Survivor.Photo: CBS
Survivorseason 45 is here.You read that right — the pioneering reality show first premiered in 2000, and since, has brought 44 gripping seasons ofcutthroat competitionsand wild outdoor moments, making household names out of many of its winners.As the latest season — filmed in Fiji again — drops on CBS on Sept. 27, 2023, take a look back on some of the most gripping moments in the series' history.
Survivorseason 45 is here.
You read that right — the pioneering reality show first premiered in 2000, and since, has brought 44 gripping seasons ofcutthroat competitionsand wild outdoor moments, making household names out of many of its winners.
As the latest season — filmed in Fiji again — drops on CBS on Sept. 27, 2023, take a look back on some of the most gripping moments in the series' history.
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The First Cast
Survivor Season 1 Cast.CBS
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Sue Hawk’s Blistering Speech
Sue Hawk on Survivor.CBS
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Mike Skupins' Serious Injury
Survivor: Australia.CBS
04of 23Survivor Visits AfricaSurvivor: Africa.CBSSet in Kenya’s Shaba National Reserve,Survivor: Africawas the harshest locale yet: contestants drank stagnant water filled with elephant dung and cowered as lions roamed next to their camp’s fence. There was controversy: a disputed question during a quiz-based immunity challenge may have cost farmer Tom Buchanan the game. But once likable soccer coach Ethan Zohn walked away with the $1 million, all was forgiven.
04of 23
Survivor Visits Africa
Survivor: Africa.CBS
Set in Kenya’s Shaba National Reserve,Survivor: Africawas the harshest locale yet: contestants drank stagnant water filled with elephant dung and cowered as lions roamed next to their camp’s fence. There was controversy: a disputed question during a quiz-based immunity challenge may have cost farmer Tom Buchanan the game. But once likable soccer coach Ethan Zohn walked away with the $1 million, all was forgiven.
05of 23Sex Appeal in the AmazonSurvivor Battle of the Sexes.CBSThe sixth season in the Amazon was a battle of the sexes, with women and men on opposite tribes. Cliques soon began to form. “The cuter girls kinda went off from the older women because we’re younger, and we’re cuter, and we’ve got better bodies,” said Heidi Strobel (center), “and for some reason, that’s, like, a huge issue with older people.” Later, Strobel and eventual winner Jenna Morasca (left) stripped naked during a challenge in exchange for some chocolate and peanut butter.
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Sex Appeal in the Amazon
Survivor Battle of the Sexes.CBS
The sixth season in the Amazon was a battle of the sexes, with women and men on opposite tribes. Cliques soon began to form. “The cuter girls kinda went off from the older women because we’re younger, and we’re cuter, and we’ve got better bodies,” said Heidi Strobel (center), “and for some reason, that’s, like, a huge issue with older people.” Later, Strobel and eventual winner Jenna Morasca (left) stripped naked during a challenge in exchange for some chocolate and peanut butter.
06of 23Rupert & Johnny Fairplay’s AnticsSurvivor: Pearl Islands.CBSSurvivor: Pearl Islandsboasted some of the most memorable contestants in the game’s history. Rupert Boneham (left) made a splash in the first episode when he stole the opposing tribe’s shoes and sold them in a Panamanian market. Johnny Fairplay (second from right) made up a lie about his grandmother’s death. Neither tactic completely worked: it was sassy mom Sandra Diaz-Twine who cussed her way to the prize.
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Rupert & Johnny Fairplay’s Antics
Survivor: Pearl Islands.CBS
Survivor: Pearl Islandsboasted some of the most memorable contestants in the game’s history. Rupert Boneham (left) made a splash in the first episode when he stole the opposing tribe’s shoes and sold them in a Panamanian market. Johnny Fairplay (second from right) made up a lie about his grandmother’s death. Neither tactic completely worked: it was sassy mom Sandra Diaz-Twine who cussed her way to the prize.
07of 23The All-Stars ReturnSurvivor All-Stars.CBSSurvivorbecame a twice-in-a-lifetime experience for 18 contestants during its first all-star season. It soon got ugly: Sue Hawk accused a naked Richard Hatch of rubbing up against her during a challenge. “I was violated, humiliated, dehumanized and totally spent, Jeff,” she screamed at the host as she quit the game. Later, ‘Boston Rob’ Mariano adopted a Godfather role, voting off allies – and losing longtime friends in the process.
07of 23
The All-Stars Return
Survivor All-Stars.CBS
Survivorbecame a twice-in-a-lifetime experience for 18 contestants during its first all-star season. It soon got ugly: Sue Hawk accused a naked Richard Hatch of rubbing up against her during a challenge. “I was violated, humiliated, dehumanized and totally spent, Jeff,” she screamed at the host as she quit the game. Later, ‘Boston Rob’ Mariano adopted a Godfather role, voting off allies – and losing longtime friends in the process.
08of 23Survivor’s Love ConnectionRob and Amber of Survivor.CBSWas itSurvivororThe Bachelor?Rob Mariano fell in love with fellow contestant (and eventual winner) Amber Brkich and proposed to her during the 2004 finale. What seemed like a showmance turned out to be true love: they’ve been married for more than 15 years and have four daughters.
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Survivor’s Love Connection
Rob and Amber of Survivor.CBS
Was itSurvivororThe Bachelor?Rob Mariano fell in love with fellow contestant (and eventual winner) Amber Brkich and proposed to her during the 2004 finale. What seemed like a showmance turned out to be true love: they’ve been married for more than 15 years and have four daughters.
09of 23
The Tribe of One
Season 10 of Survivor.CBS
10of 23An Outnumbered Foursome Fights BackSurvivor: Cook Islands.CBSSurvivor: Cook Islandscourted controversy, splitting four tribes along racial lines: White, Black, Hispanic and Asian. (Fearing reprisals, several corporate sponsors backed out of the season.) After several twists, the tight foursome of Yul, Ozzy, Becky and Sundra found themselves pitted against a tribe of eight – and beat them all. The controversy was forgotten when cerebral Yul Kwon won the game.
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An Outnumbered Foursome Fights Back
Survivor: Cook Islands.CBS
Survivor: Cook Islandscourted controversy, splitting four tribes along racial lines: White, Black, Hispanic and Asian. (Fearing reprisals, several corporate sponsors backed out of the season.) After several twists, the tight foursome of Yul, Ozzy, Becky and Sundra found themselves pitted against a tribe of eight – and beat them all. The controversy was forgotten when cerebral Yul Kwon won the game.
11of 23The Femme Fatales Run the GameSurvivor Fans vs. Favorites.CBSTenSurvivorsuperfans squared off against 10 returning favorites in Micronesia, but in the end it turned into a battle of the sexes. After Natalie, Parvati, Cirie and Amanda convinced Erik Reichenbach to give up his immunity, they promptly voted him off. It seemed like master strategist Cirie Fields would walk away with the game, but a last-minute twist caused her to leave in third place, paving the way for man-eater Parvati Shallow to emerge victorious.
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The Femme Fatales Run the Game
Survivor Fans vs. Favorites.CBS
TenSurvivorsuperfans squared off against 10 returning favorites in Micronesia, but in the end it turned into a battle of the sexes. After Natalie, Parvati, Cirie and Amanda convinced Erik Reichenbach to give up his immunity, they promptly voted him off. It seemed like master strategist Cirie Fields would walk away with the game, but a last-minute twist caused her to leave in third place, paving the way for man-eater Parvati Shallow to emerge victorious.
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Survivor’s Supervillain
Russell Hantz on Survivor.CBS
13of 23
Heroes vs. Villains: The A-List Returns
Survivor Heroes vs. Villains.CBS
14of 23Lisa Whelchel: An ’80s Star ResurfacesLisa Whelchel on Survivor.CBSOther notables had playedSurvivor: NFL quarterback Gary Hogeboom in Guatemala and two-time Super Bowl winning coach Jimmy Johnson in Nicaragua.Survivor: Philippineshad former MLB player Jeff Kent, but also boasted a new type of celebrity: ’80s icon Lisa Whelchel. The formerFacts of Lifestar – and committed Christian – struggled with the game’s deceit, yet managed a second-place finish. (Sex therapist Denise Stapley easily won the season.) During a family visit, Whelchel and her brother’s tight bond inspired Probst to consider a season where family members would compete against each other.
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Lisa Whelchel: An ’80s Star Resurfaces
Lisa Whelchel on Survivor.CBS
Other notables had playedSurvivor: NFL quarterback Gary Hogeboom in Guatemala and two-time Super Bowl winning coach Jimmy Johnson in Nicaragua.Survivor: Philippineshad former MLB player Jeff Kent, but also boasted a new type of celebrity: ’80s icon Lisa Whelchel. The formerFacts of Lifestar – and committed Christian – struggled with the game’s deceit, yet managed a second-place finish. (Sex therapist Denise Stapley easily won the season.) During a family visit, Whelchel and her brother’s tight bond inspired Probst to consider a season where family members would compete against each other.
15of 23Voting Out Your MomCiera Eastin on Survivor.CBSDuringSurvivor: Blood vs. Water, returning contestants were pitted against family. The challenges were often physical – a high point was watching brothers Aras and Vytas Baskauskas to square off in hand-to-hand combat. But the emotional toll of the game showed when newcomer Ciera Eastin voted off her own mother, Laura Morrett.
15of 23
Voting Out Your Mom
Ciera Eastin on Survivor.CBS
DuringSurvivor: Blood vs. Water, returning contestants were pitted against family. The challenges were often physical – a high point was watching brothers Aras and Vytas Baskauskas to square off in hand-to-hand combat. But the emotional toll of the game showed when newcomer Ciera Eastin voted off her own mother, Laura Morrett.
16of 23Tony Vlachos’s Aggressive GameTony Vlachos on Survivor.CBSHis lies were blatant. His backstabbing was epic. He built a “spy shack” so he could eavesdrop on other contestants. But improbably – shockingly – Tony Vlachos got away with it all and decisively wonSurvivor: Cagayan. “He was so far ahead of everyone else in strategy that no one could touch him,” says host Jeff Probst, “He was a fantastic contestant.”
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Tony Vlachos’s Aggressive Game
Tony Vlachos on Survivor.CBS
His lies were blatant. His backstabbing was epic. He built a “spy shack” so he could eavesdrop on other contestants. But improbably – shockingly – Tony Vlachos got away with it all and decisively wonSurvivor: Cagayan. “He was so far ahead of everyone else in strategy that no one could touch him,” says host Jeff Probst, “He was a fantastic contestant.”
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Survivor Turns 30!
Survivor’s Season 30 Cast.Monty Brinton/CBS
18of 23A Second Shot at the GameSurvivor’s Season 31 Cast.Monty Brinton/CBSFor the show’s 31st season,Survivortried something new. Before the season began, America was presented with a list of potential players, and chose 20 of them to play the game. The criteria: each of them had only played once before, and none of them had won. The result: an eclectic cast — including PEOPLE’s Stephen Fishbach — who played an exceptionally hard game.
18of 23
A Second Shot at the Game
Survivor’s Season 31 Cast.Monty Brinton/CBS
For the show’s 31st season,Survivortried something new. Before the season began, America was presented with a list of potential players, and chose 20 of them to play the game. The criteria: each of them had only played once before, and none of them had won. The result: an eclectic cast — including PEOPLE’s Stephen Fishbach — who played an exceptionally hard game.
19of 23A Shocking OutingJeff Varner and Zeke Smith on Survivor.Robert Voets/CBS via Getty; Monty Brinton/CBS via GettySurvivormade international news in its 34th season, largely due to an unfortunate incident that sparked a larger conversation. When contestant Jeff Varner found his back against the wall inSurvivor: Game Changers, he outed fellow contestant Zeke Smith as being transgender. The fallout was instant, and Varner found himself out of the game. When the episode aired, Varner lost his day job as a realtor and found himself the recipient of death threats. He later apologized for the incident.
19of 23
A Shocking Outing
Jeff Varner and Zeke Smith on Survivor.Robert Voets/CBS via Getty; Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty
Survivormade international news in its 34th season, largely due to an unfortunate incident that sparked a larger conversation. When contestant Jeff Varner found his back against the wall inSurvivor: Game Changers, he outed fellow contestant Zeke Smith as being transgender. The fallout was instant, and Varner found himself out of the game. When the episode aired, Varner lost his day job as a realtor and found himself the recipient of death threats. He later apologized for the incident.
20of 23An Unexpected WinChris Underwood on Survivor.Timothy Kuratek/CBS/GettySurvivorchanged things up for its 38th season, entitledSurvivor: Edge of Extinction.This season allowed ousted contestants to live on a desolate island with a chance of returning to the game. On Day 36, Chris Underwood won his way back, despite being the third boot. He won the $1 million after spending just 11 days playing the game, sparking howls of protest across the Internet. It’s unclear whether host Jeff Probst was happy with the win, but the Edge of Extinction won’t return in following seasons.
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An Unexpected Win
Chris Underwood on Survivor.Timothy Kuratek/CBS/Getty
Survivorchanged things up for its 38th season, entitledSurvivor: Edge of Extinction.This season allowed ousted contestants to live on a desolate island with a chance of returning to the game. On Day 36, Chris Underwood won his way back, despite being the third boot. He won the $1 million after spending just 11 days playing the game, sparking howls of protest across the Internet. It’s unclear whether host Jeff Probst was happy with the win, but the Edge of Extinction won’t return in following seasons.
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An Ugly Controversy
Kellee Kim and Dan Spilo.Robert Voets/CBS (2)
22of 23Winners at War!Survivor Season 40 Cast.Robert Voets/CBS via GettyFor the show’s 40th season, 20 previous victors entered the arena once again – and proved why they had won their previous games. A lot had transpired in 20 years: most of the contestants were now parents in their 30s and 40s. After an adrenaline-fueled season, police officer Tony Vlachos won the game, becomingSurvivor’ssecond two-time winner.
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Winners at War!
Survivor Season 40 Cast.Robert Voets/CBS via Getty
For the show’s 40th season, 20 previous victors entered the arena once again – and proved why they had won their previous games. A lot had transpired in 20 years: most of the contestants were now parents in their 30s and 40s. After an adrenaline-fueled season, police officer Tony Vlachos won the game, becomingSurvivor’ssecond two-time winner.
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The Future of ‘Survivor’
Survivor has historically filmed two seasons per year, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the filming of Seasons 41 and 42. As the pandemic eased, the cast returned to Fiji to film both seasons, staying in the tropical local for the next three, as well.
Season 45 premieres on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 8 p.m. ET — and in a change from previous seasons, will have 90-minute episodes this year.
source: people.com
