RHAP: We Know Survivor - Purple Pants Podcast | Survivor 50: What Worked?

Episode Date: June 12, 2026

Purple Pants Podcast | Survivor 50: What Worked? The baby boys are back together again for a brand new off season edition of Survivor News as Wendell returns after being away for the last couple of episodes to reunite with Brice and Jack. The trio catches up on where Wendell’s been, gets into his thoughts on the ending of Survivor Season 50, and breaks down what actually worked this season, what could have been done differently, and whether Season 50 delivered on the expectations. Plus, the baby boys look ahead to Season 51 and what they hope to see from Survivor’s open era while catching up the only way they know how. You can also watch along on Brice Izyah’s YouTube channel to watch us break it all down https://youtube.com/channel/UCFlglGPPamVHaNAb0tL_s7g LISTEN: Subscribe to the Purple Pants podcast feed  WATCH: Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Previously on the Purple Pants Podcast Feed: Purple Pants Podcast Archives

It's the purple pants. It's a purple pants. It's a purple pants podcast. You better get your headphones and listen up quick. It's the purple pants podcast. You let listening in public might make your stomach hurt. It's the purple pants podcast. She's trying to unwind.

You better get that box wine. It's a purple pants podcast. You're trying to get your snack. You better hurry right back though. It's the purple pants. It's the purple pants. Hello, hello. And welcome back to the Purple Pants podcast.

Survivor News. I serve as your humble and oh so gracious host, Bryce Isaiah, and I thank you so much for tuning in to this week's bonus Survivor News. If you could be so kind to ensure you are subscribed to the Purple Pants Podcast, we are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify. Wherever you listen to podcasts, the Purple Pants Podcasts awaits for you to subscribe. And as always with your Survivor News, you can watch this audio podcast on video. Head over to the Bryce Isaiah YouTube channel. Click subscribe. Give this video a thumbs up and let us know in the comments what you think about this bonus episode.

The baby boys are back and we are giving you some more off-season Survivor News contact. Join Jack, myself. And Wendy's, as we figure out where Wendy's was these past couple of weeks, we get his take on the ending of Survivor 50. And we also talk about what worked this season. The twist, the cast. We also talk about what didn't work. What would we like to see different in the open era?

This and so much more. So let's get in to your Survivor News. Survivor News. Survivor News. Survivor News. Survivor News. Survivor News. Survivor News.

Survivor News. And we are back. We're saying back, but it's not a new season yet, but your baby boys, Destiny's Child, 3LW, has decided to arrive and come back and give you some more Survivor 50 content. The baby is back, baby. Beyonce is back, baby.

Beyonce is back. Okay. Now, let's welcome back to the podcast. You might know from the floor is lava, the circle season two. Mr. Jacary Accus was popping with you. Let's go, man. I'm excited to be here. You know, we did our other postseason 50 episode, and I felt like people enjoyed it.

And I was like, let's keep the momentum going and just keep. There's so much to unpack and talk about with this milestone season. So I'm just glad to be back and, you know, get Beyonce back in the building. Well, let's talk about Beyonce, Jack, because... Because we all know the real Beyonce of the show. Okay. But let's talk about that, Jack, because I'm going to hold your feet to the fire, Jack. Oh, boy.

People were asking, where's Wendy Zee? Where's Wendy Zee? I was seeing rumors that he was here there wherever. The bitch was home. Okay. So let's clear that up. Two, we started this season. Okay.

The posse, if y'all remember, we started this season. And who was putting belt to ass? Jack. Okay? Jack was laying down the hammer behind the scenes. And when Deasy came to. to the podcast four times late, popped up, pop in, and Wendell, what did Jack say to you on that last episode after we hung up? Jack said, don't even come. So there's the answer. Jack put Wendell

on spring break. Uh, vice, whatever you say. What I thought, Wendell. Wendezie, am I lying? He's... He put me on spring break. So, Bryce, let me ask you this then. Because there was a few times we were about to start recording. Wendell pops that, you know, he was on his phone looking a little crusty, but he said, oh, he popped out. Hey, guys, I can't wait to last night's episode was crazy.

He can't believe Rick Devons flip that coin and then you just, who X them out of the video. Is that not true? Yeah, because I know how you felt, Jack. You were heated behind the scenes. I mean, look, you know, you say whatever you want to say about me, but you're the one who I was, I was like, oh, hey, why, no, I can't wait to hear what you think, you know, trying to play it cool even though I was pissed.

Okay. You were the one kicking them out, though, so don't put it all on me. I'm not putting it all on you, but I respect you, Jack Reed, okay? And I knew how you felt, but listen. Sure. I'm getting jumped right now. This is crazy. Yeah, Bryce.

I'm holding back. I've been hibernating in my house for a whole month and y'all want to say, y'all just want to jump me right now. I thought I thought I was doing a good job for a couple episodes. You know what? And you were, and this is why,

now that you're back from spring break, I think we're not trying to jump you. We're trying to say, hey, maybe we were wrong. You know, maybe we did miss you while you were on spring break a little bit. It's good to have you back. I'm just confused because, the episodes that you weren't there, people were in the comments saying this is the most windows talks all season.

But since he is off of punishment from Jack, let's welcome back to the podcast. You might know him from Ghost Island. You might know him from Beach Cabana Royale. You might know him from Extreme Home Makeover. You might know, know him from the goat. You might know I'm currently streaming on Hulu right now. Designed glass. Hashtag.

Okay. But more importantly, you know, I was about to say ninja. Ninja. More important. More importantly, you know him from the first merge boot and winners at war when Deasy was popping with you. Well, thank you for the gracious intro. I want to tell you guys that I'm here to do better.

I'm going to podcast better. During the offseason, I'm going to give you all I got. And during Survivor 51, I'm going to give you. you all I got. So I apologize for dropping the ball. We back. Let's get it. Can I have a clean slate? That's all I

ask. Well, what did you eat? That all depends on what you eat. I don't know if your water is going to be cleaner. What? I think it's a clean slate. What that's

so listen, a lie has happened. 50, Aubrey won. Yeah, Wendell, when was the last time we podcasted with you? Was it? Devons? Was it Devons? It might have been.

So, yeah, tell us about, you know, while you were on spring break, when did you have the opportunity to finish watching the season and break down your thoughts on the end game? Yeah, I started, I watched within the last week, I cut up on everything. and I was so proud and impressed with Tiffany and I'm like our girl is in it. Our girl is locked in. And then they basically, they jumped her.

They're like everybody's doing everything to get her out. I'm like, man, it was hard to watch. But I'm so freaking proud of Tiffany winning those immunities, standing up, just doing it on her own while other people are collaborating and sharing info and sharing the lettering, all of that stuff. I was so proud of Tiffany, so I'm going to start there. That's our girl.

We love Tiffany. And we were rooting for her all season. That's our real life girl. That's our friend. But I will also say, no, and I will also say, very proud of Aubrey. Played a great game, back against the wall a lot, didn't have the most locked in allies at times. and she found a way.

She found a way to stay in the game, stay in the game, stay in the game. And the name of these games is make it to the next day. You don't know what's going to open up. And in her case, and you make it to the next day, you make the next day. Maybe you'll win an immunity. I remember on winners at war, Michelle, I'm just like,

please just make it to a next day. I'm on the edge of extension. Y'all know I'm the merge boot, right? But I'm seeing her battling each day. Just please, girl, make the next day. Then all of a sudden, you win an immunity. Then your game changes. In Aubrey's case, that's what happened.

Like, she stayed in it. And when she needed to, when the three fellas were ready to get her out of there by any means, she won some motion, got to the end and did what she had to do. So, go ahead. Were you here for Ozzy? Did we talk about Ozzy? No, I was not here for the Ozzy. I was not here for the Surrey.

I was not here for Devons. Yeah. So I saw, I crammed all that stuff when I, when I just did my watch. Bro. So Ozzie went out with this, with the split, with the split on the same island and Jonathan running back and forth. I'll tell you what, I liked watching,

I liked the, the mechanic of having these two tribes and I liked Jonathan running back and forth. I thought as much as I was rooting for other people, I'm rooting for Ozzy, I'm rooting for Tiff. I liked watching Jonathan do this. And I've said it all season. I've liked Jonathan's game all season long. And we can get into talking about his sentiment

because he really wanted to win. He vocalized all that after the fact. But I liked watching him go. And our boy Ozzy, this is our friend. He handed his whole game to Aubrey. And she did what she was supposed to do. Great. Because she was on the outside.

In these games, you find whatever you can. And if someone hands you something, that can be their demise. And that was Ozzy's demise. And he was playing such a great game. I thought in more reflection, I think it's so interesting of like how Ozzy went out and then like Jonathan, right? Where Ozzy goes out by essentially trying to like pat the jewelry. like, hey, my friend, my friend. And like, in Jonathan's case,

like, wow, like, you know, like, and so it's kind of interesting to see, like, where when people are like Aubrey ones, like, yeah. And like, looking at the mechanics of it, it almost is like poetry. I'd also, it kind of is.

It kind of is. Ozzy went out trying to manage the jury. His forte is not jury management. And Jonathan lost because he couldn't do great jury management. He was just trying to eliminate his threats. I will say, though, I think there was an error when a Jonathan's game would have got the job done. Oh, yeah. 100%.

Yeah. Yeah. Like. I mean, just like Stephanie said, it was kind of the quintessential old school game. among other things that she said. I mean, dare I say, season one through 40, the way he was cracking nose coconut open.

Stephanie wanted to be a coconut. Or maybe Bryce did, I don't know, right? I don't know. Did you watch the live finale? Yeah. Yeah. What did you think of, what did you think of the props?

slip up. I thought he managed it well. I thought the way he came back and called it a twist or whatever. I'm like, all right. Like, I think it sucks. And I think if you're Rizzo especially, I think for this to happen to anyone, if it happens to a Rizzo, it's like, Dag, that is the

super duper, duper, duper fan that's probably crying on the inside right now. But Rizzo looked like he took it well and Probst kind of kept things moving fine. It was a slip up. It's live TV. Those things happened. I hope in the moment people weren't like, oh,

Proops is losing his touch, whatever. I don't know how people received it at the moment. But yeah, it sucks, but they kept the show moving. I think it's one of those things where kind of sucked in the moment. And being on the West Coast, I heard that this had happened before I saw watching it. Like the first thing I saw about it was my mom texting me, oops, Jeff.

And I was like, and then I started hearing from a bunch of other friends. like, oh my God, he, and I was like, wow. But I think it's one of those things, like, kind of sucks in the moment. Although, you know, the Rizzo versus Jonathan matchup, we could kind of anticipate where that was going. And I think looking back, it's going to be one of those things that will sort of live in survivor lore as kind of a funny moment. So, you know, if you rewatch it, it's one of those things where you might be like,

oh, here's when this happens, you know. Rizzo's going to play 10 more times. He's going to get his win. And they're going to look back on this. And I even think there was a lot of behind-the-scenes footage. And I think there was a clip someone even played where Rizzo was like, I'm glad I don't have to cry on TV now, where it kind of almost saved him. BetMGM, an official sports betting partner of the National Hockey League,

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Betmgmgm.com for terms and conditions. 19 plus to wager. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. If you have any questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connects Ontario at 1866-531-260 to speak to an advisor, free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. There was apparently a lot of drama between the cast going on, which was interesting.

We didn't really get a live reunion. Jeff just asks like two questions. Yeah. Wendell, I'm curious too, actually. Bryce and I did an episode breaking down all of the finale tea. And you were obviously on the last returning season before this. And I think what lends itself to a lot of the conflict that went down is those past relationships,

is the heightened emotions involved with, you know, what it was presumed to be iconic season, much like Winters at War. What were the vibe? And you got, or I guess you guys didn't have a lot of finale because it was COVID, but when your season was wrapping up, like, was there a lot of drama

going on? Like, how did that feel with that, the 40 cast, compared to your original Ghost Island? That's a great question. And it's the same. I think there might be more drama now and we're, you know, a month out. So there's, we're in the heat of the moment right now. But I'll tell you this, as a one

player going into season 40 with my scope only being one awesome season that I won. So it's like I left, Ghost Island was a tight cast. We all left as friends, the majority of us. And it was so recent, I was riding this high. I'm so excited. I thought winners at war was going to be the same thing. You go in there, you make a bunch of friends, win, lose, or draw, it's all good. On returning seasons, especially with players that have played a few times, have lost

a couple times, et cetera, it's a different game. They're going out there for business. They ain't trying to make friends. And you got $2 million on the line, just like Winners at War. They are out there for that money. They don't need friends. They don't want friends. And that was kind of my mistake on Winners at War, thinking that, you know,

we could play hard and leave with a bunch of friends. I didn't leave Winners at War with a bunch of friends. I left with maybe like five or six friends, you know. now granted it's a good amount of friends I'm out there though I mean Bryce played with Tony and Bryce doesn't even have Tony's

phone number so so there's what were you like that first day on the beach that first day I was locked in bro no I wasn't Rizzo don't do that no I was locked I was locked and that

that is crazy you were Rizzo on season 4 There he goes. Here he goes. Hey, Boston, Rob. I was locked. I was locked.

I had my people. I was locked. You know what? Fine. I was Rizzo. Okay. Is that Jeremy Collins? Bro.

Chill. I was a big fan of yours. That's not how I did it. I was playing against Jeremy. So I guess before we dive into the sort of the rest of the episode, Wendell, just catching up on your viewing of the rest of the season where, like I said, I think the last we talked was with the Devon's coin flip. Did you feel like the rest of the season like exceeded your expectations,

met your expectations, or maybe didn't quite? the mark for you. I think it met my expectations. I think this was a really good season. I think we've got a really good winner. I think we've got some really good controversy. I think we've got some really good like Tiffany, like our lost, our fallen goddesses, you know, like I think it was a really great season. I remember, yeah, I'm happy with the way it went. I'm happy with the drama even. that's better for the show. And Aubrey got her win.

She got two M's. Congratulations, Queen. Like, you played a lot. And for you to kind of, you know, I feel like her story has a nice button at the end now. What do you say to the people that were like she won

because of her relationships because this was her fifth, fourth time playing as opposed to her actual game in this era. I'd say that that could have given her a little nudge. And that's who you're playing against. I played against Ethan and Parvety and Rob and all these players who we knew we can't

put them anywhere near the end for that very reason. We didn't have a plan going into winners at war saying we're going to take out all the rush more. But any good player knows there are players you don't want to sit to next to at the end. and Rizzo, Jonathan, Joe were trying their best to get her out. They just kept her a little too long. Like, yeah, yeah, you're battling history. And it might sway some people.

I don't even know if they feel like they kept her too long because I feel like at that time, Jonathan felt like he could beat her. A little bit. I mean, we know they would have wanted her gone at four ideally, but when you get her to four, that it's a little out of your control. Yeah, they wanted to get her out. I mean, they knew that they thought Tiffany first,

and then they were like, all right, we got to get her out at fire. And she won some motion. And Jonathan played a strong game, and he had a lot of allies over there. Not enough, but he did play a very strong game. He did take a lot of big swings and big shots. He had a case.

And she had a lot of allies, and she sent them to the jury. and talked it through best. Yeah, it's an interesting thing because I appreciate you saying that I think it could give a nudge because I think that it does. But at the same time,

especially when you know the cast before you even go out, I mean, these players all had the opportunity to be like, okay, here's some of these connections that Aubrey might have. But it is an interesting balance within the game, and this is not even,

this is speaking more generally than whether, like Aubrey versus Jonathan's situation, but just you're like how do you it's like if I was in an end game position with an Aubrey you're sort of looking at like how do I balance like her gameplay within the vacuum of this season but then I'm factoring in you know her connections with like Surrey and Ozzie and a Rick Devons and a Christian and but you're sitting there kind of at the end game all those people are on the jury it's like how are they going to view how are they going to balance her game this season versus maybe their connection.

And obviously, if you know somebody, you are going to be a little more inclined to vote for them. And that's a factor that you can weigh in whether you want to go far with Aubrey. But I think it's an extra level to the game that it's like, how do those things really balance out? Was one of Jonathan's arguments at the moment on battling someone's history? Or was that something that came after the fact when people started like really thinking about this? More after that. Because one, I mean, and it would take the right player to sit there and be like, I am bad on this ghost of the past, you know? I don't see Jonathan arguing that, but a way to get ahead of that is for him to actually acknowledge that to all those jurors.

But I also feel like the more we talk about it, again, to me it's almost more of an old to Aubrey because it's like when we talk about it. her relationships with all these people, that's really a hindrance, right? When you're out there, it really, like, it kind of weighs you down. That's a reason to get you out. I just agree. Well, yes and no, I think.

So, right, I'm just saying, like, I don't think it just tips one way where it's like, oh, she got to the end and she has all these relationships. Like, I look at it as, like, going out. Like, it's like a surreal. You're a juggling act. That's, yeah. Right.

It's like a, how do you keep the scale even where it's not hurting you and it's not against you. And so like, thinking of it in that way, it's like, that puts a little more, a lot more respect on her game. It's true. I mean, there's a component of, look, I think in going out there, you'd want to be in the position where you have a lot of, like, a good amount of connections, I think is ideal. But I guess even to what Wendell said with winners at war, the most connected players had targets on their back because they had more history. So I think that's a, I mean, that's a great tie-in, right? Although, and I also think it's like, if you know a lot of people

and you're naturally going to have to vote pretty much all of them out, that creates a juggling act of like, how do I send people that I have like a pass with out the door without them feeling like bitter about it? But that brings a good question up though, right?

Because I feel like we're at season 50 and it's like this new era, right? Against the old school. What? Because when I remember season 40, I felt like it was old school. I felt like we were watching an old school game.

What era was that? Did we consider the 30s that still was I mean, back then it's like, I don't think the era's they weren't as well defined. It still was a new school though, right? New school but not new era. I would say it is like, yeah. But still a new version of playing

the game. I feel like in season 40, it felt like the old school way dominated. Where in season 50, I do. I would just. Well, maybe in the beginning, maybe in the beginning, and my, maybe you're right. But I felt like in the beginning it was. But maybe I'm not remembering winners there for that well. At the beginning, all the old school players were eliminated.

Yeah. but that in my mind is very old school. Way to follow. I mean, because the old school players were in the minority alliance and you guys stuck to the majority and picked them all. Thank you, Jack. I think.

We didn't get that play, Jack. Good job. Yeah, you made it work. Well, it's tough with winners that work because I do think there was a lot of old school value. I mean, you have so many winners from the old eras that were bringing that new school flavor. But at the same time, you got like fire tokens in the edge of extinction and all these like new school twists that people had to navigate. I didn't feel like winners that war was particularly, like felt super old school.

But I mean, obviously you had sort of the old school versus new school dynamic, which honestly, we didn't see as much in 50 as I thought people may be expected. What do you think how do you feel like 50 was played? Do you feel like 50 was more new? Yeah. Well, I think you had like the cloth sort of embodying the old school style. But within that you had new era players like Jonathan and like Joe. So it wasn't necessarily like an old school versus a new era alliance. Like if you were new era, you stuck together.

if you were old era, like, I feel like it wasn't winners at war. But this, I did think maybe embodied those old school values versus the new school values, maybe more than 40 did. Yeah, and I'm not talking about, like, the new era sticking together. I'm just talking

about, like, the pace and how the game shakes out. Well, I definitely still thought this was, like, new, very new era in that sense, partly just because of all the twists that we're getting thrown out. Right? Like, when you have episodes where two people are going home and there's a twist every other episode.

It's like it's just by even if everyone wants to play kind of old school, by nature it's going to end up feeling like faster pace and a little bit chaotic, which I think is kind of associated with the new era. Did we like that? Do we like that? Do we feel like that worked? Good segue. It's a, so yeah, I think this is, I like that.

This is what we're starting with because, you know, like, just to, Preface, like we wanted this episode, we wanted to talk about what worked and what didn't in season 50. And to me, I didn't think that that worked very well. And it's partly, it's a product of, look, they wanted 24 players on this cast. And they're still doing the 26 day thing. And if those are concrete pieces in your puzzle and then you have CBS saying, hey, this has to be, you know, 13. episodes that does create limitations on how can you execute the season?

There's going to have to be episodes where two people go home, three people go home. But I feel like when that happens, and there's all these different twists involved, it's so hard to like actually, like you're constantly adjusting to these twists. So I guess what people say about it a lot is like it leads almost to safer gameplay. Because how do you go and facilitate like a move

and start like rallying the troops for a blind side when oh i've got my numbers and now we're getting split in the three groups and i don't have my people and now everybody knows that i've been throwing out wendell's name and like now i'm stuck on a job with wendell and his friends like i'm screwed um and i also think that like because the game's just moving so fast you don't have that breathing room in between votes where like things can really shake up you know what i mean and and plans can be hatched because you're voting people out every single day. And I think the solution to that in part would be, I think at the top of the season,

we were expecting a lot more of those like double boots where, hey, two tribes are going to tribal council. And I think like the first, I don't know, four episodes, you know, minus the Kyle Metavac. It was like one boot. So now all of a sudden we had like nine episodes left and we had like 20 people. And so all of like the culling of the numbers happens like at the merge. basically, but I find the merge votes to typically be a lot more interesting than like, you know,

the first couple boots. So I think it would have worked a lot better if the first few tribals, it was just two tribes going to tribal council so that later in the season you could have just had more of those like singular voteouts that could have had room to breathe and be a little bit more iconic than like, oh, hey, we're getting rid of three people or two people tonight. Just back back. And it's the final, it's the final seven. and we're getting rid of two people back to back.

Do you feel like, or do y'all feel like the 26 days were here? I think it could have been longer. I mean, I think, and I think that's what Jack's saying, because you have so many players in such a short amount of time, you know, unless the mechanic was like Jack said, you get rid of a couple people, a few episodes in a row early. So now it's like, all right, now let's play some real game, as opposed to a couple here, a couple there,

couple at the end. Yeah, so 26 days, I mean, that's the, that's what we have to deal with. They're not, they're not going back to 40 days. Yeah. And even if they were, I wouldn't want them two for 50 because of the new era was 26 days. It's like, I, a part of me wanted to see some of these Goliaths maneuver in this microwave. Now, I agree with you, Jack, like, I think they could have slowed it down in the beginning and then sped it up a little bit. But like.

Or vice expected. Yeah, yeah. Yes, yes. But like for me, the 26 days, I, I like to see these Goliaths in this vacuum seal. Yeah, it's tough to talk too much about the difference between that because it just seems like 26 days is the new normal. But I do think that for a couple of other reasons that I think are a little bit less obvious, I wish it was longer. First being, you just get, if it's 39 days, you get 50% more. more content.

And so you're getting these down days at camp where interesting conversations and like just fun scenes are happening that literally never have the chance to even occur now, that if they make the edit, you're working with 50% more material. It's going to make the episodes that much better. And then the other component, and this was sort of detailed to me by like a friend of mine who worked kind of on the show is even with the challenges and stuff, who got these You got to think about the production side of things where they're working on a 26 day timeline. They don't have as much time to build out these challenges, for example.

And so even in terms of the challenges we're seeing, a lot of times that's why we get kind of the same sort of challenges where it's a puzzle we've seen before. Or maybe they're like standing on a balance beam because those are like the easiest things to build and to like set up. And because they can reuse them. And in the old seasons, they'd be building a lot of new challenges because they had like two days in between every immunity challenge. And now it's every day. They don't even have the chance to do that anymore. So I think there's, and I think there's a happy middle where it doesn't necessarily have to be 39 days. And I doubt they're going to switch off 26 days.

But I wish it could be like 32 maybe. You know what I mean? But they don't just have two days before the challenges. They have a whole year and a half. What do you mean? Like in the old seasons? No, I'm saying right now. Oh, oh, to build them out.

Yeah. Are you using plastic again, Bryce? First of all, if you're eating plastic, get it out of your mouth. It's a cough drop. Get your cough drop. Okay. Second of all, they don't have a year and a half to build these things out. They film back to.

back and one two three four five six seven

eight nine ten they know what's coming what is the ten have to do with that like ten five season

47 season 48 hey are we ever going to You're saying start building now for season 53, 54. Got it. I'm not. I don't hate that.

But obviously, and now this could happen. Like, they all, the building kind of has to happen on the island and they're only in Fiji for so long. But look, maybe you hire a couple extra people that start building challenges for the next season while the season's going on.

I'll build. Get Wendell and Wendell and Wendell and Wendell and Wendie and then, Bryce, you and I could pull up. and that's all you need. Yeah. All right. That's real.

That's real. Okay. I stand down. So we talked about sort of the 26th and the pace. And I also mentioned, I guess, the nature of these, like, constant twists. And that tied into, I think, why the 26 didn't work. But I'm curious if you guys thought all of these twists, like, the blood moon. And then some were good and somewhere bad, I think we could say, like the blood moon.

And then there was, like, the duo. twist and then you have like the Jonathan going back and forth between the beaches and that was almost every episode you know Mr. Beast coin episode like that's almost every episode is that something that you guys felt like worked or you would have just liked

it to be a little bit more straightforward. I can go first if you don't want to go first I say green light to all of these weird little collaboes you know like bring us into the new era Bring us into a collaborative era.

Yes, I say yes, Greenlight. Maybe Zach Brown could have been a lot shorter, 10 minutes off of that. But I'm here for the collaborations. I'm here for them figuring out ways to expand the brand because at the same time we're watching Survivor grow and reach the youth. We're watching another show that was great for the last two decades. The challenge fall off the planet because all of their fan base is a bunch of boomers.

So you got one show that hits the reset button and actively finds ways to open up the market or open up the fan base. They have another show that seems like they're sticking to an equation and we're watching them shrink. So I'm a fan of growth. I'm a fan of figuring it out. I'm a fan of trying it. And if it works, great. If it doesn't work, to grab things. And to me, that's what survivors continue to do.

Agreed. Good analogy with the challenge. my, I liked, I liked the cons. I liked it. However, I do feel like I did want for 50 a slower pace. Like not so much all the time, right? Because I almost wanted it like, I wanted new era and I feel like the 26 days speeds it up. But I also wanted it like back to basics a little bit where it's like allow the cloth.

to breathe, right? A lot like so, but I do like interwining in some of the new things. And so it's like, yeah, the episode was Zach Brown. I'm good. Right. But like I feel like we could have split them up. You could have had the blood moon. We could have had the Mr. Beast's point flip. Like everything else, but Zach Brown, I loved. And so it's like you don't got to throw it in our face. Give us time to, you know, just Yeah. Well, I think with, so, I mean, we'll definitely want to get into the celebrity collaborations,

but I think even just with the pace of the twist, my biggest issue with it is that when you kind of know there's a new twist, if you're a player and you know there's like a new twist coming every day, how do you really even start to like make a plan for the next tribal? Because you, it's like, all right, we might get split up into groups that I can't even anticipate.

So I'm not going to be out. you're like throwing names out or making plans because I might end up with a whole group of random people you know what I mean so. And like you said that encourages, that just encourages safe gameplay. Exactly. You know what? If I cannot predict anything and I know that I might be with these four, those four, this four, that for tomorrow, I'm only going to play it safe.

I'm going to play a neutral. I'm going to stay right here. I'm going to act cool with everybody. I'm not going to make any waves. Like I didn't feel like there was a, there probably was, but I'm not, like when I'm looking back, nothing comes to mind of a vote out where a plan was like really hatching and like a plan was in the

works from the start of the episode or even before until the very end, it would sort of be like the episode starts you have a little fun scene. Then we see them go and get this, whatever the episode's twist is, the challenge happens. And then it's like, oh, Christian's vulnerable. I guess it's Christian. or like, oh, well, now that we split into two groups,

like, I guess we got to go for Ozzy and just, or like, oh, we're doing, and I actually like the duo, so it's like, oh, we're doing duos now. Like, well, I guess now that the way that this is shaped up, Chrissy and Coach are the option. But there wasn't even anything like top of the episode where you could really be like, like the episode Christian goes home.

There's not a lot up top where that plan is like starting to form. You know, it all kind of comes out as a response to the twist. And so the gameplay is like reactive. It's not proactive. But see, I almost, I'm almost a fan of this style given the cast and the relationships, right? Where it's like you never really know who's going to go with who because they're so intertwined. Now, if this was a regular season or half and half, I wouldn't like it so much. But I kind of feel like they almost, the mechanics of it.

keeps people on their toes. Right. Where it's like you never really know. And I feel like they wanted to test the relationships. I don't think it played out as well. But I think like that was the point of it. So it kind of kept me excited a little bit. Yeah.

And what I will say, and Bryce, I feel you said something about this like early in the new era. Like, I mean, this is like what the game is now. So if you're a player out there, you can't be like,

oh, this isn't fair. Like I didn't expect this because now you like have to expect, I guess the unexpected, which was like, yeah. That's part of the reason some people, some people like the old, by some people I'm saying myself,

like when I'm like, I want the big tribe. Like I loved the fact that we actually got to have a big tribe, two big tribes. Like we missed that in the old era. But I like the fact that like they kind of brought us the old era, but they was like, we're going to shake it out.

And so it kind of forces the two to meet. Can I say something that I liked? Yeah. Yes. That I didn't think I initially liked. I thought the cast was great. Like I think, again, when we was doing our stuff before, I'm like, who the hell? Who is this?

Mike White. Like, no, I, I, Again, I would. You're never getting on white lotus, Bryce. I was, the white lotus thing really had a chokehold on me. But listen. Oh, my God. Because listen.

Bryce literally. Put in his mouth. I like the fact that that was a narrative, right? Like, as much as I'm, when I rewatch our episodes, it had a chokehold on me, right? Like, it had me being like, what's happening? Like, and I think it. added a little flavor to the season. And so, like, I think they did an excellent job with casting.

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I agree. And people that people were questioning delivered. And yeah, it was, I mean, this is a celebratory season. And you got to, at the beginning, of course, there are people that you want to see on. But like, man, you put this great cast out. there, you're going to get the coach moments. You know, you're going to get the joke making his alliance and trying to stick all the way.

You're going to get Ozzy doing his thing. Surrey, like, she, I've, I've compared her game to, like, LeBron James's game right now in that, in that the game comes so slow to her now. It's so easy. Like, she can just sit back and just run the plays. Like LeBron has played now 20 plus seasons And it's the game the game is in slow motion to him And in her case

She's just so great at it you know And we've seen her So many seasons and now it's just like fine wine Watching her game you know You got the right players And I think they delivered Yeah I There definitely was a lot of I think pushback

when the cast got announced. And look, I mean, I think there was a few kind of glaring misses. Not necessarily of people that they did cast, but more so people that they did not cast. Like, yeah, I'm still like, you know, how do we not get the Jesse Lopez. You know what I mean? Like stuff like that.

Mike Isaiah. Of course, of course. But I think, you know, the, like, Jesse coming from the new era, one of like this, like new era standouts, among others, among a Bryce Isaiah. One of the old school standouts, way back are the one of the originators. We know second chances too was coming and Bryce is going to be on that. So I'm not too worried.

But look, the people that I was the most hesitant about, I thought for the most. But like, you know, I was a little worried like Colby and Ozzie. Like given their last seasons, were they a little bit? past their prime. And I thought they both brought it this season. Even Jonathan, for as crazy as his story was, he came to play. Like, you know, like he came to play. And even the fact that he is polarizing is like, that's television, you know, like, um, right.

The most part, you know, there's one or two. I think we could all say, like, kind of wish they weren't in there. But listen, here's the thing. Here's the thing. Here's the thing. choke my chicken if you want I'm okay no thank you

that way no that's no way hey no that's not the phrase don't say that I'd be like oh wait is that the phrase my mistake no

my mistake if you want I think he said Jack I think he's used this phrase before okay oh 100% yeah there's literally never the contact no it's like choke on the hill

this a hill I choke on the hell you die on the hell yeah I mean maybe you died maybe you died on the hill because you were choking on something what you've been in Fairmount Park

too much bitch listen Choke the chicken if you want. But this is the hill I'll die on. But this is the hill I'm a choke it on. I want to see Joe back. I want to see Joe back. Joe 3.0?

Joe, listen. Three point Joe? You weren't there. His exit and Jack tell window about Joe's exit. Wait, which one? I don't know if I watched. And Joe was like. Well, I liked at Final Tribal, oh, oh, that's it.

And he said they were like, Shut up, Wendell, Legend. It was basically like saying at Final Tribal, like, did you ever think about something along the lines of like, you know, calling their game out or whatever? And Joe was like, look, when we got there, I almost told the jury just don't even ask me any questions. He's like, I knew I wasn't going to win.

That's what, listen. He, he, he, he, he, He's aware. I'm trying to tell you. It was. I love Joe. Oh, I love him. I, I,

the only way I'd want to see him back is if something in his mind flipped where he's like, oh, wait, I can just lie. Like, but if he just comes back on the same kick, like we know. Yeah, we know what we're getting. Let it. His mentality is this. It's, they know my game. So, yes, I'm going to do the exact.

opposite. But here's my thing. Y'all keep saying that, though, but this man got to the end twice. It got no votes either time. But listen. No, there's something. I'm not disagreeing in like saying Joe's like a terrible play.

But like, just because you get to the end twice doesn't mean I want you to come back again and get to the end of third time and lose. But I will say like, you know, I feel like he got a, Joe got to dig in a lot of unnecessary flack. We can all accept he's not a devious survivor player, but he's like a good dude. And I feel like, you know, shout Survivor fact checker on Instagram, but they run like weekly popularity polls for the players. And every week, Joe's is like, not a fan.

I'm like, what's he really doing wrong though? Like, you know, you can say you're neutral on Joe. He's just a good man. Exactly. This is a nice, loyal, honest man. Yeah. He saved a few people from a burning building today, not a fan. Oh, man.

Wait, so I do want to circle back to, you know, we talked about the twists and all that. And Wendell, you brought up the celebrity cameos, which I think is a discussion that is worth having both in regards to the twist that they brought to the table, but also just like the celebrity cameos as a function in this season and what we thought about those. It sounds like you kind of like them. And like I get what you're saying about like getting the promo, bringing new viewers in. This season like did seem like it performed well in terms of viewership. But I do, I personally do think that like all in all,

I thought the celebrity cameos were like the worst part of the season. And I agree. I hear you. I hear you. And a lot of people hang that on, on Zach Brown's time. well Mr. Beast didn't have as much time as

that did and it made for that great Rick Devin's moment right and Aubrey's probably happy about it but if you told me going in to the season that Mr. Beast was going to be the highlight of the celebrities I'd be like oh boy

because well so here's there's Millie Isles didn't do much that's the thing I thought Mr. Beast was the best of it and I thought that the energy that he brought to the show partly in due to the fact that he didn't feel like he

had to like overdo it and he was down and just chill. I thought that was nice. And listening to him talk, he did a podcast for Rob C. And I thought his thoughts on like Survivor and reality TV and like being a producer of television were like really

interesting and like respectable. You know, like he has a passion and a respect for the show. And the twist, well, I think the twist could have worked out real bad, fortunately worked out good. But then you look at, I mean, we had Zach Brown,

and I don't even put that much on Zach Brown himself, but more on the show choosing to just, like, highlight him so much unnecessary. And he didn't really do a whole, I don't even remember, like, was there a twist involved with that? Like, you got a free concert and he killed, like, again, for me, I felt like that was more,

political, I should say, or like, you know, they wanted a certain type of audience. My only thing is, like you said with Mr. Beetz, get somebody that, like, that watch, like that actually enjoys the show. I don't care who they are, right? Like, it could be Angelina Jolie. It could be Randy Savage.

Like, I'm just, like, somebody that. And you're, but you're saying you're agreeing, Mr. Bees is a guy that does enjoy the show. Yes. like it has an understanding of as opposed to Billy Elish who didn't even yes I don't know if you saw

an interview she did I think it was like Amy Polar I don't know if this was before you were on spring break or after do you see this? Oh so she did a podcast with like Amy Polar from like Parks and Rec and Amy Poller you got to go watch this later she was like so you got like a

idol on Survivor and Billy was like like yeah I don't really know like what it is like she's like it's like it's like Billy Elish like idol I guess I don't she's like I don't yeah she's like I like she's like she's like I like she's like I like she's like I like she's like I'm like you think you do on survivor and Billy was like ah I don't know if I'd be good with like all the math and everyone was like like like it was literally giving like um like the popular like the popular girl in school was like asking you about like a hobby you have and

because it's not, because you think it's like not cool, you're like, oh, I, I don't know what that show is. Like, so I, and that's, that was kind of the worst of it to me is like, exactly to what Bryce said, like, have someone who's actually going to support and not just doing it for PR. Um, and it does, that's the thing. It sounds like Billy is actually a, like,

she references Survivor like in her music sometimes, things like that. Um, but then when it comes to the show, she just like doesn't talk about it at all. Um, And it's just sort of, I think it hurts the prestige of Survivor to be, like, making these grabs for promo and then have the people that are doing it, like, not even give a shit. It's like, it makes it look almost worse. And then not to mention my issue, too, and this also with the Jimmy Fallon situation, less about Jimmy himself and more about that twist is just like, the Mr. B's twist worked out really well. I don't think structurally, it could have had a lot of issues, right?

Like if they have to draw a rock and Surrey's the one who flips the coin and Surrey goes home, that was a possibility that would have been awful. And then the Billy Irish Boomerang idol, maybe it's just because we didn't really see it, like, actually work out. Boomerang. But it's just like, even the fact that you couldn't play it for somebody else is like, it's just like, why are I, this is like, these idols are so much worse than they used to be. And then with the Jimmy Fallon twist, with like Christian having to tell everybody that he like had to vote for himself.

And like that was a disaster. So even outside of these celebrity involvement, it's like you're then attaching them to these twists that are just like all so bad. So now the twist is bad. We're all like, F you, Jimmy Fallon. Like even though obviously wasn't really like Jimmy's fault, I don't think, you know. So I don't mind when the twist is bad. or bad though, right? Because I feel like that's a part of Survivor.

Like, yeah, we hate it, but I feel like it's a part of like the Survivor legacy that like some of the twist just suck. And it's like your favorite movie or yeah, a twist might hurt somebody that you're rooting for. But like that's just how much you know you're invested in it. Like I don't want it to be readable, play by play. I guess that's a good attitude, but I don't agree. Like, I, I can respect that. You're like, hey, sometimes the twist is not going to twist in the way you wanted to. Yeah.

And like, roller ghost street. Well, the original twist, I guess, or the biggest game-changing twist was the introduction of the idol, right? Correct. And they've been trying to, I guess, since then, because that changed the game. It made for some really awesome gameplay and people finding it without clues and all that stuff. They've been searching for what will be this next idol. and they've been introducing all kinds of things. And a lot of it doesn't work and some things work and something stick.

I think it's, I think that's the nature of the game. And I think kudos to y'all for continuing to try to figure this thing out. And could like, yeah, like there were freaking fire tokens on my season. That didn't work one season in, grand opening, grand closing, you know? So I like, I like that they're throwing things at the wall. And regarding these celebrities, you know, Bryce, you're right,

picks celebs that love the show, Angelina Jolie. Jimmy Fallon loves the show or he's continued to talk about the show. Right. Maybe because of Scott. I mean, I had a friend that was at the live finale that was sitting next to Adam Scott

from Severance and, like, yeah. What about like, what about the survivor celebrities themselves? We got Taj from SWV. We have Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy Johnson. Case Rice.

I'm just saying like, Mike White could have come back as himself, as for a twist. I had something else. Oh, oh, I just, the way I look at Survivor, especially in America now, the way I look at Survivors as a business. And their moves are strictly to their business moves. Who they cast, the length of the season,

and how they're adding and inputting these celebrities or whatever. It's a business decision to make this show continue to go on. Absolutely. I mean, I'm trying to think, I mean, totally. But I think sometimes, look, I'm not in charge of business at CBS for a reason. But I think there's certain things that they do. And I think a lot of times they miss attribute certain responses to things that they do? Like, for example, I think we talked about this during a certain episode. With the new era,

this came right after COVID when during COVID they put old seasons, including one of the greatest seasons, Kaga on, on Netflix, during COVID. And a lot of people and sort of created a survivor renaissance, which trickled down to the new era, 41, 42, getting more viewership. And I think that the tea i i feel like the producers are like the new era's working more people are watching it's like no they're watching because you put the best seasons on netflix during covid and now people are just like are watching because of that and so but then i think they take that and they i feel like they like they like to really just pat themselves in the back to be like what we're doing must be working we're getting more views so let's keep doing it and not

factoring in this other information um of like, could it be better? You know what I mean? I can respect them getting some celebrity cameos for the business reason of like getting more eyes. But at the same time, if your finished product suffers because of doing that, that could also hurt the business in the long run. So, I mean, I'm sure these are all conversations that they're having like, you know, at CBS. But it feels like it's a lot of stuff that's being spearheaded by Jeff and these

other older execs that maybe are not fully in touch with like what the 20-something demographic or the 30-something demographic or different diverse demographics are necessarily like looking for from the show. And that's not, I'm not even trying to like critique too hard. I just think that there's maybe like looking through it, like looking at the show through a different lens than what others might be able to look at it. And that's why they're hanging their hat on Rizzo. He's the, he is the key to the youth for them.

And he's a great character for it. I'd hang my hat on him too. But I also think that Survivor fans, this is the best way that I could put it. Survivor fans, Wendell, are like Philadelphia Eagles fans. And I think that sometimes the higher ups don't. know how to handle that. And when I mean by that, you know, when the Eagles is up, the city is up. But when the Eagles are down, we are the most, like we are the absolute worst.

But our butts are in the stadium every year. And I think sometimes Jeff and the people, they receive the criticism. like how Eagles fans are like, what are you doing? And they take it like, oh, oh, oh, not realizing like, it's like, listen, whatever it is, we're going to be here. But like we are, we're Eagles fans.

We're this passionate about it. And so I think that there's also like a disconnect there similar to what you're saying, Jack, where it's like, I don't think they, they know the audience that well. Yeah, and you look back at like some of the most iconic seasons like, you know, Cagaon, David versus Goliath was even like a new school season.

Heroes versus villains, Micronesia. Like these are all seasons where there's not anything like overly complicated going on. You know, there's not this bevy of twist. What? We don't know. It's just everything's become so twist-heavy. It's like you look at the best seasons. That's not like what makes them great, you know?

And I think really a return to some level of simplicity where you have like a good theme and a good cast and just like a one or two twists and let it rock. I feel like we all know that would work. Like it would be great. And for some reason they just like don't want to do that. And I know I feel like we're talking about like what works and what doesn't. I feel like.

Yeah, but I also want to just say one thing real quick though, Jack. I hate to cut you off. I've been real respect for this whole time. I also think the Survivor fan. They need to have a black mother, okay? Sometimes you be driving home, you see McDonald's, and you be like, ooh, can I have some McDonald's? And what does your mom say?

We got McDonald's at home. We got McDonald's at home. And so I think sometimes, you got some of Jackeroy? So I also do think, as much as, like, criticism as we have, I also think I want to put some criticism on the fans sometimes where it's like sometimes, we just need to

and watch and enjoy and be blessed that we have this for 50 seasons. I just also want to say that too. Right. And that's also me sometimes like just shut up. And I've sort of been doing that. I mean, we've been talking about like what works

and what has it. For the most part I've been saying. You've been talking. You've been doing what? We've been talking about what's worked and what has been. And for the most part, I've been saying a lot of the stuff on 50 didn't work. And like I, which I feel bad. Like I don't want to be overly critical, but the, but I feel like I can relate to the fans who,

not that you should be like all over Twitter like complaining about stuff. But, you know, here I am on a part survivor podcast complaining about stuff. So I just think it comes from a place of like loving the show and like wanting it to, wanting it to continue to thrive and like seeing it, you know, 50 was solid. but I thought it could have been a lot better. And like I just want the show to get back on track to what it used to be. And now, you know, times have changed and like things, things are changing. And like, I definitely agree with you, Bryce, that we should all appreciate, like, still the product that they're putting out.

But, um, survive a be who you are. Yes. But I don't know. I just, I do think ultimately with 50, there was a lot of things that didn't quite hit the mark. and I'm hoping they can in the open era can do some things that we can be like that whatever that is that's really working like keep that going

and then it can kind of refine I think the old school the older I guess the new school but not the new era magic what do we think the direction will be with Survivor in the 50s we think we're going to see some

I think it'll be a mix of new and returning seasons that's what I think Did you see the teaser for 51 one, though? I don't think. I think I saw it and I didn't see it. I think I was like, okay. The main thing they highlight is that this next set of season is going to be the open era where anything that's existed in Survivor history is potentially like on the table. And I thought the trailer looked good, but I was a little confused about the open era thing.

It's one of those things. but I'm like, hey, if they bring back some old twists and like sprinkle those in here and there, a ghost island, I was like, I could dig that. But if every episode was like, all right, fire tokens, hourglass. I'm like, I think I'd be okay. Mr. Beast is back. Like, I think I'd be okay on that.

Okay. All right. I'm excited for the poly era. The polycule era. I'm excited to see. what 50 holds. Guys, thanks for welcoming me back. Sorry that I did not fulfill your expectations, but I plan on making a better run for 51.

Thank you guys so much. You got other things cooking on spring break, so. I don't have anything else cooking. I'm just ready to go. Take some time off and hit the ground running for, 51. Good thing you got your vest on now. Okay.

What are you doing with that vest? I'm out of here. I don't know about y'all. This might be a small vest. I can't put it on. I'll get you all. You're ready to stuff? That's all.

I got my vest on. I'm ready to go. I don't get the reference. I'll see. for 51. I'll catch y'all on the flip side. That best didn't fit too well. Is that Jeremy Collins?

Okay. That's the Zass. That's the energy. Well, listen, Wendy's, you are missed. Jack, you held it down. Glad to have the baby boys back. And we'll see y'all all soon. Peace.

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