The ultimate TV reality competition Survivor returns to the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji for Season 37, which is themed “David vs. Goliath.” The premiere episode, “Appearances Are Deceiving,” introduces the 20 new castaways who are divided into two groups of 10 strangers. The members of the “David” tribe have overcome adversity in their lives. The members of the “Goliath” tribe tend to use individual advantages against opponents. On the first day on the island, a cyclone stirs up emotions.
One of the “Goliath” members is Hollywood writer, director, producer and actor Mike White. As an actor he’s known for his role as Laura Dern’s co-worker Tyler on Enlightened (he and Dern created the HBO series together.) He wrote the screenplays and acted in three films starring Jack Black: Nacho Libre, School of Rock and Orange County. Smith also wrote and acted in The Good Girl starring Jennifer Aniston, Year of the Dog starring Molly Shannon, and his off-beat film Chuck & Buck (he starred as Buck), among others. Smith launched his career as a writer in 2000 for the teen soap opera Dawson’s Creek.
White is currently listed as co-writer of the forthcoming animated film The One and Only Ivan, starring the voices of Angelina Jolie, Sam Rockwell and Bryan Cranston. Ivan (Rockwell) is a gorilla in captivity who plots an escape with an elephant named Stella (Jolie). It’s not White’s first animated film; he’s one of the co-writers of The Emoji Movie. Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8pm on CBS.
Here’s the list of the 10 Hollywood movies Mike Smith has written or co-written, so far (which does not include TV shows):
Pitch Perfect 3 (2017)
The Emoji Movie (2017)
Beatriz at Dinner (2017)
Year of the Dog (2007) starring Molly Shannon, Laura Dean, John C. Reilly
Nacho Libre (2006)
School of Rock (2003)
The Good Girl (2002)
Orange County (2002)
Chuck & Buck (2000)
Dead Man on Campus (1998) starring Tom Everett Scott, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Poppy Montgomery
