Survivor 49 premieres on Wednesday, Sept. 24, and immediately after the episode, we'll get to listen to the new episode of On Fire with Jeff Probst, the official Survivor podcast. Just a week away from the episode, and the podcast has yet to announce which Survivor 48 player will be joining Probst and Jay Wolff, not Jeff Wolfe, for the upcoming season.
While the pick will likely be announced soon, I had to throw a Hail Mary to make sure that the right player from Survivor 48 is selected as co-host. And, that player is fan-favorite, Shauhin Davari.
Shauhin was one of the best narrators of Survivor 48. Professionally, he is a public speaking coach and communications professor. He has a way with words. He knows how to make a case and explain ideas clearly. He's the perfect pick to join Jeff and Jay to talk about the season.
On top of that, he's an incredible social player and strategist. Shauhin is clearly a fan of the game, as well, and he knows the ins and outs. There's a good case that Shauhin, had he flipped on Kyle Fraser one vote earlier, would be the Sole Survivor and winner of Survivor 48. Kyle and Kamila Karthigesu knew just how big a threat Shauhin was, and they took him out at the very last moment.
He also lived a lot of lives in Survivor 48. Shauhin was on a dominant tribe, and then he got tribe swapped with his alliance. He had a hidden immunity idol used against his alliance. He had connections with everyone on the island it seemed like, and then he was a key part of the majority alliance that dominated the game until he was blindsided by that alliance. That's the perspective we want to hear.
Shauhin also has a unique insight into the world of Survivor, an insight that will be of importance this season. He was an alternate on Survivor 46 with Rachel LaMont, who won Survivor 47. Neither of the players was selected to replace any of the Survivor 46 players, but they eventually go their chance to play the game in the seasons following. Why does that matter? Well, Shauhin has basically had two Survivor experiences for one. He knows the heartbreak of watching others get ready to play the game only to be sent home, not knowing if he would ever be cast. That's unique, but it's also very important for this season.
For the first time in Survivor history, the two alternates have been thrown into the game after two other players were kicked out for breaking the Survivor rules. That's going to be a huge conversation. Of the Survivor 48, Shauhin is the perfect person to share his experience and try to imagine what that would be like. I would love to hear his full thoughts on that situation.
I could also see the show selecting Kyle Fraser, Joe Hunter, or Kamila Karthigesu, but all three of those players were selected for Survivor 50. In theory, they know who already wins Survivor 49 because they played Survivor 50 with two players from the new season. That might not be fair insight into the new season.
I was a little bit bummed that Shauhin was left off the Survivor 50 cast. Seeing how many players were selected from Survivor 48, though, it makes a lot of sense why, but I really hope he gets a bigger platform to share his thoughts and knowledge with the Survivor world.
Stay tuned for the official pick to host On Fire with Jeff Probst for Survivor 49!