The Snake slithers onto FOX with $100K on the line and 15 persuasive players

In a summer packed with competition shows, FOX is tossing its hat into the social strategy ring with The Snake. The series brings together 15 contestants with one major thing in common: they’re all naturally persuasive. Whether it’s their job, their background, or just the way they talk, every player is skilled at getting others on their side, or at least making it look that way.

The Snake doesn’t just rely on physical or mental strength. It’s built around social dynamics, with contestants navigating fake friendships, shifting alliances, and chain-reaction eliminations. The winner of each round becomes “The Snake,” a title that comes with power and pressure. They get to save one person, who then saves another, and so on, until someone is left out. That person goes home.

“I’m thrilled to be hosting The Snake, a show about making friends and faking friends,”

said host Jim Jefferies.

“I’ve been training for this job my whole life. Growing up in Australia, and now living in Hollywood, I’ve been around plenty of snakes.”

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The Snake adds a twist to familiar reality TV formulas

While comparisons to other reality shows are inevitable, The Snake is carving out its own space. Created by SallyAnn Salsano, the mind behind Jersey Shore, the show blends strategy, survival, and social gameplay into one format. Each episode revolves around a competition, but winning that challenge doesn’t guarantee safety in the traditional sense. It just means you become The Snake—and with that title comes the burden of starting “The Saving Ceremony.”

In this ceremony, The Snake saves one person, who then saves another, and so on, until someone is left out entirely. Unlike other elimination rounds where contestants vote someone out, this game asks, Who do you like just enough to keep around? That’s a much trickier, and juicier, dynamic to play with.

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The Snake's creator is no stranger to drama

SallyAnn Salsano has been around reality TV for a while. Best known for Jersey Shore, she’s no stranger to high-stakes social chaos. But The Snake is a different kind of beast.

After her stint on All-Star Shore in 2022, it seems the competitive format stuck with her. With The Snake, she leans into strategic tension rather than just party-fueled drama. FOX’s president of programming, Michael Thorn, seems confident in her vision.

“SallyAnn brings her uniquely original voice to FOX with this fresh take on the strategy competition series and a universally appealing concept that will captivate audiences,”

he said.

“Trust me — The Snake lives up to its name.”

The series is produced by Salsano’s 495 Productions and is owned by FOX Entertainment.

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Jim Jefferies steps into a new spotlight as host

Comedian Jim Jefferies might seem like an unexpected choice to host The Snake, but that’s part of the appeal. Known for The Jim Jefferies Show on Comedy Central, he’s built a reputation for biting humor and quick wit. Hosting a show about manipulation, charm, and deception feels oddly on-brand.

Jefferies brings levity to the intense moments without undercutting the stakes. His comment about being surrounded by “plenty of snakes” while growing up in Australia and later in Hollywood hits the tone The Snake seems to aim for—sharp, a little cheeky, and always watching for the next move.

His humor will likely help balance the emotional weight of players turning on each other and forming temporary alliances that may dissolve at any moment.

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When and where to watch The Snake

The Snake will officially slither into prime time on Tuesday, June 10, at 9 p.m. EDT on FOX. It joins a growing list of high-stakes, mind-game reality competitions dominating the summer schedule.

With a fresh format, a standout host, and a creator who knows how to stir the pot, The Snake could end up being one of the season’s more talked-about entries. And while it borrows bits and pieces from other strategy shows, its structure makes it a unique experiment in influence.

Whether you’re here for the gameplay or just want to see who gets left out at the next Saving Ceremony, The Snake promises plenty of drama—and maybe even a few unexpected connections.