While attending a “Survivor” season 50 watch party in Gulf Shores, Alabama, “Survivor” season 42 star Jonathan Young joined five-time player Boston Rob Mariano and opened up about the rollercoaster casting journey that almost never was.
“I was supposed to be on ‘Survivor’ 41, but five days from leaving, COVID hit, and they said, ‘We’re not having ‘Survivor’ maybe ever again,'” Young told fans at the “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” episode five screening. “I was so upset.”
Production was shut down, leaving Young and the fate of ‘Survivor’ in limbo. “They didn’t film ‘Survivor’ until the next year, and they said, ‘Hey, you’re not going to be used on 41, but maybe (Survivor) 42. We don’t even know if you’re going to get a chance ever again.’ It wrecked me. But by the grace of God, they called me, and it changed my life completely.”
From Beach Boy to Castaway
CBSThe road to even getting cast was no easy feat. Long before the COVID setback, Young had to earn his spot at an open casting call in Foley, Alabama, where hopefuls had just 60 seconds to make an impression.
“There was a line of about 500 to 1,000 people. And what they did is they had a camera setup in a building, and you had about one minute to show and to tell them why you should be on ‘Survivor,'” he recalled. “I took off my shift and started talking, telling them I was a beach boy trying to get their attention, and it worked!”
That bold, all-in moment in Foley turned out to be just the beginning. Young’s natural charisma and physical presence made him a standout on “Survivor” season 42, so much so that it caught the attention of one of the franchise’s biggest legends. After watching Young compete, Mariano personally reached out to CBS to get his number — something he said he had done for very few players. The two met for lunch at a local Gulf Coast restaurant, and a lasting friendship was born.
A Night of Survivor Legends and Giving Back
“Survivor” legend Boston Rob joined Young at the Portside on Main outdoor venue at The Wharf in Orange Beach, where the two kept fans entertained with behind-the-scenes reveals, bold predictions, and nostalgic flashbacks.
The night also had a meaningful charitable component. With more than 400 attendees turning out for the screening, the event raised more than $6,000 for Young Strength Missions, Young revealed in an Instagram post.
Founded by Young to help guide others in finding their purpose, the nonprofit gives back 25% of its profits to missions around the world. The organization has done mission work in Nicaragua and Honduras, building homes for those in need. For Young, a Gulf Coast native whose faith has been central to his journey, the work extends far beyond the island — and Wednesday night was proof of that.
