{"id":273233,"date":"2026-01-31T06:06:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T06:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/273233\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T06:06:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T06:06:18","slug":"survivor-50-cast-reveal-former-players-they-wanted-to-see-on-the-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/273233\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Survivor 50’ Cast Reveal Former Players They Wanted to See on the Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

With a record-breaking 24 castaways returning for a second, or, in some cases, third, fourth, or even fifth shot at the $1 million grand prize, \u201cSurvivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans\u201d<\/a> is quickly shaping up to be the most show-stopping, nail-biting, all-out brawl the longrunning CBS reality competition series has seen over its last 26 years on the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Returning players span the entirety of the series\u2019 49 seasons, from OG castaway Jenna Lewis-Dougherty<\/a>, who appeared on the very first season of \u201cSurvivor\u201d in the summer of 2000, to Savannah Louie<\/a>, who just weeks ago became the latest player to acquire the \u201cSole Survivor\u201d title.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That being said, with more than 750 former contestants vying for a spot on the milestone season, plenty of fan favorite castaways were reportedly \u201csnubbed\u201d<\/a> during the casting process, falling short of making an appearance on the historic installment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While longtime host Jeff Probst<\/a> has spoken extensively about how difficult it was to narrow down the cast to just 24 players \u2013 still the largest cast the competition has ever seen \u2013 the players who were lucky enough to land a spot on the official Season 50 cast are now opening up about the former castaways they were hoping to see when they landed on the beaches of Fiji to start filming.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly<\/a> in the hours before the game began, the official cast of \u201cSurvivor 50\u201d got candid about the former players they believed deserved a spot on the landmark all-star season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Colby, Charlie & Genevieve Call for the Return of \u2018Survivor\u2019s OG Villainess<\/p>\n

\"JerriGettyJerri Manthey arrives at the CBS \u201cSurvivor\u201d 10 Year Anniversary Party on January 9, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. <\/p>\n

Returning castaways Colby Donaldson<\/a>, Charlie Davis<\/a> and Genevieve Mushaluk<\/a> were on the same page as they argued that Jerri Manthey \u2013 who previously competed on \u201cSurvivor: The Australian Outback,\u201d \u201cSurvivor: All-Stars\u201d and \u201cSurvivor: Heroes vs. Villains\u201d \u2013 should\u2019ve returned for her fourth series appearance on Season 50.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While both Genevieve and Charlie referred to Jerri as an \u201coriginal,\u201d it was Colby\u2019s call for the return of the first-ever \u201cSurvivor\u201d villainess<\/a> that tugged at longtime viewers heartstrings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Donaldson competed alongside Manthey on all three of her previous seasons and, despite their \u201ctumultuous relationship,\u201d Colby told EW, \u201cJerri Manthey should be on this beach\u2026it\u2019s not gonna be the same for me competing once again and not having Jerri on the beach somewhere in some way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tiffany, Chrissy & Christian Wanted to Play Alongside Former Co-Stars<\/p>\n

\"QCBSQ Burdette, Ben Katzman, Tiffany Ervin, Hunter McKnight, Jeff Probst and Kenzie Petty on \u201cSurvivor 46.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former alliances also came into play for other Season 50 castaways, including Tiffany Nicole Ervin<\/a>, who said she would have \u201ckilled it\u201d playing alongside her \u201cSurvivor 46\u201d co-star Hunter McKnight, while \u201cSurvivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers\u201d star Chrissy Hofbeck<\/a> claimed that her \u201crobbed\u201d co-star Devon Pinto also deserved a second shot at the $1 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Christian Hubicki<\/a> lamented the fact that his \u201cDavid vs. Goliath\u201d co-star Davie Rickenbacker was left out of the final cast.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jenna & Stephenie Called for Return of \u2018Old School\u2019 Allies<\/p>\n

\"EthanCBSEthan Zohn on the Edge of Extinction during \u2018Survivor: Winners at War\u2019<\/p>\n

The trend continued with more established players like Cirie Fields<\/a>, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Stephenie LaGrossa-Kendrick<\/a> and Aubry Bracco<\/a>, all of whom expressed disappointment that their former allies hadn\u2019t been invited back for the milestone season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jenna told EW that she\u2019d hoped \u201cSurvivor: Africa\u201d champion Ethan Zohn \u2013 who similarly joined her on the cast of \u201cSurvivor: All-Stars\u201d \u2013 would be joining her on the Fijian beaches this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Stephenie, who has previously competed on seasons like \u201cSurvivor: Palau,\u201d \u201cSurvivor: Guatemala\u201d and \u201cSurvivor: Heroes vs. Villains,\u201d wished that her OG tribemate Ian Rosenberger had been asked to return, telling EW: \u201cOur time on Palau was cut too short.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cirie & Aubry Wanted a Full-Out \u2018Game Changers\u2019 Reunion on Season 50<\/p>\n

\"WooCBSWoo Hwang, Abi-Maria Gomas, Kelley Wentworth, Jeff Varner and Shirin Oskooi on \u201cSurvivor: Cambodia.\u201d <\/p>\n

Cirie and Aubry, who previously competed against one another on the cast of \u201cSurvivor: Game Changers,\u201d called for an all-out reunion as they expressed their disappointment that legendary players like Tai Trang and Kelley Wentworth hadn\u2019t been invited to be part of the celebratory season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTai is an undercover savage,\u201d said Fields. \u201cI think Tai should have been here on \u2018Survivor 50.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

While Bracco competed alongside Trang on both \u201cSurvivor: Kaoh Rong\u201d and \u201cSurvivor: Game Changers,\u201d she joined a plethora of \u201cSurvivor\u201d fans in her belief that Wentworth<\/a> deserved a spot on Season 50 following her legendary performances on seasons like \u201cSurvivor: San Juan del Sur\u201d and \u201cSurvivor: Edge of Extinction.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI love Wentworth, but [I\u2019m] honored to know and call Kelley a dear friend,\u201d she told EW.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Coach & Jonathan Hoped Their Real-Life \u2018Survivor\u2019 Friends Would be Cast on \u201850\u2019<\/p>\n

\"MikeCBSMike Turner<\/p>\n

While on-screen alliances justified a number of the Season 50 castaway\u2019s decisions, off-screen friendships similarly came into play, including Benjamin \u201cCoach\u201d Wade<\/a>, who told EW he\u2019d hoped his close personal friend and \u201cSurvivor 46\u201d alum Ben Katzman had landed a spot on the milestone installment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Similarly, Jonathan Young<\/a> lamented the fact that \u201cSurvivor 42\u201d finalist Mike Turner wasn\u2019t invited back for \u201c50.\u201d Despite having competed on separate \u201cNew Era\u201d seasons, Young and Turner have become fast friends off-screen, even travelling to Honduras together to build homes for the less fortunate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kamilla, Joe & Kyle Wanted More \u2018Old School\u2019 Representation<\/p>\n

\"BostonCBSJeff Probst awards Boston Rob Mariano with Individual Immunity on \u201cSurvivor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSurvivor 48\u201d returnees Kamilla Karthigesu<\/a>, Joe Hunter<\/a> and Kyle Fraser<\/a> called for more \u201cOld School\u201d representation as they revealed their respective hopes that legendary players like Phillip Sheppard (\u201cSurvivor: Redemption Island\u201d), \u201cBoston Rob\u201d Mariano (\u201cSurvivor: Marquesas\u201d) and Earl Cole (\u201d Survivor: Fiji\u201d) would\u2019ve been invited back.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While a \u201cSurvivor 50\u201d run would\u2019ve marked Boston Rob\u2019s<\/a> sixth series appearance, Sheppard hasn\u2019t celebrated a return since 2013\u2019s \u201cSurvivor: Caramoan.\u201d Meanwhile, Cole \u2013 the \u201cSole Survivor\u201d of his original season \u2013 has never returned to the series after pulling off a so-called \u201cPerfect Game\u201d the first time around.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mike & Ozzy Though \u201850\u2019 Would Pay Homage to First-Ever \u2018Survivor\u2019 Winner<\/p>\n

\"RichardCBSRichard Hatch on \u2018Survivor\u2019<\/p>\n

Speaking of firsts and former winners, both Mike White<\/a> and Ozzy Lusth<\/a> lamented the fact that the original \u201cSole Survivor,\u201d Richard Hatch, wasn\u2019t invited back to celebrate the series\u2019 milestone 50th season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both castaways told EW that they\u2019d been hoping to see the long-awaited return of Hatch \u201cin all his nekkid glory<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dee, Angelina & Savannah Lament \u2018Snubbed\u2019 New Era Fan Favorite\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"CarolynCBS\/Peacock\/GettyCarolyn Wiger on \u201cSurvivor 44\u201d and on \u201cThe Traitors\u201d Season 3. <\/p>\n

Dee Valladares<\/a>, Angelina Keeley<\/a> and Savannah Louie were similarly on the same page about the former castaway they were hoping to see on the beach for Season 50 \u2013 \u201cSurvivor 44\u201d finalist Carolyn Wiger.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the run-up to the official cast announcement last May, Wiger seemed like a shoo-in, though fans later speculated that she\u2019d been cut from the cast after appearing on Season 3 of Peacock\u2019s rival reality competition series \u201cThe Traitors.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Regardless, Keeley referred to Carolyn as \u201cthe best new era character,\u201d while Valladares said, \u201c50 won\u2019t be as entertaining without you.\u201d Louie rounded out the trio\u2019s symphony of support for Wiger, telling EW that the former castaway \u201cembodies what it means to be real and \u00a0vulnerable.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Q & Emily\u2019s Picks Were Busy Filming Other Reality Shows\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"JesseCBSJesse Lopez<\/p>\n

Rounding out the list, \u201cSurvivor 46\u201d alum Q Burdette<\/a> expressed his belief that \u201cSurvivor: All-Stars\u201d fan favorite Rob Cesternino should\u2019ve been invited back, while \u201cSurvivor 45\u201d star Emily Flippen<\/a> called for the return of \u201cSurvivor 43\u201d finalist Jesse Lopez.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite being \u201csnubbed\u201d from the final cast list, both Cesternino and Lopez recently landed spots on other reality competition series, appearing on Season 4<\/a> of \u201cThe Traitors\u201d and Season 2 of \u201cBeast Games,\u201d<\/a> respectively in recent weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Devens & Rizo Round Out the Cast with Out-of-the-Box Picks\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"MalcolmCBSMalcolm Freberg in \u201cSurvivor: Game Changers\u201d (2017).<\/p>\n

Finally, \u201cSurvivor: Edge of Extinction\u201d alum Rick Devens<\/a> called for the return of \u201cSurvivor: Africa\u201d star Teresa Cooper, also known as T-Bird, while recent \u201cSurvivor 49\u201d finalist Rizo Velovic<\/a> lamented the fact that \u201cpretty boy\u201d Malcom Freberg \u2013 who previously competed on \u201cSurvivor: Philippines,\u201d \u201cSurvivor: Caramoan\u201d and \u201cSurvivor: Game Changers\u201d \u2013 hadn\u2019t received an invitation to return for the anniversary season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Be sure to catch the historic three-hour CBS premiere<\/a> of \u201cSurvivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans\u201d on Wednesday, February 25 at 8:00pm ET.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With a record-breaking 24 castaways returning for a second, or, in some cases, third, fourth, or even fifth…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273234,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[93,61,60,282],"class_list":["post-273233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273233\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}