‘Survivor 40: Winners at War’: Is Tonight’s Finale Episode the Longest in the History of the Show?
The long-awaited 40th anniversary season of Survivor is coming to a close tonight. The Survivor: Winners at War finale episode has a lot to cover, including a reunion show. Will it be the longest in the history of the 20-year-running series?
Will the ‘Survivor 40: Winners at War’ finale have a live reunion show?
On a typical season finale of Survivor, after Jeff Probst reads the votes, there is a live reunion show with all of the players. However, the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown production at CBS on March 13, 2020.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the reunion show will be broadcast via video chat instead of on stage with a live audience. Probst will crown the winner from his garage.
“During the finale, Jeff will also virtually connect by video with all 20 players to discuss the highlights of the season,” the CBS press release announced on April 13, 2020.
Many other shows are connecting virtually amid the pandemic, including American Idol.
How long is the ‘Survivor: Winners at War’ Finale?
The Survivor: Winners at War Season 40 finale is three full hours long, and it is the longest ever in the history of the show. Host Jeff Probst explained that the producers had so much to incorporate into the finale that they could not cut anything out.
“It’s the longest finale we’ve ever had, and it is packed with fantastic story,” Probst told Entertainment Weekly. “There is so much happening that we could not make it any shorter. There’s drama; there’s emotion, there’s surprise, and then we will read the votes and crown a champion to Survivor: Winners At War.”
Probst will also give away the largest prize ever awarded on a reality TV show — $2 million.
“I’m pumped for fans to see the finale,” Probst continued. “I think it will be a satisfying conclusion to an epic season of Survivor.”
Who wins the $2 million prize on ‘Survivor: Winners at War’?
Fans made predictions about the winner of season 40 well before the show even began. At this point, there are five castaways still in the competition: Tony Vlachos, Michele Fitzgerald, Sarah Lacina, Ben Driebergen, and Denise Stapley.
However, this season has an Edge of Extinction twist, so any of the other players have a chance to come back into the game tonight and take home the $2 million prize. The only person not in the running currently to win the game is Sandra Diaz-Twine, who raised the white flag on day 16.
Many fans feel that Natalie Anderson has a massive chance of returning to the game because she has three advantages in the return challenge. The 34-year-old has more fire tokens than any other player, and a hidden immunity idol to bring with her.
Other fans speculate that if Tony Vlachos makes it to the final three, he will take home the title of Sole Survivor.
Find out who wins tonight at 8 p.m. EST on CBS, when the Survivor: Winners at War finale crowns the champion.
