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Winning a show like Survivor is no small feat. You have to outwit, outplay, and outlast a group of people all chasing the same $1 million prize money and the coveted Sole Survivor title. However, just winning the game doesn’t ensure that they’d be loved by the fans as well. That’s right, the show has been airing for more than two decades now, with several players winning the title. But for some, they walked away with a ton of backlash as well.

Whether it was their controversial behavior during the game, arrogant nature, or simply how they treated others, these players rubbed fans the wrong way. In this list, we’re looking at the most hated Survivor winners who received more criticism than applause for their win.

10. Natalie White – Survivor: Samoa (Season 19)

Natalie White’s win shocked a lot of people. That’s right, in the game she played alongside Russell Hantz,...

A reality show contestant doesn’t elicit a reaction of collective gasps and murmurs of “one of the greatest” to ever play Survivor without a solid idea of how to earn both love and fear from fellow cast members. Perhaps no one has a better handle on that than Survivor legend and The Traitors season three cast member “Boston Rob” Mariano.

The Traitors is often equal parts popularity contest and strategy game, something Mariano is familiar with after taking part in five seasons of Survivor, two seasons of The Amazing Race alongside wife Amber Mariano (who he met during his second season of Survivor and proposed to live during the finale) and the premiere season of Deal or No Deal Island.

No matter how Mariano entered The Traitors – and his entrance was seemingly a point of contention for him and other cast members – he was always going to be “a big target,...

Welcome to Reality Derby, our weekly deep dive into all things reality TV, hosted by Gold Derby senior editors Marcus James Dixon and Denton Davidson.

Joining us this week is “Boston” Rob Mariano, the winner of Survivor: Redemption Island and the most recent banished player from The Traitors. (Our interview begins at the 1:16 mark in the video above.) The reality legend breaks down his specific strategies for playing the game, why his group of Traitors was a “complete disaster,” and whether Dylan Efron might be a good partner for The Amazing Race.

“It was a really fun experience,” Rob says about appearing in Peacock’s Emmy-winning reality program. “It’s something different, something I’d never done before, and I’m happy that I competed. I feel like I found a couple new tricks in my bag.” He adds with a smile, “We made some great television.”

Many fans...

Every Survivor fan wants to know which former players will come back for the landmark Season 50 cast, which will be comprised of past contestants. One of the show’s most famous names is still in the reality TV conversation today: Rob Mariano, aka Boston Rob. Currently competing on The Traitors Season 3 and hosting the Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 after show each week, Mariano has remained a familiar face in reality competition show history (as have his baseball caps). He’s a one-time Survivor winner but frequent player and met his wife, Amber Mariano, while competing on the first-ever all-stars season (Season 8). When TV Insider previously asked him if he would be interested in coming back for Survivor 50, he wasn’t convinced he was interested in a return. Now, though, he seems to have changed his mind. Back in May 2024, Mariano told TV Insider that he’s always loved...

Jeff Probst is working on the Survivor 50 cast and reportedly discussed it with Boston Rob Mariano.

Rob is a well-known alum who has played Survivor five times. He is also on the third season of The Traitors on Peacock.

Rob appeared on Survivor: Marquesas, eventually landing an invite to Survivor 8, where he finished as the runner-up to future wife Amber Brkich.

That All-Star appearance (Survivor 8) was controversial as Rob burned bridges with friends but found the love of his life.

He would later appear on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, coming up short during his third appearance. But that wasn’t it for Boston Rob.

Rob won Survivor: Redemption Island (Season 22), cementing his legacy in the game and earning another invite to the all-winners season (Survivor 40).

Is Boston Rob on the Survivor 50 cast?

Rob Mariano recently interviewed with Chicks in the Office. The podcast covers many pop culture topics, including reality TV stars.

Boston Rob Mariano is a Survivor legend but has also become well-known for appearances on various other reality competition shows.

Rob finished tenth place on Survivor: Marquesas, but the fans loved him.

Rob was invited back for Survivor: All-Stars, where he played the game hard, pushed boundaries, and made it to the end.

The methods Rob used to succeed on Survivor 8 came at a price. He admittedly “killed friendships” and left a wake of destruction.

Luckily for Rob, the season ended happily, as he wound up with a wife in Survivor 8 winner Amber Brkich. He didn’t win the $1 million prize, but did score a new best friend for life.

Later, Rob played on Survivor 20: Heroes vs. Villains and then won Survivor: Redemption Island. But he still thinks back to his time on All-Stars.

Rob also appeared on The Amazing Race and Deal or No Deal Island, and some...

Rob Mariano was recently announced as the host of the Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 after show. In a recent interview, he discussed a romance he saw blossom while working behind-the-scenes on the show. He also talked about what he thinks it’s like being a contestant on the series.

Boston Rob Saw Romance Bloom On The Show, & Had A Similar Story Of His Own

Mariano, also known as Boston Rob, became known for making appearances throughout the Survivor franchise. These shows have included Survivor: Marquesas, Survivor: All-Stars, and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. Notably, he was the winner of Survivor: Redemption Island.

Over the years, Mariano has also occasionally taken on hosting duties for various shows. Notably, he appeared as the host of the 2004 reality series, The Player.

Boston Rob Mariano – YouTube

More recently, Mariano was announced as the host of Deal Or No Deal Island‘s Season 2 after show.

The Traitors 3 cast features four Survivor alums this winter.

Survivor fans have good reasons to watch the Peacock reality competition show again.

Previously, four-time Survivor player Cirie Fields won the first season of The Traitors US.

Cirie also appeared on Big Brother 25 after she left Scotland.

Two-time Survivor winner Sandra Diaz-Twine appeared on The Traitors US Season 2. She nearly made it to the end as well.

Stephenie Lagrossa from Survivor: Palau was also on the first season of The Traitors US, and Survivor legend Parvati Shallow was on The Traitors 2.

Who are the Survivor alums on The Traitors 3?

As we mentioned, four Survivor alums are featured in the new season of The Traitors.

Boston Rob Mariano leads the way, who won a season of Survivor, met his wife Amber Brkich on the show, and also appeared on Survivor: Winner At War.

Boston Rob was also featured on the first season...

Many Survivor alums dressed up to celebrate Halloween this year.

Some former castaways even wore multiple costumes.

It was also interesting to see fans getting into the spirit, with some dressing as the host of Survivor.

Jeff Probst has to be flattered that viewers still dress as him for Halloween after more than 46 seasons on CBS.

Survivor 46 winner Kenzie Petty got into the spirit with her new baby, making her new bundle of joy a bit “spooky” for the holiday.

For anyone who missed that news, Kenzie married and had a baby following her time in Fiji.

Survivor alums celebrate Halloween 2024

“Happy Halloween from my sad and spooky beige baby and I,” Kenzie Petty wrote on a creepy Instagram post.

“Pictures by my creepy bestie @smoked.shot. For the record this was Ali’s idea and not mine and I thought the mask was kinda cute until I saw the...

Many Survivor contestants do not have many things nice to say about its host Jeff Probst, given the extreme rules that he imposed. While several contestants, who initially developed a romantic bond, found it difficult to continue following the extreme stressful and dire nature of the reality show, this isn’t to say that every relationship in the show was doomed.

Jeff Probst | Credit: Survivor/CBS

Some of them, who crossed paths during their tenure on Survivor, continue to lead happy lives together after their stay on the Jeff Probst-led show.

Rupert and Laura Boneham Rupert and Laura Boneham | Credit: X

After back-to-back appearances in season 7 and season 8 All-Stars, Rupert Boneham’s popularity once again pushed the network to invite him for season 20, and for this one, he brought his wife, Laura Boneham, alongside him. Not only their marriage survive the hardships of the show, the latter said, “Survivor empowered...

Survivor is one of the most successful reality TV shows of all time. This means that contestants on the show often find a chance to expand their fame by appearing on other shows after their stint on the island. Jeff Probst was asked about this, and he had a couple of thoughts about players who use Survivor to get gigs on other shows.

Here is what Probst had to say about the trend.

Jeff Probst On His Thoughts On Survivor Players Appearing On Other Shows

When some Survivor players become famous on reality TV shows, they end up with household names. They then use that fame to move on to other shows and take part in competitions on even rival networks. This has happened since the start of the series.

YouTube/SurvivoronCBS

It is normal for Survivor contestants to appear on shows like The Challenge and The Great Race, as...

We are just days away from the start of Survivor 47, and according to longtime Survivor host Jeff Probst, there is something that fans of the hit reality television series should definitely keep their eyes peeled for: a "showmance" (or lack thereof).

Those who love CBS competition shows may be familiar with "showmances" coming into play in various shows such as Survivor, Big Brother, The Challenge, and others.

In fact, some of the most beloved Survivor showmances are still going strong today such as Amber Brkich and "Boston" Rob Mariano, who tied the knot and had four beautiful daughters together after their stint on Survivor: All-Stars.

But unless you're Amber or Rob, showmances are sometimes more of a curse than a blessing...

On numerous seasons of the show, castaways have been eliminated shortly after finding themselves embroiled in a showmance, being deemed as one half of a "power couple."

Tribemates tend to find showmances threatening,...

Showmances have been a staple on Survivor since the Reality TV series premiered on CBS more than 20 years ago. Host Jeff Probst even admitted that production would originally cast potentially compatible players to increase the possibility once the castaways were marooned.

From Og couples like Boston Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich, to more recent lovebirds such as Matt Blankinship and Frannie Marin, many Survivor showmances have lived on beyond the screen.

Jaclyn Schultz and Jon Misch as well as Joe Anglim and Sierra Dawn Thomas are two more examples out of many more Survivor couples who are still together in 2024.

Related This Survivor Contestant Lost It On Fans After She Was Accused Leveraging Her Experience On The Reality Show For A Career In Hollywood

Survivor: Thailand's Ghandia Johnson endured a traumatic experience on the show.

There are, of course, multiple others that have not quite worked out. Among those...

One Survivor fans day was made when their path crossed with that of Boston Rob Mariano, considered in many quarters to be the most iconic contestant in all of Reality TV. After sharing news of the encounter on Reddit, aficionados of the popular show responded very positively.

Mariano has competed five times on Survivor, and emerged victorious at the fourth time of asking: in Season 22, which was titled Redemption Island. Someincluding his former ally in the game Phillip Sheppardargue that he was not as deserving of victory as other winners, who faced tougher roads to victory.

Boston Rob also found love on Survivor, as he married Season 8 winner Amber Brkich after he finished first runner-up in that All Star year. Their showmance is among many still going strong years later.

Related These Former Survivor Players Are Now Thriving In Hollywood

More than 700 people have played Survivor. Some of them are...

Fans are buzzing about a potential showmance between Wendell Holland and Dee Valladares, both former Survivor winners. Holland confessed to a breakup and revealed his involvement with Valladares, expressing remorse for his actions. Despite controversy, fans defended their right to privacy, speculating on a possible return to Survivor for both Holland and Valladares.

Showmances tend to make up some of the most entertaining moments of reality TV, and Survivor is no different. The excitement that comes with two players falling for each other in the full view of the world is unmatched, but fans felt they found one blossoming away between two former winners.

There is arguably no greater Survivor love story than that between Season 8 winner Amber Brkich and Boston Rob Mariano, deemed in some quarters as the best player of all time. He also got the chance to come back and emerge victorious in Survivor: Redemption Island (Season...

Boston Rob and Amber are the most iconic Survivor couple, showcasing a lasting love story that began on the show in 2004. Fans watched their relationship grow over multiple TV appearances, including Survivor: Winners at War and The Amazing Race. Despite other reality show couples fading away, Boston Rob and Amber have stayed strong, garnering admiration from fans.

Unlike other reality shows like The Bachelor, Survivor has never been known for making love connections. Instead, Survivor fans talk about the first player to be medically evacuated, which seasons are the best, if Jeff Probst is a good host, and which seasons new fans should watch first.

Despite that, Survivor has led to some couples falling for each other, including Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich. Since Amber and Rob first fell in love, some fans have wondered why Survivor's other viewers still care about them so much.

"Boston" Rob Mariano And...

Survivor season 45 featured a showmance between Austin and Dee, who had undeniable chemistry and an obvious romantic connection. On December 23, 2023, Austin and Dee revealed that they were still together. Austin and Dee have shared some details about their feelings, but they haven't been as open as some reality TV couples.

Survivor season 45 featured a classic showmance between contestants Austin Li Coon and Dee Valladeres, and it's time to talk about whether the two are still together. Austin and Dee worked together from the very start - both began as members of the same tribe. Week by week, they tried to eliminate others, often by blindsiding other contestants.

Aside from their compatibility in the game, there was an undeniable chemistry and romantic connection between Dee and Austin. In a game in which strong partnerships are often the difference between winning or losing, this alliance served them both well. During Tribal Council,...

The cast for Survivor 50 has not yet been released, but is in the works. This comes as the popular reality competition series is currently working on Survivor 47. While there is still three seasons to air before the 50th, the big thing about the anniversary season is that it will be the first all-stars season of the New Era.

Here is who all could return to compete on Survivor 50.

Jeff Probst Hints At Survivor 50 All-Star Cast Possibilities

The cast of competitors for Survivor 50 has yet to be released, although it could include some very big names for the show’s anniversary season. While this is the first all-star season of the so-called New Era, there could be a few names from even older seasons who will return to win the anniversary season title.

Sandra Diaz-Twine in ‘Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains’

When talking to TV Insider, Survivor 50 host and producer Jeff Probst...

Fans believe Amber Mariano shouldn't have won Survivor: All-Stars over Boston Rob due to his strategic gameplay. Ben Driebergen faced backlash for winning Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers with help from a final-four twist. Natalie White's victory in Survivor: Samoa is questioned as fans feel Russell Hantz's domination should have secured his win.

Since Survivor is one of the most successful reality shows of all time, there are loads of great seasons for new fans to watch. There also are many interesting Survivor facts. For example, what happened to the player who was the first to be medically evacuated and the fact that Survivor's Kat Edorsson got open-heart surgery.

Of course, one of the topics that Survivor fans like to talk about the most is who the best and worst winners are. While most Survivor viewers know which winners are considered the best, many of them...

“Survivor” debuted on CBS as a summer program on May 31, 2000. Hosted by Jeff Probst since the very beginning, it is credited by many as starting the reality show craze that has been a major part of TV this century. After being on the air for two decades, 20 of the most iconic champions returned in Season 40’s “Winners at War” to compete in the first-ever all-winners season. Following a temporary delay due to Covid-19, the reality TV show continued with even more twists and turns, plus more diversity amongst its cast members. Tour our updated “Survivor” winners list above (or click here for direct access) that highlights everyone from Season 1’s Richard Hatch to the most recent.

Tony Vlachos and Sandra Diaz-Twine are affectionately known as the King and Queen of “Survivor” because they’re the only two-time winners in the show’s history. Tony prevailed in “Cagayan” (Season 28) and “Winners...

Rob Mariano has played Survivor a total of five times, spending 152 days on the show, one of the most of any contestant ever. Rob and Amber met on Survivor, got engaged during the live finale at Madison Square Garden, and now have four daughters together. Jeff Probst recently announced that Survivor season 50 will involve returning players, sparking speculation about whether Rob and Amber will return.

Jeff Probst recently revealed that Survivor season 50 would involve returning players, but will "Boston" Rob Marianao and Amber Brkich be back to play the game one more time? Rob and Amber are basically Survivor royalty. They met and fell in love while playing the game, and are now married with children. Rob has played Survivor a total of five times. Rob has spent a total of 152 days playing Survivor, one of the most of any contestant to ever play the game.

He most recently appeared...

Boston Rob and Amber Mariano are the most famous Survivor duo there is. Their relationship began when they were on the same tribe in Survivor: All-Stars (Season 8) in 2004, and their chemistry was immediately present. Fast-forward to 2024, and they’re still married with four kids. Rob was recently eliminated from his latest reality competition appearance in a tropical setting, NBC‘s Deal or No Deal Island, and dished on the likelihood that he and Amber would come back for Survivor Season 50 to TV Insider following his exit. Jeff Probst let fans decide that Survivor Season 50 would be a returning players’ season in an FYC event on April 27. Since Rob holds the record for being cast in the series the most (he’s played Survivor six times and won once), we had to ask if he and Amber are interested in participating. While Rob he still loves the game, he doesn’t...

Boston Rob and Amber Mariano met while starring in Survivor and have since started a family together. They are fan-favorites on the show. Rob and Amber appeared in a variety of Survivor seasons, and they were also featured on The Amazing Race. Rob holds the record for the most Survivor appearances. He and Amber now have four daughters.

Rob and Amber Mariano met on Survivor season 8, and they've been growing their family ever since. Between appearances in a couple of installments of the iconic series, and two The Amazing Race stints, Rob and Amber started a family, and it's time to talk about their marriage, kids and more. Their iconic status is one good reason why the show's still going strong. The most recent episode of Survivor season 46, "My Messy, Sweet Little Friend," aired on May 8, 2024.

When cast members are attending Tribal Councils and competing in rigorous challenges, romantic partnerships are bound to form.

The second season of House Of Villains is finally going to happen. The names of the reality television stars have just been released. The list of villains is quite impressive. Reaching deep into the history of Survivor, there is a previous winner (and villain) fans will love to see return to reality television.

Previous Survivor Winners’ Returns To Reality Television

There have been several Survivor winners who have returned to reality television. Some of these previous winners have done quite well in their attempts to win the prize in new shows. Even though their Survivor days may not be over, they made the choice to branch out and try new things.

Amber Mariano, the wife of “Boston Rob” Mariano, competed with her husband on The Amazing Race. The first and only woman to win Survivor twice, Sandra Diaz-Twine, appeared on the second season of The Traitors. Also starring in the...

Boston Rob is currently a contestant on Deal Or No Deal Island, a mix of Survivor and the hit game show. Rob has been married to Amber Brkich since 2005 and together they have four daughters. Despite his success and fame on Survivor, Boston Rob might return to the show due to his love for competition.

Rob Mariano, known by the nickname Boston Rob, has played Survivor a total of five times, but what has he been up to since Survivor: Winners At War? That was Survivor season 40, and Rob even appeared on the thirty-ninth season, Survivor: Island Of Idols, where he served as a mentor along with fellow Survivor veteran Sandra Diaz-Twine. This means Rob, one of the show's most well-known contestants, appearing on Survivor for two seasons back-to-back. All in all, Rob has spent a total of 152 days playing Survivor, one of the most of any contestant.

Survivor: Winners At War,...

Rob Mariano made his name as Boston Rob on the hit reality TV series Survivor. He then watched several of his former Survivor allies and enemies cash in on their infamy with a role in the reality show The Traitors. Rob recently said he would be willing to return to Survivor or try out for The Traitors. However, he said he would only do it on one condition.

Here is what Mariano said it would take to get him back into the world of Survivor or to attempt to win The Traitors.

Boston Rob Willing To Return To Reality TV

Boston Rob made his name on Survivor. He originally competed on Survivor: Marquesas, Survivor: All-Stars, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, and Survivor: Winners at War. He had his biggest success as the sole survivor on Survivor: Redemption Island. He also served as a mentor on Survivor: Island of the Idols and his wife,...

Rob Mariano, the Survivor legend, holds the record for most seasons but also excels in business ventures outside reality TV appearances. Rob and Amber's Survivor journey is heartwarming, from meeting on the show to raising their family and engaging in home renovation projects. Fans can connect with Boston Rob through his rulebook, cookbook, signed hats, Cameo videos, and Mariano Construction gear.

Boston Rob Mariano holds the record for being on the most Survivor seasons, having first appeared on one of the best reality TV shows in 2002, but he has several other business ventures that keep him busy. Rob and his wife, Survivor season eight winner Amber Mariano, are raising their four daughters when he is not competing or mentoring Survivor cast members. Here are all the ways that Boston Rob makes his living outside his reality TV appearances. While he won't appear on current Survivor season 46, Boston Rob remains reality TV royalty.

Deal or No Deal Island features Survivor winner Rob Mariano.

He is back on an island trying to win another big cash prize, but it has also led to some questions from reality TV fans.

Many fans have been asking whether or not Boston Rob and Amber Brkich are still together.

CBS introduced Amber on Survivor: The Australian Outback. Amber finished in sixth place on the second season of the reality competition show. Tina Wesson was the Sole Survivor that year.

Rob was introduced on Survivor: Marquesas. Rob finished in 10th place on the fourth season of the show. Vecepia Towery became the Sole Survivor of his season.

Rob and Amber weren’t yet a couple, but that would all change later.

Survivor: All-Stars leads to Rob and Amber’s relationship

Season 8 invited many fan-favorites from the game to play in the first Survivor: All-Stars.

The themed season was filmed in Pearl Islands,...

It’s no wonder that “Boston” Rob Mariano is playing this updated version of the Howie Mandel–hosted game show, Deal or No Deal Island. The five-time Survivor competitor will be a tough challenger for the 12 other contestants to beat on the Banker’s private island as they all retrieve briefcases filled with more than $200 million in cash. Mariano, who celebrates his 20th wedding anniversary to Survivor sweetheart Amber Brkich in 2025, reveals his strategy.. What was your approach to winning? “Boston” Rob Mariano: It’s a new game, a new format. You’ll see we’re all figuring it out as we’re playing. In my strategic mind, I wanted to [know], “How can I get an advantage? What can I use in my favor?” I think the audience is going to love seeing me dissecting it in real-time.  You and former Deal or No Deal briefcase ...

Dee and Austin, contestants on Survivor season 45, have a strong alliance and romantic connection. Eight past Survivor couples have successfully maintained their relationships after the show. Among the most well-known Survivor couples are Amber Brkich and Rob Mariano, who got engaged and married after the show.

Survivor season 45 features a classic showmance between contestants Austin Li Coon and Dee Valladeres, and eight past couples are still together. The two have been working together since the beginning of the game, both starting on the same tribe. Week by week, they worked together to eliminate, often by blindsiding other contestants. Both are currently part of the final five contestants vying for the million dollars and the title of sole survivor.

Aside from their compatibility in the game, there's an undeniable chemistry and romantic connection between Dee and Austin. In a game, in which strong partnerships are the difference between winning or losing,...

"King" George Mladenov is arguably the most legendary player to appear on Australian Survivor, and it seems that his two seasons of the show were just the beginning of his reality TV career. A political strategist from the Bankstown suburb of Sydney, George burst onto the Australian Survivor scene in 2021's Brains V Brawn season. George played a bombastic game, and he was able to make it to the end, despite being targeted during his entire run. Dubbed a "cockroach" by his competitors, George made it to the Final Two, but he lost the jury vote to Hayley Leake.

King George cemented his legacy with his return trip on Australian Survivor: Heroes V Villains in 2023. Even though he entered the game with his notorious reputation as. "King George of Bankstown" from his previous season, George again avoided elimination. He was a dominant force throughout the game. He came just shy of winning again,...

Survivor All-Stars seasons are rare but are always exciting, and can range from terrible to legendary. These seasons exclusively feature returning players, and each one so far has had a different theme. Some all-star seasons have had a mix of castaways, including winners, losers, and multiple-time returnees. Others, like Second Chance and Winners at War, have a very strict casting criteria.

There have been several Survivor seasons to feature a mix of returning players and new contestants, but there have only been five true all-star seasons. The first was 2004's Survivor: All-Stars, which was the show's eighth season overall. The most recent all-star Survivor season was 2020's Winners at War, which was season 40.

Survivor Season 34: Game Changers

The worst all-returnee Survivor season was 2017's Game Changers. With an underwhelming cast and unclear theme, the season never really made sense. The cast had a few all-time Survivor icons like Sarah Lacina...

The latest season of Survivor has seen romance blossom between Frannie Marin and Matt Blankinship. Both self-described "dorks," Matt is a security software engineer from San Francisco, while Frannie is a research coordinator from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Matt and Frannie started the game as members of the Soka tribe, along with Danny Massa, Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt, Claire Rafson, and Josh Wilder.

Survivor season 44's Matt and Frannie, referred to by the portmanteau "Frankinship," were drawn to each other from the beginning of the game. Matt described their bond as "two dorky magnets." At the time the season was filmed, Matt was still processing the end of his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, but he couldn't help but be drawn to Frannie and vice versa. Unfortunately, Matt became the victim of a post-merge twist that put him into a minority split, and was voted out. He became the first member of the jury, while...

At the start of “Survivor 43” it was looking like series history would be made if they had become the first season to vote five women out in a row. Thankfully they dodged setting what would have been an unfortunate record, but sadly “Survivor 44” is already in the same position. Setting aside the medevac of Bruce Perreault on Day 1, four women have once again been the first four voted out of a “Survivor” game. If the players extend it to a fifth next week, they will make history as the first and only cast to eliminate five women out in a row.

As things stand, the game will remain in the three tribe format for at least one more episode. Ratu voted Maddy Pomilla out first, Tika is responsible for sending home both Helen Li and Sarah Wade, and Soka ousted Claire Rafson after she sat her out for three straight immunity challenges.

CBS’ Survivor is back for its 44th season, and these contestants are ready to outwit, outplay and outlast like never before. The premiere introduced a new hidden (or not so hidden) immunity idol, had three medical interventions, and showed the first successful use of the Shot in the Dark. Watching this premiere felt like watching history in the making. And as we look forward to history being made in the rest of this season, we can also look back on some of Survivor’s biggest moments from the past. Who can forget the whirlwind romance between “Boston” Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich? The dynamic duo fought their way to the Final Tribal Council, only to make their tribemates vote between them for a winner. Although everyone was anxiously waiting to see who would be crowned as the Sole Survivor, the real surprise came moments before that, when Mariano got down...

It's been a long time since Survivor had a showmance on the island, but rumors are swirling about a possible showmance on season 44. Throughout its two-plus decades on the air, Survivor has birthed many romances between contestants. Some have been more successful than others, but several couples from the show have gone on to get married and start families together. The most famous example is "Boston" Rob Mariano and Amber Mariano (née Brkich), whose budding romance on Survivor: All-Stars culminated with a proposal on the season's live reunion show and a televised wedding special. Rob and Amber have now been married for nearly 18 years, and have four daughters together.

Survivor season 44 is expected to become the next season to feature a showmance between castaways. Like its new era predecessors, the season will feature 18 new contestants, three tribes, and a 26-day game. Unlike All-Stars, the season will continue the new era tradition of a pre-taped,...

Survivor is one of those shows that is made great by the character of the players and the work of the editors.

A jury of booted players always chooses the winner, but sometimes the winner is a surprise even to production.

It's up to the editors to craft a satisfying narrative based on the footage they have but still make sure the outcome isn't too obvious. Thirty-nine days (or 26 in the last three seasons) yields a lot of material, so you'd think they'd always have enough to go on.

Not always. Sometimes, making the winner appear deserving seems impossible, so the players' relationships and strategies are embellished or tossed aside in favor of an entertaining throughline. It hasn't always worked.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for many seasons of Survivor.

Sandra Diaz-Twine - Survivor: Pearl Islands/Survivor Heroes vs. Villains

Sandra Diaz-Twine is the undisputed queen of Survivor. She is...

Survivor has recently premiered its 43rd season of the show. It is hard to believe that the series has been on the air for over 20 years after first making a splash all the way back in the summer of 2000, when Survivor: Borneo captivated audiences.

After the success of its first season, Survivor was under immense pressure to return with a great second season, which it did when Survivor: The Australian Outback was another huge success, still standing as the series' most-watched season of all time. This cast featured a lot of players who would later return to the game in future seasons, but some haven't been seen since. What have they been up to since competing in the Land Down Under?

Jeff Varner

Jeff Varner came in 10th place this season as he was the sixth person voted out. He just missed being on the jury.

Related: Where Is The Cast Of Survivor: Borneo Now?...

The castaways of “Survivor 43” have positioned themselves to set a new record next week — all they need to do is vote out a fifth woman in a row. So far the cast has only eliminated females: Morriah Young, Justine Brennan, Nneka Ejere and Lindsay Carmine were the first four players voted out, matching a franchise record. If they continue on this path and vote another woman out next week, they will go down in infamy as the record holders for longest succession of female eliminations to start a season. Yikes!

Luckily, as it stands in Gold Derby’s racetrack odds, the cast is not headed toward setting such a disastrous record. Instead, Geo Bustamante leads our current predictions to be eliminated in Episode 5 at 19/25. He is followed, however, by four women with decent odds to go: Cassidy Clark at 6/1 and Jeanine Zheng, Elisabeth ‘Elie’ Scott and Noelle Lambert all at...

Even though Da'Vonne Rogers lost the big prize on "Big Brother: All-Stars," coming in 10th place, she was still named America's Favorite Houseguest at the conclusion of Season 22. Da'Vonne chatted with Gold Derby's Joyce Eng about whether she'd ever want to play "Bb" again and she didn't mince words, saying the competition is way too long. (Regular seasons tend to last just under 100 days.) However, there's another CBS reality TV show that catches her eye.

"What I really wanna do is 'Survivor,'" Da'Vonne confirmed. "It’s [39] days, I’ll be gone, knock that out. I’ll be Ok with that. I think that’s what I wanna do." She also seemed on board with joining a potentially future 30-day "Celebrity Big Brother" edition, proclaiming, "I'm set."

SEEDa’Vonne Rogers (‘Big Brother’) on winning America’s Favorite Houseguest: ‘Don’t make me ugly cry!’

Over the years there's been...

Three weeks ago, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst dubbed the just-ended “Winners at War” as “The G.S.O.S.O.A.T.” — in other words, “The greatest season of ‘Survivor’ of all time.” What with 20 former champs competing against one another, he told Entertainment Weekly, “They are absolutely killing it. Game-play at a level we have never seen before.”

But after the finale last Wednesday when Tony Vlachos was crowned as the Sole Survivor, we asked whether you agreed with Jeff that Season 40 — aka “the season on steroids” — was the ultimate in outwitting, outplaying and outlasting as the reality competition’s longtime motto states.

See ‘Survivor’ celebrities: 31 famous faces and well-known figures who played the game

In our poll, however, just 36% agreed while saying that most of the 20 returning players lived up to their reputations as past winners of the show.

See ‘Survivor’ fans have spoken: 48% want to vote out...

(Warning: This post contains major spoilers for the Season 40 finale of “Survivor.”)

The 40th season of “Survivor,” a.k.a. “Survivor: Winners at War,” came to a close with a supersized finale on Wednesday that saw one competitor walk away with a $2 million check and become the long-running CBS competition’s newest two-time “Sole Survivor. “

Tony Vlachos was the player with the honor of winning “Winners at War,” having previously been crowned the champion of Season 28, “Survivor: Cagayan.”

“Survivor: Winners at War” featured 20 legendary winners from the first 39 seasons of “Survivor” returning to compete against each other in the 20th anniversary edition of the competition. These winners included Vlachos, Natalie Anderson, Tyson Apostol, Danni Boatwright, Sophie Georgina Clarke, Jeremy Collins, Sandra Diaz-Twine, Ben Driebergen, Michele Fitzgerald, Wendell Holland, Adam Klein, Yul Kwon, Sarah Lacina, Amber Mariano, “Boston” Rob Mariano, Parvati Shallow, Kim Spradlin-Wolfe, Denise Stapley, Nick Wilson and Ethan Zohn.

It seems like only yesterday the 20 returning “Survivor” champions returned for an epic clash in “Winners at War,” but now we’ve already reached the Season 40 finale. Heading into Wednesday’s three-hour event, only five castaways remained in the running to win the $2 million prize: Ben Driebergen, Denise Stapley, Michele Fitzgerald, Sarah Lacina and Tony Vlachos. But there were 14 players living on the Edge of Extinction who were itching for their chance to return to the game: Natalie Anderson, Amber Mariano, Danni Boatwright, Ethan Zohn, Rob Mariano, Parvati Shallow, Yul Kwon, Wendell Holland, Adam Klein, Tyson Apostol, Sophie Clarke, Kim Spradlin-Wolfe, Jeremy Collins and Nick Wilson. The 20th contestant, Sandra Diaz-Twine, quit after being voted out on Day 16.

SEEJeff Probst: Nude contestants aren’t allowed on ‘Survivor’ anymore because the ‘culture’ has changed

So who returned from the Edge of Extinction and who won “Survivor: Winners at War“? Below, read...

Most “Survivor” devotees are betting on Tony Vlachos to claim the title of Sole Survivor on the 40th season of the CBS show, “Winners at War.” The biggest argument made for predicting his ultimate victory on the three-hour finale this Wednesday, May 13? He is the only one of the 20 previous champs competing on this so-called “season on steroids” whose name has never been written down during a Tribal Council. He might be twitchy as an itchy squirrel sometimes, but he has shown off both his leadership skills, his physical prowess and endurance and even his social game.

That is why an overwhelming 62% voted in our Gold Derby poll for Tony to win it all and become just the second winner to win “Survivor” twice since Sandra Diaz-Twine, who left the season early after being blindsided with her own immunity idol and quit once she got to the Edge of Extinction.

After 11 episodes of “Survivor: Winners at War,” Tony Vlachos still has yet to receive a single vote at tribal council. Considering how much of a known threat he was heading into this epic 40th season, that is quite the accomplishment indeed. When this New Jersey police officer originally played in “Survivor: Cagayan,” his cutthroat attitude and penchant for lying made him one of the most slippery villains to ever win CBS’s reality TV show. He returned in “Survivor: Game Changers,” but his reputation got the best of him and he was the second player voted out.

“I’m on probation,” Tony joked in this season’s premiere when he first stepped foot on the Dakal beach. He desperately wanted to find a hidden immunity idol, but he knew if he disappeared he’d be on the chopping block. Tony’s tribe first went to tribal council on Day 3, but...

When Tony Vlachos originally played in “Survivor: Cagayan,” his cutthroat attitude and penchant for lying made him one of the most despicable villains to ever win CBS’s reality TV show. He returned in “Survivor: Game Changers,” but his reputation got the best of him and he was the second player voted out. Now this New Jersey police officer is competing on “Survivor: Winners at War” against a group of past champions and, wouldn’t you know it, he hasn’t received a single vote yet at any tribal council. Has the one-time villain turned into a hero?

See‘Dead wrong, El Probesto!’ ‘Survivor’ host Jeff Probst issues a correction about Boston Rob and Natalie’s immunity idols

“I’m on probation,” Tony joked in the Season 40 premiere when he first stepped foot on the beach. He wanted nothing more than to explore the island to find a hidden immunity idol,...

Save for longtime “Survivor” host Jeff Probst, there have been no participants who better define the CBS reality TV show than Sandra Diaz-Twine and Rob Mariano. Combined, these two players have appeared on a total of 11 seasons, including the current “Winners at War,” while Sandra still retains her record as the only two-time winner of the game.

Their strategic choices as castaways helped define how other players learned how to “outwit, outlast and outplay” as they voluntarily subjected themselves to the often harsh conditions of living in the wild. There is a reason why last season this pair was chosen to act as mentors to participants of “Island of the Idols,” even getting their their heads turned into giant tiki shrines.

See‘Survivor 40’: Rob Mariano blows another challenge right after Sandra Diaz-Twine quits! Are they still winners? [Poll]

But this time around, Sandra and Rob were pitted against fellow winners,...

The rules are simple. If you find fire tokens on the Edge of Extinction, you can buy advantages in the all-important “Survivor” return challenge. Unfortunately for Yul Kwon, he was the only voted-out player who didn’t get the opportunity to acquire any island currency, and people are understandably bummed. (Read our episode recap here.)

As this is the first season ever to incorporate fire tokens, there are obviously kinks in the system that need to be worked out for future installments. Notably, why does making it further in the game, as Yul did, essentially punish him from earning an advantage in the return challenge? Just last week there was a fire token goose chase in which four wooden coins were hidden up on the cliff. That meant double eliminees Parvati Shallow and Sandra Diaz-Twine (had she not quit) had a golden opportunity to find fire tokens alongside the people...

“I’m captive right now, but I’m plotting a way to escape this wretched prison that they call the Edge of Extinction,” declared Wendell Holland just moments after his elimination from “Survivor: Winners at War.” This former winner of “Survivor: Ghost Island” was voted out of the newly merged Koru tribe by a 9-3 vote over Adam Klein. “Once I get out of here I’m gonna do what I need to do,” Wendell promised in his end-of-show exit interview. “The war is not over.”

Everybody except for Michele Fitzgerald (Wendell’s former girlfriend) and Nick Wilson (Wendell’s second in command) voted to send him packing. The other nine castaways saw Wendell as a strategic threat, particularly when it came to his close bond with Jeremy Collins … who nonetheless wrote Wendell’s name down when he didn’t get his way to oust Nick.

See‘Survivor 40’: Rob Mariano...

Right after Sandra Diaz-Twine underestimated fellow tribe member Denise Stapley‘s strategic prowess after she used two immunity idols against her and voted her out two weeks ago during “Survivor: Winners at War,” here comes her “Island of the Idols” mentor chum Rob Mariano who once again botched his chance to win a challenge as he flubbed another puzzle.

Rob had several advantages on his side including three fire tokens with bonus coin courtesy of wife and fellow Edge of Extinction resident Amber Mariano. He wisely used them to buy an idol as well as an advantage in the challenge. But when he faced off with Tyson Apostol, Rob failed to lift a ball into the right spot to complete the test and get back into the main game. Instead, he was left scowling amongst the other jury members during tribal.

See‘Survivor’ 40 episode 8 recap: Who was voted out after...