The ol' intertubes are buzzing with the rumor that the Spring 2008 season of Survivor will, in fact, be another All-Star edition for the long-running reality series.  There are a variety of reasons (good ones too) for this sort of speculation, and we'll get to those reasons in a moment, but first let's make it clear that there has been absolutely no official announcement either way from CBS, Mark Burnett, Jeff Probst, or anyone else peripherally involved with the show.  Survivor: China, the fifteenth season of the program, is filming as we speak and is set to air in the normal time slot in the fall.  Again, there has been no word on where Survivor 16 may end up.

But, after sifting through the available information, I firmly believe that the sixteenth season of Survivor will end up being Survivor: All-Stars II.  Here's why:

Reason #1 – Seven normal seasons, one All-Star season

Like Bright Eyes, I believe in symmetry and I'm supposing that Mark Burnett may as well.  Survivor: All-Stars was the show's eighth season.  Since then, we've had seven normal seasons.  Perfect timing for another All-Stars, right? 


Reason #2 – Jeff Probst is only signed through season 16

Probst hasn't talked retirement just yet, but there have been assorted rumblings surrounding the possibility of the great one's departure.  If, secretly, Probst has decided to fade into the sunset after season 16, then doesn't the franchise owe it to America's greatest TV hosting asset (Barker just retired, Trebek hasn't been the same since waxed his mustache area, and Seacrest is still a little too Seacrest-y) to send him off in grand fashion?


Reason #3 – Survivor has only been renewed through season 16

Yeah, that's right.  CBS has yet to give Survivor a contract for any seasons past 16.  What does this mean?  It could mean nothing, or it could mean that Survivor will be finished, for good, sometime next Spring.  While this would be a tragedy of Rosie-hosting-The Price is Right proportions, you never know, it could happen.  If this turns out to be the case and Survivor is canceled, you have to expect the show to go out with a bang.  It's Mark Burnett's baby, and he'd likely want to give it the biggest farewell he could, and another All-Stars would fit that bill.

One prediction: Mark Burnett brings Survivor full circle and gives us Survivor: All-Stars II next spiring, set in Borneo, site of the very first Survivor season.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer

(Image Courtesy of SurvivorFever)