When a contestant has been eliminated from a Reality Game Show, they may make a final statement to camera, before disappearing back into the obscurity from whence they came.
Or not, depending on the show.
Examples:
- American Idol has the eliminated sing their last song before fading away.
- Survivor has the just-eliminated contestant make a final speech during the end credits while the votes of their teammates are shown.
- The Weakest Link usually allows an eliminated contestant to kvetch about alliances and unfair treatment, before explaining who they think should be next.
- When Anne Robinson hosted Have I Got News for You, they parodied this during the end credits.
Paul Merton: (breathlessly) Well, obviously, I'm amazed I won, completely amazed. But I think Ian made a tactical mistake by continually mentioning Bob Maxwell. I think that was his mistake. But I think, you know, in the end, the best man won. Wh-wh-wh-wh-what more can I say?
Ian Hislop: No, no, I don't mind losing at all, I mean, it's just fun, it's just telly, it's just a quiz. The fact that there's a whole load of questions about carp on a topical news quiz, I mean, so what? It's just fun. Who wins, who loses doesn't matter. It's just fun. (twitch) - Again, at the height of The Weakest Link`s popularity, Anne Robinson appeared in a Big-Lipped Alligator Moment at the end of an episode of Nevermind The Buzzcocks to announce host Mark Lamarr was the Weakest Link, after which Lamarr gave a parody of the Elimination Statement during the credits.
- When Anne Robinson hosted Have I Got News for You, they parodied this during the end credits.
- The Biggest Loser gives contestants both the chance to complain about the game immediately after elimination and a montage about how they have continued to lose weight (or not) after being kicked off the show.
- Hell's Kitchen usually shows the eliminated walking towards the exit in slow motion, followed by them giving a statement outside the building. Sometimes chefs who were eliminated or quit in the middle of an episode get an Elimination Statement at the loading docks out back, but most of the time they don't.
- The Apprentice has eliminated contestants do this in the cab home.
- Subverted hilariously in Season 4 when The Donald fired four contestants at once. The cab ride showed the group crammed together in the back seat, completely speechless.
- On Judge Judy, the involved parties give their feelings on the results of the proceedings while the credits roll.
- Top Shot shows the eliminated contestant give their thoughts, often on what they may have done wrong in the eliminating challenge and what they learned over the course of the show, as well as saying good bye to the other contestants before walking away.
- The statements on The Amazing Race tend to be much more good-natured than on other reality shows, and focus almost entirely on the positive instead of what went wrong.
- Each group eliminated from The Sing-Off gets to perform one final "Swan Song" as they depart. This was dropped for season 4.
- The sportswriters on Around The Horn get to give a short statement before Reali mutes them for the day.
- Face/Off features elimination statements for everyone but the runners-up for the finals and the ones who have been disqualified.
- Strip Search, interestingly enough, evolved a three-part Elimination Statement segment: the eliminated artist sits in the middle seat in the back of the SUV talking to the camera, but then Mike and Jerry, the judges, get in on either side and give them an honest, heart-to-heart pep talk, explaining why they shouldn't be discouraged from making more comics. Then, as The Stinger, the artist explains their reaction to that.
- Murder In Small Town X/The Murder Game since the eliminated investigator was "killed". In the latter, they did choose the next lead investigator via a pre-recorded message.
- When a contestant gets eliminated in Cutthroat Kitchen, they're usually shown walking down a long corridor while expressing their feelings about being cut. Many, many of them say they'll be back.
- The Great British Bake Off: And also by those who came closest to elimination but survived, implying they are flat out told this. Even if they aren't, they usually know anyway and the judges are frequently seen saying things like "You'd better improve for next week or you're gone" as the camera pans away after the result.
- Making It, being a very light-hearted crafting competition, has each eliminated Maker do a short skit with hosts Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman on the farmhouse porch. Amy implies that each contestant is coming to live with them, and that the house is getting rather crowded as the season continues.
- Eliminated contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race generally take this trope very seriously and put as much thought into their closing lines as they do with their entrances, usually opting to leave on an earnest, inspirational note or with a humorous joke. As well as their final line when leaving the stage, they also get to write a lipstick message on the werk room's mirror.
