{"id":2258261,"date":"2026-01-30T16:51:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2258261"},"modified":"2026-01-30T16:51:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:51:11","slug":"jeff-probst-reveals-the-survivor-50-cast-member-they-called-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/jeff-probst-reveals-the-survivor-50-cast-member-they-called-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeff Probst reveals the \u201cSurvivor 50\u201d cast member they called first"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><i>Jeff Probst on &#8216;Survivor 50&#8217; <\/i><\/p>\n<p>Robert Voets\/CBS <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It\u2019s the biggest season of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/survivor\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Survivor;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>Survivor<\/em><\/a> ever, not just by season number (50) but the actual number of players competing (24). Even with that super-sized cast, it was also the most competitive battle among former contestants just to get back <em>on<\/em> the island.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Holding the ultimate power over the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/first-survivor-50-photos-exclusive-cast-gallery-fiji-11879835\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:final Survivor 50 roster;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">final <em>Survivor 50<\/em> roster<\/a> was host and showrunner <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/person\/jeff-probst\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jeff Probst;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Jeff Probst<\/a>, executive producer Matt Van Wagenen, casting director Jesse Tannenbaum and his team, and, of course, CBS \u2014 and we will finally see that roster in action when the season premieres Feb. 25.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But there is an interesting wrinkle in the <em>Survivor<\/em> casting process. If there is any disagreement over whether a potential player should be cast, someone can \u201cfall on the sword\u201d for that person, and they are automatically put on the show. It\u2019s a power that cannot be overused, of course, and is only reserved for when someone is insistent that a particular player absolutely <em>has<\/em> to be on the season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">So who were the fall-on-the-sword players for <em>Survivor 50?<\/em> We asked Probst exactly that when we spoke to the host in Fiji. \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/tv\/survivor-ozzy-lusth-cook-islands-micronesia-south-pacific-game-changers-quarantine-questionnaire\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ozzy;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Ozzy<\/a> was a fall-on-the-sword player for a few people,\u201d Probst told <em>Entertainment Weekly<\/em>. \u201cA few people said, \u2018You can&#8217;t really do 50 without Ozzy.\u2019 And when you have a couple of people say, \u2018I&#8217;ll fall on the sword,\u2019 it\u2019s done. As long as Ozzy says yes, it\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Ozzy Lusth of 'Survivor 50' Robert Voets\/CBS\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/OlBCiumdNDqL7vreFn91YQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTE0NDA7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/entertainment_weekly_785\/8dbff1cd1bd4df3870c1a065bede2b91\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><i>Ozzy Lusth of &#8216;Survivor 50&#8217; <\/i><\/p>\n<p>Robert Voets\/CBS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But Ozzy was not the only must-have returnee. The producers and network knew they wanted someone from season 1, and they knew exactly the player.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cJenna Lewis was beyond a fall-on-the-sword. She was a phone call where we said, \u2018Look, we want you. We want you from season 1. You&#8217;re our first call. Will you say yes?\u2019 And it was a yes. And I know you could argue there are other people we could have brought back, but we had Jenna in our sights for a long time, and that was probably the happiest I was, when she said yes.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Jenna Lewis-Dougherty of 'Survivor 50' Robert Voets\/CBS\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/cMROK8pcPhzVv0YfcC3Ncg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/entertainment_weekly_785\/167d34ee3e820d1c3f696e29b30d4980\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><i>Jenna Lewis-Dougherty of &#8216;Survivor 50&#8217; <\/i><\/p>\n<p>Robert Voets\/CBS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">And the other returnee that made Probst happiest? \u201cThe bookend would be when <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/person\/mike-white\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Mike White;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Mike White<\/a> said yes,\u201d the host explains of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/the-white-lotus\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The White Lotus;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>The White Lotus<\/em><\/a> creator and <em>David vs. Goliath<\/em> runner-up. \u201cFor very different reasons, but both really important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There was another player who didn\u2019t necessarily begin as a fall-on-the-sword pick for Probst, but the host was won over during a promotional event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe did a big event in New York City, and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/survivor-46-q-burdette-interview-q-skirt-8649189\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Q was there;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Q was there <\/a>with his new baby,\u201d Probst recalls. \u201cAnd his smile was so big and there was so much joy. And I was looking at him thinking: <em>You should be on 50.<\/em> He was in our consideration, but it was early, and it was something about what he radiated was just positivity and fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Quintavius 'Q' Burdette of 'Survivor 50' Robert Voets\/CBS\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ImlsKbPNQXEPMZtlq4mdgg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/entertainment_weekly_785\/ba628ecd42081ce7aae193b8098980a5\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><i>Quintavius &#8216;Q&#8217; Burdette of &#8216;Survivor 50&#8217; <\/i><\/p>\n<p>Robert Voets\/CBS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Will that play out on the island? \u201cMaybe he&#8217;ll be chaotic this season, maybe not,\u201d Probst continues. (Judging by Q\u2019s comments in our <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/survivor-50-exclusive-all-access-first-look-cover-story-11879057\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:big Survivor 50 cover story;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">big <em>Survivor 50<\/em> cover story<\/a>, it will be the former.) \u201cWe don&#8217;t have any expectations. But Q really represents something that I think is important, which is there&#8217;s no one way to play this game or one type of player to be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">What does Probst mean by that? \u201cIt&#8217;s easy to look at an <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/tv\/2019\/03\/13\/survivor-aubry-bracco-edge-of-extinction-interview\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Aubry;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Aubry<\/a> and say, \u2018Oh, she&#8217;s a master strategist.\u2019 Okay. To say Q&#8217;s approach won&#8217;t work either? <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/survivor-winner-sandra-diaz-twine-star-extracted-season-2-exclusive-11854519\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Sandra;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Sandra<\/a> won! You know what I mean?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Producing partner Van Wagenen seconds the names of Mike and Jenna, and also had his own fall-on-the-sword player.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/tv\/survivor-coach-benjamin-wade-tocantins-exile-island-quarantine-questionnaire\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Coach;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Coach<\/a> is my guy,\u201d says the executive producer. \u201cI love Coach. I did his very first interview back in <em>Tocantins<\/em>. I remember meeting him for the first time in casting and he was wearing a kimono and had toe rings. I spent a lot of time with him on the beach in all the first three times he played, and I am curious: Can he do it again? Can he bring it? Can he also reinvent himself a fourth time? I think he can.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Benjamin 'Coach' Wade of 'Survivor 50' Robert Voets\/CBS\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/0Kz0oHqes3gyZBVjvLhf1Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/entertainment_weekly_785\/5acd1882d4ec105ff27de8e748aabd1e\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><i>Benjamin &#8216;Coach&#8217; Wade of &#8216;Survivor 50&#8217; <\/i><\/p>\n<p>Robert Voets\/CBS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">While he may not be part of the casting process, challenge producer John Kirhoffer is also most excited to see the Dragon Slayer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI&#8217;ve always loved Coach,&#8221; says the man who has put every single <em>Survivor<\/em> challenge on the screen since day 1, season 1. &#8220;I remember in season 18, I thought he was such a kook, and he&#8217;s either delusional or he&#8217;s got malignant narcissism or something. And I saw this guy who was craving the spotlight and craving things. And then he came back twice more, and his personal evolution, as far as I&#8217;m concerned, has been amazing. And he&#8217;s become more humble each time he&#8217;s come back. He&#8217;s not that crazy Dragon Slayer from <em>Tocantins<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Well, he\u2019s still a <em>little<\/em> crazy, as evidenced by this anecdote that Probst shares with EW. \u201cCoach likes to say, you&#8217;ll never get me out here again,\u201d the host says while laughing. \u201cThe truth is, when we called Coach, his first words were, \u2018I knew you&#8217;d call.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Talking to the crew in Fiji, it seems everyone has a player or two they were most excited to see compete. Producer Jimmy Quigley was most curious to see how season 49 back-to-backers <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/survivor-49-winner-savannah-louie-reacts-kristina-jury-question-interview-11869891\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Savannah Louie;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Savannah Louie<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/survivor-49-rizo-velovic-says-sophi-should-have-stolen-idol-interview-11869881\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Rizo Velovic;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Rizo Velovic <\/a>would handle their \u201cunique circumstance,\u201d but had an old-school legend in his pole position.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick of 'Survivor 50' Robert Voets\/CBS\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/BQ06j8Cu7beJW3oyNQDC6A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/entertainment_weekly_785\/4edade7a4ea6dd0d1a7446f77b40d4f8\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><i>Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick of &#8216;Survivor 50&#8217; <\/i><\/p>\n<p>Robert Voets\/CBS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI&#8217;m really excited to see <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/tv\/survivor-stephenie-lagrossa-heroes-vs-villains\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Stephenie;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Stephenie<\/a> play,\u201d says Quigley. \u201cI worked on season 20, but that was short-lived [for her]. But her story between 10 and 11 was so cool. It\u2019s one of those things where when you go back and look at it, you&#8217;re like, \u2018Oh, wow.\u2019 I think it&#8217;s a good example, too, of how the show has evolved and how the players have evolved and how the juries have evolved. I think the way her game was viewed back then would probably be viewed a lot differently now in this circumstance. So I&#8217;ll pick Stephenie.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Consider his sword fallen upon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong><em>Want to be kept up with all things Survivor? Dig deep and sign up for Entertainment Weekly&#8217;s <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/survivor-weekly-newsletter-11805993\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:free Survivor Weekly newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">free Survivor Weekly newsletter<\/a> to have all the latest news, interviews, and commentary sent right to your inbox.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/jeff-probst-reveals-survivor-50-cast-member-called-first-11886014\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Entertainment Weekly;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jeff Probst on &#8216;Survivor 50&#8217; Robert Voets\/CBS It\u2019s the biggest season of Survivor ever, not just by season number (50) but the actual number of players competing (24). Even with that super-sized cast, it was also the most competitive battle among former contestants just to get back on the island. Holding the ultimate power over [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2258262,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[310067,437338,437339,396850,308295,435649,437340],"class_list":["post-2258261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-jeff-probst","tag-jenna-lewis","tag-matt-van-wagenen","tag-player","tag-survivor","tag-survivor-50","tag-van-wagenen"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Jeff-Probst-reveals-the-Survivor-50-cast-member-they-called.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2258261"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2258263,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258261\/revisions\/2258263"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2258262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2258261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2258261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2258261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}