There’s something to be said about experiencing that together.”
That passion is something brands are recognizing — and tapping into. Fox, for example, is partnering with Reality Bar on co-promotional watch parties around its most- reacted-to programming, such as “The Masked Singer” and “Fear Factor.” After seeing how viral Gym Bar’s watch parties were, e.l.f Cosmetics approached the Weho standby to promote a new lip balm during an episode of “Heated Rivalry.”
The impact can extend far beyond the evening itself; search up “watch party” on TikTok and you’ll see an abundance of content posted by animated fans. “It really is free marketing,” explains Biebel. “The amount of impressions we get with this content … makes you even want to watch the show.”
Since founding Reality Bar in 2023, Biebel has organized watch parties for everything from “The Bachelor” to “Dancing With the Stars.” Her hope going forward? That more bars open their doors to the occasion.
“Let them order wings. Let us yell at the TV together. That’s what it’s all about.”
English (US) ·