‘Parks and Rec’ Star Wants in on Celebrity ‘Survivor’ Season

When “Survivor” first began, CBS cast almost exclusively “every day” people to compete for the show’s $1 million grand prize. The series broke that trend for its 11th season, however, when ex-NFL quarterback Gary Hogeboom became the first celebrity to join the series on the cast of “Survivor: Guatemala.” Since then, notable figures from the world of sports, entertainment and beyond have auditioned to be part of the “Survivor” family, including astronaut Dan Barry, WWE wrestler Ashley Massaro and former sitcom star Lisa Whelchel. 

Most recently, Mike White–actor, director and creator of HBO’s “The White Lotus”–was officially announced for the cast of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” after his original debut on “Survivor: David vs. Goliath.”

Now, fans of the show are renewing their call for CBS to greenlight an all-celebrity version of the series, particularly after “Parks & Recreation” actor Nick Offerman expressed his interest in competing. 

Nick Offerman Says He’s ‘Fantasized’ About Playing ‘Survivor’

In celebration of Offerman’s 55th birthday on June 26, Stephen Colbert shared a clip from a three-year-old interview with the actor on “The Late Show.” In the unearthed video, Offerman admits that he’s “fantasized” about playing “Survivor.”

“We’re huge fans of ‘Survivor’,” said Offerman, referring to himself and his wife, actress Megan Mullally. 

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Known primarily for his role as Ron Swanson in NBC’s “Parks & Recreation,” Offerman has also appeared in projects like “Fargo”,“The Last of Us”, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and, most recently, “Sovereign,” which is set to hit theaters on July 11. In addition to his acting career, Offerman is also a celebrated craftsman – a skill that he thinks would help him excel on “Survivor.”

“I’ve fantasized about being on ‘Survivor’ and I think I could build a three-story split level for the other contestants. I’d build a waterwheel, so that we could actually power appliances,” he said. In addition to being the owner and operator of his own woodworking studio–Offerman Woodshop–in Los Angeles, Offerman similarly co-hosted the DIY reality competition series “Making It” with his “Parks & Recreation” co-star, Amy Poehler, from 2018 to 2021. 

While his skills would certainly come in handy when it came to crafting a state-of-the-art shelter for the other castaways, Offerman admitted that he’d likely struggle with the social aspects of “Survivor.”

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“The social game would be my downfall,” he said. “Because I’d either go with integrity, which would be my nature, but those people never win. You have to be a backstabbing snake to win the game, so I could call upon my classical training and become a Machiavellian villain. It’d be worth a try.”

Fans Call for All-Celebrity Version of ‘Survivor’ 

Following the video’s release, “Survivor” superfans have taken to social media to call on CBS to make the all-celebrity season a reality, with one writing, “Omg celebrity ‘Survivor’ with no perks. Gotta be real.” Another added: “Now I want a ‘Celebrity Survivor’ with @nickofferman.” 

Colbert hopped on the train as well, sharing the interview on social media and tagging longtime “Survivor” host Jeff Probst in the comments with this two-word message: “Your move.”

Since then, the official “Survivor” account has replied to Offerman’s interest in competing, saying, “Oh, I’m a bit of a fan myself, Nick!!”