Feb
Survivor Alum Drew Basile Makes His Pitch for Season 50
Drew Basile is ready for another shot at Survivor — and he’s making his case for why he should be part of the landmark 50th season.
Basile, who previously shared with Entertainment Weekly that he wasn’t holding out hope for an invitation to the milestone season, now has a change of heart. “Yeah, my opinion has definitely changed on Survivor 50,” Basile tells EW. “I haven’t gotten the call yet, and I don’t have any solid information, but I think I would be a great pick. CBS would really benefit from choosing me.”
Fresh off his return to Jeopardy! in the ongoing Tournament of Champions, Basile feels more confident about taking another shot at Survivor. “I’ve got a different perspective than a lot of the other contestants,” he says. “I’m not afraid to get mean. You’ve got a lot of great talkers on the show, but for me, words are a weapon. I say the right word on Jeopardy! every time, and I win $100,000. I can definitely say the right words to win a million on Survivor.”
The 24-year-old master’s student, who made it to the final six before being blindsided by his own alliance in 2023, was also the first Survivor alum to compete on Jeopardy! He went on to qualify for the Tournament of Champions during a seven-game winning streak but was eliminated in Thursday’s semifinals, bringing his total earnings to $138,403.
Basile hints that he’s been approached with other opportunities, but he’s being selective about his next move. “I love The Traitors — it’s a lot of fun, like a murder mystery movie, very campy,” he says. “But for me, I want to be on the best shows, and to me, Survivor and Jeopardy! are at the top of that list. I’ll never say no to anything, but I’m looking for unique experiences that I know I can win, that will be fun, and where I can excel.”
And could there be another Jeopardy! appearance in his future? Basile is open to returning, but only after putting in some more preparation. “Some people treat Jeopardy! like a job. They study, practice, get their own buzzer systems — they prep,” he explains. “If I were going to take things to the next level, like in a Jeopardy! Invitational, that’s the kind of system I’d want to implement. I’ve already been looking into things like flashcards, getting help from others, and I’m confident that when I come back, I’ll be invincible. I didn’t win this time, but next time, I’ll be swinging.”
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