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Survivor is currently airing season 40 on CBS, but there is news now available for the next two seasons. Production has been delayed on both season 41 and season 42. The delay is due to the coronavirus concerns. Season 41 was due to start production on March 24 in Fiji. Season 42 was set to start filming on May 24.
Per Entertainment Weekly, Jeff Probst sent out a later to his crew about the delay of the CBS series. The letter is below.
“Hey Survivor crew,
Due to the growing short-term uncertainty surrounding the global spread of COVID-19 and the corresponding desire for the continued well-being of our amazing crew, we have decided to push back our start date for Survivor season 41.
Though Fiji has no reported cases and is beautifully remote, our crew numbers over 400 and are flying in from over 20 different countries, creating a need for more time to fully analyze and create our new production safety plan.
This situation is unprecedented and we are learning more information every day. It is out of concern for the well-being of all of you that we have taken this step.
Our intention is to begin production after the S40 live show. Therefore, subject to new information, our new planned start date for production would be on or about May 19th, 2020. Our intention is to still to shoot both seasons 41 and 42.
We know many of you will have questions and we will start a communication chain to keep everybody up to date.
We are the most experienced international television team in the world and for 20 years we have calmly and successfully managed a variety of production issues. We will navigate this one the same way.
Thank you for understanding our need for this extra time to create our plan.
Jeff”
What do you think? Are you surprised that Survivor has delayed production? Is it the right move?
Not surprised that they put the show on hold, the government has managed to put the lives of all of us on hold, and in our opinion, all for the election. Nothing you or anyone else can say or prove differently. Life, like this show is all about taking chances. We are all aware of flue, viruses, poison, jumping out of airplanes, should be our choice, not theirs. Once again, the government has over-stepped and abused their power to run, no ruin our lives!!!
If 41 shows as scheduled, what is the starting date?
Please continue!Life would not be the same without survivor!
I love survivor I wish it could run 12months a year!Please continue on,life would not be the same!
I have enjoyed Survivor since Day 1 and hope to continue enjoying this Social Experiment for many years to come. Stay safe, Survivor crew.
I love Survivor & I’m glad you’re taking precautions. Better safe than sorry I say!
Now I’m wondering about The Amazing Race which almost certainly films in dirty & crowded third world cities.
I have seen every show CBS has aired on Survivor from day one and as long as I live I will be watching it !!! I PRAY it lasts longer than I live as it looks now Survivor will be on the air long after Jeff Probst has retired and a new or several new folks take Jeff Probst’s place !!!! I agree better to delayed production now to keep other folks from catching the Coronavirus !! The CBS folks are using the time to make better games to play LOL !!!!!!!!
It is a smart move to be cautious!
I am not surprised at all. I actually wondered about this just yesterday, as I watched the current Survivor episodes.