Ahead of the fourth episode of “Survivor 49,” which aired on Wednesday, October 15, the season’s contestants revealed their “hot takes” about the Emmy-winning reality competition series in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly.
Among the “unpopular” opinions the cast shared were statements about the “overrated” nature of Hidden Immunity Idols, calls for CBS to cast more players who likely to enter into a “showmance,” and arguments about whether or not certain former winners “deserved” the title of “Sole Survivor” on their respective seasons.
Most notably, castaway Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu’s “hot take” posited that the “new era” of “Survivor” – referring to seasons 41 through 49 – is better than the “old era.”
The claim goes against the general consensus among fans, who have often called on CBS to restore the series to its original format, which included fewer twists, themed seasons, and a 39-day game compared to the new era’s 26 days.
MC Claps Back at ‘Survivor’s New Era ‘Haters’
After receiving backlash from fans online, MC took to TikTok to explain her “hot take,” telling viewers, “If y’all wanted a lukewarm take, y’all should’ve asked somebody else.”
CBS“I am genuinely confused,” she began. “If y’all hate the new era so much, why are you still watching? Why are you giving ‘Survivor’ views and engagement? If it’s so horrible, stop watching and then maybe [CBS] would learn from that, but the views are still up.”
Indeed, despite many fans labelling Season 49 as “boring” after its first few episodes, ratings on the new season have been some of the series highest. In fact, ahead of the 2025 Emmy Awards last month, Reuters reported that more people watched “Survivor” than any other nominated series, proving that the new era, no matter how controversial, has not cost the show its massive viewership.
MC Claims Early ‘Survivor’ Wouldn’t be a Success on TV in 2025
“Next,” MC continued, “I did not say that I hate the old era, I did not say that. I also did not say that the new era is perfect. Definitely did not say that.”
That being said, MC added, “I watched ‘Borneo.’ I was bored.”
“Season 1 of ‘Survivor’ would not work on television today,” she explained. “It wouldn’t. And if you say that it would, you’re lying to yourself, you’re lying to me, and you’re lying to your mama.”
The 29-year-old fitness trainer, who was added to this season’s cast as a last-minute alternate alongside castaway Jason Treul, added that she believes fans’ support of the old era is mainly motivated by nostalgia.
Robert Voets/CBS“Because you watched the old era when you were young and there’s that nostalgia on it, rewatching it is fun, but if you were watching it for the first time in 2025, some of those seasons are not fire,” she said.
“Some of them are,” she qualified. “‘Pearl Islands’? Fire season. Gave us a lot of good things, but not all of them are like that, and I think people forget it. They think about the really great seasons in the old era and forget about the boring seasons.”
MC concluded her video by arguing that she think’s she is not alone in her assessment of the new era.
“I definitely believe that a lot of people agree with me, but the negative people tend to be the loudest and it becomes an echo chamber and everyone’s like, ‘New era sucks! New era sucks! Old era is better!’ But like, I’m not the only person who thinks this,” she said. “There’s a lot of people that really like the new era.”
“Survivor 49” returns to CBS on Wednesday, October 22 at 8:00pm ET.
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