In a conference call yesterday, Mark Burnett dismissed all allegations of knowing about the Russell Hantz spoiling soap opera where Jim Early alleged that Hantz told him the results of Survivor Samoa and Heroes vs. Villains in advance.
“I have no idea about it,” he said. “I found out the same time you found out—I read it online. I don’t know if it’s actually true, because I, honestly, as of this minute, still have not had a conversation with CBS or anyone even about it.”
“I should probably call and ask someone” about the controversy, he added. “I’ve not even spoken to Jeff about it. I forgot. I completely forgot about it. Maybe I’ll call him later.”
The Survivor head honcho said that he would consider doing a celebrity version.
“Has it ever come up in meetings?” he said. “Sure.”
“I think that if CBS wanted to [do an all-celebrity version of Survivor],” Burnett mused, “if it was a really good reason, and it was like a shortened version for charity…Yeah, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”
