I’m aSurvivorfan first, so I’m always excited to see a new cast drop, but afterseeing how many iconic castaways are missing from the lineup forSurvivor50, I’m struggling to understand what happened. Throughout the last year,Survivorhost Jeff Probst has been talking about building the right cast for the upcoming milestone fiftieth season of the series. WithSurvivorhaving been on the air since 2000, there are a ton of castaways to choose from for a season of returnees. Unfortunately, many of the personalities I hoped to see onSurvivor50 didn’t make the cut.
ThroughoutSurvivor’s25 year run, there have been so many personalities that I’ve come to enjoy watching even if I don’t love their gameplay. While there are some of those personalities represented onSurvivor50, like the history-making Cirie Fields who will be playing for a fifth time, the majority of the people I thought were ringers for the cast didn’t make the cut. Instead, we’re left with a hodgepodge of past players accompanied by nearly half a cast’s worth of new eraSurvivorcastaways.I feel confident in saying this isn’t what mostSurvivorfans were hoping to see.
Survivor 50’s Cast Revealed A Disappointing Mix
There Are So Many Weird Choices
Listen, I’m as excited as anyone to see Jenna Lewis Dougherty back for her first season ofSurvivorsince 2004’s All-Stars, but she’s one of the fewSurvivor50 cast memberswho I understand being brought back. While some returning player seasons have been a struggle to wade through, others have been refreshing as a breath of fresh air to watch. I think fondly ofSurvivorAll-Stars and Micronesia while cringing at the thought of Winners At War and, in moments, Heroes Vs. Villains. Thoughthere are some seasons where the blend of returnees worked, others struggled to maintain balance.
Survivor50, which may also becalledSurvivor: In The Hands Of The Fans, has one of the weirdest mixes of cast members I’ve ever come across. While there was no possible way for every season to be represented unless the cast doubled in size, it felt like every era of the show should be represented in some way. Unfortunately,castaways fromSurvivorseasons in the 2010s are virtually non-existent, as the show doesn’t feature a castaway from any season betweenSurvivorSamoa (19) andSurvivorCambodia (31). Instead, they chose nearly half new era castaways to fill the gaps.
Survivor’s Long-Time Fan Favorites Are Missing
Someone Check On Jerri Manthey, Please
Instead of stacking the deck with players who viewers want to see play again, likeSurvivorMarquesas winner Vecepia Towery or Survivor Philippines' Malcolm Freberg,Survivor50 chose to casta strange group of new era players and repeat returnees. Bringing Cirie back for a fifth season, Colby Donaldson and Stephenie LaGrossa for a fourth each, and Benjamin “Coach” Wade in general is confusing for viewers who were looking for a mix of returnees they haven’t seen before. WhileSurvivoris known for returning players,creating those personalities means inviting castaways back for second chances, not fourth or fifth ones.
I’m sad to see cast members that genuinely deserved another shot getting snubbed in favor of Jeff Probst’s favorite players.
While I understand relying on castaways who generate views and interest, it’s weird to me that people like Colby are returning for another shot at the $1 million when other castaways like Jerri Manthey, Colby’s longtime ally/rival, didn’t make the cut. With so many rumors flying around throughout the last several months, many were convinced they’d see the likes ofSurvivorlegends like Amanda Kimmel, butinstead are facing a reality of watching Ozzy Lusth years past his prime. I’m sad to see cast members that genuinely deserved another shot getting snubbed in favor of Jeff Probst’s favorite players.
Survivor Chose Too Many New Era Castaways For An Anniversary Season
The New Era Is Arguably The Worst Timeline
On top of the strange returning cast members from the early years ofSurvivor, this cast also features a weird sub-section of new eraSurvivorplayers I didn’t anticipate. For a season that’s meant to be designed for and by fans, bringing back threecastaways from the lacklusterSurvivor48, two castaways fromSurvivor49 that we haven’t even met yet, and a handful of new era fan-favorites is an odd decision. Rather than actually puttingSurvivor50 in the hands of the fans,the cast makes me think that Jeff is getting the competition he wants at our expense.
Survivor50 will air in early 2026, and all seasons of the show are currently streaming on Paramount+.
