Latest news with #Heroesvs.Villains
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Survivor' winner Parvati Shallow on commune childhood, divorce and queerness in memoir
Parvati Shallow is ready to right the record on her 'Black Widow' reputation. The four-time 'Survivor' contestant is telling her story in far more detail than you've seen on TV in her new memoir, 'Nice Girls Don't Win' (out now from Penguin Random House). In this new tell-all, she goes behind her million-dollar 'Survivor' victory at 25, starting from her childhood in a Florida commune run by a tyrannical female guru. 'Nice Girls Don't Win' chronicles her journey to rebuild her life after public scrutiny, divorce and the death of her brother, accepting herself as more than the 'villain' persona she was given on 'Survivor.' Parvati Shallow took this skill from her commune childhood to 'Suvivor' Shallow's parents raised her in the Florida commune of controversial religious figure Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati. They left when she was 9, after years of enduring "indoctrination of indentured servitude," abuse, financial demands and "love bombing" by leaders. It was here that Shallow confesses she learned 'fawning,' a 'competitive likeability' that felt like a 'magic trick' to gain friendship and social status both in her school years and later on 'Survivor.' From a young age on the commune, she realized that fawning was a survival skill to 'persuade someone to like us so we can escape danger.' The adults around her were rewarded for fawning over religious authority figures. It's this charm that earned Shallow the nickname 'Black Widow,' a contestant known for her cunning social strategy. 'Fawning is one of the most socially rewarded survival instincts of all time – other people love it when we fawn over them,' Shallow writes. 'We can amass friendships, money, coveted jobs, romances, and awards … and all you have to trade is your truth – if you even know what that is.' Public scrutiny after 'Survivor' 'rocked' Parvati Shallow Shallow came home from 'Survivor' to a wave of public scrutiny, many calling her a 'slut' or 'vapid whore.' Viewers came up to her in person and told her how much they disliked her. She felt her time on the show was 'powerfully transformative,' but realized the public didn't feel the same about her 'flirty-fawning strategy' 'The intensity of the backlash confused me. I'd always seen myself as a likable person. I'd been accepted and invited into diverse social groups with ease. I couldn't make sense of the harsh criticism I was receiving from simply being myself and playing a game,' Shallow writes. She 'couldn't untangle the game from real life,' she writes, which led her to a spiral of controlling relationships with men and self-hatred. Personal grief behind the scenes of 'Survivor' Shallow returned to "Survivor" two more times after her win on her second time playing. She played in season 20's "Heroes vs. Villains" in 2010. In "Heroes vs. Villains," Shallow writes that she was a last-minute switch to the villains tribe. Shallow recalls feeling 'hated' by fellow contestants and like an "underdog" for the first time. In her personal life, she was struggling even more. Just before Shallow left for filming, her 15-year-old brother Kaelan suffered a skateboarding accident and her best friend's brother died in an alcohol-related boating accident. When she got back home, Kaelan had started abusing the painkillers he had from surgery. The experience left her feeling 'rejected and unlovable, like a real loser.' 'When the season eventually aired, it was strange to feel so far removed from the love that was being poured onto me from fans, production, and the network. … But because I was so deeply lost inside my frozen shame pit, there was nowhere for this love to land. I couldn't feel it, receive it, or own it. I was sure they were all wrong,' Shallow writes. Shallow returned to "Survivor" again in 2020 because she and now-ex-husband John Fincher needed the money. Suffering from postpartum anxiety and struggling with her marriage, she writes that she knew returning to the show "would take whatever was left" of her. Later that year, her brother died of a drug overdose at age 26. They held his memorial over Zoom, which she said made her feel "numb." Parvati Shallow felt 'alone' in marriage to 'Survivor' alum John Fincher Shallow married fellow 'Survivor' alum Fincher in 2017 and had daughter, Ama, in 2018. She filed for divorce in 2021. In 'Nice Girls Don't Win,' Shallow writes that she felt 'alone inside (her) marriage' and that the end of her marriage felt like she 'was being held against (her) will inside an agreement or contract that was too tight and there was no room for renegotiation.' She alleges Fincher only wanted her as a trophy wife and abandoned her on trips shortly after Ama was born. Shallow and Fincher's marriage began to crumble further after she started exchanging flirtatious messages with another man on Instagram. After Fincher found the messages, they tried to repair their marriage, but Shallow still found herself sliding toward divorce. Then her brother died, and Shallow asked Fincher to financially support the family while she grieved, but she alleges he didn't follow through on his promise. It was her breaking point. Then Fincher got diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Shallow shifted her priorities to focus on his care and support. Five months after his diagnosis, she proceeded with the divorce but still felt a 'wifely duty to help him through his cancer treatment.' 'I knew then that staying in my marriage would mean letting a part of myself die – the part of me that longed for real, honest love and partnership,' she writes. 'Traitors' helped Parvati Shallow reclaim the word 'villain' Shallow appeared on Season 2 of 'Traitors,' during which she was in the process of a radical self-love and acceptance to reclaim the word 'villain.' At the time she was teaching an online course called 'How Villains Are Made' and working on her confidence. She was also in a relationship with comedian Mae Martin, who she says was supportive and transformed her outlook on love and gender. Shallow came out as queer in an Instagram post in December 2023. On Alan Cumming's reality show, Shallow started as a 'Faithful' but was quickly recruited to be a 'Traitor." Because of the therapy and personal work she'd done, it was more difficult to lie without internalizing the shame and guilt that she was 'being bad.' But eventually, she was able to lean into playing the part – Shallow says she saw 'Traitors' as just a game, her decisions and lying not inextricably linked to her core personality like she did on 'Survivor.' Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
Buzz Feed
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Ranking The Cast Of Survivor 50 By How Much I'm Looking Forward To Seeing Them Play Again
Joe Hunter, Kamilla Karthigesu, and Kyle Fraser (Survivor 48) Call it recency bias, but I just don't know that we need THREE Survivor 48 players on the beach for a Legends season. Jonathan Young (Survivor 42) I would've picked at least 10 other players from Survivor 41 through 44 in place of Jonathan. Apparently he came in fourth? I remember zero percent of that. All I ask is that they put him on Cirie's tribe so that she can survive a few tribal councils (Muscle Strength). Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick (Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains) I am excited to see the Queen of Palau back simply because she hasn't been on Survivor in over 15 years. I am not excited to have her back because I think she is boring TV and her Survivor journey hit its high in her debut season. Aubry Bracco (Kaoh Rong, Game Changers, Edge of Extinction) Listen, Aubry was phenomenal TV in Kaoh Rong and Game Changers, but she seemed burnt out by Edge of Extinction. Do we really need to see her play for a fourth time? I don't know! Ozzy Lusth (Cook Islands, Micronesia, South Pacific, Game Changers) Same as Aubry -- Ozzy was great for what he was, but with every subsequent appearance, I find myself more bored by his gameplay. Fifth time's the charm? Dee Valladares (Survivor 45) Dee was a great winner, but I think it's too soon to see her play again. Plus, I have a feeling she is going to be a target on day one if any of the others castaways know what's good for them. Tiffany Ervin (Survivor 46) Tiff is hilarious, and I am genuinely so thrilled we get to see her and Q on our screens again. That being said, I'm not sure we needed three returnees from Survivor 46 when 41, 43, and 44 got no representation. Angelina Keeley (David vs. Goliath) Please for the love of all things good bring your own jacket this time, Queen. Genevieve Mushaluk (Survivor 47) When I first saw her picture I thought we were getting THE Amanda Kimmel back and was way too excited. Genevieve brings similar energy though so I'll allow it. Charlie Davis (Survivor 46) As someone who loved both Charlie and Kenzie as finalists on Survivor 46, I'm so excited for him to get his second chance. Just bummed he was already on the island when Tay announced she bought her Master's :( Chrissy Hofbeck (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers) Chrissy should've been on Winners at War. Yes, I know she didn't win her season. It's just been a long time coming. Cirie Fields (Panama, Micronesia, Heroes vs. Villains, Game Changers) I love Cirie. I will never not love Cirie. But 5 times???? FIVE? Because it's Cirie, I'll allow it, but I don't know how she survives longer than a few days. Colby Donaldson (The Australian Outback, All-Stars, Heroes vs. Villains) I'm ranking Colby so low simply because it feels unjust that he will be on a season without Jerri Manthey. It hurts my heart. Their Survivor stories should always align. Regardless, I'm thrilled we get to see Donaldson again, and that he has a chance to redeem himself for whatever the heck was happening last time he played ("Dammit, Reid!"). Rick Devens (Edge of Extinction) Devens was the best part of Edge of Extinction. I am genuinely so excited and terrified to see what he does this time around. Emily Flippen (Survivor 45) Self aware queen. I cannot wait to see her interact with the likes of Coach and Q. Christian Hubicki (David vs. Goliath) Devastated he's playing without Gabby ("Like, in the sand?") but psyched that he's going to be back on my television screen. Mike White (David vs. Goliath) I think pre-The White Lotus I wouldn't have been as stoked for his return, but he was honestly incredible TV. And imagine the kinds of cameos we're going to get on future TWL seasons now. Q? Coach? Colby? He could single-handedly restart Colby Donaldson's acting career! Quintavius "Q" Burdette (Survivor 46) This man gave me anxiety every single week he was on Survivor 46 and I loved him for it. He is pure chaos. He is going to get eaten alive by some of these legends. I am seated. Jenna Lewis (Borneo, All-Stars) Jenna hasn't played the game in 21 (TWENTY-ONE) years, but if you rewatch her appearance on All-Stars, you'll remember how savvy and sneaky she was. She was literally the only one who knew what Rob and Amber were capable of. I think these New Era players should be terrified of her, and I am just crossing my fingers she makes it far. Benjamin "Coach" Wade (Tocantins, Heroes vs. Villains, South Pacific) Need I say more? Last time he was out on the island, he led a cult. The time before, he formed the greatest band ever made. Before that, he was the biggest martyr Survivor had ever seen. Any season with Coach is bound to be entertaining, and I'd pay good money to see him interact with every single person on this list.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mike White, Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth announced as ‘Survivor 50' cast members
After months of rumors and speculation (and endless fake spoilers), the wait is finally over. CBS has officially announced the cast of Survivor 50, the landmark golden anniversary season that's due in spring 2026. This is the first all-stars cycle since Season 40's Winners at War (2020), so fans are understandably excited to see who's returning to the island. Host Jeff Probst unveiled the cast list May 28 on CBS Mornings, approximately nine months before the season will actually air. In between now and then, Survivor 49 will debut on CBS later this fall. The 49th and 50th seasons are filming back to back this spring and summer in Mamanuca Islands, Fiji, the reality TV show's permanent home since 2016. More from GoldDerby 'Gypsy' and 'Just in Time' producer Tom Kirdahy on serving a 'social and cultural need' through creative work TV Visual Effects supervisor roundtable: 'Black Mirror,' 'The Boys,' 'The Wheel of Time' 'The Wheel of Time' VFX supervisor Andy Scrase: 'I always think of visual effects as the magic of filmmaking' Drumroll, please! The Survivor 50 cast members are: Jenna Lewis-Dougherty: Seasons 1 (Borneo), 8 (All-Stars) Colby Donaldson: Seasons 2 (The Australian Outback), 8 (All-Stars), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains) Stephenie Lagrossa Kendrick: Seasons 10 (Palau), 11 (Guatemala), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains) Cirie Fields: Seasons 12 (Panama-Exile Island), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains), 34 (Game Changers) Ozzy Lusth: Seasons 13 (Cook Islands), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 23 (South Pacific), 34 (Game Changers) Benjamin "Coach" Wade: Seasons 18 (Tocantins – The Brazilian Highlands), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains), 23 (South Pacific) Aubry Bracco: Seasons 32 (Kaôh Rōng – Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty), 34 (Game Changers), 38 (Edge of Extinction) Chrissy Hofbeck: Season 35 (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers) Christian Hubicki: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath) Angelina Keeley: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath) Mike White: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath) Rick Devens Season 38 (Edge of Extinction) Jonathan Young: Season 42 Dee Valladares: Season 45 Winner Emily Flippen: Season 45 Quintavius "Q" Burdette: Season 46 Tiffany Nicole Ervin: Season 46 Charlie Davis: Season 46 Genevieve Mushaluk: Season 47 Kamilla Karthigesu: Season 48 Kyle Fraser: Season 48 Winner Joseph "Joe" Hunter: Season 48 Player No. 1 from Season 49 (premiering fall 2025) Player No. 2 from Season 49 (premiering fall 2025) SEE: The Survivor 50 cast photos above Probst previously revealed that Survivor 50 will be subtitled In the Hands of the Fans. And yes, that means you have all of the power. Viewers voted throughout Survivor 48 for certain aspects of gameplay for the upcoming 50th cycle, including advantages, Buff colors, abundance of food, final four fire-making, and whether the winner will be announced at a live reunion show or on-location at tribal council. SEE 'Survivor' deaths: Full list of castaways we've lost The host and showrunner's main goal in casting the 50th installment was to bring back contestants who "represented the entire series," which began in 2000. Since then, more than 700 people have played the game of Survivor, with each winner taking home a $1 million prize. To date, Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pearl Islands, Heroes vs. Villains) and Tony Vlachos (Cagayan, Winners at War) are the franchise's only two-time champions. In another example of fan support, CBS and Fiji Airways teamed up to award five lucky at-home "tribes" — comprising groups of friends and loved ones — with trips to Fiji to watch the filming of Season 50. Their adventures include roundtrip airfare, four nights of accommodations at a luxurious ocean-front resort, exposure to the rich Fijian culture, a tour of the Survivor sets, and a meet-and-greet with Probst. Robert Voets/CBS SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Launch Gallery: 'Survivor 50' cast photos: See who's back for the historic season that's 'In the Hands of the Fans' Best of GoldDerby 'Survivor' winners list: All seasons 'The Voice' winners: All seasons 'Survivor' deaths: Full list of castaways we've lost Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Survivor 50' spoilers: Jeff Probst on the ‘competitive, dramatic' first challenge and what the 24 players told him at the marooning
On Friday, some juicy Survivor 50 spoilers were revealed from the host and showrunner himself, Jeff Probst. "OK, it is about two hours after we just started Survivor 50," Probst announced on social media. "We had our marooning challenge this morning. So, this is what I know so far." More from GoldDerby 2025 Tony Awards (updating live): Sarah Snook wins Best Actress in a Play for 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' 'We need to be gayer than ever before': 'RuPaul's Drag Race' queens and producers get political at FYC pool party 'Ran' turns 40: How a clerical error and bad blood cost Akira Kurosawa an Oscar The four-time Emmy winner teased, "We have 24 players who had an incredible attitude. Every single person basically said the same thing: 'I want to play hard and I want to have fun.' That was a big theme because a lot of returning players said, 'You know, I've gotten so caught up in the game that I forget that I'm having this incredible adventure, and I want to do both.' If that's true, that bodes really well." Probst added, "The other thing that impressed me is they went full tilt on that first challenge. It's competitive. It's dramatic. It comes down to a close finish. But regardless of who wins, what I saw in all 24 players is pure desire. We have players going back 25 years, and we have players who just played, and it's everything in between, and it was very exciting. It's hard to get me more excited than I already am about Survivor, but this morning did it. I'm looking forward to a really fun season!" CBS The cast of Survivor 50 was unveiled on May 28, about a week before they officially started filming in Mamanuca Islands, Fiji. This is the first all-stars cycle since Season 40's Winners at War in 2020, so fans were understandably excited to see who was returning to the island. With 24 total contestants, this is officially the show's biggest cast ever. Here they are: Jenna Lewis-Dougherty: Seasons 1 (Borneo), 8 (All-Stars) Colby Donaldson: Seasons 2 (The Australian Outback), 8 (All-Stars), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains) Stephenie Lagrossa Kendrick: Seasons 10 (Palau), 11 (Guatemala), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains) Cirie Fields: Seasons 12 (Panama-Exile Island), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains), 34 (Game Changers) Ozzy Lusth: Seasons 13 (Cook Islands), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 23 (South Pacific), 34 (Game Changers) Benjamin "Coach" Wade: Seasons 18 (Tocantins – The Brazilian Highlands), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains), 23 (South Pacific) Aubry Bracco: Seasons 32 (Kaôh Rōng – Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty), 34 (Game Changers), 38 (Edge of Extinction) Chrissy Hofbeck: Season 35 (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers) Christian Hubicki: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath) Angelina Keeley: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath) Mike White: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath) Rick Devens: Season 38 (Edge of Extinction) Jonathan Young: Season 42 Dee Valladares: Season 45 — Winner Emily Flippen: Season 45 Quintavius "Q" Burdette: Season 46 Tiffany Nicole Ervin: Season 46 Charlie Davis: Season 46 Genevieve Mushaluk: Season 47 Kamilla Karthigesu: Season 48 Kyle Fraser: Season 48 — Winner Joseph "Joe" Hunter: Season 48 Player No. 1 from Season 49 (premiering fall 2025) Player No. 2 from Season 49 (premiering fall 2025) SEE: The Survivor 50 cast photos The 50th season is subtitled In the Hands of the Fans, and viewers voted throughout Survivor 48 for certain aspects of gameplay, including advantages, Buff colors, abundance of food, final four fire-making, and whether the winner will be announced at a live reunion show or on-location at tribal council. The returning contestants won't know the results of the various votes until Probst tells them on the island. Survivor 49 airs this fall on CBS, and Survivor 50 will debut in the spring of 2026. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby The 25 best 'Survivor' villains of the past 25 years 'Survivor' winners list: All seasons 'The Voice' winners: All seasons Click here to read the full article.
Time Magazine
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
Everything to Know About the 24 Players Cast in Survivor 50
This morning, CBS announced the full cast for the hotly anticipated 50 th season of Survivor, set to air in early 2026. It's a first for the show, which normally waits much longer to unveil the players; not even the Season 49 cast is public yet, technically. But that's the nature of a modern all-returnees season, where early leaks are likely to reveal who's in contention even before the cast flies out to Fiji. And while viewers are certainly frustrated with some unappealing inclusions and notable omissions—why are there so many New Era players without any contestants from the 20s?—there are definitely enough stars here to produce something reliably enjoyable and celebrate the best competition reality series ever. Here are the 24 cast members of Season 50 and what to know, or remember, about each of them as the long wait until next year marches on. Jenna Lewis Dougherty Seasons: Borneo (1), All-Stars (8) Placed: 8 th, 3 rd It wouldn't be right to celebrate 50 seasons of Survivor without bringing back someone from the very beginning, and Borneo 's youngest contestant is an unexpected but inspired choice. At the time a 22-year-old college student and single mom of two, Lewis Dougherty (then just Lewis) was an endearing motormouth, but her most memorable and emotional moment came when she lost out on a video message from her daughters for the first ever Loved Ones Challenge. Seeing her play again now, at 47 years old, will help bring the series full circle. Colby Donaldson Seasons: The Australian Outback (2), All-Stars (8), Heroes vs. Villains (20) Placed: 2 nd, 12 th, 5 th The show's first challenge beast and arguably its first 'hero' almost eked out the win in his first go at the game, besting his on-and-off rival Jerri Manthey but losing to Tina Wesson. Subsequent appearances offered diminishing returns, especially during Heroes vs. Villains, where he went far but lacked the agency and much of the physical skill he once had. It remains to be seen whether he can adapt to today's very different game—even in his third season, he couldn't quite keep up with the strategic element—but it could be nice to see an old star, even if it's difficult to avoid the feeling that Donaldson doesn't belong on a season without Manthey. Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick Seasons: Palau (10), Guatemala (11), Heroes vs. Villains (20) Placed: 7 th, 2 nd, 19 th LaGrossa Kendrick has stayed in the reality-TV space since her late-aughts Survivor outings, competing in The Traitors and Snake in the Grass. But not everyone remembers just how beloved she was in 2005 for her underdog arc on Palau —where she became the last surviving member of the infamously decimated Ulong tribe—perhaps because of her villainous turn on Guatemala and a near-immediate exit on Heroes vs. Villains. Could she recapture some of her old magic and showcase the resilience that once made her a legend? Cirie Fields Seasons: Panama (12), Micronesia (16), Heroes vs. Villains (20), Game Changers (34) Placed: 4 th, 3 rd, 17 th, 6 th Often considered the best Survivor player to never win, Fields is coming into the game with a massive target on her back, perhaps more than any other returnee—especially thanks to her more recent win on The Traitors and an already-filmed appearance on the upcoming Australia V The World season of Australian Survivor. Her lethal social game almost got her to the end on her first two seasons, but doomed her early in the third—and in Game Changers, she became the victim of 'Advantage-geddon,' a shark-jumping moment when she went home despite nobody voting for her. That suggests a natural rationale for an opportunity at redemption, and in some ways she'd be the ideal winner —though it's hard to picture people letting her anywhere near a Final Tribal Council. By now, Fields might be bigger than Survivor. Ozzy Lusth Seasons: Cook Islands (13), Micronesia (16), South Pacific (23), Game Changers (34) Placed: 2 nd, 9 th, 4 th, 12 th Where does Ozzy Lusth go from here? An undeniable icon of the game and early challenge beast, he just barely lost to the savvy Yul Kwon on his original season before getting memorably blindsided by his ally/showmance partner Amanda Kimmel at the midpoint of Micronesia. And another bold performance in South Pacific —where he requested to get voted out just to beat Redemption Island and reenter the game—certainly didn't help downplay his well-established threat level. Lusth has relied primarily on his physical strength for all four of his stints on the show, but it's difficult to know if he's capable of truly evolving his social maneuvering. Benjamin 'Coach' Wade Seasons: Tocantins (18), Heroes vs. Villains (20), South Pacific (23) Placed: 5 th, 12 th, 2 nd The self-described 'Dragon Slayer' is easily one of the strangest and most unique characters to appear on Survivor, maybe on reality TV overall: a quirky and spiritual guy with a penchant for telling tall tales (or are they true stories about a fascinating life?). On South Pacific, his bizarre but effective cult-leader persona earned him a place at the end, though his inability to own his manipulations lost him the game. Fourteen years later, is Coach back with any more self-awareness, and how will he cope without immediate access to power? Either way, it should be a whole lot of fun to watch. Aubry Bracco Placed: 2 nd, 5 th, 16 th Many still believe Bracco deserved the win in Kaôh Rōng, though her significant personal journey from anxious introvert to strategic powerhouse didn't translate to a strong social game or convincing argument at Final Tribal Council. Bracco's later performances on Game Changers and Edge of Extinction were under-edited and underwhelming, respectively, so Season 50 may be her last real chance to set the record straight on her capabilities. Chrissy Hofbeck Season: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers (35) Placed: 2 nd Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers was arguably one of the dullest seasons in the show's run, remembered mainly for the official introduction of the Final 4 fire-making challenge and Ben Driebergen's resulting win. At least Hofbeck played her heart out, tying a female record by winning four Immunity Challenges in a season and making it to the end—though the jury didn't respect her social game. Few of the players in these mid-thirties seasons ever got a second chance to play, so this shot is long overdue. Mike White Placed: 2 nd Easily the name on this list with the most recognition outside of Survivor circles, actor-writer Mike White was already famous from School of Rock during his subtle but delightful appearance on the fan-favorite season David vs. Goliath in 2018. But he's almost a household name these days, known most recently as the auteur behind The White Lotus. (He even gives cameos to several of his old Survivor castmates each season.) Beyond his smart eye for strategy and strong social game, it should be thrilling to see a celebrity of his caliber on the show again. Angelina Keeley Season: David vs. Goliath (37) Placed: 3 rd 'Natalie, can I have your jacket?' Anyone who has watched David vs. Goliath remembers this question, spoken by the eventual second runner-up and directed toward the woman she just voted out. Keeley is an all-time Survivor character guaranteed to bounce interestingly off practically any cast member, lovably un-self-aware to the viewers and irritatingly so to her fellow contestants. This casting is another no-brainer, no matter the likelihood of Keeley improving on her zero-vote-finalist record. Christian Hubicki Season: David vs. Goliath (37) Placed: 7 th The New Era of Survivor may be replete with nerds and superfans, but few can compete with the star power of this widely loved robotics scientist, a long-desired returnee. At the merge on his first season, Hubicki was already becoming a significant strategic and social force, pulling off several big moves and making strong connections with castaways like Nick Wilson and especially Gabby Pascuzzi. He could stand a good chance of going even further on Season 50, now that he's surrounded by other big threats. Rick Devens Season: Edge of Extinction (38) Placed: 4 th Devens got taken out only four votes into Edge of Extinction, but thanks to the season's central twist, he eventually got to return to the game and become the biggest threat (or, to some, the biggest nuisance), setting the record for most Hidden Immunity Idol possessions in a season. With his continued involvement in the Survivor community—he became the first co-host of the podcast On Fire with Jeff Probst —Devens has long been expected to return for a second shot, though he's certainly not one of the most essential picks here. Jonathan Young Season: 42 Placed: 4 th Young was a Hulk on a season dominated by shrimps, standing out from sheer size and physical dominance alone. His somewhat condescending attitude and strong-male-solidarity angle eventually grated on some of his tribemates, though, and he lost at Final 4 fire-making. As one of the first true challenge beasts of the New Era, Young isn't quite an out-of-left-field choice, but he's also far from a modern icon. Emily Flippen Placed: 7 th Flippen started off on the wrong foot with the perpetually losing Lulu tribe on 45, where she wasn't a great social fit at first. But her ally Kaleb Gebrewold helped her adjust her game and show her humanity (and humility) a bit more, enabling her to make it pretty far. It'll be interesting to see if she takes a similar under-the-radar approach in 50 or if she re-emerges from her shell to make some bold plays—the latter would be more fun. Dee Valladares Season: 45 Placed: 1 st Bringing back two winners may be an odd choice, especially given they're both from the New Era, but Valladares could have more to offer. She played a dominant physical, social, and strategic game in 45, leading the Reba Four alliance and dictating many or most of the post-merge votes, but she rarely had to fight back or pull off many tricky maneuvers. She might have to play a bit more craftily in 50, where she's around more people willing to go hard. Quintavius 'Q' Burdette Season: 46 Placed: 6 th On his season, Q was an unmistakable highlight of the New Era, a force of pure chaos and male ego with control issues and a confusing style of playing the game. (He asked his tribemates to vote him out two separate times.) But those flaws—and the bizarre charm that sometimes broke through—made him great TV. Should we expect him to pull off a win in Season 50? Highly doubtful. But will he add to the entertainment factor? Definitely. Charlie Davis Placed: 2 nd If Q was the hurricane blowing through Survivor 46, Davis was a source of calm geniality at the center, constantly quoting Taylor Swift songs while obscuring his careful, clever gameplay. Many viewers believe he deserved the win at Final Tribal Council, but thanks to some juicy vengeance from the longtime ally he betrayed, Maria Shrime Gonzalez, he narrowly lost. Now he's a natural choice to bring back; in fact, his threat level might appear lower among these bigger personalities than it would alongside all New Era players. Tiffany Nicole Ervin Season: 46 Placed: 8 th Though Ervin made it to merge with a Hidden Immunity Idol and solid allies, she's a bit random to bring back for a big anniversary season. Still, it should be amusing to watch her interact again with Q, the bane of her existence all through her pre- and post-merge. Genevieve Mushaluk Placed: 5 th Mushaluk arguably played the biggest and most exciting game of Season 47, orchestrating the blindsides of tribemates like Kishan Patel and Sol Yi. But what also made her compelling was her stated disinterest in getting close to people, a decision she later regretted when her ally Teeny Chirichillo lost trust. Will Mushaluk spend more time on her social game this time around? And will she put her talent for big moves to use again, or shrink into the shadows? Kyle Fraser Season: 48 Placed: 1 st This one is weird. We watched Fraser win $1 million just a week ago, so it's hard to get too excited about seeing him again already. But at least he was a deserving winner, delicately balancing his 'secret' alliance with Kamilla Karthigesu and his loyalty to Joe Hunter and Eva Erickson all the way to the end. With both Karthigesu and Hunter also returning for Season 50, it remains to be seen whether Fraser will try to distance himself and play a new game or stick with his proven allies. Joe Hunter Season: 48 Placed: 3 rd Another tough sell. The most recent second runner-up definitely has his fans in the Survivor community, and his incredibly tight bond with Erickson (whom he helped through multiple autistic episodes) was occasionally quite moving. But many viewers found his loyalty-first approach and overly heroic edit eyeroll-worthy, especially when the rest of the cast refused to turn on him and let him walk to Final Tribal Council. He also has a good chance of making it to the halfway point this time around—he's a physical asset to any pre-merge tribe—but whether we want to see that happen is another story. Kamilla Karthigesu Season: 48 Placed: 4 th Of anyone on Season 48, Karthigesu is easily the most deserving of another shot. Her tight personal and strategic bond with Fraser was the heart of the season, and she gave plenty of funny and engaging confessionals, but the tribe dynamic—with Hunter and Erickson ruling at the top and the majority afraid to make a move—didn't allow her to reach full star potential. It could be fascinating to see her play a more independent game with more room to maneuver, although casting Fraser and Hunter again may interfere with that. Mystery Players The likely identities of these two contestants from the upcoming fall season are already known based on rampant speculation and leaks, but nothing has been officially shared by CBS yet. Even if the players' names are confirmed soon, we'll know next to nothing about their personalities or how they played the game until the fall, though they must leave a strong impression based on their inclusion on this season. Season 49 and 50 are filming back to back, so these two will be particularly undernourished out there.
