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Survivor is the crown jewel of the CBS Network, but did you know it almost didn’t happen? That’s right, all the way back in 1994, Charlie Parsons created a survival reality show called Castaway and pitched it to the BBC. However, they rejected the idea, so Parsons took the idea to Sweden, where it aired as Expedition Robinson in 1997 and became an immediate hit. When American producer Mark Burnett watched the same, he thought it needed better production and more focus on human drama.

So, he reworked the concept and pitched it to several networks. After a year of multiple rejections, CBS finally said yes in 1999, and the result was Survivor: Borneo. This was the very first season of the show and was released in 2000. Hosted by Jeff Probst, the show became a massive hit, bringing in millions of viewers. Meanwhile, the BBC missed out on one of the biggest reality shows out there.

In honor of Survivor’s 25th anniversary on May 31, TVLine is spotlighting the most iconic, unforgettable moments from the series that helped redefine reality television. Today, we’re tackling Season 1’s groundbreaking final Tribal Council, including Sue Hawk’s infamous “snakes and rats” speech, which paved the way for Richard Hatch’s historic win. Stay tuned to TVLine later this week for additional coverage of the show’s biggest game-changing moments, emotional high points and more!

Twenty-five years ago on a small island in southeast Asia named Borneo, a “snake” devoured a “rat.”

More from TVLineSurvivor Turns 25: Season 3 Winner...

In more than two decades, many players have entered Survivor with different game plans and strategies. But only a few have managed to leave a lasting impression. While for most of the players, the show has played a major role in their popularity, but when it comes to Richard Hatch, his Survivor journey and time after the show has been quite contentious.

Jeff Probst in a still from Survivor | Credits: CBS Broadcasting

Apart from being one of the most controversial players out there, which sometimes even rubbed host Jeff Probst the wrong way. It was due to this that even he was left shocked when he actually won the very first season of the show.

Jeff Probst had different predictions for Survivor season 1 and Richard Hatch

Throughout its long run, Survivor has seen players from different parts of the world, each bringing their own unique personalities to the game. However,...

Sue Hawk’s speech at the Survivor final Tribal Council in 2000 became one of the most talked-about moments in the show’s history. As the jury voted, Sue addressed finalists, Richard Hatch and Kelly Wiglesworth, and shared her raw emotions about betrayal and trust. Instead of following tradition, she delivered a blunt message about the game and its players.

Richard Hatch in Survivor | Credits: CBS

She didn’t hold back, making sure to call out their actions and how they had affected her. To this day, it remains a defining moment in Survivor’s history, showing the intense emotions that can arise from the game.

How Sue Hawk’s iconic tribal council speech stunned millions

When Sue Hawk stepped up to deliver her speech at the final Tribal Council of Survivor: Borneo in 2000, no one could have predicted the unforgettable moment that was about to unfold. Her words, delivered with...

Survivor has long been raging as one of the best survival-based reality TV shows created to date, capturing global audiences with its immersive plotlines and never-ending adventures and drama. For decades, the show has been bringing about new contestants trying to survive while stranded on a remote island as they face challenging tasks to win the grand prize money.

Survivor. | Credits: CBS.

In the adventurous grim and toil of it all, there has also been the birth of quite a few iconic moments, like contestants unleashing venomous insults on their fellow cast members out of exhaustion and annoyance at it all. In fact, one such moment where the contestant did the same even had Jeff Probst realize that they may as well have just filmed a hit filled, with drama to the brim!

The Survivor moment that had Jeff Probst realize he had shot a hit

Survival is never easy,...

After dominating the competition episode after episode, the conclusion of Rachel Lamont's Survivor journey certainly had a happy ending, as the graphic designer was awarded the title of "Sole Survivor" and the million-dollar prize on Wednesday (Dec. 18).

For those who need a refresher, Rachel played a strong social, strategic, and physical game throughout Survivor 47, forming connections that allowed her to outlast Tribal Council after Tribal Council, as well as playing advantages that saved her during times of trouble. From a Hidden Immunity Idol to a Block-a-Vote Advantage, the Michigan native seemingly had it all.

To top it off, Rachel also had an impressive run of individual immunity wins, tying Kelly Wiglesworth, Jenna Morasca, Kim Spradlin, and Chrissy Hofbeck for the female record of four individual immunity wins in a single season. How iconic is that?

Via: Robert Voets/CBS

Because of her stellar gameplay all season long, the Survivor...

Over the course of its 44 seasons, Survivor has hosted hundreds of immunity challenges where individual players could win the opportunity to save themselves from elimination at tribal council. Since 2000 when the reality TV show began, 17 different contestants have won at least four immunity challenges. However, five of those castaways prevailed five times, a record that has never been broken. In our Survivor hall of fame gallery below, we spotlight those with the most immunity wins in a single season.

Despite four others winning just as many as he did, Colby Donaldson from Season 2 has bragging rights as not only the first player to win five times, but also the only one to do so consecutively. Like Kelly Wiglesworth before him, Colby played the game at a point in time where challenge wins were not held as in high regard as they were later, leaving him in runner-up position to a...

Warning: This post contains spoilers from “The Last Stand,” the season 47 finale of “Survivor,” which aired on Wednesday, December 18, on CBS.

“Survivor” 47 came to quite an end on Wednesday night — albeit a bit predictable for anyone who has been watching each week.

First came the final immunity challenge for Rachel Lamont, Sam Phalen, Sue Smey and Teeny Chirichillo, the final four. Despite being in an early lead, Sam failed to take home his first immunity win and Rachel, once again, earned the necklace. With that, she became one of now five women total over 46 seasons to have won four individual immunities in one season. While she was honored to join Jenna Morasca, Chrissy Hofbeck, Kim Spradlin-Wolfe and Kelly Wiglesworth, Rachel noted that she’s well aware Kelly and Chrissy made it to the finale and didn’t win.

Rachel revealed right away that she was bringing Sue to the final three,...

Heading into the 14th and final episode of Survivor 47, only four players remained in the running to win the $1 million prize: Rachel Lamont, Sam Phalen, Teeny Chirichillo, and Sue Smey. The night’s two-hour climax included one last immunity battle, a fire-making challenge, and a final tribal council in which the jurors voted for the winner. So how did it all play out on Wednesday night?

Below, read our minute-by-minute Survivor 47 finale recap/live blog of “The Last Stand” to find out what happened on Dec. 18, 2024, at 8/7c. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite castaways on CBS’s reality TV show, who annoys you the most, and what you think of this year’s addition to the Survivor winners list. Jeff Probst once again hosts and produces the program.

See‘Survivor’ deaths: Full list of castaways we’ve lost

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Rachel, Sam, Sue and Teeny. Four castaways are left at the top of Survivor’s Season 47 finale. But who won the grand prize and the highly coveted bragging rights? Let’s get into it!

The episode jumps right into the very last immunity challenge, which looks like a doozy. Being the final challenge, the stakes couldn’t be higher. As we all know, the winner here will handpick who will join him or her in the Final 3, and which two players will face off in the often griped about fire-making challenge. (It’s me. I gripe.) There’s a muddy net crawl,...

Survivor 47 stands out as being the only season to have a two-part finale, with the first half revealing the exits of Andy Rueda and Genevieve Mushaluk. This week, with only four players left — three women and one man — it’s entirely possible that we could have an all-female final three for the time since the 29th season, Survivor: San Juan del Sur.

Read on for our finale power rankings as we examine the individual odds for Rachel Lamont, Sam Phalen, Teeny Chirichillo, and Sue Smey and break down who might win the title of Sole Survivor and the $1 million prize. The final episode airs Wednesday, Dec. 18 on CBS.

4. Teeny — 18/5 odds to win

Teeny has been through the wringer in this game, having lately been on the wrong side of multiple votes and being too indecisive when the time counts. They are clearly the emotional underdog going into this finale and...

Since Survivor first premiered in the year 2000, fans of Jeff Probst's beloved reality show have been captivated by things like heartbreaking medical evacuations. Despite that, even new fans who are still figuring out which seasons to watch first will know that the best seasons have always been the ones with the greatest players. With that in mind, it has been fortunate that there have been so many great Survivor winners over the years.

During the 47th season of Survivor, there have been many great episodes and some that have felt unnecessarily negative. During Survivor 47 Episode 9, that mixed bag continued as one of the fan favorites was voted out, and another player showed the potential to be a great player and a fantastic winner.

Survivor 47's Genevieve Mushaluk May Be The Most Impressive Player Of The "New Era"

Since the so-called "new era" began with Survivor 41, there have been several truly great players.

When most Survivor fans think of the reality TV show, it is Jeff Probst that comes to mind first and foremost. However, once fans figure out which seasons to watch first, they will realize that it is the show's players that make some seasons better than others. For that reason, it is always a shame when Survivor players get medically evacuated for whatever reason.

Considering how important the players are to Survivor's success, it is fascinating to look at who the people who've appeared on the show are. One perfect example of that is the fact that it is interesting to look at who the oldest people to ever play Survivor have been.

Rudy Boesch Was Survivor's Oldest Player Ever... Twice

Over time, Survivor became a more youth-oriented show. However, when the show's first season was still airing, the show's producers clearly were still figuring out what Survivor...

Fans debate best Survivor seasons, forgetting early firsts like Sonja Christopher, the first voted out player in history. Sonja embraced being the first voted out, found joy in her Survivor experience and lived a remarkable life before passing. Sonja's legacy includes kindness, selflessness, and donating Survivor earnings to a church building fund.

Now that Jeff Probst has been hosting Survivor for decades, many fans have forgotten things from the show's first seasons. Instead, many fans spend their time debating which seasons are the best and which seasons new fans should watch first.

Since many Survivor fans have forgotten about the earlier seasons, they don't know what happened to the first player who was medically evacuated. Most of those same fans have no idea what happened to the first Survivor player who was ever voted out.

Survivor's First Player Voted Out, Sonja Christopher, Led A Remarkable Life Before She Passed...

Jerry Sims broke Survivor's cardinal rule by eating uncooked beans, causing severe gastrointestinal distress. Sims' health issue made him a target for elimination, leading to his 14th place finish. Despite leaving early, Sims considers his Survivor acceptance a great achievement and has no regrets.

'Survivor,' the ultimate game of wit and courage, has been a staple of reality TV for years, drawing in contestants like Jerry Sims who are ready to tackle grueling challenges, fierce competition, and the constant threat of betrayal. These castaways have to navigate tricky alliances and use smart strategies, all hoping to be the Sole Survivor and win the $1 million prize.

Jerry Sims, however, had a major health scare after accidentally breaking one of the show's cardinal rules. His ordeal highlights the real dangers of Survivor, much like when Jeff Probst almost lost his life, underscoring the importance of following the safety guidelines.

The “Survivor 46” finale proved to be the end of the road for one of the messiest and most unpredictable seasons in recent memory. At the start of the night, five people still remained on the island: three from the original Siga tribe, one from the original Yanu tribe (Kenzie Petty), and one from the original Nami tribe (Liz Wilcox). So which castaway ended up a millionaire by the end of the three-hour episode?

Below, read our minute-by-minute “Survivor 46” finale recap/live blog of “Friends Going to War” to find out what happened on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. Et/Pt. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite castaways on CBS’s reality TV show, who annoys you the most and who you think will ultimately join the “Survivor” winners list and take home the $1 million grand prize.

See‘Survivor’ deaths: Full list...

Over the course of its 44 seasons, “Survivor” has hosted hundreds of immunity challenges where individual players could win the opportunity to save themselves from elimination at tribal council. Since 2000 when the reality TV show began, 15 different contestants have won at least four immunity challenges. However, five of those castaways prevailed five times, a record that has never been broken. In our “Survivor” gallery above, we spotlight those with the most immunity wins in a single season.

Despite four others winning just as many as he did, Colby Donaldson from Season 2 has bragging rights as not only the first player to win five times, but also the only one to do so consecutively. Like Kelly Wiglesworth before him, Colby played the game at a point in time where challenge wins were not held as in high regard as they were later, leaving him in runner-up position to a more social game-focused player in the final vote.

If you’re a longtime “Survivor” fan who frequently finds yourself reminiscing about the older seasons, you’re not alone. Now even host Jeff Probst is getting nostalgic. During the November 30 episode of “Survivor 43,” the Top 7 castaways competed in a classic immunity challenge in which they each had to hold their breath under a steel grate in the ocean as the high tide rolled in. Midway through the competition, Probst lamented, “That water is rising. Immunity on the line. This is old school ‘Survivor,’ back when we inflicted a little more pain. Nice to revisit some of our old haunts.”

On cue, a portion of Russ Landau‘s classic theme song from “Survivor” Season 1 was heard in the background, a perfect callback for diehard viewers of CBS’s reality TV show. Re-watch the original opening titles sequence below.

See ‘Survivor’ deaths: Full list of castaways we’ve lost

The new...

Over the course of the first 21 years and 41 seasons of “Survivor,” only one woman had won the first two individual immunity challenges of her season: Laura Morett in 2009’s “Survivor: Samoa.” Now, her long-standing record has been tied by Tori Meehan, who just claimed back-to-back victories in the first two individual immunity challenges of “Survivor 42.” Talk about girl power!

One caveat in mentioning this record is that Laura’s initial immunity win was actually awarded to the best performing male (John Fincher) and female (Laura) of that specific challenge. Tori didn’t have to share either of her two immunity necklaces, which puts her truly in a league of her own when it comes to making “Survivor” history.

See ‘Survivor’ deaths: Full list of castaways we’ve lost

Sure, there have been women that have won more than two immunity challenges within a single season — for example, Kelly Wiglesworth,...

Twenty-one years after “Survivor” Season 1 became a ratings juggernaut for CBS, runner-up Kelly Wiglesworth is speaking out about fan-fave castaway Rudy Boesch. Rudy passed away in 2019 at age 91 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. When EW recently asked Kelly about her biggest “Survivor” regret, she responded simply by saying, “Not giving the win to Rudy.”

Let’s recap. In Borneo’s final immunity challenge (watch above), Kelly, Rudy and Richard Hatch were tasked with holding their hands on the immunity idol for as long as they could. Richard voluntarily gave up after two and a half hours, and then Rudy accidentally let go after the four-hour mark, resulting in a victory for the then-22-year-old river guide. Kelly then solely got to choose whom to eliminate (Rudy) and whom to bring to the final two (Richard). At the final tribal council, the jury voted Richard as the winner of...

Throughout the years, fans have experienced many memorable moments watching The Amazing Race. There's an excitement in meeting 11 new teams that, once again, will race across the world in a journey of a lifetime, competing for $1 million. But before the multiple detours and roadblocks is the question: who to chose as a teammate? Foes, family, strangers, and friends have risen to the occasion, but not all of them prevail. There are multiple TV shows and reality shows that can be quickly associated with unforgettable BFFs, and sometimes there are competitors who exemplify the iconic quote from Survivor's Kelly Wiglesworth: "I'm not here to make friends."

Related: Survivor: 5 Reasons Why Richard Deserved to Win The First Season (& 5 Why Kelly Should've)

Friends are the family we choose. True friendships require communication, strength, and will, which are easily the same traits that a team on The Amazing Race would need. However, there...

Back in 2000, sixteen castaways found themselves marooned on an island and split into two tribes. They were forced to work together and vote each other out in order to claim the one million dollar prize at the end. However, they were given no instructions on how to play the game and had to make the rules as they went along.

Related: Survivor: 10 Old Players We Would Love To See Return

In the first season of Survivor, many castaways kept to their morals and voted for castaways they deemed least deserving, while others formed an alliance to protect themselves and each other from the vote. Ultimately, the final two came down to Richard Hatch and Kelly Wiglesworth. While Richard ended up claiming the prize in a 4-3 jury vote, the finalists played vastly different games, both worthy of the win.

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since CBS censors had to pixelate Richard Hatch‘s naked body on “Survivor: Borneo”? The popular castaway walked around in his “birthday suit” to celebrate his 39th bday on the ninth episode of that iconic first season, which aired July 26, 2000. Watch the “Survivor” flashback video above. It’s since become one of the most well-known and controversial moments throughout the reality TV show’s 40 seasons, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment.

There were only eight castaways left in the merged Rattana tribe when Richard celebrated his birthday sans clothing: original Tagi members Richard, Kelly Wiglesworth, Rudy Boesch, Susan Hawk and Sean Kenniff and original Pagong members Jenna Lewis, Gervase Peterson and Colleen Haskell. Richard of course would eventually go on to win the show’s first-ever $1 million check (see the winners list).

See Sonja Christopher still a ‘Survivor...

Original “Survivor” castaway Jenna Lewis didn’t hold back when asked by EW.com if she would ever want to play again. “F— Yes!” she exclaimed. Jenna appeared on “Borneo” (Season 1) and “All Stars” (Season 8), but hasn’t been seen since, despite repeatedly being on producers’ shortlists over the past 16 years. “I have been contacted so many times, it’s like CBS is my own personal d— tease,” she joked. “This last time I had signed over 100 pages of documents and gone for shots, and started the whole mental prep. Just do it already, Mark [Burnett] and [Jeff] Probst. Third time’s a charm.”

The concept of watching “Survivor” on TV now is starting to leave a bad taste in her mouth. Jenna readily admitted, “I am still butt-hurt at how many times Survivor Casting has called and had me on stand-by for a season, or had me in the ‘finals’ of casting,...

May 31, 2020 marked the 20-year anniversary of when a little show called “Survivor” first premiered on television. To mark the occasion, Sonja Christopher, now age 83, is breaking her silence on what it meant to be the first person ever voted off of CBS’s reality TV show. “Oh my God, what an experience!” she told Entertainment Weekly. “I’m so fortunate to have had it. And I’ve learned lessons about how to treat it, regard it, live with it, and go with the flow.” Watch a video retrospective of Sonja’s “Survivor” journey below.

As it turns out, Sonja is still a fan of the show after two decades and has some choice words for the winner of Season 40, Tony Vlachos. “He was such a loose cannon, it seemed,” she declared. “And his hiding in the tree almost seemed laughable. But it turns out apparently it worked for him!” She...

The coldness of backstabs and blindsides is what keeps many “Survivor” fans watching year after year. In a game that requires individuals to rely on each other, only to break promises to get to the end, personal betrayals are inevitable. We’ve been hooked on the backstabbing since Season 1, when Kelly Wiglesworth voted out her former ally, Sue Hawk, resulting in an epic jury speech from Sue about refusing to give her a drink of water if she sees her in the real world dying of thirst. Tour our photos above of the most devastating backstabbing moments in “Survivor” history.

See ‘Survivor 40’ advantages: Who currently has immunity idols, fire tokens in ‘Winners at War’?

Some of our favorite blindsides involved players outwitting each other and having some fun with it. One example includes James Clement in “Survivor: China” being voted out by his alliance with two hidden immunity idols in his pocket.

The coldness of backstabs and blindsides is what keeps many “Survivor” fans watching year after year. In a game that requires individuals to rely on each other, only to break promises to get to the end, personal betrayals are inevitable. We’ve been hooked on the backstabbing since Season 1, when Kelly Wiglesworth voted out her former ally, Sue Hawk, resulting in an epic jury speech from Sue about refusing to give her a drink of water if she sees her in the real world dying of thirst. Tour our photos below of the most devastating backstabbing moments in “Survivor” history.

In advance of this Wednesday’s two-hour premiere of “Survivor: Winners at War,” which starts at 8 p.m. Et/Pt. CBS aired last week a special look back titled “Survivor at 40.” Many of the flashbacks that were highlighted from past seasons featured more than a few standout castaways — including some of the 20 Sole Survivors who will be returning for the special anniversary edition of the show.

They ranged from devious Boston Rob Mariano proposing to wife-to-be Amber right before she was named the winner of Season 8 to nerdy fave favorite Christian Hubicki from Season 37 hanging on a narrow perch for dear life in the blazing sun for five hours just to prove he could win an individual immunity challenge.

See ‘Survivor’ spoiler: Yep, Edge of Extinction returns in ‘Winners at War’ — the agony!

But in our poll of “Survivor” fans, there was one clear standout from all of the past...

To whet the appetites of “Survivor” fans who are eagerly awaiting the start of “Winners at War” that pits 20 former champs of the show — 10 women and 10 men — against one another, CBS aired a retrospective in honor of the long-running reality show’s 40th season and 20th anniversary on Wednesday.

Basically, the show was both a highlight reel, a greatest hits showcase and a history lesson of how the show has evolved through the years. The special also served as a reminder of how some of these returning winners — who will be front and center when the premiere airs a two-hour episode on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt — added their own twists and innovations to the game. While the first Sole Survivor, Richard Hatch, was not invited back, he is seen during the special with Sue Hawk, Kelly Wiglesworth and Rudy Boesch as they form the first ever voting alliance.

“Survivor: Winners at War” officially kicks off Wednesday, February 12 on CBS, but on February 5 the network aired a retrospective special welcoming back the 20 returning champions. If you don’t know your Kims from your Dannis, or your Nicks from your Bens, then this hour-long recap special was just for you. Host Jeff Probst is back yet again for this landmark 40th season (because of course he is), with the contestants fighting for a cool $2 million instead of the paltry $1 million from years past.

See‘Survivor: Winners at War’ predictions video: Who will win? Who’ll be voted out first? [Watch]

Below, check out our minute-by-minute “Survivor: Winners at War” recap of Season 40, Episode 0, titled “Survivor at 40: Greatest Moments and Players,” to find out what happened Wednesday, February 5 at 8:00 p.m. Et/Pt. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite castaways on CBS’s...

Leave it to Jeff Probst, four-time Emmy-winning host of CBS’s “Survivor,” to perfectly state how the show’s fans are feeling after Rudy Boesch‘s death was announced this weekend. “The ‘Survivor’ family has lost a legend,” Probst tweeted about the fan-favorite contestant who died following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. “Rudy Boesch passed at the age of 91. He played in the first season of ‘Survivor’ at the age of 72. He is one is the most iconic and adored players of all time. And he served our country as a 45-year Navy Seal. Rudy is a true American hero.”

The Survivor family has lost a legend. Rudy Boesch passed at the age of 91.

He played in the first season of Survivor at the age of 72. He is one is the most iconic and adored players of all time.

And he served our country as a 45-year Navy Seal.

Rudy Boesch, a retired U.S. Navy Seal who was one of the first contestants to appear on Survivor, has died after battling Alzheimer’s disease, People reported Saturday. He was 91.

Boesch was 72 when he competed on the long-running CBS reality series in 2000. He joined the show’s first alliance, creating lasting friendships. Despite being significantly older than the other contestants, he finished in third place behind Kelly Wiglesworth and Richard Hatch.

Boesch became close to Hatch, who paid tribute to him Saturday on Twitter.

“Ours was an interesting bond, Dear Rudy! You and I helped open minds and undermine prejudices. While your time here has passed, you will remain loved and iconic, dear friend!” Hatch wrote.

Ours was an interesting bond, Dear Rudy! You and I helped open minds and undermine predjudces. While your time here has passed, you will remain loved and iconic, dear friend!

— Richard Hatch (@HatchRichard...

Rudy Boesch, a retired United States Navy Seal who competed in two seasons of CBS’ Survivor, has died at age 91 due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease, People reports.

Boesch was 72 years old when he began his Survivor career on the reality competition series’ very first season (aka Survivor: Borneo) in 2000. Despite being significantly older than his fellow competitors, Boesch proved that age isn’t everything, ultimately finishing in third place behind Kelly Wiglesworth and Richard Hatch.

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If “Survivor” fans finally get their wish of a long-rumored all-winners edition for Season 40 (due out in 2020), then the following five Male champs must be a part of the action, say our readers who voted in our recent poll. “Boston” Rob Mariano (Season 22) earned 15% of the vote, Yul Kwon (Season 13) also received 15%, Richard Hatch (Season 1) nabbed 12%, John Cochran (Season 26) scored 11% and Tony Vlachos (Season 28) netted 7%. Do you agree or disagree with your fellow “Survivor” fans? Be sure to sound off down in the comments section.

Rob has competed in no less than four seasons — “Marquesas,” “All Stars,” “Heroes vs. Villains” and “Redemption Island” — and will also be a part of the upcoming “Island of the Idols” as a mentor along with Sandra Diaz-Twine, who is one of the five Female winners who fans want to return. After years of coming up empty-handed, Rob finally took home the $1 million check on...

On the ninth episode of the 38th season of “Survivor,” host Jeff Probst dubbed the tribal council as one of the “craziest” ever as the remaining 11 castaways revealed secrets and shifted alliances in front of the cameras as paranoia and confusion reigned. That is until the majority decided to vote out Julia Carter, after her giggle outburst and acknowledgement that she was in league with veteran player Kelley Wentworth — maybe. Also not helping? Her shouting, “Shut up, Wardog!”

But I was less intrigued by the actual vote than returnee David Wright‘s new analogy about whether a player is a leader making big moves or a follower that will eventually be targeted. On the previous episode, David suggested that everyone has to decide if they want to be a pilot or a passenger in the game — with the pilots being winners.

Wardog picked up on that idea early in this week’s episode,...

Warning: The following story contains spoilers from the Season 37 finale of “Survivor.”

On December 19, 2018 Nick Wilson became the 37th winner of CBS’s reality TV show, joining such iconic champs as Richard Hatch (Season 1), Sandra Diaz-Twine (Season 7 and 20) and Wendell Holland (Season 36). In all 22 men have prevailed while women have accounted for 15 victories. For a refresher on the complete list, click through our photo gallery above that highlights all of the past “Survivor” winners through the years.

See ‘Survivor’ history: Which cast is the overall best in show’s 37 seasons? [Poll]

The show’s original champ made history in 2000 when he beat Kelly Wiglesworth by a narrow 4-3 vote thanks in part to Greg Buis asking them to pick a number between 1 and 10. After a memorable tribal council in which Sue Hawk called Richard a rat and Kelly a snake, novice host Jeff Probst named Richard as the first-ever Sole Survivor.

You know them. You love them. You’ll never forget them. Over the past 37 seasons hundreds of everyday people have played the game of “Survivor,” but while most of them came and went, some castaways will always stick in our minds. Click through our “Survivor” photo gallery above that ranks the Top 13 most beloved players of CBS’s reality TV show from worst to best.

SEENatalie Cole (‘Survivor’ 37) exit interview: ‘I have no regrets’ about not giving my jacket to ‘clueless’ Angelina Keeley

Sandra Diaz-Twine

There is no denying Sandra’s status as the most iconic and very best player to ever enter the game. After winning her first two times playing (she’s still the only player to win twice), Sandra returned for a third time and somehow managed to outlast each of the former winners in Game Changers as well as contributing to some of the most exciting tribal councils of that season.

Last spring Wendell Holland became the 36th winner of CBS’s reality TV show “Survivor,” joining such iconic champs as Richard Hatch (Season 1), Parvati Shallow (Season 16) and Sandra Diaz-Twine (Season 7 and 20). In all 21 men have prevailed while women have accounted for 15 victories. Click through our photo gallery above that highlights all of the past “Survivor” winners through the years. Who will be next? Make your predictions at Gold Derby right now.

See ‘Survivor: David vs. Goliath’ trailer: Season 37 teases biblical battle of ‘the underdog versus the favorite’ [Watch]

“Survivor: David vs. Goliath” premieres on September 26, 2018, once again hosted by four-time Emmy winner Jeff Probst. This 37th season features two tribes of strangers — one perceived as underdogs and one seen as giants in their fields — battling against each other in Mamanuca Islands, Fiji. This time around the castaways had to deal with Fiji’s rainy season, which no doubt made things more challenging both physically and mentally.

Season 36 of CBS’s long-running “Survivor” franchise, dubbed “Ghost Island,” will come to an end on Wednesday, May 23. Before the night is over one member of the Final 6 — Domenick Abbate, Wendell Holland, Laurel Johnson, Sebastian Noel, Donathan Hurley and Angela Perkins — will join the exclusive list of “Survivor” winners. For a refresher on all of the former champs, from Richard Hatch (“Survivor: Borneo”) to Ben Driebergen (“Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers”), click through our extensive photo gallery above.

See‘Survivor: Ghost Island’ finale odds: Domenick Abbate, Wendell Holland, Laurel Johnson in 3-way battle to win $1 million

Men have a slight edge over women on the “Survivor” winners list, with 20 male champs compared to 15 victories by females. Sandra Diaz-Twine is the only two-time winner in the show’s history, prevailing for “Survivor: Pearl Islands” and “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.” According to Gold Derby’s exclusive odds, another man will be...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and a member of the jury on Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance. He has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. Follow him on Twitter @stephenfishbach.

Erik Reichenbach is a former two time Survivor Fan/Favorite and Comic Book Artist. Follow him on Twitter: @ErikReichenb4ch.

“Winners keep fighting. Champions keep persevering.” — Bobby Jon Drinkard, Survivor: Palau

Tonight during the finale of Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, military vet Ben Driebergen won the million bucks, the title of Sole Survivor – and most importantly, the Final Fishy.

Survivor: Triple H was a season of records.

Survivor fans, prepare to see a new side — actually, let’s make that all sides — of Joe Anglim and Kelly Wiglesworth!

The fan-favorites have shared an exclusive (and semi-nsfw) behind-the-scenes video with People that shows them getting in touch with their primal selves as they stripped naked and donned body paint for their new reality project Mana.

Anglim and Wiglesworth enlisted the help of renowned body paint artist Paul Roustan to give them a tribal look as they posed in a jungle environment.

“Doing the body painting felt incredibly freeing,” Wiglesworth tells People. “It allowed us to tap into and become our true primal selves!

Two different generations of “Survivor” alums team up to launch a new reality television series. Joe Anglim, a favourite on the most recent series of “Survivor” and first season finalist Kelly Wiglesworth have a new project worlds away from scheming and backstabbing. Related: ‘Survivor’ Cast Evacuated For First Time Ever Due To Cyclone The two […]...

He's the most recent heartthrob of Survivor. She was a finalist during the show's iconic first season, when 51 million people watched the final episode. Together, Joe Anglim and Kelly Wiglesworth have a combined 119 days competing on the long-running reality show - but they're about to leave the scheming and the backstabbing behind. Anglim and Wiglesworth have a new reality project called Mana, a travel show that takes them around the world. They share the first trailer exclusively with People. So what separates Mana from other travel shows? For one thing, they'll be joined by Wiglesworth's 3-year-old son, Rio, who is already a seasoned traveler.

He's the most recent heartthrob of Survivor. She was a finalist during the show's iconic first season, when 51 million people watched the final episode.

Together, Joe Anglim and Kelly Wiglesworth have a combined 119 days competing on the long-running reality show – but they're about to leave the scheming and the backstabbing behind.

Anglim and Wiglesworth have a new reality project called Mana, a travel show that takes them around the world. They share the first trailer exclusively with People.

So what separates Mana from other travel shows? For one thing, they'll be joined by Wiglesworth's 3-year-old son, Rio, who is already a seasoned traveler.

One of Survivor's all-time fan favorites is gearing up for a comeback - but this time, he left the island on his own terms. Joe Anglim, who competed on Worlds Apart and Second Chance - he was voted off both times after being perceived as a physical threat - just returned from two months shooting a new reality series in Maui alongside fellow competitor Kelly Wiglesworth. "We've been adventuring," Anglim, 27, said at Thursday's People VIP reception for the Hearts of Reality event in Orlando benefiting Give Kids the World. "We want to inspire people, we want to help people.

One of Survivor's all-time fan favorites is gearing up for a comeback – but this time, he left the island on his own terms.

Joe Anglim, who competed on Worlds Apart and Second Chance – he was voted off both times after being perceived as a physical threat – just returned from two months shooting a new reality series in Maui alongside fellow competitor Kelly Wiglesworth.

"We've been adventuring," Anglim, 27, said at Thursday's People VIP reception for the Hearts of Reality event in Orlando benefiting Give Kids the World. "We want to inspire people, we want to help people. It's a new type of TV.

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. This season, he has been blogging about his experiences in Cambodia as a competitor on Survivor: Second Chance. Follow Stephen on Twitter @stephenfishbach.

"Everyone has the knife and it's stab or get stabbed." –Joe Anglim, Survivor: Worlds Apart

Walking out of the game after the last Tribal Council, I had two major preoccupations.

First: I was coming to terms with the end of my own Survivor journey.

Second: I felt so guilty for Jeremy and my other allies that I...

Stephen Fishbach was the runner-up on Survivor: Tocantins and has been blogging about Survivor strategy for People since 2009. This season, he has been blogging about his experiences in Cambodia as a competitor on Survivor: Second Chance. Follow Stephen on Twitter @stephenfishbach.

"If it's a move that sends you home, at least you went out trying to make a move." –Ciera Eastin, Survivor: Blood vs. Water

"This game involves creating a lot of dynamic structures, and then working within those structures to advance yourself as best as you can." –Stephen Fishbach, Survivor: Tocantins

So what's it like getting voted out of Survivor?...

After all the rain the contestants have been dealing with on Survivor: Cambodia, Kelly Wiglesworth was probably a little relieved to be sent to the jury after last week's vote. Unfortunately, for everyone else, it doesn't look like it's letting up any time soon. Let's hope for their sake they can keep their heads in the game and persevere through it.

For those who weren't watching Survivor in 2000, it's hard to understand Kelly Wiglesworth's importance to the franchise – and to reality TV in general.

Back then, she was a 22-year-old whitewater rafting guide who truly thought that Survivor would be all about braving the elements. As Richard Hatch gleefully schemed his way through the game, Wiglesworth was conflicted about forming an alliance and voting out deserving players.

The result in 2000: one of the most complex, three-dimensional edits in Survivor history. (She's the one who coined the now-ubiquitous reality TV catchphrase "I'm not here to make friends," right before admitting...