Season 49 of “Survivor” has already been full of twists and turns. Yet, the surprises started before the cameras even started rolling this time around, with two of the contestants joining the cast just hours before the reality show officially began. Both Jason Treul — a 32-year-old legal clerk — and Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu — a 29-year-old fitness trainer — entered the latest series at the very last moment. Now, Treul has revealed exactly what the process was and how he felt once he found out.
Jason Treul Explains How He Joined ‘Survivor’
Both Treul and Chukwujekwu were upgraded from alternate after two of the original cast broke rules. “Survivor” has strict procedures in place about communicating with other contestants to prevent any pre-game alliances and ensure the integrity of the CBS show. According to Jeff Probst, the two removed players violated this specific rule and so were ditched before filming began.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Treul explains his philosophical take on how he came to appear on season 49. “I think that in the grand scheme of things, Survivor is a game of luck,” he says. “It was luck that I even got on the show, and it’s luck that got me off the show.”
Later in the interview, Treul details how he was told he would be joining the cast of the show and the emotions that were running through his head. It turns out that he initially thought that he was being flown home when he was approached by members of the show’s producers.
“I get pulled to the side, and in my head I’m like, ‘Okay, well, goodbye, folks. This is the last you’ll see me because I’m going to be taken out back and shot in the yard or something because I’m out of the game. You all can focus on 49 and I’ll go back to my life,’” he explains.
“But as I’m being taken, I’m getting taken past where we sleep and I’m in the middle of the field and I’m like, ‘Oh, okay, this is Old Yeller. I’m getting taken out back.’”
Treul Was Overwhelmed When He Found Out
As it happens, Treul was actually being separated from the other alternates so he could be informed that he was now part of the new season. The bizarre circumstances and unexpected news proved overwhelming for him and he was unable to fully control his emotions.
“But then they inform me, ‘Hey, so how does it feel to be on 49?’ just in the middle of this field at Ponderosa,” he says.
“I immediately collapsed to the ground and I am screaming maniacally. It’s such a fever dream. And then that elation lasted for days. I was waking up on the island thinking, ‘This is not real. I’m back on Ponderosa. This is like an Inception-style dream.’ It was insane to have lived it.”
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