Over the last 25 years, Jeff Probst has invited people from all walks of life to leave behind their creatures comforts to be marooned on a desert island all for the chance to win $1 million, the title of “Sole Survivor,” and, for some, a one-way ticket to reality TV celebrity. In the past, “Survivor” contestants have had an array of day jobs. On the show’s currently-airing 49th season alone, castaways include a NASA rocket scientist, a former professional ice hockey player and an ex-Marvel Studios executive – but will “Survivor” ever host an all-celebrity season?
Probst Responds to Calls for an All-Celebrity ‘Survivor’ Season
Though fans have been calling on Probst to invite their favorite stars take a stab at “Survivor” for years now, the show’s longtime host and executive producer – who seems to have a lot of say in who gets cast on the show – argued in a new interview with Men’s Journal that “Survivor” doesn’t need a Hollywood makeover to boost ratings.
“We’re open to anyone,” said Probst shortly after the premiere of Season 49 aired on Wednesday (Sept. 24). “But I don’t think we’d ever do an all-celebrity season…’Survivor’ is pop culture, so when someone like Mike White wants to play, it makes sense. If you’re compelling, we don’t care what your background is.”
The statement comes as rival reality competition series “The Traitors” announces that it has begun casting for its first-ever all-civilians season. In the past, the series has exclusively cast celebrities ranging from reality TV stars – including “Survivor” alumni – to former Olympic athletes.
Probst, who has gotten caught up in comparisons between “Survivor” and “Traitors” in the past, added that he has no intention of “copying” the Alan Cumming-hosted series to stay relevant.
Plenty of Celebrities Have Already Played ‘Survivor’
While Probst has seemingly written off the possibility of an all-celebrity season of “Survivor,” his recent comments make it clear that competing on the series isn’t off-limits to anyone, regardless of their background.
Indeed, plenty of celebrities have tried their hand at “Survivor” in the past. From the world of professional sports, stars like ex-NFL Quarterback Gary Hogeboom and former Olympian Crystal Cox appeared on “Survivor: Guatemala” and “Survivor: Gabon” respectively. Meanwhile, other stars like actor Jonathan Penner, former pop star Taj Johnson-George and “Facts of Life” actress Lisa Whelchel have similarly stepped out of the Hollywood spotlight for a chance at “Survivor” stardom.
GettyMost notably, Mike White – creator and writer of HBO’s “The White Lotus” – previously appeared on “Survivor: David vs. Goliath.” While his original season aired before “White Lotus” even existed, White was already a renowned screenwriter and actor when he applied to play “Survivor,” having famously worked on projects like “School of Rock” and “Zombieland.”
White is now set to return to Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands to compete on “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” next year, a move that reignited conversations around a potential all-celebrity season that originally started nearly a decade ago.
‘Survivor’ Actually Teased an All-Celebrity Season a Decade Ago
Shortly after “Facts of Life” star Lisa Whelchel placed as a runner-up on “Survivor: Philippines” in 2012, Probst, alongside producer Mark Burnett, publicly tossed around the idea of an all-celebrity season. While it never came to fruition, Probst reportedly approached stars like Jimmy Fallon and Neil Patrick Harris to compete in a two-week version of the show.
“Survivor” wouldn’t be the first reality series to host a star-studded season, with shows like “Big Brother,” “Worst Cooks in America,” and even “RuPaul’s Drag Race” having hosted celebrity versions of their respective comeptitions in the past.
While Probst’s disinterest in bringing the same Hollywood treatment to “Survivor” likely has something to do with wanting to differentiate the series from competitors like “The Traitors,” the longtime host similarly admitted that casting an all-celebrity season is a logistical nightmare.
CBS/Getty“In terms of doing a celebirty season, the truth is, when I’ve approached people a few years ago, everybody goes, ‘Look, honestly, I could barely get eight days off, let alone 39. So if you ever did it, it would have to be a really short maybe Christmas special where you go to Hawaii for eight days,” said Probst in a 2020 interview with PEOPLE. “And then is it ‘Survivor’? No.”
Even now that the duration of “Survivor” seasons has fallen to 26 days in the new era, organizing the time and space for 18 high-profile celebs – each with their own busy schedules to work around – makes the possibility of an all-celebrity season even more unrealistic.
Late Night Hosts and Pop Stars Want to Play ‘Survivor’
Though Probst has seemingly written off the possibility of an all-celebrity “Survivor” season, that hasn’t stopped Hollywood stars from expressing their interest in joining the Emmy-winning series.
From superfans to Probst’s personal Hollywood friends, stars like late-night host Jimmy Fallon, Broadway legend Neil Patrick Harris, and “Lord of the Rings” star Dominic Monahan were among the first celebs to express their interest in playing “Survivor.”
In recent years, other stars like “Parks and Recreation” star Nick Offerman and “White Lotus” actor Walton Goggins have also expressed their interest in playing the game, as have pop stars like Billie Eilish and Keke Palmer.
Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue“I’m playing a social game, all the way,” said Palmer, describing the strategy she’s use if she ever made it one the show during her appearance on “Hot Ones” in 2021. “Then, when it gets towards them last things, I’m showing them how I know how to really hone it in. I’m pulling from the inside out. I’m going to the back of my mind with that meditation level of concentration. It’s going to come out of nowhere. I’m going to win every single one of those [immunity challenges] leading up to the final countdown, and I’m going to take it all home.”
The list of celebrities that have expressed interest in playing “Survivor” also includes “How I Met Your Mother” actor Joe Manganiello, Nickelodeon childr star Jennette McCurdy, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” creator Rob McElheeney and “Survivor” champion Parvati Shallow’s ex-girlfriend, comedian Mae Martin.
So Do Reality Stars from ‘Traitors,’ ‘Big Brother’ & ‘Drag Race’
Most recently, reality stars like “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner Monet X Change, “Big Brother” legend Rachel Reilly and “Traitors” champion Dylan Efron have set their sights on playing “Survivor” next.
While he’s currently competing on “Dancing with the Stars,” Efron told Men’s Journal earlier this year that he’d “love” to play “Survivor.”
“I think it’s more their call,” he added. “Getting on that show is pretty tough, so I think that’s up to Jeff Probst…I feel like they like to find people who’ve never been on a show before. So as much as I love ‘Survivor,’ I think it’s in their court.”
