***** SURVIVOR 50: Come on in, guys! THREAD *****

CharleyKerfeld

10:30a, 1/21/26

Entertainment Weekly has done a giant spread on the 50th season which starts on February 25 complete with this lovely spinning shot of the entire cast on the beach that unfortunately I can't embed.

https://ew.com/survivor-50-exclusive-all-access-first-look-cover-story-11879057

The obvious alliance that I want for selfish reasons is Savannah and Dee. Clearly the producers agree based on these photos.

Photos of everyone on the beach:
https://ew.com/first-survivor-50-photos-exclusive-cast-gallery-fiji-11879835

To lead up to the show and help you remember who some of these people are, they are also airing 10 classic episodes - haven't said which ones yet - but the dates are:

Monday, Feb 9, and Tuesday, Feb 10 (8:00 9:00 pm)
Wednesday, Feb 11, and Thursday, Feb 12 (8:00 10:00 pm)
Friday, Feb 13, Monday, Feb 16, and Tuesday, Feb 17 (8:00 9:00 pm)
Wednesday, Feb 19, Thursday, Feb 20, and Friday, Feb 21 (8:00 9:30 pm)

Finally, the most important part of Survivor - the TexAgs pickem game. I'm thinking of expanding the # of picks at the start of the show from 4 to 5 or 6 since there are 24 contestants, and so we all aren't picking the same people.
I'm waiting until we're a little closer to the season to pick all the categories. Since the big theme is "in the hand of the fans" I'm trying to get some indicators on what's in the game and what isn't. If there aren't going to be a lot of hidden immunities and advantages, I'd like to know ahead of time.

Any and all suggestions for categories for the pickem are highly encouraged in this thread.

double aught

12:52p, 1/21/26

Good thread title.

Southlake

5:28p, 1/21/26

Wow, we used to be big fans. I actually thought it was off the air

CharleyKerfeld

9:43p, 1/21/26

In reply to Southlake

Southlake said:
Wow, we used to be big fans. I actually thought it was off the air

You said almost the exact same thing 11 months ago. You might want to go see some sort of cognitive degeneration specialist.
https://texags.com/forums/13/topics/3529978

Big Al 1992

10:23p, 1/21/26

50 seasons x like 20-24 contestants each time, then excluding repeats, that's still like over 1000 contestants Jeff has interacted with.

Johnsy3

12:11p, 1/22/26

"Come on in, guys"

HTownAg98

4:22p, 1/22/26

For the game, I'd be totally fine if we want to add some categories after the first episode to better reflect the game, with the caveat being that it's a rule going forward; you can't suggest a rule and then get points from the previous episode for that.

CoolaidWade

5:12p, 1/22/26

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

CharleyKerfeld

5:20p, 1/22/26

50 seasons of Probst by Vanity Fair

CharleyKerfeld

5:31p, 1/22/26

Also - Probst has confirmed the return of the live finale for season 50.

The Survivor 50 live post-finale reunion will happen on May 20 in Los Angeles.

According to Paramount, the special live event will be "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans to witness the epic conclusion and be part of this milestone season."

And a game you can play to find a hidden immunity idol in your state. I'm sure that will be easy.
https://www.survivor50challenge.com/coming-soon

double aught

7:55p, 1/22/26

In reply to CharleyKerfeld

CharleyKerfeld said:
50 seasons of Probst by Vanity Fair

"Pretty boy Probst" -Boston Rob

Southlake

11:42p, 1/22/26

In reply to CharleyKerfeld

CharleyKerfeld said:
Southlake said:
Wow, we used to be big fans. I actually thought it was off the air

You said almost the exact same thing 11 months ago. You might want to go see some sort of cognitive degeneration specialist.
https://texags.com/forums/13/topics/3529978

You really looked this up? Pretty creepy.

Heisenberg01

11:50p, 1/22/26

In reply to Southlake

Southlake said:
CharleyKerfeld said:
Southlake said:
Wow, we used to be big fans. I actually thought it was off the air

You said almost the exact same thing 11 months ago. You might want to go see some sort of cognitive degeneration specialist.
https://texags.com/forums/13/topics/3529978

You really looked this up? Pretty creepy.

Not as creepy as getting on every Survivor thread to make some weird flex that you've elevated yourself beyond watching such lowly television.

CharleyKerfeld

7:39a, 1/23/26

In reply to Southlake

Southlake said:
CharleyKerfeld said:
Southlake said:
Wow, we used to be big fans. I actually thought it was off the air

You said almost the exact same thing 11 months ago. You might want to go see some sort of cognitive degeneration specialist.
https://texags.com/forums/13/topics/3529978

You really looked this up? Pretty creepy.

I remembered someone saying something similar last year. I then used a website called google.com and searched "Southlake texags Survivor 49".
It took about 2 seconds to put the pieces together.
According to Google's results,y ou were also throwing a fit about the show in Season 42 and made a point of declaring that you wouldn't play that season's version of the Pickem game because you didn't like someone being transgender on the show.
To each their own.

Quinn

8:41a, 1/23/26

Im in!

HTownAg98

12:14p, 1/23/26

In reply to CoolaidWade

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

50 seasons, not 50 years. Two seasons per year, so roughly 25 years. Still, that's a hell of a run.

Murder Hornet

9:08p, 1/23/26

In reply to Johnsy3

Johnsy3 said:
"Come on in, guys"

Probst should still say this!! 2020 was dog****

BigGuyKy18

8:15p, 1/24/26

I've applied 4 times. Just hoping I'll somehow make the cut before they end the show

CharleyKerfeld

10:25a, 1/25/26

In reply to BigGuyKy18

BigGuyKy18 said:
I've applied 4 times. Just hoping I'll somehow make the cut before they end the show

Well you have to break the rules and post if you do make it.

I think my dad could have won it in the early seasons. Great swimmer, doesn't gossip, good at convincing people to do things his way.

I'd be sent home the first time there was a balance beam.

CharleyKerfeld

10:49a, 1/26/26

i gotta tell you, this got me in the feels a lot more than it probably should have.
Re-recording of Bowie's "Heroes" by Billy Joe Armstrong and his son.

I am not ashamed to admit I am all in on Coach this season.

Saxsoon

1:29p, 1/28/26

I am certain Mike White specifically requested to be paired with coach for more white lotus material

Colby and Genevieve on a tribe with Q and Rizzgod is going be a glorious descent into insanity

https://ew.com/survivor-50-official-cast-photos-bios-tribe-divisions-revealed-11891991

CharleyKerfeld

2:33p, 1/28/26

Jonathan and Mike White don't even look like they're the same species.

KCup17

4:41p, 1/28/26

This is the first time in a while I've been super excited for another season. I always love the game but some of the contestants have fallen flat for me in recent seasons.

Odds on Colby being first out?

Saxsoon

4:52p, 1/28/26

We likely will have several double eliminations, and I think we know the first elimination is definitely double

Dee would have a massive target on her back being regarded as the best winner of the new era and Kyle is not far behind her honestly. They are gonna have to rely heavily on their charisma

KCup17

7:20p, 1/28/26

This is the hands of the fans season isn't it? Where we are going to see a bunch of whacky twists and turns?

CharleyKerfeld

8:28p, 1/28/26

The unofficial Survivor FB/IG page had its followers vote on the same categories that actual fans got to vote on via CBS.

These were the results of UNOFFICIAL voting done on social media.

Hidden idols: 87% yes
Advantages: There were 3 options - Strategic (48%), minimal (36%) and dynamic (16%).
Tribe switch: 87% yes
Remove Final 4 firemaking: 66% voted to remove it
Live finale: 91% voted yes
Give players rice: 62% said yes
What should the Final 4 challenge be: 40% said the "simotion" game with the balls going down the track, 34% aid a puzlzle, 26% said an obstacle course.
Give the camp supplies: 58% said yes
Twists - not sure what all that entails, but 63% said no twists

There were also aesthetics for what the buffs and the idol look like.
You can see all the results here: https://instagr.am/p/DJrxQUZSV-p

AggieJ2002

12:35a, 1/29/26

Can't believe we are at Survivor 50. I started watching with my family when I was in college and now my daughter is in college and this is one of the things we talk about when it is on the air. The memories of watching with my family through the years is definitely what makes the show special for me.

Saxsoon

7:33p, 1/29/26

Listening to Jenna Lewis' RHAP pre game interview. She is ruthless in her assessment of other players. She wants to adopt Rizzo and all the young men to be their mommy until she slits their throats (her words)

CharleyKerfeld

1:05p, 2/2/26

In reply to AggieJ2002

AggieJ2002 said:
Can't believe we are at Survivor 50. I started watching with my family when I was in college and now my daughter is in college and this is one of the things we talk about when it is on the air. The memories of watching with my family through the years is definitely what makes the show special for me.

I was 26 in 2000 when the first season aired. I will be double that age when Season 50 airs.

CharleyKerfeld

6:56a, 2/5/26

I was under the weather the other night and wound up watching this 20+ minute YouTube video with the highlights of the Heroes v. Villains season, which I highly recommend if you've got 20 minutes to waste - notables include JT getting himself voted out by giving Russell his idol when he thinks Russell is all alone on the villains tribe; Rob & Sandra mocking Coach's BS; Tyson telling a stunned Coach the things that other people think are stupid about him, and of course, prime Parvati (age 26) just being the most lethal thing ever on that island.

But the real highlight is that they had the old loved ones help you challenge and Colby just totally losing his **** when he thought his older brother Reed wasn't doing a good enough job. It really had me laughing.

Here's Colby and Reed

And 10 minutes of Coach getting mocked and destroyed by the real villains. Still love ya, Coach

CharleyKerfeld

1:16p, 2/10/26

The first flashback episode leading up to Season 50 was on last night, from Fans vs. Favorites in which Erik the Ice Cream Scooper repeatedly falls over his tongue while hot Amanda flirts with him over and over to the point that he takes her on a really fancy overnight reward challenge the night after she eviscerates him at tribal council, lies to the girl Natalie who I had forgotten about, and then is convinced to take off the immunity necklace an give it to Natalie.

Survivor 33 really knew what it was doing with the hot girl factor. Amanda moans her way through a massage wearing only a towel at the reward challenge and Parvati is shown laying on the beach getting a tan on the famed Exile Island.

Tonight is an episode about Coach. Promo below

Saxsoon

6:59p, 2/10/26

Fun idea for the pick em. We should choose a first boot from each tribe and get bonus points if you land it. We likely lose two the first night and probably will have each tribe lose at least one before a swap.

CharleyKerfeld

8:38p, 2/10/26

In reply to Saxsoon

Saxsoon said:
Fun idea for the pick em. We should choose a first boot from each tribe and get bonus points if you land it. We likely lose two the first night and probably will have each tribe lose at least one before a swap.

Good call!

Counterpoint

10:19p, 2/10/26

Love it, but how would we pick before the first episode? (Or have they already released what the tribes are)?

Saxsoon

10:42p, 2/10/26

In reply to Counterpoint

Counterpoint said:
Love it, but how would we pick before the first episode? (Or have they already released what the tribes are)?

They have released the tribes