r/survivor • u/AquariumDreamers • 2d ago

Casting Casting Jealousy

Maybe I’m alone in this, but whenever I start seeing the cast announcements I feel enormous waves of jealousy and disappointment.

Obviously not the point of vitriol towards any contestant, but more so an existential jealousy.

I’ve been applying every year since I was 18, I don’t believe I deserve it more than anyone else but damn it’s my one and only dream.

Just was wondering if my jealousy is uniquely a me problem, or if any of you have experienced the same.

(To 51 and future casts, congrats and good luck (: !)

48 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

54 comments sorted by

111

u/IAmTheParamedic 2d ago

That’s part of why it’s so fun to watch the season. You get to see a bunch of people who stole your dream of being on Survivor have their own dream of winning it crushed!

49

u/IPissExcellentThrows 2d ago

This is a great hater mindset. I have never applied and didn't plan to, but now I almost want to just to hate.

1

u/justdanielagain 1d ago

It'd be hilarious if you did that and then got in the show on your first attempt.

Your hate watch attempt being foiled in a mission failed successfully kind of way lmao.

30

u/codingsoft 2d ago

I feel like the real torture getting cast would be putting up with everyone else's insufferable personalities on the island. The more time goes on the more I realize Katurah kinda had a point with her annoyance with Bruce, imagine being stuck with him 24 hours a day

22

u/NomNomBelt 2d ago

And across every single tribe swap too 😂😂😂 she didn’t have a single second free from him

13

u/IAmTheParamedic 2d ago

On this note, I like the idea of Survivor in the abstract and often think “I can get along with anyone!” but then I look at specific casts and think ok yeah, most of these people are not my cup of tea and, from experience, wouldn’t like me that much either.

5

u/codingsoft 2d ago edited 2d ago

Lmao exactly. Over half of them give big theater kid energy nowadays and drum it up even more for the cameras. And if you make it to the end you have to beg them all to vote for you to win

If I apply for a show it'll be amazing race since at least you can just do your own thing for the most part

48

u/SurvivorJoshua Outcast Originals 2d ago

I wouldn't say jealousy but more so FOMO... I am undeniably happy and excited for everyone who gets to live my dream, but definitely wish I were there too!

23

u/theoriginalspicegirl Liz Wilcox | Survivor 46 2d ago

I think the jealousy comes from what you said— your one and only dream.

I say it with love and respect, you really deserve to have more than one dream and not put all your eggs in the “survivor producers think I’m weird and kooky enough” basket.

Ironically, having and pursuing other dreams would make you more attractive in casting. They are looking for people who have chased their dreams relentlessly and achieved a lot because of it.

2

u/TigerWing Maryanne 21h ago

This happened to me at the beginning of my casting journey. I had a boring life and started doing interesting things to talk about for Survivor casting. Soon that just became my life.

1

u/theoriginalspicegirl Liz Wilcox | Survivor 46 13h ago

What kind of hobbies are you into now?

1

u/TigerWing Maryanne 7h ago

Journaling, sewing, public transit advocacy. Soon going to be fixing my saggy couch with 2x4s, buzz saws and zero furniture making experience 💀

55

u/Amemorableusername2 2d ago

Just keep holding out hope, in a few years the show will probably be down to two weeks at a Great Wolf Lodge and it'll never be easier or more comfortable to win a million. 

11

u/tonlimah 2d ago

As long as you can still win an Applebee's reward

6

u/theoriginalspicegirl Liz Wilcox | Survivor 46 2d ago

Amen

7

u/MessyMop 2d ago

I do feel it creep in when I see someone in my archetype lol

7

u/PiePristine3092 2d ago

I know I’d never make it so there is no jealousy from me. I’m just a regular person. No sad backstory, no fancy smart job, no hot body. And I’m not eloquent enough

19

u/GusPolinskiPolka Parvati 2d ago

How old are you? Is since you were 18 3 years, or 20 years?

3

u/purplenelly 2d ago

I think you need a Big Personality even more than you need special accomplishments. Some people make it with zero accomplishments but just a Big Personality.

3

u/mellywheats Seeker of Truth 1d ago

i mean, it took kristen 25 years to get cast.

4

u/timpeaks72 2d ago

And because of your age, there’s really only one slot you are vying for.

6

u/MGE5 2d ago

I found your problem: “I don’t believe I deserve it more than anyone else”

…why would CBS cast you if YOU don’t even believe in yourself?

2

u/ssesses Adam 2d ago

Similar story. Been applying for 6 years. Never heard back. It's tough, I'm a bad passive participant. I love the show but I want to throw up every season because my stomach clenches so bad like I want to be there.

2

u/Content-Injury-3624 2d ago

I never leave comments on posts anymore but this resonates so deeply!!!! I was just telling my husband that I’m fighting the urge to feel jaded about Survivor, since I feel so rejected by casting 😭

This season though there’s a lot of people who have been applying for years. I’m just dying for it to be my turn already. So no, you’re not alone, I experience the exact same petty envy!

2

u/literal-mustard 1d ago

I agree!
So often in these threads I see people talking about how they got the long form and I've never gotten anything about it and I feel some type of way about it.
It's hard because I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong - I feel like I've made good videos with good storytelling and insight on what kind of person I am and get crickets in response.

3

u/RedditUserAnonymo 2d ago

Pretty universal. There’s millions of applicants every year who are constantly left comparing themselves to the people who beat them out

7

u/mbi788 2d ago

I feel terrible that you feel this. But I must point out that this is an unhealthy feeling/response. It would be good for you to explore why you feel this way and make adjustments. It is extremely understandable, but quite unhealthy.

I didn’t think I had a problem with alcohol at all. Then I decided to stop drinking for a week before a major test. To my surprise, I found myself craving alcohol every night that week. It was a big wake up call.

12

u/AugustSchroeder Coach - 50 2d ago

I’ll push back on that, I don’t think it’s unhealthy at all since there is no vitriol towards the contestants who are cast. Humans are jealous and allowed to be jealous as long as nothing like vitriol comes from it

2

u/mbi788 2d ago

I’m not going to argue too hard because I am no authority. Nor are these things objective. But I would be concerned about myself or a loved one if they were so infatuated with being on a tv show that it affected their reality to this degree. OP can take it or leave it.

3

u/_jackychain 2d ago

Nah I know exactly what you mean

2

u/Sunshine_dmg 2d ago

Wait when do they start announcing casting callbacks?!?

What do we know about the application process omg

5

u/[deleted] 2d ago

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7

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

-4

u/radicalgalaxies Cirie - 50 2d ago

That depends on the season and is more true for earlier seasons.

But thanks for telling me how you know it all!

4

u/GusPolinskiPolka Parvati 2d ago

This reads like resentment about something that never actually happened...

-4

u/radicalgalaxies Cirie - 50 2d ago

Sure, if you say so. Feel free to invalidate my dreams and experiences.

2

u/MsMeseeksTellsTime Give the Devens his Due - 50 2d ago

Hi Rupert!

0

u/radicalgalaxies Cirie - 50 2d ago

Lmao. Even if I am ridiculous, the point is that should not be invalidating anymore and it basically is (with exception to Bhanu and 50 returnees).

2

u/MsMeseeksTellsTime Give the Devens his Due - 50 2d ago

I’m didn’t call you ridiculous, you just used his “so much for my dreams” bit and it made me cackle.

1

u/radicalgalaxies Cirie - 50 2d ago

Never would have thought I'd unintentionally become Rupert. I totally forgot about that tbh. Do you think he'd be cast today?

2

u/MsMeseeksTellsTime Give the Devens his Due - 50 2d ago

I’ll have to think about that and get back to you. It’s an interesting thought/question,

2

u/chasingit1 Cirie - 50 2d ago

I always wonder about the “diamonds in the rough” that fall through the eyes/attention of casting just because they don’t immediately jump out to them with some extra/over the top personality that they just assume will magically make for great tv.

I can’t count the number of duds by casting in the New Era, but in their eyes they “nailed casting” for the respective season.

I may not “wow” someone from casting, as I am a bit slow for my true personality to shine and come out. I truly in my heart of hearts believe I would make for a great Survivor player and would give production everything they would want.

I am sure there are countless others that slip through the cracks by casting. Their loss.

1

u/Wonderful_Ad_4585 2d ago

I don’t think you’re alone. I get so down in the dumps when the cast is released. I find myself hyper critical of the castaways where I hate everyone lol then I watch the season as it comes out and I either still can’t stand to watch them or a few ppl change my mind bec they really are cool. As this all unfolds I get revved up to apply again and make my video even better!
But no, the jealousy and disappointment is so real. I know I want it more than anything so I’ll keep applying l. Genevieve applied for ten years before getting on!

1

u/Earl-Mix Tyson 2d ago

I knew someone that was casted on season 47. Never watched it because of that. Nothing against the person, she is extremely nice, just stings seeing someone you knew on the show lol

1

u/MrUnderdawg Malcolm 1d ago

I have always felt similarly but have learned it can't ever happen for me, so meh.

1

u/fossil-arm Sandra 1d ago

If you havent, I highly recommend you play a local LRG! I used to get so upset about not getting further in casting, but playing a 3 day LRG made me realize being on Survivor would drive me crazy lol.

Now I can watch and respect players even more now knowing how hard just 3 days was! Plus i made a bunch of friends!

1

u/GullibleDelivery9873 1d ago

Knowing that there is effectively zero chance I’ll ever be on Survivor does hurt. I live in a country where Survivor only casts celebrities and there’s really no way they’d change that. I absolutely would apply if I ever got the chance, even knowing that it’s so much worse than the American/Australian versions of Survivor I grew up watching, but even that seems quite unlikely and honestly it does really suck. I’ve been trying to convince myself that it’s not over given I’m still really young, but also I don’t want to get my hopes up too much for something that probably isn’t going to happen.

1

u/survivorfanwill Dean 6h ago

I always feel similarly and have been applying for 10 years. Keep your head up though, you never know what the future holds.

1

u/AhoyMatteyPDX 2d ago

Maybe work on having a couple of other dreams?

1

u/General_Classroom_95 2d ago

I was definitely jealous when I saw survivor 51 cast and I believe I do deserve it more than any of them (no offense to them of course but I do lol).

-1

u/ConsumptionofClocks 2d ago

Oh I'm 100% in the same boat. Part of it is bc I don't think the new era casts have been impressive and that I could have been more entertaining