It was November 2003 on the island of Contadora. (It will not surprise any longtime reader to learn mine were wildly inaccurate.) As the evening progressed (and more beers were downed), talk turned to another exercise. The Mogo-Mogo tribe on ‘Survivor All-Stars’.Robert Voets/CBS/Getty Images A much dumber exercise. They would also serve as a bond and hidden inside joke between the writers covering that season. So what are the words?...

We asked the cast before the season began to give us their picks for a merged tribe name? Which one will win out? Like whom to align with. The cast of ‘Survivor’ 43.Robert Voets/CBS And whom to target. And, most importantly, what to call the new tribe. What will theSurvivor 43tribe name be? While the show will tell us in good time, we may have the answer already. “So I would probably do something like that....

“He paused for a moment and said’Well… it sounds… in-ter-est-ing. But is it fun?'” This isSurvivor 43!" Morriah Young on ‘Survivor 43’.CBS But there is also something else. Some playfulness we’re not used to being served up so early on the menu. The first flourish occurs as Sami is introducing himself to America. Jeff Probst on ‘Survivor 43’.CBS I’m all these things. Like, look at me." Okay, pretty standard quote....

The Mad Hatter strikes… and almost loses a vote in the process. I’m a lucky guy. I get to watch TV and write about TV for a living. Jeff Probst and the cast of ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS It’s pretty awesome. I can just shrug my shoulders, sigh, and say “Sorry, hon. It’s for work.” The Coco tribe of ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS And the best part about it is… it’s true!...

This week’s episode began with a jaw-dropping revelation regarding an idol thought to be out of the game. I’m not talking about the players on this season ofSurvivor, but rather the producers. They pulled a fast one on us, they did. Jeanine Zheng on ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS That turned out to be fake news and a misdirection of Glenn-stuck-under-the-dumpster proportions. My sources tell me Ryan even took the bracelet out fishing with him for 17-and-a-half-hours at one point....

Jesse’s diabolical double-cross is exactly what this season needed. We recap all the action and offer updated season rankings. “Hello, 911? Cody Assenmacher and Jesse Lopez on ‘Survivor 43’.CBS Yeah, I’d like to report a murder. His name is Cody Assenmacher. That tooisa real name! Jesse Lopez on ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS No, I’mnotgoing to spell it out. Who committed the murder? Oh, let me tell you, Jesse Lopez just murdered THE HELL out of Cody....

Noelles challenge performance and sly, strategic move pays off. What the hell is this nonsense? Only one hour ofSurvivorthis week? The cast of ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS What a load of B.S.! And a note to CBS: You have no one to blame for my fury but yourself. Now here we are with a completely normal hour-long installment and it’s like… that’s it? The Baka tribe on ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS Actually, you know who’s to blame?...

Either way, the song remains the same. And it doesn’t matter how many hourglasses you smash. Some things and people are incapable of change. Jeff Probst on ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS And one of the dumbest has to be throwing a challenge. And yet, in spite of overwhelming evidence against the move, people still do it! They think they’re infallible. Jeanine Zheng and Elie Scott on ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS They think they’re invincible....

Sometimes when it comes toSurvivor, it’s the weird things that excite me. You know I love me an orange hat onJeff Probst’s head. But I’m capable, on occasion, of also looking at the big picture. The cast of ‘Survivor’ 43.Robert Voets/CBS Or at least abiggerpicture. So let’s talk about the merge. The merge is exciting! James Jones on ‘Survivor’.Robert Voets/CBS It means a whole new phase of the game, a new name (Gaia?...

Two contestants take it to the limit (and then some) in a classic Survivor horror movie challenge. I don’t know how, but they did it. Those bastards somehow figured it out and I love them for it. The cast of ‘Survivor 43’.CBS The challenge lives inSurvivorinfamy, but has actually only been run three times heading into this season. Or so they thought. At least that’s the way it looked. The cast of ‘Survivor 43’....

We’ve got the logo, a first-look teaser, and more. One season ofSurvivorends… and another one begins. Well, not technically. ‘Survivor 44’ logo.CBS And it’s possible for you to watch that video above. But we warned, youwillgasp at the 30 second mark of said video. It’s going to happen. Jeff Probst on ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS You’ve been warned. It is a deliberately jarring moment, and it does not stop there. That’s a bold claim....

Prepare to get your Fabio on. They are great players whose greatness has been firmly established. But what about otherSurvivorplayers thataren’talways spoken about as true greats of the game? Vecepia Towery, Devon Pinto, and Julia Sokolowski of ‘Survivor’.Monty Brinton/CBS; Robert Voets/CBS via Getty Images; Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images Who are some of the most underrated players ever? Somewhat surprisingly, many current contestants selected players who actuallydidwin the game. Still, it’s not like somebody went completely cuckoo for Cocoa-Puffs and picked Fabio or anything....

Looking for a player to root for? Well, we asked them! (???) The ‘Survivor 44’ cast.Robert Voets/CBS I’m doing this for her and that is why I’m going to win this game." Says Yam Yam: “Something random and super unique about me is I love doing bearded drag. “Tell us more and tell us immediately! Robert Voets/CBS; Everett Collection “Every Halloween I get a costume that I love, usually a character from my childhood....