‘Survivor’ Alum Reveals the Hilarious Role She Wanted to Play on Season 50

New-era “Survivor” players seemingly got preferential treatment when it came to casting “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans.” Set to debut in February 2026, the landmark season will welcome back two dozen former “Survivor” players to compete for another shot at the million dollar grand prize and the coveted title of “Sole Survivor.”

Of the 24 players on the series’ largest ever cast, 12 of them made their “Survivor” debut between Season 41 and Season 49, set to air this September. Commonly referred to as the “new-era,” these seasons featured a shortened version of the game – lowered from 39 days to 26 – as well as new game-changing twists and enticing new advantages. Of the dozen new-era players joining the “Survivor 50” cast, three (Charlie Davis, Q Burdette and Tiffany Nicole Evrin) made their series debut on “Survivor 46.”

While four contestants from Season 46 returning for “In the Hands of the Fans” might have been a bit too much, Liz Wilcox, who became a fan favorite after her run on the 2024 season, has revealed that she did lobby for a spot on Season 50 – but not as a contestant. 

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Wilcox Wants to Live up to Her ‘Applebee’s Queen’ Title

Despite being allergic to much of the food on the island, Wilcox managed to persevere during her appearance on “Survivor 46,” helping to orchestrate some of the season’s most shocking blindsides. An established threat by the end of the competition, Wilcox eventually fell victim to the dreaded new-era final-four fire-making challenge. 

The fan-favorite contestant has since become a regular guest on “The Survivor 50 Files” podcast, part of Rob Cesternino’s “Rob Has a Podcast” network. During a July 7 appearance on the show, Wilcox hilariously revealed that she did submit an audition to join the forthcoming season not as a player, but as one of the waitresses for the show’s now-iconic Applebee’s reward challenge. 

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During “Survivor 46,” Liz was at the center of one of the season’s most dramatic meltdowns when she began screaming at Q after he decided not to bring her along to the highly-anticipated Applebee’s reward. Due to her numerous allergies, Wilcox had eaten even less than her fellow food-deprived castaways throughout the competition and was notably upset over being denied her favorite meal – Applebee’s signature bourbon burger. Despite her over-the-top reaction, Wilcox has since been known for her love of the chain restaurant. 

“I made, like, a 45-second video, and I was like, ‘Hello, my name is Liz Wilcox, I was on Season 46 of ‘Survivor.’” revealed Liz on the podcast. “I’m now known for being this Applebee’s queen, Applebee’s mascot. I am applying for the position of Applebee’s waitress for that reward on Season 50.”

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Jeff Probst Opens Up About ‘Survivor’s’ Corporate Sponsorships

While the collaboration between “Survivor” and Applebee’s has become a staple of the new-era game, the chain’s first sponsored reward was featured on Season 39, “Island of the Idols.”  

Longtime host Jeff Probst opened up about the corporate partnership during an episode of the official “Survivor” podcast, “On Fire”. Speaking with co-host and “Survivor 45” winner Dee Valladares, Probst revealed that CBS even flies in its own private Applebee’s chef to cater a delicious feast for the castaways that win the challenge. 

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“It’s a win for Applebee’s, it’s a win for ‘Survivor,’ and it’s a win for the players,” said Probst, adding that the partnership has been one of the show’s most successful. 

“We’ve done cars,” continued Probst, referring to “Survivor’s” past partnerships with automotive retailers like Chevrolet, GMC and Ford, though these sponsorships were scrapped after rumors of a “car curse” began, pointing to the fact that no contestant who ever won a car on the show went on to win the game.

Since then, “Survivor” has collaborated with big-box stores like Target, Home Depot, Sears, and Marshall’s. 

“We’ve done hygiene products. We did Herbal Essence…one of our better ones was Charmin toilet paper, and we even gave [contestants] an outhouse,” added Probst. 

Commenting on Liz Wilcox’s now-iconic Applebee’s meltdown, Probst said, “That’s real emotion, absolute vulnerability, and this is the kind of moment on ‘Survivor’ where a lot of people will make fun of and will be mean, but imagine that’s you, and for whatever reason, you’ve been triggered in the same way. That is proof you forget about the cameras; there is no facade. I have a lot of empathy for Liz, but it is also part of the adventure that comes with playing the game.”

“Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans,” starring Wilcox’s Season 46 castmates Charlie Davis, Q Burdette and Tiffany Nicole Evrin, is set to make its CBS debut in February 2026, preceded by “Survivor 49” this September.