'Survivor' Executive Producer Matt Van Wagenen Reveals His Top 25 Players Who Never Won – In Action Figure Form! (Exclusive) ...Saudi Arabia

In the summer of 2024, one year before Survivor hits its 25th anniversary, I got the chance to sit down with executive producer Matt Van Wagenen about the upcoming milestone. Considering how seminal he's been to everything we have seen on our screens with the CBS reality series for the better part of 18 years, I wanted a chance to pick his brain about one specific category. Initially, I approached him with the idea of his top 25 players who never won, as Survivor history has been littered with hundreds of standout characters and strategists. And, true to the creative brain that has come up with some of the most iconic moments and twists across the show's quarter-century run, he came in with an idea outside of the (toy) box.

"I started to think about, 'What is the best player? What is the definition of best?'" he explains. "Best can mean a lot of things. Best can be who actually played the game well, who was physical, who was good for the show, who was entertaining? And then as I started thinking about it, I was like, 'If someone is all those things, then we would probably make an action figure of them.'"

? SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox ? 

You read that correctly — action figures. Despite how many Survivor castaways have become household names over the past 25 years, only one or two have actually been made into toys. But, considering how much returning player seasons – including the highly-anticipated Survivor 50 – have fans fantastizing about staple characters across the show's history interacting, the feeling is comparable to childhood daydreams of playing with action figures in the sandbox. Van Wagenen says, in his very particular scenario, the first wave of Survivor action figures would, of course, be all the winners we have had so far. Our conversation, then, was about the second line of toys, 25 players who, through their gameplay, their entertainment and their personal journeys, had a story epic enough to be shrunk down to the best 6" gift you can get that special Survivor fan in your life. And our incredibly unique thought experiment also operates under a unique set of rules. Van Wagenen only wanted to consider players that he saw since he began his Survivor career on the original Fiji season back in 2007. That means that anyone who played predominantly in Seasons 1 through 13, including standouts like Colby Donaldson, Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien and Rob Cesternino, were not taken into consideration. Also, at the time of our interview, Survivor 47 and 48 had not yet aired. So the cutoff ranges from Seasons 14 through 46.Without further ado, here are Matt Van Wagenen's top 25 non-winning Survivor players – in action figure form.

Related: Meet the Full Cast of 'Survivor 50'

Cirie Fields (Panama – Exile Island, Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites, Heroes vs. Villains, Game Changers, 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

"If I'm going with that premise, I think the first one I have to think of is just who I consider my queen, which is Cirie Fields," Van Wagenen says. Indeed, if you were kicking off a list of notable non-winners, it makes sense to start with who many argue is the greatest Survivor player to never win. Despite never taking home the million – or making it to a Final Tribal Council – Cirie is an absolute titan in the game, to the point where she is returning for a history-making sixth season on the island in the upcoming Survivor 50."Cirie, amazing, amazing player. And if I were to have an action figure, I think she would be the first one that I'd be buying at the toy store. Such a great, great sense of the game, but also great for the show. It is crazy to me that she hasn't won. I mean, she's come so close. But she's just amazing. I just love her. I think she's fantastic. I love her personally. I love her on the show. I think she's just a tremendous force out there." Just the thought of the Traitors winner and Big Brother alum coming in a package with the infamous couch she got up from to begin her reality TV journey in 2006 has us giggling as energetically as her infamous laugh. Throw in an alternative outfit to become the true "gangster in an Oprah suit" that she touted in her confessionals, and we're off to a great start.

Benjamin "Coach" Wade (Tocantins, Heroes vs. Villains, South Pacific & 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

Courtesy of CBS

"If you're gonna do an action figure, how can you not have Coach Ben Wade?" Van Wagenen asks of the engimatic "Dragon Slayer." And indeed, the larger-than-life elements that he has brought to three seasons of Survivor give the metaphoric toy buyer plenty of opportunities for customization, as well as a soundchip full of eagle screeches and Marcus Aurelius quotes. "Do you want the Exile Island monastic Coach with his shirt off and the walking stick? Or do you want original OG coach with the feather in his hair? It could have a kung fu grip!" "I love Coach," he continues. "Coach is an icon of Survivor. Especially when he went back in South Pacific, he played a tremendous game. He definitely could have won. I mean, I respect Sophie [Clarke]100%. But Coach is just fantastic."

Carolyn Wiger (44)

Robert Voets/CBS

After picking two multi-season returnees – who will both be appearing on 50 – Van Wagenen took me to the "new era" of Survivor. And, months before we found out she would be donning a cloak in The Traitors turret as one of its breakout stars, he talked about arguably one of the show's most popular characters of the last four years, Season 44 finalist Carolyn Wiger."How do you not do a Carolyn action figure? I mean, she could also have the bird's nest with the X on it. You could wind her up and she could jump around. Truthfully, I think Carolyn is one of the new era's most underrated players. I think some people didn't take her seriously because of the way she presents. And the truth is, she had an incredible mind for the game. She really understood what was going on. She made moves; she was creative. I thought she played a tremendous game. And she's really one of my favorite players to ever step on the beach."Van Wagenen is not alone in that sentiment. Even when speaking with multiple players in the preseason, many of them have cited Carolyn as one of the reasons why they felt they could apply, as they got to watch someone truly succeed in so many ways, not in spite of their quirky personality, but because of it. "Since her season in casting, we've had a lot of people talk about, 'Carolyn inspired me. She showed me that it's okay to just be myself. And I think that's a wonderful thing for people who are coming in to play the game. Because that's what we want. We want people to be themselves. And she was 100% authentic."

Quintavius "Q" Burdette (46 & 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

Robert Voets / CBS

Next up for Van Wagenen was another new era shoo-in, Q Burdette. And, with the energy befitting of someone who once called himself the number two real estate agent in the country, he proceeds to pitch all of the things a Q action figure would come with. Chief among them, of course would be the hoodie turned fanny pack turned makeshift underwear: The "Q Skirt." "You don't even have to pay extra for it!" he says. "He comes with it. He's always wearing it. It's part of the uniform.""I loved watching Q play," he continues. "He was a madman out there. I mean, I've never seen someone so erratic and creative and energetic. He was just shot out of a cannon. And then for him to be the smoke screen for all those votes, and then end up getting voted out with an idol in his pocket, I mean, it was unreal to me. That was fantastic television. And I just loved his presence on that season. I think when you look back at that season, he's one of the people that really defined that season completely.When I talked with Van Wagenen, even though it was a year before Survivor 50 would start filming, he clearly had the possibility of Q returning on the brain. "I always wonder, could he have won at the end? With some of the things that had happened, with telling everybody, 'Vote me out,' could he have won in the end? I don't know. He had such a big turn and did so many things. I think he had a shot. And I'd be curious, how he would play again? He's one of those people you wonder, 'How does he come in a second time?'"

Mike White (David vs. Goliath & 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

Robert Voets / CBS

Years before Mike White made an incredibly popular series full of backstabbing in a beautiful paradise on The White Lotus, he was getting to live through the same thing out in Fiji. The actor, writer and filmmaker, who is a huge fan of the show and even advised host and executive producer Jeff Probst on some creative choices in previous seasons, was a standout on Survivor: David vs. Goliath in 2018. And now one of the biggest celebrities to play the game gets immortalized in his own action figure, wine glass in miniature hand."This is a finalist who I think played an exceptional game. I think he has a little bit better final Tribal, and he's the winner of his season," Van Wagenen says. "A Mike White action figure would be fantastic. He was someone who really surprised us. I mean, he had such a great sense of the game. What I love is, early on, people were coming out for the million dollars. He was coming out for the experience and the title. He was fun to watch. It was funny having him on. Obviously, there was a lot of talk about, 'Do we put him on the David tribe or the Goliath tribe? And that guy's a Goliath 100%.'"

He then addresses the Emmy winner directly, saying, "Here's the other thing I wanna say, Mike White. Just on the off chance that I could get a cameo in White Lotus 4..." Now, a year later, Van Wagenen will get the chance to make that ask in person, as Mike is one of the 24 contestants coming back for the upcoming Survivor 50.

Angelina Keeley (David vs. Goliath & 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

Courtesy of CBS

Van Wagenen tells me that, David vs. Goliath, one of the most universally-acclaimed seasons in recent memory, has plenty of players worthy of their own action figure. And he proves his point when he immediately goes into Mike's fellow Goliath and finalist, Angelina Keeley. But he makes one thing clear: Unlike the Q Skirt, the jacket is not gratis.

"You would have to pay extra for that," he reveals. "She doesn't come with Natalie's jacket. That's something that you have to purchase. Maybe it's an aftermarket thing." Sounds like something she may need to negotiate once the action figure gets made! Luckily, Angelina should be up for the task."I loved Angelina. Maybe she could have the bag of rice that she was trying to negotiate. Maybe she could have the 1000-foot ladder. I mean, there's a lot of things with her. It was funny, when she first started the game, I didn't know what to make of her, to be totally honest. And then about three or four episodes in, I was like, 'I am fascinated with her.' And she, again, is one of those people who really put her stamp on the season, and really one of my favorite people to watch play. She's one of my favorite people inside and outside the game."

Jonathan Young (42 & 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

Robert Voets/CBS Entertainment

Van Wagenen jumps back to the new era for his next pick. But he stays with a different form of a goliath, as we go from the woman who infamously climbed a ladder to a man who carried one, and his entire tribe, through a challenge. He names one of the most physically imposing players in recent memory, Jonathan Young. Admittedly, he says, creating a facsimile of the fourth-place finisher from Survivor 42 might require significantly more material than your average contestant.

"Specifically talking action figure, how can you ignore Jonathan Young?" he says. "I mean, he would be twice the size of all the other of all the other players. Big, giant muscles busting through shirts that he made himself. He's basically the Hulk. So, how do you not include Jonathan? He was someone who, honestly, I've never seen someone in challenges just be so physically dominant. We've never seen that before. And then what's crazy is usually that type of person is gone first or second after the merge. But he kept going and kept going. We kept waiting for that, that time when, 'Okay, well, we got to get rid of the physical threat.' And he kept going. He really played a good game. He was a joy to watch. He made every challenge he participated in interesting."

Related: 25 Celebrities You Never Knew Were on ‘Survivor’

Ozzy Lusth (Cook Islands, Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites, South Pacific, Game Changers & 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

"Now, if we're gonna stick with the physical presence and challenges, I don't know how you could ignore Ozzy," Van Wagenen says. Indeed, through his previous four seasons, Ozzy Lusth has stood out as one of the series' best performers, having tied the all-time record for Immunity Challenge wins in a season, and winning six Redemption Island duels in a row.

"Ozzy is one of these people who just had this weird uncanny ability to perform in Survivor challenges. His first season was actually the season right before I came on. But then watching him play on Season 16, fantastic season. He was fantastic. He was raw; he was open. I mean, that version of Ozzy was just fantastic."Ozzy's impressive physical game and provider skills have made him a massive fan favorite. And while his strategy may not be masterful, he's had the chance to win not one, but two seasons, were it not for the Final Three twist in Cook Islands and a final challenge loss in South Pacific. Ozzy will be returning for his fifth season in Survivor 50, as the unstoppable challenge force may be meeting an immovable object in Jonathan.

"He's really just like Jonathan, but in a different way," Van Wagenen compares. "Jonathan was so much brute force, where Ozzy had so much finesse. I mean, it was like watching a pro surfer on a wave. Watching him out there, physically, was a thing to marvel at. You know, I think some people question his final Tribal performance and sometimes some of the strategic things that he did. But, as I said, I'm not going off of who was probably the closest to winning. I'm going off of who I enjoyed watching play Survivor."

Shan Smith (41)

Robert Voets / CBS

When the pandemic hit, Survivor took its first-ever hiatus in filming. When it came back to kick off the new era in Survivor 41, there was a lot of nervousness on the part of both fans and production alike as to how things would kick back up. Luckily, for all of our sakes, we had a charismatic pastor with a trick up her sleeve and a song in her head: Shan Smith."We had had a year off because of COVID. And then Shan Smith came into our living rooms," Van Wagenen recalls. "You pull the string and she's and she's humming or whistling. I mean, that's basically the Shan move. I mean, she came in when we had had some time off for Survivor, and we were all so hungry for it. And if you look back at that season, that first season, she helps define it.

"And little behind the scenes [here]," he goes on to reveal. "The casting process is really rigorous. And during the COVID seasons, we weren't meeting people in person. It was all done with Zoom. And so when we finally met her in person, she was actually kind of introverted and a little bit shy. And she seemed a little bit unsure of herself. And then as soon as she hit the beach, she was a monster out there. A huge, huge presence. And she was fantastic."

Malcolm Freberg (Philippines, Caramoan – Fans vs. Favorites & Game Changers)

Robert Voets / CBS

If you asked Survivor fans in the early 2010s who one of the most popular players was, long-haired Malcolm Freberg would be a lock. Malcolm survived the decimation of his tribe in the premerge to become the final person voted out of the game. He then became one of a rare few players to go onto back-to-back seasons, as he made a flashy underdog run on Caramoan. Unfortunately, things did not go nearly as well in Game Changers, as, while some depraved individuals took glee in the chaos of the "live" Tribal Council that sent him home, many were devastated to lose him so early.

"This is an all-around, well-rounded pick," Van Wagenen says. "When you think Survivor, you think players like Malcolm. Malcolm is just a classic Survivor player. Good at basically everything, except for keeping his hands steady. He keeps his hands steady, and he wins his first time out. I mean, he comes from a tribe that's basically decimated. He makes it there, right to the end, and came so close."And watching him play, I think even though everyone really appreciates how good he is socially, I think he's actually underestimated how good he is socially, not to mention all the physical things and strategic things as well. I mean, really smart guy, really athletic. Just an all-around great Survivor player."

Kelley Wentworth (San Juan Del Sur, Cambodia – Second Chance & Edge of Extinction)

Robert Voets / CBS

Sometimes, when a toy is put out, it may not be a hit. Whether due to the timing or other options, they do not become the pick of the holiday season. But, with the right circumstances, if that action figure is recirculated, it could "sneaky sneaky" back onto the shelves and sell like hotcakes. And that's exactly what happened with Kelley Wentworthbetween her first two Survivor seasons.

"When we ask for people to return, it doesn't necessarily have to do with how far they get in the game," Van Wagenen says about the casting process. "Sometimes we see something. It's because they played hard. Because we saw that these are people who give it their all, and we go, 'You know what? They didn't go far, but let's bring them back and see how they do.' And I think Kelley Wentworth is a perfect example of that type of person. She went out fifth. And we could have said, 'Okay, she didn't get very far. Let's not bring her.' But we saw that she had fire, that she knew how to play the game. And so we gave her another shot.And it was a shot that arguably created a Survivor legend. Kelley embodied Survivor: Second Chance, as she made good on her return trip. She fought from the bottom, had a record-setting idol play, and made it all the way to the Final Four. It was lauded enough to earn her another appearance in Edge of Extinction. And Van Wagenen says giving that second chance to Kelley not only changed the course of her Survivor career, but many others as well.

"I think a lot of players look up to her when they're thinking about, 'Hey, I want to play Survivor," he reveals. "I can't tell you how many people, when we go into casting, will say, 'I want to play like Kelley Wentworth.' I think that she's one of these Survivor icons. If you're going to do action figures, you've got to do Kelley Wentworth.

Domenick Abbate (Ghost Island)

Robert Voets / CBS

As Van Wagenen established, the first wave of these metaphoric action figures would contain all of the previous Survivor winners. That includes Wendell Holland, who won Ghost Island in the closest final vote in the show's history, with the jury tied in their initial consensus. And so, naturally, there has to be something minted for his Day 1 partner-in-crime, and the person who nearly took home the win instead, Domenick Abbate."Tuthfully, if you're really looking at it, he's the best player to never win the game," Van Wagenen figures. "He's got to be in the conversation, because it's the only tie vote we've ever had. You just can't argue that. And actually, watching him play was funny. He had his back against the wall at the very beginning, came on strong. That's always one of my favorite stories is someone who fumbled, who stumbles out of the gate, but then comes on strong at the end."

Aubry Bracco (Kaôh Rōng, Game Changers, Edge of Extinction & 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

While Domenick stumbled out of the gate, only to finish with dominance and panache as the runner-up, four seasons earlier, Aubry Braccowas doing the exact same. It's still with some controversy that the Brain is not part of the first release of action figures, as her loss to Michele Fitzgerald in Kaôh Rōng is still considered one of the most disputed endings in the show's history. But it's her high-level gameplay and quirky confessionals that have coming back for now four seasons, as well as in action figure form."One of my absolute favorite players," Van Wagenen says. "Aubry is just a fantastic player. I love her. Her energy in her interviews were fantastic. And she had such a nose for the game, I mean, and I always go back to Day 2, her crying in the shelter with mango smeared on her face. And then to see her just gain strength as the season went on. And a lot of people think that she should have won that season. I always think the jury gets it right. But she definitely has an argument."

Christian Hubicki (David vs. Goliath, 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

Robert Voets / CBS

When it comes to the possibilities withChristian Hubicki as an action figure, the limit does not exist. The David vs. Goliath standout could come with his own slide puzzle, ready to solve in the blink of an eye. If you pull his string, he can talk for six hours straight, as he did during one iconic Immunity Challenge win. He could play hide and seek with you, conducting a "breadth-first search" of the backyard. And yes, folks, he does indeed play in the sand."I mean, come on!" Van Wagenen exclaims when he gets to the fan favorite. "I mean, just when we met him in casting, it was one of those people that we knew within 30 seconds he was going to be on the show. And he delivered. He was better than we could have even anticipated. So fun to watch, so strong out there. He's the type of person you want to see play all the time." And, evidently, we will again as Christian makes his highly anticipated return in Survivor 50.

Amanda Kimmel (China, Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites & Heroes vs. Villains)

Courtesy of CBS

It's tough to imagine, considering the last time we saw her on our screens was 15 years ago. But, at one time, Amanda Kimmel was considered one of the best players in Survivor history. The Montana maiden made her way all the way to the Final Three in China, then immediately turned around, came to Micronesia, and did the exact same thing. On top of that, she struck up a showmance with Ozzy, was a pivotal part of the "Black Widow Brigade" alliance and had her own epic idol play to boot."She isn't talked about often anymore," Van Wagenen says about her legacy. "I just think Amanda was a great, great player. I mean, she was so fun to watch. I still remember, at the time, I was a producer on the beach, and Joe Lia was my segment producer. And we were on Survivor: China, and we were watching James [Clement] out on a lake fishing. And we were like, 'Oh my God, this guy's got two idols. We're looking at the next winner of Survivor right here: James. "Not three minutes later, we hear a conversation between Amanda and Todd plotting his demise. And I was like, 'Well, there it goes. Unless he knows to play this idol, he's toast.' And watching them, they were so in sync with each other. I mean, I think that she probably doesn't get enough credit for what she actually did that season, not to mention what she did in Season 16."

Related: Everything to Know About 'Survivor 49'

Davie Rickenbacker (David vs. Goliath)

Robert Voets / CBS

Oftentimes when a toy is put on the market, anything can truly happen. All they need is that opportunity to get on the shelf and show why you need to take it home. And Davie Rickenbacker proved that during his run on David vs. Goliath, as he went from sitting at home mere days before to getting a life-changing last-minute call that sent him on the adventure of a lifetime.

"I really love him," Van Wagenen says. "He was an alternate for us, and when we called him and needed him two days before the shoot, he was on a plane. And when he arrived, his voice was hoarse because he had been yelling so much out of excitement. That's Davie. "I think he would have been great, even if he were cast the whole season. But I think because he came in at the last minute as an alternate, he came in with such energy and ferocity. He was just such a joy to watch out there. He had such excitement and love for the game. Really authentic, which is something that I cannot stress enough. Honestly, those are the kind of people we want playing the game."

Rachel Foulger (Blood vs. Water)

Monty Brinton/CBS

With no offense to Rachel Foulger, this is a pick where Van Wagenen's creative concept verymuch comes to the forefront over the actual quality of the player itself. After all, she was voted out in Episode 2 of her one and only Survivor season, used to take a shot at her then-boyfriend (and now-husband) Tyson Apostol. But, in true Blood vs. Water style, Van Wagenen figures that winner Tyson, who will be crossing over into House of Villains for its upcoming season, should get a partner in his first edition pack."This is gonna be controversial. But I'm gonna go with it, just because this is also one of my favorite people out there. You've got to have the Tyson-Rachel two-pack. Here's the thing, people don't realize it because she only lasted two episodes. But I'm telling you, Rachel is hysterical. She's a funny, funny person. I mean, she's married to Tyson. She's gotta have a great sense of humor. Controversial take, but I'm putting Rachel Folger in the first edition. Wouldn't it be fun to see her play again?"

David Wright (Millennials vs. Gen X & Edge of Extinction)

Robert Voets / CBS

If some action figures in this series represent some of the most buff, physically impressive players in Survivor history, David Wright is a Gumby doll by comparison. When the writer crafted the first page of his island story, it was full of anxiety and fear, recoiling at the sound of a hammer being swung. But it wasn't long before people were living in fear of him, as he harnessed the game to become the biggest threat in the Millennials vs. Gen X endgame."You can see I'm, over and over again, talking about people who stumble out of the gate and then come on strong," Van Wagenen highlights. "I love transformation stories. I think that's what Survivor is all about. And David Wright is an icon when it comes to that. "You talk about someone who has all these anxieties, but he didn't let it stop him. That's the important part. You can have all the anxieties in the world. But if you don't let it stop you, that's super admirable. He was so funny. Had such a passion for the game. And I think it really transformed his life. So I always loved watching him play. I loved hearing him in an interview. That's why he becomes an action figure. Probably not like the most athletic action figure, but a wonderful action figure."

Chrissy Hofbeck (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers & 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

Robert Voets / CBS

"I'm a little bit older," Van Wagenen says. "So sometimes it pains me when I see older players kind of fumble through the game and not really bring it. So when I see someone who's close to my age who plays well, I always applaud it." And the person who earned his ovation, to the point of making her part of the action figure set, is Chrissy Hofbeck. On paper, the actuary's liabilities outnumbered her assets, the oldest person on her season at 46. But the number-cruncher truly proved age is just a number, winning a record-tying four Immunity Challenges. And one thing is clear: No firemaking kits will come in any proximity of Chrissy's box."She was a little bit devious, she was strong, she had an opinion, and I really loved watching her play her season," Van Wagenen says about the runner-up. "Winning challenges, pulling off blindsides, full package. And as an older mom, I love seeing them kick ass."

Russell Hantz (Samoa, Heroes vs. Villains & Redemption Island)

Courtesy of CBS

As controversial a figure as he may be, it would be impossible to talk about players who never won without discussing one of the most impactful castaways in Survivor history: Russell Hantz. Russell dominated both the game and airtime during his back-to-back Final Three appearances in Samoa and Heroes vs. Villains, stringing together impressive moves and a record number of idol finds. And to those accomplishments, Van Wagenen tips his fedora."It would be a huge omission if we didn't talk about Russell Hantz, I have to say," he says. "I mean, the guy changed the way the game is played. We throw around the word 'game changer' quite a bit. But look at what he did with idols. I mean, it's pretty impressive! I don't know that his jury management has always been the best. But the guy just fights and plays hard and never gives up and has just a little bit of extra flair." Russell had an incredibly short layover after his first season before returning to Samoa for Heroes vs. Villains. As a result, fans have depicted the staggering amount of weight he lost over 78 combined days of Survivor. But Van Wagenen goes back and forth as to which Russell aesthetic would be represented in the action figure: The rounder, sock-burning Samoa version, or the emaciated "Hobbit on crack" from Heroes vs. Villains. Either way, the outcome was the same: A loss on Day 39 that sent many fans into an outcry, earning him two Fan Favorite Awards in a row.

"Here's the thing, I don't think he can change his game," he clarifies about Russell's two final Tribal Council losses. "I think he is who he is. But I do always wonder if he could tweak it just enough where he could work on his jury management. I mean, are we talking about a guy who could win the game once, maybe twice? Who knows? Because he definitely had the brain for it."

Emily Flippen (45 & 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

Robert Voets / CBS

If this list left out one particular Survivor 45 player from getting an action figure made out of them, suffice it to say, many fans would push back. And it would be only fitting for Emily Flippen, as the fan-favorite financial analyst was able to build a sizable Survivor portfolio after bottoming out in the first three days of the game.

"Another transformation story, another one of my queens," Van Wagenen says of the seventh-placer. "I mean, she's just fantastic. Again, everything you want in a Survivor player, in that you can stumble out of the gates, but then you can recover. And not only recover, you can start to dominate, where you become a huge, huge threat in the game."Indeed, over her time on Survivor 45, Emily underwent not only a strategic metamorphosis, but a personal one as well. It's wild to think about how the person who bluntly regarded her competitors on Day 1 would be weeping at a loved ones letter on a trip to the Sanctuary. And it was her incredible emotional arc, her rise from dead woman walking to power player and a wit as dry as the red wine she swirls so memetically that made her a beloved character."I know it probably sounds cheesy, and people may not believe it," Van Wagenen says. "But one of the things we really strive for on our show is for people to have life-changing experiences. I think she was surprised by her popularity. But I saw it out there from the beginning. I was fascinated with her from casting. It was so funny, when we met her at Ponderosa the first time, we said, 'Well, what do you think of your competition?' She goes, 'I have to say they're all surprisingly average.' And I was like, 'Oh my gosh, who says that?!'"

Rick Devens (Edge of Extinction & 50: In the Hands of the Fans)

Robert Voets / CBS

As a newscaster, Rick Devens has no issue making headlines. And he did just that through his rollercoaster ride in Edge of Extinction. Even in his down moments, including returning to the game after being voted out via the new titular twist, he charged through trials with the vim and vigor of the Kool-Aid Man. Despite having his back against the wall the entirety of the postmerge, Rick clawed on through Immunity Challenge wins, idol finds and Tribal Council theatrics, before he finally went out in a show-stopping firemaking challenge."What's funny is, if it weren't for Edge of Extinction, he probably wouldn't be on this list, because he'd be a fourth boot," Van Wagenen recalls. "He goes out, and you're kind of like, 'Oh, he was this guy who's TV. Maybe we give him a string, and he can talk about being a reporter and all that.' But when he came back from Edge of Extinction, he came back with such a fire. "It was so much fun to watch, and it was almost like everything changed. Interviews changed. His whole presence changed because he realized he had nothing to lose. He's playing with house money. So he came in with such force, such energy. It's almost like he had the experience of a returning player in one season." And Rick will make that returnee experience literal in his future appearance on Survivor 50.

Jesse Lopez (43)

Robert Voets / CBS

"Another one of my favorites," Van Wagenen says of Jesse Lopez, the Survivor 43 final juror. "And he was kind of a more of a low-key player, but he was a killer. He wins firemaking, and he's there at the end, and he's probably collecting a check. He really was very understated, but had such an amazing sense for the game."That game sense includes the move Jesse made against his closest ally, Cody Assenmacher. Considered one of the most brutal moves in the show's history, Jesse receiving a letter from his family reminded him of what he needed to do, no matter how difficult, to "get that money, baby." And so he put his feelings aside to take out his number one, playing the idol that Cody had lent Jesse in the process.

"He was open about it. He let us in on the struggle that he was having morally to take out his best friend. But you know what? He made the right decision. He decided, 'You know what? This is what it's all about." And it's what we all as an audience want to see. We want to applaud the person who pulls off the move. Even if it's a difficult thing for you to do emotionally, you've got to do the right thing. And he was always willing to do that. And don't forget the fact that Cody was also okay with it. He gave him a handshake and a hug. That's the move that you need to be able to do. You need to be able to pull off a big move, yet somehow convince someone that they should still vote for you. I mean, that is masterful gameplay."

Charlie Davis (46 & 50: In the Hands of the Fans) & Maria Shrime Gonzalez (46)

Robert Voets / CBS

For the last two action figures, Van Wagenen goes to one of his favorite seasons in recent memory: Survivor 46. And he decides to create another two-pack of, arguably, the duo that represented the chaos of the season as a whole: Charlie Davis and Maria Shrime Gonzalez."I want to see Charlie playing with Maria," he remarks on the choice. "And then all the fans out there can play with these action figures, and they can settle the score. They can figure out how it should all go out." Perhaps the last thing the former allies would want would be occupying the same plastic-coated box. After all, through the absolute tumultuousness of Season 46, Charlie and Maria remained the most stable force in a game of instability. But, evidently, it was only a matter of time before the number ones would turn on each other. And, while Charlie was part of the group to cut Maria at the Final Five, she was the one to get the last laugh, costing him the crucial jury vote that would have made him a million dollars richer.

"Honestly, I loved both of them as players on the show. They both played fantastic games. They both made mistakes; they both played hard. They both were very real and open. I love Charlie. I love Maria. She really surprised me. Again, another older player who didn't let age hold her down. She played really hard. Just two people with an incredible nose for the game. Maria, an incredible challenge performer. I mean, really, the two of them, I think they will forever be linked."

Related: 'Survivor' Season 1 Cast: Where Are They Now?

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 'Survivor' Executive Producer Matt Van Wagenen Reveals His Top 25 Players Who Never Won – In Action Figure Form! (Exclusive) )

Also on site :

• Duke HIV vaccine effort loses $129M in Trump administration funding
• Toyota Supra: A Shorter Hiatus This Time
• Trump praises Musk for "colossal change" following Doge adviser's exit