Welcome back to Inside Survivor’s 50 For 50, a semi-regular feature highlighting 50 former castaways who we think should be considered for a spot on Survivor 50. In a snake draft, the Inside Survivor team selected ten players each, with the only rule being they couldn’t have played more than twice.
PROFILE
Name: Judson “Fabio” Birza
Age: 35
Season: Nicaragua, 2010
Finish: Winner
HIGHLIGHTS
One of the most unlikely Sole Survivors, Fabio began his wacky journey in Nicaragua as the stereotypical dumb blonde surfer dude with a love for weed. More of a cartoon character come to life than a serious player, he was immediately written off as a joke and tossed out of the power structure, finding himself on the bottom early on as he feuded with majority member NaOnka Mixon every episode.
But Fabio was more intelligent and adaptable than anyone assumed. So he wore the “Fabio” nickname with pride, playing up his goofball personality and giving us some of the season’s funniest moments. From peeing in a challenge pool, to wearing a snorkel as he tended to the fire, to battling a tiny crab, to randomly dropping facts about Freudian psychology, to his odd alliance with outcast strategist Marty Piombo who convinced him a pro tennis player was a chess grandmaster… Fabio was a lot of fun.
As the game neared its end and big players rose, fell, and quit along the way, Fabio’s low-key strategy paid off when the majority alliance targeted the more openly strategic Benry Henry over him at the final seven, opening the door for an epic immunity run that took him to the final three with no real enemies on the jury. Facing the strategically chaotic Chase Rice and widely disliked Sash Lenahan, Fabio pulled off the dark horse victory by a single vote, controversially thanks to both NaOnka and Purple Kelly being allowed on the jury despite their double quit.
WHY HE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
Full disclosure: this is the one honest meme pick I allowed myself to have. Odds are Fabio is never going to be called for 50 given he wasn’t even called for 40 with the pool of winners being so limited. Perhaps casting thinks he’s a one-season wonder who couldn’t bring anything to a modern season, but word on the street is he wanted to return and was sad not to even be contacted. And so was I, because while you obviously need huge players on these returnee seasons, you also need some wildcard picks and comic relief to spice things up. It’s hard to think of a more epic pick for that role than the wackiest winner of all time.
The biggest point in the case for Fabio’s return is that we really don’t know what he’s like at 35 compared to 21. He was the youngest winner ever, and his game reflected that. He didn’t have a ton of life experience, he wasn’t tuned in to a lot of the strategy, and people generally looked down on him despite his big heart and lovable personality. But what does a Fabio in his 30s, with life experience and a family and time to grow and change, play like?
Would we get more of the same and see Fabio cluelessly left on the bottom again as he goofs around? Or would we see someone strikingly different, a Fabio with more maturity who can weaponize his emotional intelligence to play a better game if not win a second time? A matured and improved Fabio could be one of the most fascinating returns in Survivor history, redeeming a meme winner hardly anyone respected and giving him the chance to earn some respect back all these years later. Fabio’s play style has ironically become the New Era meta: lay low, be goofy, be underestimated, strike at the end, and win based on social charm and offbeat strategy pitched with self-awareness more so than hardcore control of the game.
Is Fabio a serious long shot? Yes. Would he struggle to find his footing in a New Era-paced season? Probably. Will he be a huge fan favorite against so many heavy hitters from more popular seasons? Doubtful. But if you’re going to cast a niche pick for this season, go all the way and see what Fabio’s capable of 15 years later. Maybe he’ll live up to his reputation, be underestimated yet again, and surprise not only the other players but the audience too.
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