Earlier this week, recent “Traitors” champion Rob Rausch revealed that, if he were ever to return to the reality TV circuit, he hopes it would be on a future season of “Survivor.”
The snake-wrangling heartthrob, who made his reality TV debut on Season 5 of “Love Island” in 2023, expressed his interest in joining the longrunning CBS reality competition series during a March 3 interview on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”
Despite admitting that he’d “maybe, one day” compete on “Survivor,” Rausch told Fallon that, after winning the $220,800 grand prize on Season 4 of Peacock’s “The Traitors” last month, he’s putting his reality TV career on the back-burner for the time being.
“It’s not really something I’m dying to get back into, to be completely honest with you,” the 27-year-old reported.
After catching wind of Rausch’s tepid interest in playing “Survivor,” however, the show’s longtime host Jeff Probst said he’s going to need more than a “maybe” to even consider casting the “Traitors” champion on a future season.
Jeff Probst Says He’ll Need More Than ‘Casual Interest’ to Cast Rob Rausch on ‘Survivor’
Speaking to Virtual Reali-Tea during the March 10 PaleyLive “An Evening with Jeff Probst and Survivor 50 Castaways” event, the longtime host gave his honest reaction to Rob Rausch’s bid to appear on a future season of “Survivor.”
“You know, Rob Rausch has got a good committee, a good PR team out there,” the 64-year-old said, referring to Rausch’s diehard fan base, which has multiplied since his “Traitors” victory last month. “All I know it – he’s kind of like a, ‘maybe I’d do ‘Survivor.’ I just want to say to Rob: it’s gonna take a little more than casual interest to do our show.”
Fellow “Traitors” winner Cirie Fields, who is currently celebrating her fifth “Survivor” appearance on the cast of the show’s milestone 50th season, echoed Probst’s statement, warning Rausch: “You don’t know what you’re getting into, Rob!”
She added that she’d “eat Rob alive on ‘Survivor,’” despite admitting that he did “an excellent, excellent job” on “The Traitors.”
GettyRegardless, Probst added that, if Rausch’s interest escalated beyond a “maybe,” he and the casting team “really are open” to bringing him on board for a future season.
“Yes, he’s a very compelling guy,” he said. “We just try to look at everything and step back and say, how does it fit? Does it fit this season? What does it bring?”
Probst Teases Possible ‘Future Collaboration’ Between ‘Traitors’ and ‘Survivor’
Speaking of future “Survivor” seasons, Probst similarly teased a potential collaboration with “The Traitors” during his interview with Virtual Reali-Tea.
“‘The Traitors’ is bringing up some really interesting people and the gameplay is revealing some really compelling people,” Probst admitted.
Despite the friendly rivalry between the two hit reality competition series in recent years, “The Traitors” has historically featured “Survivor” alumni on each and every one of its seasons since launching in 2023, including franchise legends like Cirie Fields and Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick (Season 1), Parvati Shallow and Sandra Diaz-Twine (Season 2), “Boston Rob” Mariano, Tony Vlachos, Jeremy Collins and Carolyn Wiger (Season 3) and Rob Cesternino, Yam Yam Arocho and Natalie Anderson (Season 4).
GettyWhile “Survivor” has yet to return the favor, several “Traitors” stars have expressed their interest in joining the competition, including “Big Brother” legend Rachel Reilly, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner Monet X Change and recent “Dancing with the Stars” finalist Dylan Efron.
According to Probst, a potential crossover between the two series isn’t out of the question.
Getty“Who knows? There may be a future collaboration,” he teased. “Rob [Rausch] on ‘Survivor’ and then Alan [Cumming] and I will host together. I don’t know, maybe that happens!”
What do you think? Would you watch a “Survivor” X “Traitors” crossover season?
Cirie has already been on 4 failed Survivor shows, one still undetermined and a successful Traitors. I for one, am not interested in seeing her on another Survivor show. (I don’t watch Traitors.)
NEVER heard of that new show. When and where is it on?