Survivor 47 winner Rachel LaMont just shared some interesting news about why she was not part of Survivor 46 on the new episode of the On Fire with Jeff Probst podcast. Rachel is the new cohost for Survivor 48 along with Jeff and Jay Wolff.
We all know by now that Rachel was an alternate for Survivor 46. That became common knowledge among Survivor fans after she won Survivor 47 and joined the On Fire with Jeff Probst podcast and discussed her impression of Charlie Davis, who was the Survivor 46 runner-up and cohost of the pod for Rachel's season.
During the first few minutes of the first episode of On Fire with Jeff Probst, Jeff, Rachel, and Jay were discussing why the show opened with the Zoom reactions to the Survivor 48 cast finding out they were picked for the show. Jeff and Rachel also shared what they remembered from their first conversation together over FaceTime, which started with a conversation about their dogs. Then, Jeff shared the rest of the casting process, which is very in-depth.
Whe Rachel LaMont wasn't picked for the Survivor 46 cast
Finally, Rachel revealed the big news about why she wasn't picked as an alternate for Survivor 46. Here's what she said was the reasoning behind not being selected for Survivor 46:
"I'll never forget when I was asked to be the alternate, you said, 'You just didn't fit into the tapestry of the season," Rachel said on the podcast. "And, I was very confused by that and, you know, probably a little frustrated, too."
Ouch! That has to be such a downer to go through all of the casting process and be so close to a dream coming true only to be told "we like you, you're coming out to be an alternate, but you probably aren't going to be in the season because you just don't fit."
I mean, some alternates, I'm sure, never make it on the show. There many stories of alternates joining future seasons, but I'm sure, based on the nature of the show, everyone doesn't get that official opportunity to be part of the cast.
After sharing what Jeff told her about being an alternate, Rachel shared that she understood, now, what she didn't back then.
"I feel like I get it now, though," Rachel continued. "I understood, when I was watching season 46, how that wasn't necessarily the tapestry I fit into. And, season 47 was, win aside, more of the vibe and feeling that I feel like I fit into."
I have to agree with all of that! I don't think Rachel would have stood out badly if she was part of the Survivor 46 cast. Honestly, based on her gameplay and who we know her to be on the show, Rachel is probably one of a select few players who could adapt to any season and still make a solid run. She had to adapt, probably, more than any other player in Survivor 47, and it worked! She won in dominant fashion.
Now, she's the cohost of On Fire with Jeff Probst, sharing interesting secrets and insight about the game throughout the new season. Overall, I really liked the first episode of the podcast. It's always a challenge for that first episode because we don't really know these players yet, and there are so few major moves being made this early in the game. I have a feeling it's going to get even better as the moves start being made.
Watch new episodes of Survivor 48 on CBS and Paramount+ every Wednesday night. New episodes of the On Fire with Jeff Probst podcast are released following each new episode.