Most Survivor episodes conclude with host Jeff Probst snuffing an unfortunate contestant’s torch after they’ve been voted out of the game. Though some contestants offer the remaining contenders a quick “Good luck”—with varying degrees of sincerity—this symbolic moment is often somber and silent, befitting of the message Probst tells contestants at the first Tribal Council of each season: “In this game, fire represents life. When your fire’s gone, so are you.”
At the increasingly popular Survivor watch party events in Chicago and elsewhere each week, that snuff can be accompanied by the cheers, boos, and gasps of hundreds of spectators gathered at a bar or theater to collectively view the latest episode.
Though watch parties may not be an entirely new phenomenon, hosting formal events for non-sports programming has become more common over the last decade. Long-time Survivor viewers probably remember seeing fans in the winners’ hometowns spotlighted during reunion shows in early seasons, but those finale gatherings celebrated a local champion; nowadays, there are multiple Survivor watch parties across the country every single week, often with current and former contestants making an appearance. This week, two Survivor legends—Jonny Fairplay, best known for his iconic “dead grandma” hoax from 2003’s Pearl Islands installment, and Yam Yam Arocho, who won the 44th season in 2023—will host an “ultra VIP” event at the Randolph Tower, offering food, drinks, and exclusive merch.
“It's the most intimate environment you'll ever have watching Survivor,” says Fairplay, whom I spoke with via Zoom recently about the event. He legally changed his name from Jon Dalton in 2012 and has capped this event to 30 tickets despite hosting upwards of 500 at previous watch parties. “I've had people greet me at the end with tears in their eyes, saying this is the coolest Survivor thing they've ever done, and even transcending Survivor, just one of the coolest things they've ever been a part of.”
“I wanted to go to a totally novel setting to experience a show I had viewed very many times in other settings, to potentially meet fans, and also to meet contestants,” says Sean Harkey, a fan interviewed about his Survivor watching experiences. He began regularly watching the show in 2008 and has attended four Survivor watch parties since 2023, including one of Fairplay’s. Meeting those contestants gave Harkey a new appreciation and understanding of the people who play Survivor, singling out season 47 winner Rachel LaMont as “so naturally charismatic and electric that it'd honestly be more surprising if she didn't win.”
CBS has even officially gotten in on the fun, occasionally holding advance screenings of episodes (with strict anti-spoiler policies, of course). They also host sporadic events that allow fans to test out some of the show’s most popular challenges and even launched a “fan cafe” in Boston operated by the family of one of the current 49th season’s contestants.
Of course, even with Fairplay hosting a watch party for Survivor 49, he’s more interested in next year’s long-awaited Survivor 50. Asked what he’s looking forward to from Survivor 49, he answers with a smirk: “For it to be over, and for 50 not to disappoint.”
He may find out whether it meets that criteria in a room full of hundreds of fans with similarly high expectations.
Survivor 49 ULTRA VIP Viewing Party with Jonny Fairplay & Yam Yam Arocho Chicago will take place Wednesday, October 15 at Randolph Tower Apartments (188 W Randolph St.). Tickets are $119.68 and available online via Eventbrite.
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