Survivor: Winners at War
| Survivor: Winners at War | |
|---|---|
| Season 40 | |
| File:Survivor Winners at War logo.png | |
| Presented by | Jeff Probst |
| No. of days | 39 |
| No. of castaways | 20 |
| Location | Mamanuca Islands, Fiji |
| No. of episodes | 1 |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | February 12, 2020 – present |
| Additional information | |
| Filming dates | May 22 – June 29, 2019[1] |
| Season chronology | |
Survivor: Winners at War is the fortieth season of the American competitive reality television series Survivor, that airs on CBS in the United States and Global in Canada. The season filmed in May–June 2019 and will feature twenty returning winners from previous Survivor seasons to celebrate the show's twentieth anniversary. It premiered on February 12, 2020.[2] This will be the eighth consecutive season (a record ninth overall) to be filmed in Fiji, the thirteenth season to feature returning players, and the fifth season to feature only returning players. Edge of Extinction, a twist first introduced in the show's thirty-eighth season, returned for this season.
The season was preceded by a retrospective special titled Survivor at 40: Greatest Moments and Players on February 5, which featured interviews with past players and series highlights, as well as the first few minutes of the premiere episode.[3]
Production
The season's theme and players were announced at the finale of Survivor: Island of the Idols on December 18, 2019, revealing that the season would consist of twenty winners from past Survivor seasons. The winner will receive two million dollars, making it the largest prize ever given out on any version of Survivor, and its largest for an American reality TV program since The X Factor.[4] Probst stated that having a season of returning winners and a larger prize came from CBS president Kelly Kahl who had been a proponent for the show at the network from near its start. Kahl had spoken to Probst and the Survivor production team about making this 40th season special with the format and larger prize. The returning survivors were not told of the larger prize until Probst met them on the beach at the start of filming. According to Entertainment Weekly's Dalton Ross, of the players he had interviewed prior to the start of filming for Winners at War, only Ethan Zohn had guessed there might have been a larger prize for this season.[5] The show's typical payouts for non-winners were higher for this season: whereas in previous seasons the first place out received a US$5,000 payment with an escalating scale, each returning winner in Winners at War was assured a minimum US$25,000 payment for participating in the season, as well as the standard US$10,000 for participation in the finale.[6]
All but two of the challenges during the season were based on previous challenges that at least one of the winners had participated in. While this had been done before in Survivor: Cambodia and Survivor: Game Changers, Probst stated that they will not draw attention to whom had done previous challenges unless there had been a major event involving it from a prior season.[7]
The Edge of Extinction gameplay element from Survivor: Edge of Extinction will return for Winners at War, in which eliminated players, instead of completely leaving the game, can opt to be taken to a different island, the Edge of Extinction, where they must continue to survive until a point in the game where those players are given a challenge to allow one of them to return to the game, the rest either forced to return to the island or wholly eliminated from the game. This was added as to assure all returning players a possible second chance to get back into the game, a concern that had been raised by some when Probst spoke to them about returning.[8] An additional twist, a form of currency called "fire tokens," allows players to purchase items, food, and advantages. Probst said that in trying to make this season memorable, they had come up with the idea of fire tokens to emphasize that the game is about creating a society, and these tokens could help in establishing that society. Each player starts the game with one token, and when eliminated by tribal vote and sent to the Edge of Extinction, they must give their tokens up to any player remaining in the game. Tribes (prior to the merge) and players (after the merge) can collectively use their tokens to buy reward items, which can include an advantage in the next elimination challenge. Players on the Edge of Extinction are able to secretly make deals with players still in the game to sell them advantages located only at the Edge of Extinction for their tokens; those players can then use the tokens at the Edge of Extinction to gain advantages for the challenge that brings one player back into the game.[9]
Casting
In his discussions with Kahl after the filming of Survivor: Edge of Extinction, Probst told him that he had spoken to previous winners in the past about returning, but most said they would not want to return. In a 2018 interview, Probst had explained that such an all-winners season was unlikely, as not all the winners were compelling people to bring back to the show, while some others, including did want to spend another month-long period of survival for the prize money. Probst estimated that he had about ten winners that were appropriate to invite back and who were willing, but not enough for a full number of players.[10]
When Probst reiterated his concern about getting a full cast of winners to Kahl, Kahl suggested he try asking the winners again.[11] Probst knew that Sandra Diaz-Twine would likely say yes, despite just having agreed to participate on the prior season Survivor: Island of the Idols, as she had yet to refuse an invitation to return to the show.[12] Probst first contacted the winners he felt were key standouts in terms of memorable winners on returning, Rob Mariano and Amber Mariano, and Parvati Shallow.[11] Probst was unsure Rob would return immediately as he had just also been asked to participate on Island of the Idols, and knew it would be difficult for Amber to leave their four children, but to his surprise, both agreed and, in Probst's words, told him "we're gonna put the biggest target on our back we can".[12] With Parvati, she had just given birth to her first child, and Probst thought she would refuse, but she felt that with her baby was old enough for her husband to care for during filming, she could participate.[12] Subsequently, Probst found it easy to get other past standouts like Yul Kwon and Danni Boatwright to agree to come, and the cast was quickly filled out.[12]
Certain notable past winners are not included. Survivor: Borneo winner Richard Hatch was not asked to return due to his inappropriate behavior from Survivor: All-Stars, according to Probst. John Cochran, winner of Survivor: Caramoan, was one Probst wanted back but declined to return. Probst said that there had been a concern that the winners from earlier seasons of the show could not keep up with the newer changes to the game, but once they started making calls to the winners from early seasons and found them ready to accept, they focused their potential casting across the entire run of Survivor.[13]
While none of the cast of Winners at War are the oldest players to play the game, the average age of the players for this season is the highest of any other prior season at 37.85 years, beating out Survivor: Nicaragua's average age of 37.6 years, and much higher than the average ages of players from several of the past recent seasons which have skewed younger. Probst said they did not even consider the age of the players when asking the winners to return, though did feel that older players are more interesting to watch, as their maturity brings unique facets to the game.[14]
Contestants
Season summary
| Episode | Extinction departures |
Challenge winner(s) | Eliminated | Status | Extinction offer | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Original air date | Reward | Immunity | ||||
| 1 | "Greatest of the Greats" | February 12, 2020 | Dakal | Natalie | 1st voted out Day 2 |
Accepted | ||
| None | None | Sele | Amber | 2nd voted out Day 3 |
||||
| 2 | "It's Like a Survivor Economy" | February 19, 2020 | ||||||
| 3 | "Out for Blood" | February 26, 2020 | ||||||
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Rating/share (18-49) | Weekly rank | Original release date | US viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 583 | 1 | "Greatest of the Greats" | TBA | TBA | February 12, 2020 | N/A |
| 584 | 2 | "It's Like a Survivor Economy"[17] | TBA | TBA | February 19, 2020 | N/A |
| 585 | 3 | "Out for Blood"[17] | TBA | TBA | February 26, 2020 | N/A |
Voting history
| Original tribes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode # | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||
| Day # | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Eliminated | Natalie | |||||||
| Votes | 7–2–1 | |||||||
| Voter | Vote | |||||||
| Adam | Natalie | |||||||
| Amber | ||||||||
| Ben | Natalie | |||||||
| Danni | Natalie | |||||||
| Denise | Natalie | |||||||
| Ethan | Natalie | |||||||
| Jeremy | Denise | |||||||
| Kim | ||||||||
| Michele | Adam | |||||||
| Nick | ||||||||
| Parvati | Natalie | |||||||
| Rob | Natalie | |||||||
| Sandra | ||||||||
| Sarah | ||||||||
| Sophie | ||||||||
| Tony | ||||||||
| Tyson | ||||||||
| Wendell | ||||||||
| Yul | ||||||||
| Natalie | Denise | |||||||
Reception
Viewing figures
United States
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
DVR (18–49) |
DVR viewers (millions) |
Total (18–49) |
Total viewers (millions) |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Greatest of the Greats" | February 12, 2020 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| 2 | "It's Like a Survivor Economy" | February 19, 2020 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| 3 | "Out for Blood" | February 26, 2020 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Canada
| No. | Air date | Total viewers (millions) |
Rank (week) |
Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 12, 2020 | TBD | TBD | |
| 2 | February 19, 2020 | TBD | TBD | |
| 3 | February 26, 2020 | TBD | TBD |
References
- ^ "Survivor 40 calendar". The True Dork Times. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 11, 2019). "CBS Sets Winter Schedule: 'Criminal Minds' Returns To Original Slot For Final Season, 'NCIS: New Orleans' Moves To Sunday". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ Turchiano, Danielle (January 12, 2020). "CBS Sets 'Survivor' Retrospective Special Ahead of 40th Season Premiere". Variety. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Dalton. "Jeff Probst shares intel on Survivor: Winners at War". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (January 22, 2020). "Jeff Probst explains the origins of the Survivor: Winners at War $2 million prize". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (January 19, 2020). "Survivor: Winners at War cast members getting at least $35K each". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (January 18, 2020). "Survivor: Winners at War will feature all classic challenges from the past". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (December 18, 2019). "Jeff Probst shares intel on Survivor: Winners at War". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (January 15, 2020). "Jeff Probst reveals the big new twist for Survivor: Winners at War". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ Reinstein, Mara (September 26, 2018). "Jeff Probst Explains Why 'Survivor' Will 'Never' Have an All-Winners Season". Us. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ a b Ross, Dalton (January 21, 2020). "Jeff Probst on the conversation that made Survivor: Winners at War happen". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Ross, Dalton (February 4, 2020). "Jeff Probst on the biggest get for Survivor: Winners at War". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (January 28, 2020). "Jeff Probst on the player they could not get for Survivor: Winners at War". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (February 6, 2020). "Jeff Probst on having the oldest Survivor cast ever for Winners at War". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Dalton. "Survivor: Winners at War new cast photo gallery". Entertainment Weeklydate=January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Ross, Dalton (January 21, 2020). "Survivor: Winners at War tribe division revealed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- ^ a b "Survivor Episode Title Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
Notes
- ^ Winning seasons in bold