Nearly a decade has ed since Survivor last made a Fans vs. Favorites season, but some viewers believe the show may be returning to the format in the future. The Fans vs. Favorites concept has been used twice in the show's history, each time pitting a tribe of Survivor fans against a tribe of returning players. The format debuted on Survivor: Micronesia in 2008 and returned ten seasons later for Survivor: Caramoan in 2013.
Overall, this Survivor format has achieved mixed results so far. The first season to feature the theme, Micronesia, is often considered one of the greatest seasons in the show's history, as it cemented several players as Survivor icons and featured a number of massive moments, including what many consider to be the most legendary moment in Survivor history: the Black Widow Brigade alliance's blindside of Erik Reichenbach. Caramoan, on the other hand, was poorly received due to its lopsided gameplay, predictable finish, and cast that comprised many players that were either wholly forgettable or unpleasant to watch.
Survivor's Fans vs. Favorites Theme May Return Soon
Now, rumors are swirling that Survivor may be resurrecting the Fans vs. Favorites format for the first time since 2013. In a now-deleted sponsored post on the official Survivor host Jeff Probst, along with the caption: "You could use some Fans vs. Favorites in your life, are we right?" The post led to immediate speculation about the show's future, as the post seemed to be a clear sign that the cycle of Survivor seasons will contain a new FvF installment. However, Survivor's Instagram didn't keep the post up for very long, deleting it quickly after the rumors began spreading and Survivor enthusiasts began fan-casting their ideal Favorites tribes for the expected season.
Survivor Fans Are Eager For A Returning Player Season
Those who are hopeful for a Fans vs. Favorites theme to appear in Survivor season 45 or 46 should temper their expectations. Though it's reasonable to assume the 45-46 filming cycle will include a returnee season of Survivor of some kind, it's far more likely that the CBS marketing team made a mistake by referencing a specific theme on the Instagram post. The marketing side of the network is probably not working in lockstep with the show's creative team for 45 or 46 at this point, especially with the already-filmed Survivor 44, which is confirmed to exclusively feature first-time players, set to air in March. Furthermore, Survivor seasons 45 and 46 are not even scheduled to film until later in 2023. Sadly, all signs point to the post being a misguided piece of marketing rather than a purposeful tease for an imminent FvF season.
The Survivor fandom's excited response to the post is a strong indicator that the fans are eager for the show to feature returnees soon. After three straight seasons of new players and a fourth on the way, it is high time that the next Survivor season dives into its rolodex of eligible alumni for a returnee season of some sort. Whether it be a Fans vs. Favorites, Second Chance, or All-Star season, it's clear that the vast majority of the Survivor faithful would boil over in excitement for a returning player's season at this point.