Survivor, one of America’s most beloved TV shows, recently released its 49th season, with none other than ETHS alumnus Alex Moore as a contestant. There, he competed against 17 others on the islands of Fiji for a chance to win the final cash prize of 1 million dollars and the title of Sole Survivor.
It’s no stretch to say that being on Survivor is the opportunity of a lifetime. Many dream of the day they may get to be on the show, despite how grueling it can be. Survivor involves harsh conditions, being forced to survive on an island, while also participating in challenges, both physical and mental. According to Entertainment Weekly, in 2022, 16,000 auditions were sent in to Survivor. So, who is Alex Moore, and what made him one of the few to be chosen for the chance to compete?
Growing up, Moore and his family watched Survivor religiously. They were also regular viewers of other reality shows like Big Brother and The Amazing Race. Alex’s love for Survivor was able to truly flourish, however, when he met two Spanish teachers at the high school, Patricia Hurley and Nicole Roubekas-Lane. Both avid and longtime watchers of Survivor, they were able to form a unique connection with Moore, leading to the start of the unofficial “Survivor Club.” Moore was the first student to join the “Survivor Club,” but others soon joined. Through the enthusiasm of Moore, Hurley, and Lane, many at ETHS were able to connect through the show.
“Every morning after [last night’s episode], we would meet in [Lane’s] room and talk about Survivor. It became kind of like a club, but it wasn’t an actual club through the school. It was an informal club,” explained Hurley.
In these morning meetings, the teachers and students discussed the different players on the show, as well as the strategy for it. One meeting, they even wrote a letter to the host of Survivor.
“It was coming towards the end of the season, and we got together and wrote a letter to Jeff Probst, the host of the show, basically saying, ‘Hey, this group has come together, and Survivor has meant so much to us and has built this bond between these teachers and students. It would make our year the best year yet, it would be the icing on the cake if we were able to go to the finale,’” said Moore.
They never heard back, but little did Moore know, he would meet Probst in a much different way.
After graduating from ETHS in 2017 and finishing school at Northwestern University, Moore would move to Washington, DC, becoming a communications director for Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Around then, he would also begin his journey auditioning for Survivor.
“It was always that dream, when you’re sitting there, it’s like, ‘wow, one day I’d love to do that’, but you don’t think it’s actually going to happen. It just kind of seemed like a rabbit chasing a carrot,” Moore said.
Despite how unreachable it seemed to be on the show, Moore went on to send in two auditions.
“I thought, you know what? Might as well. Why not me? If other people are doing it, why in the world could that not be me?”
Sure enough, Moore’s second audition for the show would be accepted for further review, beginning the process of him being a part of the show’s newest season. It wasn’t easy, as what ensued were months of long interviews, appointments, and psych tests, all while hoping this would lead to an appearance on the show. Moore describes it as “a part-time job,” and this was before the real game show even started.
After finally being able to hear the news that Alex Moore was, in fact, on Survivor, Lane and Hurley were shocked.
“I went to Greece this summer. I get home, and it’s June. Survivor premieres in September, and I’m up at four o’clock in the morning, because I have jet lag, and I’m searching up Survivor 49 spoilers as one super fan does, on the dark web,” recounted Lane. “The list of potential cast members comes up, and his name comes up. I see Alex Moore, and it says Washington, DC.
Lane was skeptical, given that Moore’s name was quite common and D.C. wasn’t his hometown, but she knew he lived in the area and decided to reach out, hoping for the best.
“I texted him at four thirty in the morning, ‘Are you kidding me that you haven’t told me that you’re on this show? Is this you?’ And he wrote back and said, ‘It’s me. I can’t say much, but as soon as they release the official list, I’ll get in touch with you.’ In September, Ms. Hurley calls me screaming on the phone, telling us we got invited to the premier party he was having.”
At said premier party, taking place in Chicago, the teachers were able to reconnect with Moore, along with another ETHS alumnus and Survivor contestant, Liana Wallace, Moore’s family friend, and someone who had also formed a special bond with Lane and Hurley over the show. All were happy to reunite and catch up after their time apart.
“Having Ms. Hurley and Ms. Lane sitting next to my aunts and my cousins and mixed in with other students from ETHS, it was just really special to see everyone come together, and it made it the perfect premiere party,” remarked Moore.
Hurley and Lane are certainly both confident that Moore will make it far.
“Alex has a way of connecting with people and bringing out their personalities, and that will be what, in my opinion, gets him far in the game. He’s a physical threat, but his social game is going to be what carries him,” stated Hurley.
While the teachers are optimistic, competing was no walk in the park for Moore.
“I grew up in Evanston. I live in D.C now. So, I’m a city guy. I’m used to having stuff around me; I never really went camping; it’s not really my thing. And so, being left stranded on an island was just insane to me. I knew I was going to be pushing myself out of my comfort zone, but I just didn’t know how much. I was doing things and pushing myself further than I’ve ever been pushed in my life.”
Despite the difficulties, though, Moore knew his strengths would carry him through the game. Strengths earned through his Evanstonian background.
“E-Town is in my veins always. I am always trying to rep E-Town and ETHS specifically. Evanston really is this cultural melting pot, so a lot of the skills and a lot of my social saviness come from just growing up with people who didn’t look like me and who have different backgrounds than me,” said Moore.
If you are interested and would like to support Alex Moore on his journey through Survivor, make sure to tune in on CBS and Paramount+ at 7:00 pm on Wednesdays for this exciting season, airing now!
“I’m excited for people to see this journey,” said Moore. “Because it’s a game and I really went in there to play.”
