The cast of Survivor 50 has got a lot of fans and former players talking. The group was announced on May 28, and immediately, the controversy began. Despite 24 players being selected, the largest cast for any US Survivor season in history (the Australian version of Survivor is 24 players), fans and former players had immediate reactions to the players that were, and were not, selected.
The main bone of contention was less about individuals who were selected, and more about the spread of the players selected, and who was left off the cast as a result. Half of the players chosen came from the new era seasons (41-49), including five from seasons 48 and 49 alone, and even at that, several new era seasons were not represented at all. Meanwhile, older seasons were largely skipped over, including a gap from 19 all the way to 31 with no original representation.
With a cast formed with those boundaries in mind, and with the several hundred players that have come and gone over the years, there were bound to be many players who got cut but deserved to make the iconic season. Truthfully, you could fill an entire second cast with players more than deserving of being on the legendary 50th season. Still, 5 players stand out in my mind as the largest missed opportunities.
Some of the players under consideration for casting for Survivor 50 made it very clear their feelings, both when they got cut as well as when the full cast was officially announced. In those cases, we know who wanted to play and was asked. In other situations, we are less aware. Did the player get asked? Did they turn it down?
This list assumes nothing about casting, only that the iconic former castaways are not on the Survivor 50 cast. It is possible that in some cases, they were asked and declined. Still, these five players seem like glaring omissions on a season billed as a celebration of the franchise, as each provided some of the most memorable and iconic storylines of their eras.
1. Jerri Manthey (Australia, All Stars, Heroes vs. Villains)
Jerri Manthey, the original black widow, single-handedly defined the fem fatale villainess archetype for the series. While she has played several times before and had a pretty full character arc, the fact remains that she paved the way for future gameplay to be accepted by the viewers.
She took an absolutely brutal and unfair beating at the hands of the public, even being booed off stage at the all-star reunion show. If anyone has earned her spot on the cast, it is Jerri, and her snubbing stands out all the more by the fact that she clearly wanted to play the game one last time. Her emotions tugged at the heartstrings when she shared her feelings on her Instagram page.
2. Rob Cesternino (Amazon, All Stars)
Rob Cesternino has had one of the single greatest impacts on Survivor, not just in the game, but out of it. Rob C is one of the originators of the complex Survivor strategy. His gameplay was pretty novel for the early era of the game, which is also why he became such an immediate threat in an All-Star season that targeted anyone with a threatening pulse.
Rob's legacy is great in-game, but even better off it. The player started his own reality TV podcast, and the community has blown up to be one of the most impactful reality show communities in the world. His community has provided analysis, support, and opportunity time and time again, and has become synonymous with Survivor. Rob C should be on a cast celebrating the history of the game, because he has been pivotal in strategy and in continuing its popularity.
3. Natalie Bolton (Micronesia)
Perhaps the greatest snub in the history of the Survivor franchise, it is absolutely baffling that Natalie has still not been asked to return to the game. The only member of the single most memorable alliance in Survivor history, the Black Widow Brigade, Natalie was key to the most shocking move of the series, when the women convinced Erik Reichenbach to give up his immunity necklace to Natalie, only to promptly vote him out.
Cirie Fields and Parvati Shallow, members of that alliance, have been credited as two of the best to ever play the game and have returned repeatedly (including Cirie again in this very season). Amanda Kimmel, arguably another Survivor 50 snub, at least was able to come back a third time and set the record for most consecutive days in the game, a record that will likely never be broken. Meanwhile, Natalie continues to be ignored, an absolute tragedy that should have been rectified for the iconic 50th season.
4. Domenick Abbate (Ghost Island)
This one is a tough one, because in truth, there are so many players from the 19-31 era that also got snubbed. However, Domenick is the only one of that group who has never had a chance to return to the game. He was a strategic powerhouse, but that is not the only reason that he deserves a spot on Survivor 50. His gameplay, while impressive, was not necessarily unique, though he is often mentioned in discussions about the best player not to win.
Instead, Domenick was part of something that had never happened in the history of Survivor. He and Wendell Holland tied in winning votes by the Ghost Island jury at the final tribal council, forcing the third finalist, Laurel Johnson, to single-handedly decide the winner, and she chose Wendell. That is a piece of history that has never happened, and if we are celebrating the series, an iconic moment like that involving an iconic player like Domenick deserves recognition.
5. Carolyn Wiger (Survivor 44)
It is inconceivable to me that the casting team managed to fill a 24-person cast with 12 new era players, and none of them were Carolyn Wiger. Carolyn might possibly be the greatest casting decision the show has ever made. What made her so brilliant, and in turn so beloved, was her unapologetic commitment to being fully and authentically herself. She brought entertainment, incredible clips and soundbites, and someone to relate to.
Carolyn wears her heart on her sleeve, embraces her quirks and her "weirdness", and inspires everyone to never be afraid of who they are and what people will think of them. She also played a pretty darn good game, making it to the end and being involved in some pretty crucial decisions throughout the game. If any new era player represents what Survivor means to the world, it is Carolyn, and given how clearly she wanted to be cast, it is an insult to see her be cut from the casting.