Survivor 47 is in the books and the countdown to season 48 is officially underway! The spring season will officially kick off on Wednesday, Feb. 26 as a new cast of contestants make their way to the island to compete in hopes of outwitting, outplaying, and outlasting their competitors in order to become the latest sole survivor.
Season 48 will honestly be here before you know it, but if you happen to find yourself in need of a good show to enjoy before the next season of Survivor begins, you’re in luck!
While re-watching your favorite past seasons of Survivor is always a great option for passing the time between new seasons, this year there are actually some really amazing reality competition shows that will be kicking off new seasons before Survivor’s return which are perfect for bridging the gap between season 47 and season 48. These shows aren’t only amazing reality shows worth a watch based on their own merits, but happen to be perfect for Survivor fans as they feature iconic characters from Survivor!
The Traitors
Up first on our list is Peacock’s Emmy-winning reality series The Traitors which returns for its third season on Jan. 9 and features some of the most iconic Survivor players to ever play the game!
For those unfamiliar with the show, The Traitors brings together a group of reality TV personalities who work together on missions to add money to their prize pot. Hidden among the group of faithfuls are traitors who secretly try to sabotage the group and aim to take out the faithfuls in order to claim the prize fund for themselves.
Competing as part of the season 3 cast are Survivor legends Carolyn Wiger, Jeremy Collins, Boston Rob Mariano, and Tony Vlachos. While Survivor contestants have been in the mix since the show’s first season, this marks the first time more than two Survivor alums have played the game together which is going to make for an interesting dynamic to follow in the season ahead.
As we’ve seen in past seasons with the Bravo stars, there is strength in numbers and it’s going to be interesting to see if having more Survivor players in the game will end up being a good or bad thing for the four players' games. If they form an alliance, the players could go further in the game as a group; however, they could also choose to pick one another off earlier in the game in seeing their fellow Survivor alums as a threat to their games.
However things play out, we know that The Traitors season 3 is a must-watch for Survivor fans looking for a new show to enjoy as they wait for Survivor 48 to premiere!
Deal or No Deal Island
What happens when Survivor and Deal or No Deal have a love child? You end up with Deal or No Deal Island, a reality competition show that combines the high-stakes briefcase game with physical and strategic challenges on a remote island.
Season 2 kicks off on Jan. 7 at 8/7c on NBC as Joe Manganiello returns as host with a new group of contestants heading to the island to compete in a season that promises to test the contestants and The Banker’s limits in new ways.
Just as in season 1, season 2 will feature a cast of mostly unknowns but there are a few reality TV powerhouses in the mix including two Survivor alums. Joining the season 2 cast is Survivor icon Parvati Shallow, who played the game four times and won once, as well as Survivor Australia All-Stars winner David Genat.
Deal or No Deal Island is honestly a perfect option for fans missing Survivor. Much like on Survivor, there is strategic gameplay, alliances, and physical challenges all set against an island backdrop.
The Challenge
Our final show is one that Survivor fans are likely no stranger to: The Challenge.
The Challenge brings together contestants from our favorite reality shows including Big Brother and Survivor, and puts them through intense physical and mental challenges as they look to win cash prizes. Much like Survivor, the game challenges the players and tasks them with juggling both a strong social game and also winning challenges by using their athleticism and strategic gameplay.
About a month before Survivor 48 kicks off, The Challenge will return for another All Stars season with The Challenge All Stars: Rivals premiering on Jan. 29, on MTV. The new season features a cast of 26 players competing in teams with the rivals angle pairing up franchise vets who have complicated pasts – in other words, rivals are about to be thrust together to compete alongside one another.
The new all-star season promises to be a can’t-miss edition of the long-running series and is a perfect option for Survivor fans looking for something new to enjoy as they await the arrival of Survivor 48.