Some Survivor players make an impression that isn’t the greatest. While Drew Basile of Survivor 45 previously revealed he wasn't interested in returning for Survivor 50, Drew has apparently changed his mind. And, now, he's campaigning for an invitation after a stint on Jeopardy: Tournament of Champions.
It makes sense that players from the last 10 seasons (and beyond) might want to return for this monumental season. Survivor 50 is going to be a huge deal. What’s interesting about Drew’s approach to trying to be part of the season is that now he’s talking about how he believes that CBS would be making the right choice by choosing him.
Here's what he told Entertainment Weekly about why CBS needs to pick him:
"I haven’t gotten the call, I don’t have any concrete information, but I think I would be a great pic. I think CBS would really benefit from picking me.”
My question is, how would CBS benefit from choosing Drew Basile for Survivor 50? What does he actually bring to the table as a former survivor player?
Drew isn't the player from Survivor 45 that we would choose for Survivor 50
According to him, it seems like he has the ability to “get mean” if needed. But is that what we even want to see in Survivor 50? Do we want mean people? That doesn’t necessarily mean that he plans to be a "mean" person, but I don’t think that’s the way we should be pitching ourselves for such an iconic season.
It’s also important to note that, as a player, he claimed to be one of the "smartest" people to play the game. He also blindsided his alliance to make it to the Final 6. It's not necessarily a negative in terms of overall gameplay as a viewer, but likely caused issues with those alliance members. We have seen how he plays the game, and maybe it’s me, but I wasn’t impressed enough to think he should be chosen for Survivor 50.
Honestly, I have to say that his pitch to be back for Survivor 50 feels cocky. Somehow, he still thinks he’s the greatest ever when there have been so many great players before and after him. I don’t think he was a terrible player, but I know that I did not enjoy watching him as a player. I don’t see what he has to offer that would make him a perfect addition to the season.
While he did hint that he has gotten offers for other reality shows, it doesn’t seem like he really knows what he wants to do next. Yes, he’s been on Jeopardy (and done well for himself on the show) and obviously he has done Survivor. But at this point, it’s not like he’s made such a big name for himself that we would be missing out by not having him on Survivor 50. If it weren’t for him taking part in Jeopardy I would’ve forgotten about Drew and his time on Survivor.
If I were to look at Survivor 45 for potential players for season 50, he’s not even close to the first person to come to mind. Players like Emily Flippen, Austin Coon, and Katurah Topps come to mind well before Drew. So while he thinks that he would be the right choice for CBS, I’m not so sure that he would be, at least not from his season.
Obviously, it is up to CBS to figure out who all will get to show that they have what it takes to Outwit, Outlast and Outplay them all for Survivor 50, but personally, I don't see Drew being one of those choice, or maybe I just hope he isn't.