“Survivor” originally started as a show about a group of strangers who had no knowledge of each other before the game began. However, things have changed a bit through the years. Beginning with “Survivor: Guatemala” (Season 11) and the casting of ex-NFL quarterback Gary Hogeboom, CBS’s reality TV show has featured notable figures from the world of sports, entertainment and beyond, some of whom are identifiable by other castaways on the island. Tour our gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see the dozens of “Survivor” celebrity cast members who had some level of fame prior to competing on the program. Which ones did you recognize before their seasons ever aired?
“Survivor” being such a physical game has made it attractive to athletes from the world of the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and even the Olympics. In addition to Gary, some names familiar to those who follow...
“Survivor” being such a physical game has made it attractive to athletes from the world of the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and even the Olympics. In addition to Gary, some names familiar to those who follow...
- 5/24/2024
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
“Survivor” originally started as a show about a group of strangers who had no knowledge of each other before the game began. However, things have changed a bit through the years. Beginning with “Survivor: Guatemala” (Season 11) and the casting of ex-NFL quarterback Gary Hogeboom, CBS’s reality TV show has featured notable figures from the world of sports, entertainment and beyond, some of whom are identifiable by other castaways on the island with them. Tour our gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see the dozens of “Survivor” celebrity cast members who had some level of fame prior to competing on the program. Which ones did you recognize before their seasons ever aired?
See Everything to know about ‘Survivor 43’
“Survivor” being such a physical game has made it attractive to athletes from the world of the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and even the Olympics. In addition to Gary,...
See Everything to know about ‘Survivor 43’
“Survivor” being such a physical game has made it attractive to athletes from the world of the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and even the Olympics. In addition to Gary,...
- 10/24/2022
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. This season, he blogged about his experiences in Cambodia as a competitor on Survivor: Second Chance. Follow Stephen on Twitter @stephenfishbach.
"Everybody's on my side, and I'm the popular guy. Everybody wants to date the prom king, so this is perfect. This will work out." –Jeremy Collins, Survivor: San Juan Del Sur
All you future contestants: get to humping. In the season finale of Survivor: Second Chance, Jeremy Collins debuted the greatest move the game has ever seen.
"Everybody's on my side, and I'm the popular guy. Everybody wants to date the prom king, so this is perfect. This will work out." –Jeremy Collins, Survivor: San Juan Del Sur
All you future contestants: get to humping. In the season finale of Survivor: Second Chance, Jeremy Collins debuted the greatest move the game has ever seen.
- 12/17/2015
- by Stephen Fishbach, @stephenfishbach
- People.com - TV Watch
Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. This season, he will blog about his experiences in Cambodia as a competitor on Survivor: Second Chance. Follow Stephen on Twitter @stephenfishbach.
"I came here not to be feeling bad for other people. I came here to win a million dollars." –Abi-Maria Gomes, Survivor: Philippines
One of the best parts of being on the jury is that you're watching Survivor happen from 10 ft. away.
We sit on the stone steps of Tribal Council and watch Jeff Probst grill the contestants.
"I came here not to be feeling bad for other people. I came here to win a million dollars." –Abi-Maria Gomes, Survivor: Philippines
One of the best parts of being on the jury is that you're watching Survivor happen from 10 ft. away.
We sit on the stone steps of Tribal Council and watch Jeff Probst grill the contestants.
- 12/10/2015
- by Stephen Fishbach, @stephenfishbach
- People.com - TV Watch
CBS's "Survivor: Cambodia" -- aka Season 31, aka "Second Chance" -- is ending its fantastic run on Wednesday, December 16, with a two-hour finale and one-hour reunion show (where probably only Spencer and maybe two other people will be allowed to speak). At the end of the penultimate episode, Jeff Probst teased that, during the finale, something would happen for the first time in 31 seasons. What is it? We have a guess, but first here's more from Jeff to Entertainment Weekly:
Okay, six players left as we head to the finale/reunion. What can you tell us about both next Wednesday night?
"The finale is ... phenomenal. Historic. Unpredictable. And ultimately satisfying. I think it will cap off, in grand fashion, what most fans will regard as one of — if not The greatest season of Survivor. I have absolutely loved the way this group played. I am proud and impressed by the level...
Okay, six players left as we head to the finale/reunion. What can you tell us about both next Wednesday night?
"The finale is ... phenomenal. Historic. Unpredictable. And ultimately satisfying. I think it will cap off, in grand fashion, what most fans will regard as one of — if not The greatest season of Survivor. I have absolutely loved the way this group played. I am proud and impressed by the level...
- 12/10/2015
- by Gina Carbone
- Moviefone
Don't feel bad for Joe Anglim.
When Survivor returns on Wednesday night, he'll be noticeably absent during the challenges. The rest of the tribe correctly determined that he was a threat to win the whole game and voted him out on day 31.
But Anglim, 27, will be just fine.
"Joe is athletic," host Jeff Probst told People earlier this season. "Joe is good-looking. Women want to date Joe; men wish they were Joe. He's got a lot of skills that make him good at life, but a threat at Survivor"
Case in point: Anglim competed so hard in an immunity challenge that he passed out.
When Survivor returns on Wednesday night, he'll be noticeably absent during the challenges. The rest of the tribe correctly determined that he was a threat to win the whole game and voted him out on day 31.
But Anglim, 27, will be just fine.
"Joe is athletic," host Jeff Probst told People earlier this season. "Joe is good-looking. Women want to date Joe; men wish they were Joe. He's got a lot of skills that make him good at life, but a threat at Survivor"
Case in point: Anglim competed so hard in an immunity challenge that he passed out.
- 12/9/2015
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- People.com - TV Watch
"Survivor" Season 31 (yes, can you believe it?) is now airing, and "Survivor: Second Chance" is one of the best competitions CBS has ever aired. Maybe it's the returning players, all "losers" hungry for a win, or the many twists that have only improved the gameplay and have yet to feel like desperate gimmicks. It's rare to have so many players pushing to win, with very different strategies, and we can't wait to see who ends up the sole survivor of "Survivor: Cambodia."
Who will it be?
Well, the edits certainly give us some hints. For example, we could've told you it wouldn't be Kelly Wiglesworth even before she was eliminated in Episode 9, since she had almost no screen time, including confessionals. Spencer Bledsoe is still the confessional king. The producers have him narrating the season, like this is his story and everyone else is a supporting player. Then again,...
Who will it be?
Well, the edits certainly give us some hints. For example, we could've told you it wouldn't be Kelly Wiglesworth even before she was eliminated in Episode 9, since she had almost no screen time, including confessionals. Spencer Bledsoe is still the confessional king. The producers have him narrating the season, like this is his story and everyone else is a supporting player. Then again,...
- 11/19/2015
- by Gina Carbone
- Moviefone
Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. This season, he will blog about his experiences in Cambodia as a competitor on Survivor: Second Chance. Follow Stephen on Twitter @stephenfishbach.
"An alliance is easier said than done." –Kelly Wiglesworth, Survivor: Borneo
Before I start this blog, I need to take a moment to apologize to humanity. Yes, if you were watching that episode last night, I misquoted one of the most famous lines in literature on national television.
It's double, double toil and trouble.
Not boil, boil, toil and trouble.
"An alliance is easier said than done." –Kelly Wiglesworth, Survivor: Borneo
Before I start this blog, I need to take a moment to apologize to humanity. Yes, if you were watching that episode last night, I misquoted one of the most famous lines in literature on national television.
It's double, double toil and trouble.
Not boil, boil, toil and trouble.
- 11/19/2015
- by Stephen Fishbach, @stephenfishbach
- People.com - TV Watch
Woo Hwang came into this season of Survivor with a lot of baggage.
When the 31-year-old martial arts instructor played in Survivor: Cagayan, he made a colossal mistake in taking eventual winner Tony Vlachos to the finals even though he may have had a better chance against Kass McQuillen, who had rubbed some of the contestants the wrong way.
That choice cost him the game.
During his second chance, Hwang's game never really got off the ground. He went to nearly every tribal council and watched as his allies were voted off.
He was voted off on day 16 – partially...
When the 31-year-old martial arts instructor played in Survivor: Cagayan, he made a colossal mistake in taking eventual winner Tony Vlachos to the finals even though he may have had a better chance against Kass McQuillen, who had rubbed some of the contestants the wrong way.
That choice cost him the game.
During his second chance, Hwang's game never really got off the ground. He went to nearly every tribal council and watched as his allies were voted off.
He was voted off on day 16 – partially...
- 11/4/2015
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- People.com - TV Watch
Terry Deitz waited a decade to return to Survivor. In 2005's Survivor Panama, he finished the season in third place, but he always believed that he could do better.
"I always felt like I had what it takes to win the game," he told People before competing on Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance, "and I've been waiting for ten years to go back."
But his dream came to an abrupt end the night of day 13 when host Jeff Probst came to the camp and told Deitz that his son was ill and that he needed to return home immediately.
It was very serious.
"I always felt like I had what it takes to win the game," he told People before competing on Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance, "and I've been waiting for ten years to go back."
But his dream came to an abrupt end the night of day 13 when host Jeff Probst came to the camp and told Deitz that his son was ill and that he needed to return home immediately.
It was very serious.
- 10/30/2015
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- People.com - TV Watch
This is the worst way to leave "Survivor." To promote tonight's October 28 "Bunking With the Devil" episode of "Survivor: Cambodia," aka Season 31, "Survivor: Second Chance," CBS teased, "One castaway is pulled from the game due to a family emergency; the players drop their buffs for a second time and switch tribes; players chow down on local delicacies to win immunity."
The promo showed Jeff Probst visiting one tribe at night, which is never a good thing. We heard Kass McQuillen say having someone go home like this is worse than anything you can imagine in "Survivor." And when Chaos Kass gets emotional you know things are serious.
What happened?
They showed it at the start of the episode, on Day 13 of the game. Terry Deitz, 55, of "Survivor: Panama" was pulled from the game when his son Danny was said to be seriously ill and hospitalized. Terry's wife called production and,...
The promo showed Jeff Probst visiting one tribe at night, which is never a good thing. We heard Kass McQuillen say having someone go home like this is worse than anything you can imagine in "Survivor." And when Chaos Kass gets emotional you know things are serious.
What happened?
They showed it at the start of the episode, on Day 13 of the game. Terry Deitz, 55, of "Survivor: Panama" was pulled from the game when his son Danny was said to be seriously ill and hospitalized. Terry's wife called production and,...
- 10/28/2015
- by Gina Carbone
- Moviefone
Did you predict that Jeff Varner would be the fourth person voted out of "Survivor: Second Chance"? If so, you should be taking place in our weekly prediction contest. Hurry -- make your "Survivor" predictions for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift certificate. It's fun and easy, so get started by scrolling down to predict which castaway will be kicked off the island next. -Break- Who will win 'Survivor: Second Chance'? See exclusive predictions According to exclusive Gold Derby odds that are derived from the predictions made by contest entrants like you, Jeff's elimination was a shocker as he only had 8/1 odds (11% chance) of being voted out Wednesday night. Our readers instead thought that Woo Hwang would be the one sent packing, but he was able to convince his tribe mates to keep him around a little bit longer. Congratulations to our reader Pretty...
- 10/15/2015
- Gold Derby
If forced to choose the Mvp of "Survivor: Second Chance" so far, Jeff Varner is the likeliest of answers if only because he's had the biggest impact on the game. Instrumental in all three eliminations, Jeff's aggressive yet volatile strategy has made major waves in the game and this week he even crossed tribal lines in order to survive. Heading into Episode 3, our contest players had Jeff's odds to win at 12/1, but he now has lowly 40/1 odds to win. Let's evaluate his good and bad moves so far in the game, and be sure to make your "Survivor" predictions for your chance to win our prize of a $100 Amazon gift certificate. -Break- Who will win 'Survivor: Second Chance'? See exclusive predictions Jeff’s Good Moves: Pitting "old school" against "new school" Jeff very keenly divided the tribe into two factions right out of the gate,...
- 10/8/2015
- Gold Derby
On every season of Survivor, one contestant manages to steal the show.
This season, it's Jeff Varner, the 49-year-old from North Carolina who's snarky, funny and extremely quotable – although he sometimes says things that make everyone's jaw drop.
In the first two episodes of Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance, Varner has been playing hard, all the while telling other contestants that the game is moving too fast and he's just trying to keep up. (You're not fooling us, Jeff. Sorry. You know exactly what you're doing.)
In an exclusive deleted scene from this week's episode, Varner talks strategy – and then shares...
This season, it's Jeff Varner, the 49-year-old from North Carolina who's snarky, funny and extremely quotable – although he sometimes says things that make everyone's jaw drop.
In the first two episodes of Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance, Varner has been playing hard, all the while telling other contestants that the game is moving too fast and he's just trying to keep up. (You're not fooling us, Jeff. Sorry. You know exactly what you're doing.)
In an exclusive deleted scene from this week's episode, Varner talks strategy – and then shares...
- 10/7/2015
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- People.com - TV Watch
Few contestants have been beaten down by Survivor as much as Shirin Oskooi.
After spending 10 years applying for the show, she was finally cast in Survivor: Worlds Apart. On that season, she had vitriolic clashes with contestants Dan Foley and Will Sims that reduced her to tears.
Then she got the chance to play again in Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance. There was just one hitch: she would be playing back-to-back seasons. As soon as the Survivor: Worlds Apart live finale was finished, she would be whisked away to play again.
Before she knew it, Oskooi was back on an island,...
After spending 10 years applying for the show, she was finally cast in Survivor: Worlds Apart. On that season, she had vitriolic clashes with contestants Dan Foley and Will Sims that reduced her to tears.
Then she got the chance to play again in Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance. There was just one hitch: she would be playing back-to-back seasons. As soon as the Survivor: Worlds Apart live finale was finished, she would be whisked away to play again.
Before she knew it, Oskooi was back on an island,...
- 10/3/2015
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- People.com - TV Watch
Tonight's episode, kicked off with the usual conversation footage. Kelley Wentworth expressed how happy she was to snag up the immunity idol during the last immunity challenge. Meanwhile, Jeff revealed that he wanted to go ahead and get either Shirin or Spencer out early because they're gaming hard right now. Spencer told the private cams that Abi was basically awful and hated that he had to work with her. Andrew told the private cams that he definitely didn't like the fact that Stephen Fishbach was already searching for an immunity idol. Abi started a fight with Peih-Gee at one point after Abi overheard her talking about her behind her back. Terry moved in to offer Abi some protection in the game, and she was definitely open to it since all the girls turned on her. Next, they showed immunity/rewards challenge footage. It was an obstacle course and puzzle challenge.
- 10/1/2015
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
Will Jeff Varner win "Survivor: Second Chance"? With the show's 31st season set to premiere on CBS Sept. 23, keep coming back to Gold Derby for in-depth analyses of all 20 returning players, including pros and cons that may affect their chances this time around. Hurry - make your "Survivor" predictions for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift certificate. It's fun and easy, so get started by scrolling down to predict which castaway will be kicked off the island first. -Break- Who will win 'Survivor: Second Chance'? See exclusive predictions Jeff Varner Previous Finish: 10th place Season 2: The Australian Outback The second season of "Survivor" has provided audiences a wealth of new looks at its contestants -- Tina, Colby, Amber, Alicia, Jerri and Michael have all had their second chances in previous seasons and Elisabeth has enjoyed a high-profile career in media. But surprisingly, this is...
- 9/22/2015
- Gold Derby
Well, this should be fun.
CBS has released the first details of Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance, and the season sure looks like a winner.
In May, America voted for the cast of the long-running franchise's 31st season. They chose 10 men and 10 women who had competed once before but hadn't won the game.
By and large, America got it right, although the omission of Survivor: Africa's Teresa Cooper was a heartbreaker.
Still, multiple sources have told People that the season turned out to be one of the franchise's strongest in its 31-season history. Here's what to expect:
Pregame PlansPeople spoke...
CBS has released the first details of Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance, and the season sure looks like a winner.
In May, America voted for the cast of the long-running franchise's 31st season. They chose 10 men and 10 women who had competed once before but hadn't won the game.
By and large, America got it right, although the omission of Survivor: Africa's Teresa Cooper was a heartbreaker.
Still, multiple sources have told People that the season turned out to be one of the franchise's strongest in its 31-season history. Here's what to expect:
Pregame PlansPeople spoke...
- 8/25/2015
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- People.com - TV Watch
"Survivor: Worlds Apart" fourth and fifth place finishers Rodney Lavoie Jr. and Sierra Dawn Thomas called me as a package deal on Thursday (May 21) morning following the "Survivor" finale. The pairing probably spared Rodney lots of repetition about the various sexism and misogyny charges leveled through the season and discussed through the finale. Those issues came up in our conversation, but it wasn't the meat of the exit interview. In a season with a 6-1-1 vote, I let Sierra and Rodney defend casting their respective votes for Carolyn and Will instead of eventual winner Mike. We discussed a few strategic points in the game, we circled around the sexist comments, the edit and who apologized to whom. And we talked about Rodney's birthday and his feelings about Tom Brady's suspension in Deflategate. Which Rodney compares to excessive attention to "Survivor" sexism. Paired interviews are a good way to deflect problematic questions!
- 5/23/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Pre-credit sequence. It's Night 35 and the Top 5 castaways return to camp. Carolyn is giddy. Mike is incredulous. Rodney is offended that Carolyn didn't tell him about the Idol, which is funny since Carolyn's offended that Rodney voted for her. They agree that without Idols or advantages remaining, everybody wants Mike out, which is especially funny since Mike was the only person to support Carolyn at the previous Tribal. But loyalty doesn't go very far when you're this deep into "Survivor." Mother-Lover. Tonight's Reward is an individual challenge and it's really only worthwhile if Rodney loses. No Rewards for Rodney! It's a complicated challenge involving tiles, a number puzzle, shuffle board and other stuff. Wanna know what they're playing for? Love! Carolyn's husband comes out and she cries. It's a fairy tale marriage. Everybody cries. Mike's mom comes out and he cries. It's a fairy tale mother-son relationship.
- 5/21/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Season 30, Survivor: Worlds Apart, has been a turbulent journey of ups and downs. We've had ugly social issues arise after Will and Dan issued personal attacks on Shirin. Mike has scrambled his way to the finale, despite having his back against the wall for weeks. And maybe most importantly, we've been blessed with Joe's adorable dimples. But now, it's finally time to see who wins it all. As Jeff would say, "Sole Survivor is back up for grabs!"...
- 5/20/2015
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
Everyone knows that Survivor is a highly edited show.
Over a period of three days, multiple cameras film between 300-500 hours of footage. Then, a team of editors boil all that footage down to one 44-minute episode.
Dan Foley, the latest contestant voted off the island, says he watched the first two episodes and realized that he was going to get a villain's edit. But even he seems surprised at how negatively he was portrayed – and how vitriolic the viewer response has been.
So what did we miss? Foley, a 47-year-old postal worker from Maine, was happy to tell us.
Over a period of three days, multiple cameras film between 300-500 hours of footage. Then, a team of editors boil all that footage down to one 44-minute episode.
Dan Foley, the latest contestant voted off the island, says he watched the first two episodes and realized that he was going to get a villain's edit. But even he seems surprised at how negatively he was portrayed – and how vitriolic the viewer response has been.
So what did we miss? Foley, a 47-year-old postal worker from Maine, was happy to tell us.
- 5/15/2015
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- People.com - TV Watch
As so often happens on "Survivor," Tyler Fredrickson seemed well on his way to winning the million bucks, at least until he suddenly wasn't and Jeff Probst was snuffing his torch. Tyler had weathered a bumpy transition out of the not-wholly-functional White Collar tribe and he found himself in the center of a seemly strong numbers alliance, one that he helped solidify through his tight bond with original tribemate Carolyn. The former Cal Bears kicker and preseason Redskin and Raider was just strong enough that he seemed capable of winning an Individual Immunity or two, but not so dangerous that everybody viewed him as a threat. And in a season of larger-than-life personalities prone to extended shouting matches, he seemed level-headed and quiet. Naturally, that was a combination of factors that caused people to start talking about him as the eventual winner and that's the kind of talk that can...
- 5/10/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Pre-credit sequence. Shirin is gone, but thanks to Mike, last week's Tribal had some amusement and it's time to see what the ripples are. Everybody's trying to figure out who voted for who, with Mike cackling all the way. The Six go off into the jungle to scramble, which Mike loves, even if he wasn't invited. He knows he's safe with his Idol, so The Six will have to cannibalize. Dan is ranting and raving about knowing it was a bluff, while Tyler is trying to lecture Dan on basic strategy. "It's fine," Dan says, putting his hand on Tyler's chest in a threatening manner. Clueless Will is trying to explain to Dan why he voted for him and Dan also reassures him, in a Low-Rent Godfather kinda way. "I don't have too many lifelines remaining," Tyler says, vowing to vote for Dan again if he needs to.
- 5/7/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
On last week's "Survivor: Worlds Apart," several castaways talked about talking much-maligned underdog Shirin Oskooi to the end because of the assumption that nobody would vote for her. This was crazy-talk and I figured Shirin would have been a lock for at least four votes. "Five, bro! I had five Jury votes bro, five," Shirin was quick to tell me when we spoke after Wednesday's "Survivor." Of course, the fact that we were speaking on Thursday meant that Shirin would actually be receiving zero Jury votes, because she was sent to join the Jury herself in a vote that at least had drama thanks to an Idol bluff from Mike. Sensing an inevitable vote against Shirin, Mike feigned like he was going to give the former White Collar member his Hidden Immunity Idol and suggested the ruling alliance would be wise to cannibalize itself. Mike's move caused a couple surprise votes to go against Dan,...
- 5/3/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
"[H]appy people don’t make TV, most of the time," admits "Survivor: Worlds Apart" veteran Jenn Brown. "It's for drama. You want to see the fights. You want to see the people yelling. But the happy moments? There were so many great moments out there." You wouldn't necessarily know about those great moments based on how Jenn went out of the game. Two episodes after an Immunity Idol play that represented one of the "Survivor" season's most exciting moments, Jenn was ready to leave the game and tried to convince people to vote against her. Instead, the castaways took the opportunity to get rid of major threat Joe. But one episode later, Jenn was leaving after a decisive vote that saw even allies Shirin and Mike vote against her. Don't worry, though. Jenn was in on Shirin and Mike's votes. But at the time, she definitely left with a bad taste in her mouth.
- 4/26/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Before the premiere of Survivor: Worlds Apart, host Jeff Probst promised People that they had assembled one of the strongest casts in the show's 30-season run.
While that may be true, it's also one of the meanest casts ever. Arguments are common on Survivor, but this season is full of vicious personal attacks.
The result: a sharply divided fanbase. In Previously on Survivor, one of the show's largest Facebook groups, some fans love the season.
Others do not.
As two-time contestant Rob Cesternino tells People: "Survivor is like pizza. Even when it's bad, it's good."
So what does this have to do with Jenn Brown,...
While that may be true, it's also one of the meanest casts ever. Arguments are common on Survivor, but this season is full of vicious personal attacks.
The result: a sharply divided fanbase. In Previously on Survivor, one of the show's largest Facebook groups, some fans love the season.
Others do not.
As two-time contestant Rob Cesternino tells People: "Survivor is like pizza. Even when it's bad, it's good."
So what does this have to do with Jenn Brown,...
- 4/24/2015
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- People.com - TV Watch
Pre-credit sequence. "I've got a really solid plan," Rodney says. He's beginning the episode by plotting Mike's demise. Tyler is intrigued. Mike is watching with caution and no longer considers Rodney to be part of his alliance. Bid Fortuna. It's time for a pre-credits "Survivor" auction. How odd. They each have $500 and, as always, the auction could end without warning. A covered plate goes to Will for $100. "It's probably grilled ass or something," Will says. Nope. It's a mystery note. "You just bought yourself out of this auction," the note says, telling Will to leave immediately. Everybody is shell-shocked by what happened to poor Will. But an uncovered plate of chicken and waffles goes for $300 to Shirin, who claims she didn't want to bid for an advantage. But most of the group is waiting for an advantage. So because the "big players" are holding out and not bidding for food,...
- 4/23/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
For a couple "Survivor: Worlds Apart" episodes, it looked as if Joe Anglim might be able to pull off the unthinkable. Targeted for elimination at every vote -- when your nickname is "Joey Amazing," people don't like to keep you around -- Joe was spared pre-Merge elimination when the Joaquin-Rodney romance somehow made them into an alleged power couple. Then he won two consecutive Individual Immunity challenges and it seemed fair to wonder if he would ever lose. "100 percent," Joe told me regarding whether he began to believe he could run the Individual Immunity table. "I was very confident that I could possibly go all the way." And in Wednesday's episode, even though he lost Individual Immunity, it briefly looked as if the combination of an elaborately designed fake Idol and Jenn's desire to semi-quit might earn him at least one more day in the game. Joe...
- 4/19/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Joe Anglim may not have won a million bucks on "Survivor," but his spot-on impressions of tribe mates Mike Holloway and Rodney Lavoie could very well earn him his own Broadway one-man show. Listen to Joe's hilarious impersonations in our new podcast below, and then make your predictions for next week's episode to win our prize of a $100 Amazon gift certificate. It's fun and easy, so start now by scrolling down and predicting who will be eliminated next. -Break- "Here's the deal with Mike. Mike has his angry ratchet voice ... like he's got this whole other side of him," Joe says in his deep drawl. He then switches to a Boston accent for his Rodney impression, joking, "Yo, Jeff, I haven't had a reward in like four days, bro. I need some carbs. I need a reward, brother. Like, come on, dude." Joe also details how his "heart dropped" when...
- 4/16/2015
- Gold Derby
For fans of slick Idol play and Tribal Council blindsides, Wednesday's (April 1) "Survivor: Worlds Apart" episode was a season highlight. Probably Kelly, the Blue Collar stalwart who fell victim to the Jenn's Idol shocker and had her torch snuffed, wasn't quite as enthusiastic, but at least Kelly realizes what she did wrong. Looking back on her "Survivor" ouster, Kelly admits that she was so irked by her post-Shuffle Nagarote tribe that she could could only be bothered to play nice with them for a few days, but couldn't maintain that diplomacy after the Merge, leaving no doubt that she'd flipped and putting a target on herself. She still thinks, though, that voting her out was a personal decision and not a strategic move. She's probably right. In her exit interview -- a slightly truncated conversation due to travel and timing on my part -- the New York state trooper...
- 4/5/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
"The Amazing Race" returned on Friday (April 3) night and while I didn't exactly forget that the Emmy-winning series was back, I realized almost immediately during the pre-credit recap that I barely remembered anything about where we'd left things several weeks back. Bergen & Kurt won the last Leg? How the heck did that happen? Was anybody especially good? Was anybody especially bad? I know CBS had to air the Ncaa Tournament, but "The Amazing Race" isn't a hit anymore and this season has been a wobbly, albeit sometimes amusing, experiment. And pulling a struggling show in a unsteady season is a pretty dismal way to maintain momentum. Fortunately, most of what I was and wasn't liking about the season came back pretty early in Friday's episode, which was funny and entertaining in moments, but also exposed the absolutely worst case scenario for this blind dating season. [Full recap after the break...] I suppose one might think...
- 4/4/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Pre-credit sequence. When we left things, Rodney had just been blindsided by Joaquin's eviction. This won't go well. Escameca returns and Rodney is simmering. "It's the game," Joe says, philosophically and still in the game. Tyler is the first to express his disappointment and to praise the Blue Collar tribe for its Rodney-excluding unity. It falls to Mike to attempt to coddle Rodney. "Hopefully he doesn't take it too personal," Mike tells us, suggesting he's never actually met Rodney. Mike takes a walk with Rodney and explains that their perception was that Joaquin was reeling him in. "I was working on a fugazi fake alliance," Rodney protests, adding that he thought he was Michael Jordan and now he's feeling like Luc Longley. "I'm acting, bro. I'm putting on my De Niro," Rodney insists. [He may have referred to his "dinero," but we all know who or what he meant.] "Now, all of a suddenly, I've gotta be Mike's bitch till we get to the Merge,...
- 4/2/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
The "Survivor: Worlds Apart" cast was a bit short on recognizable celebrities, if your idea of "celebrity" happens to be former professional athletes or nearly-forgotten '80s TV stars. If, however, you spend time around the world of reality TV or academia, or you spend time around those who spend their time around those worlds, there's no question that Max Dawson entered "Survivor: Worlds Apart" as the season's biggest superstar. As a member of Northwestern's Communications department, Max taught several years of a course titled "The Tribe Has Spoken: Surviving TV’s New Reality," as well as other courses on TV, new media and the business betwixt them. Several of my critical buddies, including Mo Ryan and Myles McNutt and Erik Adams, made appearances in the "Survivor" class. Since 2013, Max has worked as a consultant for and on the reality TV industry. He may not be Lisa Whelchel or Jimmy Johnson,...
- 3/22/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Pre-credit sequence. Storms seem to be building as No Collar returns to camp. "Nina got what was coming to her," Hali cackles, malevolently, as if Nina had done her any harm at all. Hali explains to Will that his name only came up twice as a safety net. Will says that No Collar has the unit they want, but he also knows that he's doomed unless he can get Joe to turn on the girls this early. He eats things that would make a billy-goat puke. Yikes. There's a big snake over at Blue Collar. Mike successfully machetes the snake and he skins it for dinner. Actually, it's not that big at all, but Mike is willing to eat anything, as he proved with the scorpion situation. Rodney is hesitant, but he wants protein. It seems that the hatchet has been buried between Rodney and Mike. That's nice! Major cluck-up.
- 3/19/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
On Survivor: Worlds Apart, Nagarote remains the underdog tribe and not one member has felt the inclination to hunt for the idol. Escameca needs to spend some quality time with Jeff at tribal council and thin the herd because this small group is experiencing the most friction. Masaya is a dull bunch, and if I were Shirin, I'd kill time watching monkeys getting it on too.
Escameca and Masaya remain physically strong as Nagarote members continue to drop like flies. If the no collars can't get their act together, they better hope for a tribal shake up. But lines are being drawn in the sand among the other groups, and it's becoming clear who's on the outs. Check out where each group stands, and my pick for the survivor least likely to continue in the game.
Escameca and Masaya remain physically strong as Nagarote members continue to drop like flies. If the no collars can't get their act together, they better hope for a tribal shake up. But lines are being drawn in the sand among the other groups, and it's becoming clear who's on the outs. Check out where each group stands, and my pick for the survivor least likely to continue in the game.
- 3/18/2015
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
All you need to know about the "Survivor: Worlds Apart" White/Blue/No Collar twist can be summed up in Nina Poersch's reaction to initially finding herself on the No Collar tribe. "I thought in my head, 'Holy crap. I am on the wrong tribe,'" Nina told me in her "Survivor" exit interview. "I am not and have never considered myself to be a No Collar person. You might look at my lifestyle right now and think that, but that’s not me. That’s never been me." By that standard, we probably shouldn't be surprised that Nina's "Survivor" run was a brief one, with the only surprise being that she escaped one vote for her No Collar tribe. Not only was Nina a spiritual outlier on her tribe, but she also was quickly on the outs with what last week's bootee Vince called The Barbie Block,...
- 3/15/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
I liked a lot of Friday (March 13) night's episode of "The Amazing Race," but maybe I didn't like it as an episode of "The Amazing Race," if you know what I mean. No? I really did find myself getting a kick out of all of the bickering couples, but I may just have been amused by how silly they made this season's twist/theme look. I enjoyed some of the things the pairs were getting to do, even though they didn't feel like "Amazing Race" kinds of things to do. And I found myself really rooting for the team that went home, even though I never felt for a second like they had any chance of cheating their fate again... More after the break... So for the third consecutive episode, the team that started the Leg in last ended the Leg in last and, for the third consecutive episode, that...
- 3/14/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Pre-credit sequence. Oddly, rather than returning to camp post-vote with White Collar, we kick things off on the Blue Collar beach where the crabs are plentiful. Everybody is enjoying their food. Everybody, that is, other than Dan. Dan returns from the sea after a bit of drama that caused him to lose his underwear. He's made a diaper out of a shirt, with a belt around his waist. And with Dan wearing his shirt as underwear, that means Dan doesn't have a shirt. The ladies suggest he might want to cut up his jeans, but Dan doesn't want to "raw dog" in jeans, which makes sense because you sure don't want to be the first player in "Survivor" history to be medically evacuated with chafed genitals. Lindsey babbles about how this was Dan's strategy because he had nothing else going for him. She just wants to get to Tribal...
- 3/5/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
It's week two of Survivor: Worlds Apart, and the white-collar tribe has already put themselves at a disadvantage by voting out So. Not the smartest move for a bunch of implied smarty pants.
This early in the game it's hard to predict, with any real confidence, who's going to have their torch snuffed out by Jeff. And with three tribes, deciding who's at risk is as much about my personal preference as much as anything else. Depending on which tribe screws the pooch come competition day, here are my picks for which tribe members are most likely to not succeed.
This early in the game it's hard to predict, with any real confidence, who's going to have their torch snuffed out by Jeff. And with three tribes, deciding who's at risk is as much about my personal preference as much as anything else. Depending on which tribe screws the pooch come competition day, here are my picks for which tribe members are most likely to not succeed.
- 3/4/2015
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
The first player eliminated in any "Survivor" season usually doesn't leave a good impression or a bad impression. Since their torches were snuffed after only an hour-ish of screentime, our reaction to that first booted castaway is usually a little more... Neutral? Apologies to So Kim. At least the first "Survivor: Worlds Apart" contestant sent home doesn't try to defend the questionable web of, um, deception that she and Joaquin spun to their fellow White Collar tribemates to attempt to justify their choice at the season-opening Honest/Deceive choice. So and Joaquin decided to pick "Deceive" and collect an Immunity Idol clue and a small bag of beans -- instead of a bigger bean bag and no clue -- but returned to camp and claimed that they'd actually selected an imaginary third option, "Neutral." "You mean the worst lie that's ever been told?" So laughed when I asked how that...
- 3/1/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
So Kim's Survivor ride was a bumpy one. She and her sister were selected to be part of the cast of Survivor: San Juan Del Sur. But at the last minute, a medical issue arose that kept her sister from competing. Producers liked Kim, so they cast her to be part of Survivor: Worlds ApartBut her elation turned to horror when she was the first contestant voted out of the game. Kim is a self-described 'Type A' personality. (In one of her first confessionals, the 31-year-old retail buyer confessed that she has reduced all her employees to tears at some point.
- 2/27/2015
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- PEOPLE.com
So Kim's Survivor ride was a bumpy one. She and her sister were selected to be part of the cast of Survivor: San Juan Del Sur. But at the last minute, a medical issue arose that kept her sister from competing. Producers liked Kim, so they cast her to be part of Survivor: Worlds ApartBut her elation turned to horror when she was the first contestant voted out of the game. Kim is a self-described 'Type A' personality. (In one of her first confessionals, the 31-year-old retail buyer confessed that she has reduced all her employees to tears at some point.
- 2/27/2015
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- PEOPLE.com
"The Amazing Race" giveth and "The Amazing Race" taketh away. Following a season that saw ratings drop on Fridays, "The Amazing Race" got a special Wednesday showcase after the "Survivor: Worlds Apart" premiere and with both long-running favorites instituting format twists this season, CBS was able to spare 90 minutes apiece for the two launches. Longtime readers know that I'm pretty insistent that you need to have at least a 90-minute premiere for "The Amazing Race," because the effort to establish 11 teams of 22 players while also giving the necessary exposure to navigating around international locations and for various challenges is almost impossible in only 60 minutes. I don't think "The Amazing Race" has ever had an entirely satisfying hour-long premiere. And the 90 minutes given to Wednesday's (February 25) "Amazing Race" premiere were enough to help me see some of the merit to the Blind Dating twist that gave us six teams of established couples,...
- 2/26/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
For only the third time since "Survivor" switched over to a Final 3, all three remaining castaways received votes at the Final Tribal Council. So kudos to Missy Payne, even if her lone vote came from her daughter Baylor. In retrospect, it's pretty impressive that Missy was even able to stand at the Final 3 at all. The owner of a Dallas-based cheerleading gym hurt her ankle in a late-season Reward Challenge and resisted Jeff Probst's insinuations that she might want to leave the game. Told by the "Survivor" medic that she could stick around if she could stand the pain, Missy refused to quit, even if it meant sitting out several of the season's most important challenges. Perhaps that injury explains why the Jury took Missy so lightly, even though she tried to emphasize her importance in many key early votes. In her exit interview, the season's third place finisher...
- 12/22/2014
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Last night, I posted my interview with the "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" fifth place finisher, Baylor Wilson, who admitted that even though she voted for her mother at Final Tribal, she'd vote for Natalie now if she had the chance. One Jury member who voted for Natalie, but who was a question-mark in my early guesses, was Keith Nale, a 53-year-old firefighter from Louisiana. Keith, who became something of an Immunity machine post-Merge, protecting himself from several possible vote-outs, knew that Natalie had spared him at at least one Tribal, but he also arrived at Final Tribal with some frustration at the remaining Twinie, accusing her of lying to him. In the end, Keith explains that he just thought Natalie was more deserving than the other two finalists, which is a pretty legitimate reason to cast a vote, I suppose. A fan favorite for his "Awww shucks" approach to the game,...
- 12/21/2014
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Pre-credit sequence. Poor Jaclyn is all alone and there's a scary creature in the trees. "You've gotta do what you've gotta do," Natalie tells Jaclyn, who also praises her fellow castaways for their acting and being fake. "I'm loyal to a fault in my life," Missy replies. Natalie and Jaclyn get into a shouting match about who does or doesn't know Jon. Jaclyn is particularly angry, which I guess makes sense. This, of course, is exactly what Natalie wanted, because she wants people to be wary about aligning with Jaclyn. She knows it'll take effort to maintain her ties to Missy and Baylor in the short term. "You've gotta put in work if you want to win this," Natalie says. 3-and-2. It's the morning of Day 36 and Baylor and Missy are talking about their shared dream of being in the Final 3. Baylor's currently still planning on going to the...
- 12/18/2014
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
I've said it before and I stand by it: For six or seven votes in this "Survivor: San Juan Del Sur" season, Jon Misch and girlfriend Jaclyn Schultz had more power than any pair of castaways in "Survivor" history. Tribal Council after Tribal Council, the week's vote hinged on what the recent Miss Michigan and the former Michigan State Spartan decided, as they flipped back and forth taking out powerhouses and threats, often in blindsides. This past week, Jon & Jaclyn's "Survivor" run came to an end, fittingly, with a blindside and it was, fittingly, an act of revenge, as Natalie targeted Jon for taking out her only strong non-Blood ally in the game, Jeremy. As we saw things play out, Jaclyn seemed to be warning Jon that Natalie might come after him, but Jon dismissed the idea. This came one week after a fight between Jon & Jaclyn seemed to derail the season's strategic momentum.
- 12/14/2014
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Wednesday night’s Survivor: San Juan del Sur was a nail-biter to see if Missy would be able to continue in the game with a possibly broken ankle. Medical staff ultimately allowed her to stay, but what goes into a decision like that? Survivor host and Executive Producer Jeff Probst is giving us an inside look at the true all-stars of the game – the medical personnel that ensure the health and safety of the cast and crew.
Just In: The 2014 Golden Globes Nominees in Pics
From hardships including minimal shelter, living off rice, bugs and fish, dealing with the elements and local wildlife, and performing extreme physical challenges, to say it’s a challenge to keep everyone safe in the show’s harsh tropical environment is a major understatement. But Jeff reveals a surprising factoid -- although medical evacuations are dramatic and hard to forget, only 11 contestants have been medically evacuated during the show’s 29 season...
Just In: The 2014 Golden Globes Nominees in Pics
From hardships including minimal shelter, living off rice, bugs and fish, dealing with the elements and local wildlife, and performing extreme physical challenges, to say it’s a challenge to keep everyone safe in the show’s harsh tropical environment is a major understatement. But Jeff reveals a surprising factoid -- although medical evacuations are dramatic and hard to forget, only 11 contestants have been medically evacuated during the show’s 29 season...
- 12/11/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
Pre-credit sequence. When we left things, Jon was confused. Upon returning to camp? Jaclyn is confused, going so far as to suggest that Alec might have voted for himself. Amidst this disarray, Natalie has decided that she's going to pretend that she blew the communication and thought she was part of the block voting Alec, not part of the Keith block. Baylor is impressed with Natalie's acting skills and Jon has accepted Natalie's line about not being talked to enough. The worry, at least for Jon, is that Keith could win Immunities and screw things up. The next morning, Natalie makes it clear to Keith that she saved him and he needs to stick with her and with Missy and Baylor. The plan is to target Jon. Again. The quality of mercy is not sprained. Reward time. It's a very elaborate set-up, perhaps an apology for last week's lame challenges.
- 12/11/2014
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
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