Report: Survivor casting director Lynne Spillman departs the show

Multiple sources have indicated that Survivor casting director Lynne Spillman will not be returning to help pick the pool of possible players in the future.

There are a few core team members who have been with Survivor since the very beginning. Obviously, Jeff Probst has been the host, eventually evolving his role into an executive producer and showrunner. John Kirhoffer is the man behind the challenges, setting things up and helping block for the cameras. Lynne Spillman has been the casting director, narrowing down thousands of applicants to a select final group for production and CBS to decide.

Unfortunately, that last integral pillar, one that has seen more than 500 players grace television screens in North American and around the world, has fallen. Former Survivor Panama player Shane Powers spoke to Lynne Spillman ahead of the June 29th edition of The Shane Show, relaying his desire to be cast for Big Brother. In that conversation, he learned that she is no longer casting Survivor.

Shane levies a variety of accusations against Jeff Probst, alleging his ego and control over the production of the game might have led to her removal from the show. Admittedly, he acknowledges these are his opinions about Probst, as the two have had a history of negativity towards facing each other.

We have reached out to both Ms. Spillman and CBS for comment on Sunday, but neither party has responded.

However, Martin Holmes of Inside Survivor suggests that Lynne Spillman wasn’t fired, but that her contract wasn’t renewed, per his sources. While at the end of the day she’s no longer casting for Survivor, this explanation suggests that the decision wasn’t in reaction to the pool of players competing in David vs. Goliath or season 38 (and its returnee captains).

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Nick Maiorano of Survivor Kaoh Rong was one of the first players to comment publicly about Lynne Spillman’s departure, tweeting his condolences in hopes she moves on to make a comeback.

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Whenever long-standing executives and decision-makers behind long-standing shows leave, there should always be a bit of a concern. Though you may have found recent casting decisions favorable or unfavorable, having someone new run the process for future casting only creates more uncertainty over what kinds of players production will look for going forward.