Survivor 49 hasn't premiered yet, but it's already making history for all the wrong reasons.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jeff Probst revealed that, for the first time in the history of the show, two players were actually taken out of the running just 12 hours before filming started. The players were replaced by the two alternates.
Why were two Survivor 49 players removed before filming started?
If there's one thing about Survivor that fans (and new players) need to understand, it's that rules are not meant to be broken in Survivor.
Probst revealed to Entertainment Weekly that the players were kicked off the show because they were interacting with each other before filming started. That's a big no-no in Survivor. We didn't get specifics about what the players were doing, but it would have to be pretty egregious for production to actually remove the players from the show. I would imagine that it was something to do with strategy or trying to form some type of bond before the show begins.
Here's what Probst told EW:
“What I can say about the reason we made the move is this. Survivor has rules and standards, and if a player crosses that line, we act. It’s one of the reasons we bring alternates, is to have our own insurance.”
He also added:
"And this season, something unexpected happened and we removed two players from the game and our two alternates — who thought they were there just as insurance knowing that most likely they would be invited back next year to play — were suddenly thrust into the game. It was a shock, for sure.”
For those who don't know, the Survivor cast heads out to Fiji a week or so before the game begins to get acclimated, learn the rules, do press, and prep for the game to start. While at Ponderosa and during the pre-game portion, the players are not allowed to speak to each other or interact at all. This is to preserve the agreement that all gameplay takes place inside the lines, so to speak, once cameras are rolling.
For as long as I can remember, Survivor brings alternates, at least two people, just in case something happens. Probs told EW that they do this " in case somebody gets sick or has a panic attack and can't begin the game."
After the two players who were part of the cast were removed, the two alternates stepped in just hours before the game started.
Jason and MC were the Survivor 49 cast alternates
CBS revealed the full Survivor 49 cast, and at the time, they didn't mention anything about the players who were alternates. EW reported that Jason Treul and Michelle "MC" Chukwujekwu were the two alternates who were added to the official cast less than a day before the game started.
That's such an awesome story. I literally can't imagine what that must have been like, sitting on the sidelines for a week, thinking that, especially so close to the game, you're about to catch the next flight back home. Then, all of a sudden, you are on the beach competing in a challenge. It has to feel like that Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt movie, Edge of Tomorrow. You just wake up in the middle of the action.
Survivor 49 has the most alternates in a season of Survivor ever
Not only did Survivor 49 make history for sending two players home and adding two alternates right before filming started, but it also has more former alternates than any season of Survivor ever.
In addition to MC and Jason, Sage Ahrens-Nichols and Sophie Segreti were also alternates who were sent home without playing on Survivor 47 and Survivor 48, respectively. So, that's four players who were alternates playing in Survivor 49. That's super fun!
Here's what Probst said about it:
"We have four alternates playing. When we tell you you're an alternate, we tell you what that means. It means we want you on the show. We just don't have a spot for you this season. And we really mean it."
Overall, alternates have performed pretty well on recent seasons of Survivor. Rachel LaMont, who won Survivor 47, was the alternate for Survivor 46. The other alternate from that season was Shauhin Davari of Survivor 48, who finished just outside of the Final Five that season. Honestly, if Kyle Fraser and Kamila Karthigesu don't blindside him, Shauhin probably makes the Final Three. I think he might have actually won. So, there's a good chance that Sage and Sophie could go far on Survivor 49.
Obviously, Jason and MC do not have the luxury of seeing how Survivor goes and getting a little bit comfortable knowing what to expect, a little bit, like Sage and Sophie. Jason and MC are going from the bleachers right into the game.
Once filming begins, it doesn't get better for the 18 players. Probst revealed Survivor 49 is one of the hottest seasons, temperature-wise, in the show's history, as well. Probst even revealed in an interview with Gold Derby that the heat caused some cognitive decline in the early stages before things cooled down late in the season.
It's going to be fascinating to see how the alternates get called into action and the heat in the first part of the game changes things. Luckily, we don't have to wait too long to find out what happens when Survivor 49 premieres on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Stay tuned for more news about Survivor 49!