i just saw an interview with Sophie.

The plan was Rizzo went out with fie, Savannah got 5th, and Sophie won. That was the story they were going to tell.

Sophie found out that some of the cast on 50 found out the result. she called savannah while she was at the airport to tell her she can't lie.

rhutton125 said:

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I didn't realize how much I liked Kyle until he handled that injury like a pro, just positive and sure that the team will be ok, don't pull him from the challenge, we'll figure it out.

I think after 49 seasons he's the only winner I can think of that hits ALL the qualities you'd want in a player. Strong, smart, strategic, good at building relationships, doesn't lose the forest for the trees. Clearly he's likable enough for everyone to want to work with him (again). He's kind of the total package.

Dee, Genevieve, etc. are clear(er) threats because they were devious, but of the 3 winners on this cast, he's the one you probably least want to go to the final tribal with.

I guess what I'm saying is if you fast forward to season 70, I could have easily seen Kyle being a 2-time (or 3-time?!) winner by then if given the opportunities. Tough break for a good dude.

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What's particularly crazy about his injury is that he was already on top for the puzzle. Colby stayed to help everyone up but he couldn't get himself up. So Kyle jumped down to help Colby up but then Kyle tried three times to get up and couldn't, the 3rd time injuring himself. And the fall we saw wasn't even the one he injured himself on, it just looked crazier than the one that tore his tendon.

agsquirrel97 said:

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CK, is it worth a separate thread just to post PickEm rules and weekly points?

I'd be down for that so it is easier to find. Hopefully chatter holds strong all season on this thread. Seems to be much more interest vs previous seasons

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I always post it within 1-2 hours of the episode ending, so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

It's a travishamockery there's no On Fire podcast for this season.

Dang! I wonder why. I haven't listened in a few years but they were pretty consistent with it.

HTownAg98 said:

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It's a travishamockery there's no On Fire podcast for this season.

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yeah o wonder what the hell happened there

Saxsoon said:

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HTownAg98 said:

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It's a travishamockery there's no On Fire podcast for this season.

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yeah o wonder what the hell happened there

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I was really bummed as well. That was my go-to podcast for Thursday morning exercise. I had been looking for weeks to see who the guest would be and shocked when no podcast appeared. Finally saw this vague statement from Probst yesterday about them not wanting to "peel the cover back" for viewers this year since everything is up in the air until it's revealed on the show; I guess they thought they couldn't say too much on the pod.

Still feels like a major league slight/oversight to not announce beforehand that it wasn't going to be on.

https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/survivor-podcast-hiatus-season-50-jeff-probst-1236674959/

"'Survivor' 50 was designed as a celebration, and it features one of the most exciting game designs we've ever done," Probst said in a statement to Variety. "Because of that, we made a conscious decision not to immediately pull back the curtain while it was happening. We wanted fans to discover it on their own and experience it in real time. Then at the live finale, we'll have the opportunity to reflect on all parts of the season together."



Same article talks about the big audience (relatively speaking) for the Season 50 premiere

"Survivor" 50 premiered on Feb. 25 and averaged 5.06 million viewers over its three-hour debut the biggest same-day audience for Season 45's penultimate episode in December 2023. It became CBS' best Wednesday night performance since the Season 42 finale of "Survivor" in 2022.

The Survivor 50 premiere also ranked as the most-watched Survivor episode since December 13, 2013, with an audience up 26% since the Fall 2025 premiere of Survivor 49 and up 19% since the Spring 2025 premiere of Survivor 48.

It's weird it did so well. Southlake was surprised it was still on TV.

We are definitely getting returnee seasons after this ratings boost

Saxsoon said:

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We are definitely getting returnee seasons after this ratings boost

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I want a half-season gimmick where team physical challenges are on Jonathan vs an entire other tribe

I was telling my husband (he doesn't watch the show) after watching episode 1, that it felt more like the early seasons, where you only had "strong" players. It was so much more entertaining than watching the newer seasons with weak players splattered in. Maybe the powers that be will take notice, but I won't hold my breath.

CoolaidWade said:

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I can't believe this thing has been on for 50 years.

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It hasn't. They must have pushed out multiple seasons a year a few times.

2000 was the first.

time to pour one out for season 1 and watch the honeymoon tape

Crazy how quickly the show went downhill after the old casting director was let go. This season already feels like a return to former glory. There are enough actual entertaining personalities to carry this thing.

We will know way more after the next episode but could we be seeing a new era alliance vs old era - possibly pregamed ahead of time - where the newer folks have planned to get the older season folks out first - because they feel the game has "evolved" and they are the better players? Jenna first, look for Colby, Ozzy, or Cirie next?

Where is the line drawn when the reference new era - is it when it went to 29 days instead of 39 and when they quit moving locations?