After more than 25 years on the air, “Survivor” is returning for its historic 50th season, featuring iconic castaways from the past two decades.
Among the 24 alums who have been tapped to compete on the highly-anticipated season is “The White Lotus” creator and reality television fanatic Mike White. In between working on the fourth season of his hit HBO drama, White took the time to fly to Fiji to see if he could outwit, outplay and outlast some of the best castaways who have ever played the game.
White earned his spot on the cast thanks to his appearance on, arguably, one of the greatest “Survivor” seasons of all time: “David vs. Goliath,” also known as Season 37.
“Survivor: David vs. Goliath,” which aired in 2018, was inspired by the biblical story of the same name. The season began with two tribes: those who were considered underdogs in life versus those who were labeled overachievers. White, already an accomplished filmmaker with hits like “School of Rock,” was placed on the Goliath tribe.
What happened during his time on the show? Learn more about White’s journey on Season 37 and his other reality television appearances, below.
Mike White on David vs. Goliath season 37 of “Survivor.”CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images
How Far Did Mike White Go on ‘Survivor: David vs. Goliath’?
Although he started off on the Goliath tribe, White’s journey on “Survivor” Season 37 was rough at first. He immediately began searching for an Immunity Idol when the rest of the players were just settling into camp, putting a target on his back. But he learned from his mistakes and adapted, prioritizing his social game.
He became the swing vote for multiple Tribe Councils after the tribe merged, and eventually found a strong alliance with Nick Wilson and Angelina Keeley. The trio played a big role in helping eliminate strong players and made it all the way to the final four. After Wilson won the final Immunity Challenge, he chose to take Keeley to the end, meaning White had to secure his spot by making fire. He successfully defeated his opponent, Kara Kay, and became the third and final castaway to make it to the end of the game.
During Final Tribal Council, White, Wilson and Keeley were grilled by the jury. White convinced three eliminated players to vote for him, but Wilson received seven votes. Wilson became the winner of “Survivor” 37 and White was declared the runner-up.
White will reunite with fellow “David vs. Goliath” castaways on Season 50 as Keeley and fan-favorite Christian Hubicki are returning to compete, too.
Keeley and Hubicki also had cameos on “The White Lotus.”
What Has Mike White Said About ‘Survivor 50’?
White spoke about deciding to play “Survivor” again in an interview with “Entertainment Weekly.”
“I feel like it was an exclusive invite. I was like, ‘Yeah, this is a party that I feel like I don’t want to miss,’” he told the publication. “Something about it being 50 felt like, ‘Yeah, this is epic. This is bigger than me. This is definitely cooler than me. I am not going to be too cool for school for that. It just feels iconic.’”
He also said being stranded on an island would give him a much-needed respite from thinking about the next season of his hit show.
“I need to stop thinking about ‘The White Lotus,’” he shared. “I love it, but I also feel like it’s a fire hose into my mouth of feedback on the (season) coming up.”
He added, “I want the next season (of ‘The White Lotus’) to be inspired. I want it to really be great, and I think the only way it can be that is if I really get a reset. I know it sounds totally insane, but ‘Survivor’ is so immersive, and it’s this just thing where I can’t really think about something else. If I take a little vacation or whatever, I’m going to be talking on the phone and thinking about the show the whole time.”
White revealed that the success of the Emmy-winning series has led to constant criticism. But his “Survivor” experience has helped him manage harsh feedback.
“So doing something like this is a reminder: Don’t take yourself so seriously. There are other things in life and it’s not all about you,” he continued in his interview with Entertainment Weekly.
“But somehow in my mind I was like: ‘Oh, I’ll sneak away and I’ll have this anonymous experience away from all this attention.’ But I’m just setting myself up. Because you think it’s hard when you put out a show? ‘White Lotus’ producers will go on Reddit and be like, ‘Oh, someone’s saying this about the thing.’ I’m like, ‘Try being a reality contestant and having people talk about you that way.’ It gives you a tough skin.”
What Other Reality Shows Has Mike White Competed On?
In addition to “Survivor,” White’s reality television resume includes two appearances on “The Amazing Race.” He raced alongside his father, James Melville “Mel” White, on Season 14 and Season 18 (“Unfinished Business”). They came in sixth place the first time they competed and 10th place when they returned.
At the time, White was the co-creator, writer and executive producer of the HBO series “Enlightened” starring Laura Dern, who was also a co-creator and executive producer. Contestants from his “Amazing Race” seasons made cameos on the show.
