At a glance…
- Jonathan LaPaglia was the veteran host of Australian Survivor for nearly a decade until he was blindsided and ousted for the new host, David Genat.
- He’s not coming back to host a new survival-style show: APOCALYPSE.
- Contestants are dropped in a real abandoned town and have to work together to survive.
- Part social experiment, part reality television show, it will test the limits of the chosen contestants.
What happens when the creators of Alone and Squid Game get into a room together? They create a hectic new reality TV survival show, and who better to narrate it than beloved Australian Survivor host, Jonathan LaPaglia, aka JLP.
The veteran host of Australian Survivor was “blindsided” last season when he was ousted from the hosting gig in favour of three-time player and one-time winner, David “The Golden God” Genat.
“I wouldn’t say we’re like close friends,” David told me about his relationship with JLP after the news broke. “We have a good working relationship, and I know him. The worry for me was trying not to let him down, to make sure that his legacy stays intact.”
“It has been one of the greatest adventures of my career to helm Australian Survivor,” JLP himself wrote in a statement. “So it is without a doubt the hardest challenge of all to snuff my own torch, but here goes; “JLP…..the tribe has spoken.””
Since the news, there has been a lot of fan backlash, including from this writer, as JLP was a huge part of that show. However, it looks like JLP has Survivor firmly in the rearview as he takes up this new series, APOCALYPSE.
So, that’s the format? The contestants will be dropped into a real abandoned town, which is now used as a training facility, and have to survive for 28 days (queue your mind going straight to that zombie franchise).
“I’ve spent years watching people navigate pressure, strategy and uncertainty, but this takes those dynamics into a completely new environment,” JLP said on the new show. “Dropping ordinary people into a post-disaster world where every decision matters creates a fascinating test of resilience, relationships, and survival. I can’t wait for audiences to experience the twists, challenges, and unexpected moments that unfold.”
Sadly, we might not be seeing too much of JLP on the show as he’s listed as the narrator, but I, for one, can’t wait to see how it may play out.
APOCALYPSE is coming soon to BINGE. Check back for a release date.
