It’s common practice for shows like Survivor to cast alternates who are prepared to take someone’s spot if someone backs out between casting and the beginning of filming.
For Survivor 49, two alternates joined the fray and host Jeff Probst explained why with a pointed warning at future players.
“What I can say about the reason we made the move is this,” he told Entertainment Weekly in a story published Thursday, August 21. “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.”
“Just because we tell you you’re on the show — until the game begins, you’re not on the show,” he added.
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CBS released the cast for Survivor 49 on Wednesday, just over a month before the season premiere. The 18 new castaways include Jason Treul and Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu, who were previously brought to Fiji as alternates.
The players they replaced appear to have begun playing the game before the game started, according to Entertainment Weekly. Before the season begins, players are sequestered at “Ponderosa,” where they may cross paths with each other, but are not allowed to speak or communicate in any way.
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“Typically, we bring alternates in case somebody gets sick or has a panic attack and can’t begin the game,” Probst, 63, continued. “That’s very, very, very rare there. But regardless why we brought them there initially, they are also there to serve as a reminder that we do put a lot of importance on the integrity of the game, and we won’t let anything or any person put that in jeopardy.”
That’s not to say the show doesn’t view alternates as capable players. As Probst explained, they are brought on because they are good fits for the cast and are often invited back as actual players for a subsequent season. Survivor 47 winner Rachel Lamont is a famous example after being an alternate for season 46.
“Casting on Survivor is never static,” Probst said. ”It’s always alive. It’s always in motion right up until the game begins. And typically, we bring 18 players to Fiji and we bring two alternates just in case something unexpected happens. 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.”
Survivor 49 premieres on CBS Wednesday, September 24, at 8 p.m. ET.
