The currently-airing 50th season of “Survivor” on CBS has been nothing short of record-breaking.
From its 24-person cast – the largest in the series’ 26-year history – to its unprecedented “Road to 50” and “Survivor 50 Challenge” promotional campaigns, the milestone golden anniversary season will also go down as the first to heavily feature celebrity cameos from stars like Grammy winner Billie Eilish, country music singer Zac Brown, YouTube sensation MrBeast and late-night host Jimmy Fallon.
In addition to production records – such as staging the series’ first-ever triple elimination – the season’s individual contestants have also been hard at work setting new “Survivor” records and breaking old ones.
Of the 24 returning castaways, however, it’s fifth-time player Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth who is poised to celebrate the most historic run on “Survivor 50” as he prepares to shatter two records previously held by series legend Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano as the season approaches its epic conclusion.
Ozzy Lusth’s ‘Survivor 50’ Run has been Record-Breaking From the Start
CBSWhen the ground-breaking cast of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” was originally announced, Ozzy Lusth, alongside fellow returnee Cirie Fields, became the second and third players to compete on five separate seasons of the long-running reality competition series.
Lusth’s “Survivor” journey began 20 years ago when he joined the cast of “Survivor: Cook Islands” in 2006. He was later invited to return to the franchise for subsequent appearances on “Survivor: Micronesia” in 2008, “Survivor: South Pacific” in 2011 and “Survivor: Game Changers” in 2017 before returning for his fifth shot at winning the $1 million grand prize on Season 50.
CBS/GettyHe joins Cirie (“Panama,” “Micronesia,” “Heroes vs. Villains,” “Game Changers,” “50”) and Boston Rob (“Marquesas,” “All-Stars,” “Heroes vs. Villains,” “Redemption Island,” “Winners at War”) as the only players to compete on five separate seasons of the U.S. franchise.
Series legend Parvati Shallow has also played “Survivor” five times, though her final appearance was on the Australian iteration of the show and, as such, doesn’t technically count towards the record. If it did, Fields would, again, technically, be the sole record-holder, having competed on six seasons – five in the U.S. and one in Australia.
As “Survivor 50” continues, Ozzy’s chances of setting even more series records is growing evermore likely.
In particular, the 44-year-old castaway is poised to shatter two records currently held by Boston Rob – the record for most days of “Survivor” played and the record for most Individual Immunity challenge wins.
Ozzy is About to Become the Most-Seasoned Castaway in ‘Survivor’ History
GettyThe current record for the most days of “Survivor” played – specifically on the U.S. flagship series – stands at 152 days, set by Boston Rob after his time on “Winners at War.”
If Ozzy – who entered Season 50 with 128 days-played – manages to survive until the final days of the competition, he’ll be able to usurp Mariano’s lead and establish himself as the new record-holder.
Lusth will be able to tie the record by outlasting until Day 24 of the 26-day game, but will only break it by surviving until Day 25.
CBSCirie Fields could similarly break the record, but only if we include her days played on “Survivor: Australia vs. the World.” Without the additional 15 days she earned on the international season, Field’s pre-”50” count stands at 121 days, meaning that even if she won the currently-airing season, she’d only manage to hit 147 days – just shy of Boston Rob’s record.
If we included Cirie’s days played on “Australian Survivor,” however, then the technical record-holder is actually Parvati Shallow, who racked up 149 days across four seasons on the U.S. franchise and an additional 16 days after winning “Australia vs. the World” last year, bringing her to a record-breaking total of 165 days.
By comparison, Fields could potentially reach a total of 162 days (across both the U.S. and Australian franchises) by the end of Season 50, but only if she manages to secure a seat at Final Tribal Council.
For “Survivor” purists, however, Lusth is the only “Survivor 50” player in with a shot to shatter Mariano’s current days-played record.
Ozzy Could be the First Castaway to Win 10 Individual Immunity Challenges
Ozzy could similarly shatter another of Boston Rob’s “Survivor” records by becoming the first castaway in the show’s history to win 10 Individual Immunity challenges.
During his “Cook Islands” debut, Lusth won an impressive five Individual Immunity challenges, scoring an additional two victories during his time on “South Pacific.” Most recently, during the seventh episode of “Survivor 50,” Ozzy secured his eighth career individual immunity win.
One more and Lusth will tie Mariano’s current career record of nine. Two more and he’ll become the first player in the show’s history to hit double-digits.
Be sure to tune in to an all-new episode of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” on Wednesday, April 15 at 8:00pm ET to see if Ozzy Lusth can manage to win this week’s Immunity challenge and further solidify his place in the “Survivor” Hall of Fame.
