Plot Synopsis

Strangers are stranded in a remote location, split into tribes, and provided limited supplies to survive. The castaways must live off the land and build their own shelter, while competing against each other in physical and mental challenges. The tribe that loses an elimination challenge must attend Tribal Council and use secret ballot to vote one of its members off the island, eliminating that person from the competition. After a number of castaways leave the island, the tribes are combined into a single tribe, its members regularly attend Tribal Council and they continue to vote someone off the island. When only two castaways remain, the jury -- comprised of the seven to nine competitors who were most recently eliminated -- votes for the person who should receive the million dollar first prize. The results of this vote are revealed in a live studio program months after the actual jury vote on the island.

Season 26, which premiered on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 8pm ET/PT, was the show's second FANS VS. FAVORITES edition, pitting 10 former fan-favorite players in one tribe against a group of 10 new players who are ultimate fans of the game. This season was filmed on the Philippines' Caramoan Islands, the same location as the previous season. Plus, Malcolm Freberg competed in back-to-back seasons after finishing fourth on SURVIVOR: PHILIPPINES, while Erik Reichenbach returned for his second FANS VS. FAVORITES season after competing as a fan in the first.

Season 27, themed "Blood vs. Water," featured former players competing with -- and ultimately against -- their loved ones who share the same goal: to outwit, outplay, outlast and ultimately be crowned Sole Survivor.

SURVIVOR returned for its 28th season on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT on CBS with a two-hour season opener. This season, SURVIVOR: CAGAYAN, castaways were separated into three distinct tribes: brawn, brains and beauty.

Season 29 of SURVIVOR premiered on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT on CBS with a 90-minute season opener. SURVIVOR: SAN JUAN DEL SUR, the show's 29th season, featured the return of the "Blood vs. Water" theme, as all-new castaways compete with -- and ultimately against -- their loved ones. Plus, this season marked the return of Exile Island.

On Wednesday, February 25, 2015 from 8-9:30pm ET/PT, CBS premiered the 30th season of SURVIVOR, featuring the first-time theme of "Worlds Apart," with castaways from very different backgrounds divided into the three separate tribes. The all-new castaways will be grouped by White Collar, Blue Collar and No Collar. The White Collars (Masaya Tribe), known for making the rules, includes a corporate executive, a retail buyer and a marketing director. The Blue Collars (Escameca Tribe), known to follow the rules, consists of a postal worker, an oil driller and a contractor. The No Collars (Nargarote Tribe) boasts free spirits who are known to break the rules. This tribe consists of a coconut salesman, a sailing instructor and a YouTube sensation.

SURVIVOR returned for its 31st season on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 from 8-9:30pm ET/PT on CBS. Season 31, SURVIVOR CAMBODIA: SECOND CHANCE, features 10 male and 10 female contestants selected by fan voting from an original pool of 32 former players, ranging from Season 1 to Season 30, have never won the game and felt they deserved a second chance to compete for the $1 million prize and the title of Sole Survivor. The season opens with the 20 returning castaways dropped in the middle of the South China Sea. For one tribe, old-school thinking battles new-school strategy when the two distinct groups try to take control of the game. Also, one contestant finds a clue to a hidden immunity idol that requires retrieving it in a way that's never been seen before.

Season 32 of SURVIVOR, hosted again by Jeff Probst, premiered on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 from 8-9:30pm ET/PT on CBS. This season, known as SURVIVOR: KAOH RONG and filmed in Cambodia, features a battle between Brains, Brawn and Beauty, as the castaways are split into three tribes at the beginning. In the 90-minute season opener, "I'm a Mental Giant," castaways embark on the most grueling 39 days in Survivor history and test whether brute strength, looks or smarts will be the attribute that helps capture the title of Sole Survivor. Also, one castaway deals with excruciating pain when a bug gets stuck in their ear.

Season 33 of SURVIVOR, filmed in Fiji, premiered on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 from 8-9:30pm ET/PT on CBS. The new season features 20 castaways who are separated by generation and forced to compete against each other with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast each other. Each group of 10 castaways possesses similar characteristics that represent their generation and help unify their tribe. Millennials (Vanua Tribe), the largest living generational group and most diverse in U.S. history, grew up in a time of rapid change and are often described as having priorities that are vastly different from previous generations. Generation X (Takali Tribe) forms the bridge between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials and has been collectively labeled as hard-working and independent people. This season's cast includes an assistant district attorney, a youth pastor, a police sergeant, a television writer, a professional gamer and the youngest player to ever compete in the game, a high school student. In the season opener, "May the Best Generation Win," a war of generations begins as Millennials battle Gen X, as a massive storm leads to a first in SURVIVOR history, and one castaway snatches a powerful advantage in the game.

Season 34 of SURVIVOR premiered on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 from 8-10pm ET/PT on CBS, featuring 20 returning players who were considered game changers, as they battle it out in Fiji. The 20 returning castaways, include two-time winner Sandra Diaz-Twine; fan-favorites Cirie Fields, Ciera Easton and Tai Trang; challenge dominator Ozzy Lusth; Cagayan winner Tony Vlachos; Millennial stand-out Michaela Bradshaw; Caleb Reynolds, who was medically evacuated from his earlier season; and more. In the two-hour season opener of SURVIVOR: GAME CHANGERS, which marks the 500th episode of the series, two legends in SURVIVOR history set their sights on one another, and two castaways attempt to put their past behind them and start a new game while another castaway introduces the "spy shack" 2.0.

Season 35 of SURVIVOR premiered on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT on CBS. This season, themed Heroes vs. Healers vs Hustlers and filmed in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji, features 18 castaways, divided into three groups of six based on how they are perceived by others. Heroes are used to being heralded, healers receive gratitude for their work and hustlers must earn respect. These castaways are forced to compete against each other with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast each other in an attempt to become the Sole Survivor. This season's castaways include an Olympian, an NFL player, a bellhop, a diversity advocate and a urologist.

Season 36 of SURVIVOR premiered on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 from 8-10pm ET/PT on CBS. Hosted by Jeff Probst, the new season, which returns to Mamanuca Islands in Fiji, features 20 new castaways divided into two groups of 10 and centers around the bad decisions of past players. In a new twist, players may be sent to a separate haunted island filled with SURVIVOR relics from the previous 35 seasons of the show. The question is: will these new players be able to learn from the past mistakes of others and "reverse the curse," or will the past come back to haunt them? Showcasing the series' extensive history, Ghost Island is filled with real idols and advantages from previous seasons, including from Brazil, China, Africa and Australia, serving as a haunted graveyard for unfortunate choices made by former players.

Season 37 of SURVIVOR premiered on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 from 8-9:30pm ET/PT on CBS, as the show returns to the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji, with Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst as host. This edition features 20 new castaways divided into two groups of 10 strangers. Castaways who make up the "David" tribe have overcome adversity in their lives, while the castaways on the "Goliath" tribe tend to capitalize on their individual advantages and use it against their opponents. This extreme game of social politics will focus on the "underdogs" versus the "favorites" and reveal that every "Goliath" has an Achilles heel, while every "David" has a secret weapon. These castaways will be forced to compete against each other with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast each other in an attempt to become the Sole Survivor. In the 90-minute season opener, "Appearances Are Deceiving," a vicious cyclone stirs up emotions on the first day on the island, and the "David" tribe tries to take down the "Goliath" tribe.

Season 38, called SURVIVOR: EDGE OF EXTINCTION, premiered on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT on CBS, with Jeff Probst hosting from the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji. This season presents a new layer to the game with the introduction of the island known as Edge of Extinction, which severely tests the will of the castaways to be the Sole Survivor and what they are willing to endure to make that happen. Those who can withstand the emotionally and physically difficult challenge will be afforded a shot for one of them to get back in the game and continue their quest for $1 million. In the season opener, "It Smells Like Success," Castaways hover on the Edge of Extinction in an all-new twist, and four returning players attempt to bond with their new tribemates. Also, castaways tackle a giant puzzle in their first immunity challenge of the season.

SURVIVOR returned for its 39th season on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 from 8-9:30pm ET/PT on CBS. Themed "Island of the Idols," this edition features two legendary winners -- Boston Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine -- who return to the game to serve as mentors to a group of 18 new players. Combined, Boston Rob and Sandra have played over 200 days in this game and plan to share their knowledge with the new castaways, but for the first time ever, they won't be competing for the money. During the 39 days, these new players will visit the Island of the Idols and learn skills and strategy from these "idols." The new players will then put their knowledge to the test and those who can rise up to the challenge will continue their quest for $1 million and the title of Sole Survivor. In the 90-minute season opener, "I Vote You Out and That's It," one castaway gets fired up when learning a lesson on the Island of the Idols, where Boston Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz serve as mentors in an all-new twist. Also, castaways question whether likability will prove to be a liability.
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On Wednesday, December 18, 2019 from 8-10pm ET/PT, CBS premiered the Season 39 finale of SURVIVOR, immediately followed by this season's reunion:

"Mama, Look at Me Now" (8-10pm; season finale): Following last week's elimination (Elaine Stott) and ejection (Dan Spilo), the five remaining castaways -- Lauren, Janet, Dean, Noura & Tommy -- battle for the title of Sole Survivor and the $1 million prize.

"Reunion Special" (10pm): The castaways reunite to discuss their journey, and the winner is revealed.

Season 40 of SURVIVOR premieres Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 8-10pm, featuring castaways who are all previous SURVIVOR winners.