‘Survivor’ Will Feature Heroes & Villains Without Richard Hatch

Richard Hatch was the ultimate Survivor villain. He was also the ultimate Survivor player, earning himself a spot in the Reality TV Hall of Fame for his first-season performance. Unfortunately, he then similarly earned himself a spot in the Reality TV Hall of Shame for his tax-evading ways.

Those latter issues are now getting in the way of his attempt to reprise his villainous Survivor ways. It appears that Survivor will be doing a special tenth-anniversary all-star version of the show for the Spring 2010 season. But this won’t be just any all-star version – leaked word is that it will be “Heroes vs. Villains.” And Hatch wanted to be there.

The problem is that Hatch is still under the latter stages of house arrest following his tax evasion conviction. He spent about three years in prison, but still is not free to just take off and play Survivor again. He doesn’t have much time left – maybe three months or so – but it’s just enough to keep him away from this edition. So he petitioned the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island for permission to go to Samoa to play (the Fall season will also feature Samoa – it appears the producers must like it there).

However, the court didn’t play along. Despite his pleadings that he could use the money to pay off his back taxes (prosecutors say he still owes along the lines of $400,000!) and his statements that he wouldn’t be a flight risk, the judge turned down his request. I guess the courts are not in the business of setting aside punishments just because they are inconvenient to the aspirations of the criminal in question.

The whole situation smacks of irony, since one of Hatch’s claims in defending himself was that producers had rigged the game and, when he caught them, had promised to pay his taxes for him. If he truly believed this, why would he want to subject himself to their mercies again? I know why the producers would have considered bringing him back – no matter what their personal feelings might have been at such accusations, Hatch would mean a heck of a story and increased ratings! Alas, it doesn’t look like that will happen.

This revelation does open up the doors of speculation as to who might appear on the show. I’m really hoping Jonny Fairplay doesn’t come back yet again. But I sure wouldn’t mind seeing Cirie or Yau-Man again. Heck, going all the way back to the beginning of the series, there are all sorts of people who have had almost a decade since they played – they could be completely different people by now! It would definitely be interesting to have some of them back again.

We here at RealityNewsOnline will keep our ears to the ground for any news – and if readers happen to hear anything, feel free to drop us a line. In the meantime, maybe Hatch will appeal the decision – though I really doubt any judge anywhere is going to let him go.

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at RNO@pobox.com.

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