How One ‘Survivor’ Star’s Unexpected Move Landed Them in the ‘Shrinking’ Writers’ Room

After surviving ridicule on Survivor: One World, Bill Posley turned the mockery into motivation—and carved out a surprising career in Hollywood. Now a stand-up comedian and writer, Posley has landed gigs in some of the entertainment industry’s most coveted writers’ rooms.

But his path to Shrinking wasn’t just about talent—it started with a sweater. Posley revealed that his love for Troop Beverly Hills became a career-changing icebreaker. “One of the development executives in the room was like, ‘Oh my God, I love that movie!’” he told Entertainment Weekly. The conversation sparked a connection that ultimately led to his hiring. On his first day, he wore the sweater again, prompting boss Neil Goldman to joke, “That’s the shirt that got you this job!”

Bill Posley’s Wild Journey From ‘Survivor’ To ‘Shrinking’

Though his time on Survivor was short, Posley’s claim-to-fame served as Colton Cumbie‘s punching bag. Notoriously ridiculing Posley’s career, Cumbie pushed the struggling stand-up comedian to the brink. “I don’t want a fallback plan. That’s what I want to do with my life,” he shot back on his one-time rival. Posley may not be a notorious comedian today, but instead, he’s using his writing prowess to elevate some of television’s biggest shows. Posely, who shares his military past in his solo play The Day I Accidentally Went to War, had previously used this experience to help write Shrinking‘s character Sean. Played by Luke Tennie, the character, like Posley, suffers from PTSD following active duty.

Before finding a place at Shrinking, Posley worked as a staff writer on Cobra Kai. Though he wasn’t guaranteed another season as a writer, his agent pushed him toward the Shrinking opportunity. It is hard to say if Posley had the opportunity if he never wore the iconic sweater. But thanks to his colloquial talk about Troop Beverly Hills with one of the development executives, they were given a glimpse into their future coworker. Eventually, Posley revealed that they did discuss the project. He said of his conversation with Goldman,”We talked about like how to portray veterans, and the experience, and how I feel about comedy, and it really felt like our sensibilities were aligning.”

With Shrinking Season 3 on the horizon, Posley has a new credit to add to his resume: executive producer. Having been an integral part of Sean’s development, Posley has been able to help shape one of the most intriguing characters on the show. While giving his fellow writers credit for the “all-hands-on-deck” writing, Posely shared, “Some of Sean’s experiences that we speak about are some of the experiences that I had as well. They lean on me, but it’s not all me, for sure.”

Bill Posley Defied the Odds After ‘Survivor’

Image via CBS

For many individuals after Survivor, it becomes a choice of whether to ride out the 15 minutes of reality television fame or hope to fall back into obscurity and live their life pre-Survivor. But for those with aspirations to work in the entertainment industry, especially as actors, writers, and entertainers, it can be a difficult hill to climb. Of course, the biggest name to find success is Survivor: David vs Goliath‘s Mike White. Already established as a writer, with works including School of Rock, White just so happened to have the perfect series in The White Lotus to make Survivor an anecdote while he spoke of his award-winning series.

Other Survivor alumni who have created series or are part of TV writers’ rooms include Rafe Judkins from Survivor: Guatemala, John Cochran from Survivor: South Pacific and Survivor: Caramoan, for which he won, and David Wright from Survivor: Millennials vs Gen X and Survivor: Edge of Extinction. Judkins’ resume included Chuck, Hemlock Grove, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but his big break came as the showrunner and executive producer of The Wheel of Time. Wright, who came to Survivor as a television writer with multiple show credits, left the game and began writing on Star Trek: Lower Decks, alongside Cochran. Prior to joining his fellow Survivor superfan in the writers’ room, Cochran wrote for The Millers and Kevin Can Wait. For those Survivor fans with career aspirations beyond the game who fear being known solely as a Survivor, these alumni provide hope for life after the game!