Survivor’s Colby Donaldson Admits He Almost Backed Out of Season 50

Colby Donaldson’s attempt to outlast his opponents was almost over before it started.

Before appearing on the 50th season of Survivor, titled In the Hands of the Fans, the three-time player revealed he almost didn’t accept the invitation to join fellow contestants Cirie Fields, Mike White, and Ozzy Lusth.

Colby said in an interview with TopMob News that he immediately agreed to the project, but later had second thoughts as the start date neared. He admitted to almost backing out, speaking at the New York City premiere on February 24th.

You know, I was chatting with a contestant – he’s 51 – and he almost didn’t make it! He explained it was because he’s been navigating some big changes at work lately, and honestly, that’s a struggle a lot of people face. It’s just hard to find the time when your career is in transition, even for something amazing like this.

He explained that participating in the show requires a significant commitment, something people have been willing to make for a quarter of a century. Many talented individuals could be on the show, but can’t afford to take the necessary time away from their jobs or families due to work and personal obligations. He had to consider these factors when making his decisions.

Once Colby got the go-ahead from his job and his wife, Britt Bailey, encouraged him to do it, he fully embraced the opportunity. Colby had previously competed on three seasons of Survivor: The Australian Outback (season two), All-Stars (season eight), and Heroes vs. Villains (season 20).

He said it was the best decision he’d ever made, and that he was having more fun playing the game than he’d ever had before.

As someone who’s followed reality competition for years, I’ve seen contestants really evolve, and Colby Donaldson is a perfect example! He recently returned to Fiji for Season 50 – you can catch it premiering February 25th at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS – and he knew the game had changed. After 25 years, he wasn’t expecting to play the same way he did before, so he smartly adjusted his strategy to stay competitive. It’s all about adapting, and that’s what makes these shows so fascinating!

I really wanted to quickly get up to speed with how modern gaming has changed since I last played. I knew I’d need help from a younger gamer to learn the new rules and understand just how different things are now.

And Colby made sure to embrace the future of Survivor rather than relish too much in the past.

He didn’t want to be one of those older players who dislike newer ones. Instead, he focused on finding people he enjoyed playing with, and that made the game a lot more fun for him.

The 50th season of Survivor, titled Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, will begin airing on CBS February 25th at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. And Colby isn’t the only familiar face returning – keep reading to find out who else is competing this milestone season.

Season 37 (DAVID VS. GOLIATH)

Survivor seasons 12 (Panama-Exile Island), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains), and 34 (Game Changers) are considered particularly memorable.