Mike White confirmed that some of his former Survivor castmates will be making appearances in The White Lotus season 2 on HBO. Mike White, the Survivor: David vs. Goliath runner-up, is well known for writing movies like School Of Rock and Brad's Status, but he also has his place in the reality TV zeitgeist as he has competed on both Survivor and The Amazing Race on CBS. Mike's most recent project, The White Lotus, has gained much acclaim and even earned him multiple Emmy Awards for his writing and directing.
Mike has not been shy about citing Survivor as an inspiration for his HBO hit series. On the red carpet for The White Lotus season 2, he told Variety, "There's definitely some Survivor weaved into the show, that's for sure." Mike's season of Survivor is considered the best modern-day season by many fans. Regarding The White Lotus season 2, he revealed, "We had some Survivor contestants make cameos in that very first scene." Survivor fans will have to keep their eyes peeled to try to spot which contestants make their way on The White Lotus.
Survivor Alum Appeared In The White Lotus Season 1
The White Lotus season 2 is not the first season to include a former Survivor castaway. Mike cast his fellow Goliath tribemate Alec Merlino to play a bartender in the acclaimed The White Lotus season 1. While Alec was not one of the three people who voted for Mike to win Survivor, it seems their friendship has endured. Mike played an old-school Survivor game, which gained him support from many fans and cast members, but it was not enough to secure the votes for the million-dollar prize against opponent Nick Wilson.
Mike was a breath of fresh air for Survivor fans. In the past, the celebrities who appeared on Survivor did not play a cutthroat game but instead enjoyed the experience. In Survivor: Nicaragua, former NFL coach Jimmy Johnson laid down on his sword so that his tribemates could all have a chance to keep playing. Mike played differently and effectively moved through the game, earning his seat in the final three.
Mike's loss on Survivor: David vs. Goliath created a lot of controversy online. It even spurred a podcast entitled Mike White Was Robbed. Although Survivor brings back players for a second chance on occasion, it is unlikely Mike will be back due to his smash hit on HBO. For fans of Mike, they'll just have to check out The White Lotus on HBO when it premiers October 30 to see which Survivor alumni make their way to the hit series.
Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS.
Source: Variety