Hard to imagine it’s been almost 25 years since Survivor Borneo premiered on May 31, 2000. From the opening note, I was hooked, and I have been fan ever since.

When Survivor Season 48 premieres tonight (Wednesday, February 26, 2025), it will be the 687 Episode of Survivor that I have watched. Almost all were watched live as they premiered (including Borneo Episode 12, which I watched in the hospital on the day my daughter was born)

I have also applied to be a contestant on Survivor numerous times by multiple methods. Originally, you needed to download and fill out a 10-page document by hand. Then you needed to make and send in a VHS Tape along with the filled-out application. At some point, they switched to mailing in DVDs, before finally going to online application. The application was replaced with fewer questions and then that moved online as well

They also did a fan choice online application where you submitted a video that was voted by online fans. I submitted mine for this but was not the winner.

I also traveled to Atlantic City for an Open Casting Call where you got to give a 1-minute speech to the casting people. It was a lot of fun and was crazy to see how many people showed up

Last year I attended a Survivor Watch Party hosted by former contestant and host of RHAP, the great Rob Cesternino

I also participated in some early On-Line Survivor Fantasy Leagues. Needed to choose things like who would win challenges, and who would be eliminated. They also added things like who would read the tree mail and who would be 1st to get water.

Over the past 25 years, Survivor has been a running part of my life. I have joined a few webinars hosted by previous contestants like Pavarti Shallow, Adam Klein, and Kelly Bechtold and watched lots of YouTube Videos from other past contestants on how to make Application Videos.

One of my biggest highlights was running into past contestant Chrissy Hofbeck at one of our high school plays (She lives in the same town as me)

Certain things like volunteering for the Tough Mudder Race, or actually running the City Challenge Obstacle Course were lots of fun and made me feel a bit like a contestant. Small things like untangling my headphone cable become a Survivor knot challenge in my head. I am also always thinking of ways to improve my next application video

As I sit down tonight to watch Season 48, I will be reminded of past winners and players, of all the great challenges, and especially the feeling I get from just watching the best Reality Show on TV

Thanks to Survivor, Jeff Probst, Mark Burnett, all of the contestants and crew that make the show so special. Here’s to 25 more years.

As promised, here is a picture of the Topps 2025 Series 1 NY Mets Cards

Time to go

AverageAndy Out

#PEACE

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#Survivor48
#NeverToOldForSurvivor
#GiveMeAChance