CBS just announced the cast of Survivor Season 49, but two of the castaways were last-minute alternates. Producers kicked two hopefuls off the show before the cameras ever started rolling. Now, Jeff Probst has a warning for any new players coming down the pipeline. Don’t do what they did.
Survivor 49 will include two alternate players
Reality shows always have replacement cast members on deck, just in case there’s a last-minute hiccup. They need backups in case someone becomes ill or backs out. However, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jeff said they added two alternate players to Season 49’s cast for a much different reason.
“What I can say about the reason we made the move is this,” he began. “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 continued.
Allegedly, two cast members started “playing” the game before the game actually started. It happened while the Season 49 hopefuls were sequestered at Ponderosa, where they’re strictly forbidden from communicating with one another. Even if they cross paths, they cannot speak. Two people broke that major rule and were disqualified.
“Typically, we bring alternates in case somebody gets sick or has a panic attack and can’t begin the game,” Jeff explained. “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.”
The two players that were brought to Fiji as alternates are Jason Treul and Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu. You know the people they replaced are feeling really crummy right now.
Survivor Season 49 premieres on CBS Wednesday, September 24, at 8/7c.
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE STRICT PRESEASON RULES FOR SURVIVOR PLAYERS? DO YOU THINK ANYONE HAS BROKEN THIS RULE IN THE PAST?
