Why Boston Rob Mariano, Parvati Shallow and More Weren’t Asked Back for Survivor Season 50

The tribe producers have spoken.  

Ahead of Survivor season 50—which features all returning players—host Jeff Probst explained why fan favorites Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano, Parvati Shallow, and more season 40 alums weren’t asked back.

“We made a decision not to bring any of the winners from Winners at War because we had just seen them and it was a big season,” Jeff explained on the Oct. 22 episode of his On Fire podcast, which he cohosts with winner Jeremy Collins. “And I know a lot of people are going to miss players like Jeremy, but that was the reason why. That simple.” 

Although the season 40 castaways won’t be outwitting, outplaying and outlasting for that $1 million prize, there are still plenty of stars who will reignite their torches, including season 37’s Mike White and Christian Hubicki, season 13’s Ozzy Lusth and season 12’s Cirie Fields.

And this certainly isn’t the same game old school Survivor alums Jenna Lewis-Dougherty and Colby Donaldson once played.