A lot of the preliminary uproar over the Survivor 50 forged has gone away over the previous few months. Followers have principally come to phrases with who was chosen and began to get excited, however that doesn’t imply there’s not nonetheless some lingering confusion. Even when they’re not actively mad anymore, loads of the beloved actuality present’s followers nonetheless really feel befuddled about among the choices casting made. Thankfully, longtime host Jeff Probst lastly supplied some readability as to why we didn’t get extra legends.
The clarification occurred throughout a current interview with TV Insider. Probst was there to hype up Survivor 49, which is about to begin airing, when he was requested in regards to the two gamers from that forged being chosen for the milestone season. Throughout his prolonged reply, he talked about what he was in search of from gamers on Season 50, and his reply reveals a ton about why every little thing went down because it did. Right here’s a portion of his quote…
What we have been in search of is people who we thought might match into what we knew we have been constructing for 50, which was this composite of our whole historical past. I feel that’s one factor that possibly lots of followers aren’t actually clear on. This isn’t a season that was going to be categorized by phrases like “legends” or another factor. It was merely, if you happen to take a look at 25 years of Survivor, let’s attempt to style a bit of all of that.
When Survivor 50 was first introduced and followers have been informed that it might embody returning gamers, it was broadly referred to by Probst and CBS as a celebration of the present’s historical past. That led many followers to imagine that the forged would encompass essentially the most well-known and beloved former gamers. Followers anticipated to see winners like Boston Rob, Parv, Tony and Sandra, in addition to different memorable legends like Coach, Cirie, Rupert, Russell, Jerri, Abi-Maria and Malcolm.
That’s not precisely what we bought although. Coach and Cirie made the ultimate reduce, in addition to different favorites like Ozzy, Colby and Stephenie, however lots of the spots went to one-time gamers and newer notables from the so-called New Period. They may flip into legends in time, however for now, they didn’t match the method most followers assumed the present was going for.
These feedback by Probst, nonetheless, make clear that he by no means seen it as a legends season. As an alternative, it looks as if he seen it as an train in making an attempt to create a forged that collectively seems like Survivor. That most likely means he actively stayed away from lots of the legends, as their mere presence has tended to offer their returning seasons a really completely different vibe.
I used to be initially annoyed like many followers, however I’ve since come round to the combo we did get. That being mentioned, I feel we will nonetheless acknowledge that the messaging right here initially wasn’t nice. Clearly, based mostly on the feedback individuals engaged on the present made, virtually everybody had the sense that we have been in for a legends season. If that wasn’t going to be the case, Probst and the producers ought to have articulated that higher. That might have prevented lots of the backlash, and it most likely would have prevented among the anger from former gamers, a lot of whom have spoken out over their very own confusion and arduous emotions.
Survivor 50 is scheduled to air early in 2026. There are some hints it could possibly be a unbelievable season, however for now, we will all distract ourselves with Survivor 49, which is able to embody two gamers from Survivor 50. It’s slated to premiere in late September as a part of the community TV schedule.