Reality television lovers looking to scratch the itch that The Traitors left since the last season ended in March can look no further than Fox’s The Snake. Hosted by Australian actor and comedian Jim Jefferies, The Snake season 1 follows a similar premise to The Traitors in that the cast are all people of varying backgrounds who have come together with one purpose: to outwit the others and be the last one standing, so they can win the $100,000 grand prize. It won’t be easy, as lying, deceit, and forming alliances are key to staying in the game.
If that concept sounds familiar, it’s because it is. The Snake borrows aspects from shows like The Traitors and Million Dollar Secret, and it’s popular because the audience feels like they’re in on the surprise. On The Snake, billed as “social survival of the fittest,” a person’s likability plays a huge part in how far they advance. One key difference on The Snake? Unlike those other reality competition shows, the Snake’s identity, which changes per episode, is known the entire time.
The Snake Contestants Have Jobs That Require “Winning People Over”
They Range From A Pastor To An Ex-Con
This promo for The Snake, shared by Fox on Instagram, illustrates one of the biggest strengths of The Snake. People are never as they seem, or so the show wants audiences to think. One might have preconceived notions about a pastor or a cheerleader, but there’s likely more depth behind a person’s job than just a surface description.
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Yes, the producers got creative with the idea that these jobs require “winning people over,” because the jobs include a content creator, a lawyer, a poker player, an HR director, a cop, and more. Any job, if you think about it, could be framed this way. Still, it is a good reminder that people are often more than meets the eye. In this way, The Snake borrows from The Traitors, because the players on The Traitors are known, but people probably didn’t think Lord Ivar Mountbatten was a threat, and yet, he emerged as a winner during season 3.
The Snake And The Traitors Are Hosted by Foreign Entertainers
Alan Cumming Is Scottish And Jim Jefferies Is Australian
Another similarity that The Traitors and The Snake share? Their choice of host. On The Traitors‘ American version, famed Scottish actor and performer Alan Cumming is the perfect host. He’s outlandish and over-the-top, and yet he hits just the right notes as the overlord on The Traitors. Alan knows things the other players don’t, and he wields it over their heads throughout the season. Oh, and he knows how to deliver the perfect insult without being too mean.
On The Snake, Jim is the host. Jim is best known for the 2013 FX show, Legit, as well as his various stand-up specials. Jim knows the comparisons to Alan will be rampant, and he makes a joke of it on The Snake‘s premiere by saying, “I’m Jim Jefferies. I’m a guy with an accent. And I’ll be your host.” Clearly, Jim is in on the joke.
One Big Difference Is The Snake Contestants Aren’t Famous
On The Traitors, All The Contestants Are Public Figures
For all the similarities between The Snake and The Traitors, there’s a major difference in that The Traitors casts all public figures. They aren’t necessarily all famous in the entertainment industry, although for the most part, they are. There are some outliers, like the aforementioned Lord Ivar, and Dylan Efron, whose biggest claim to fame prior to The Traitors season 3 was that his brother is Zac Efron.
Because most of the players on The Traitors are well-known, it’s easy to draw conclusions about them. A killer player on Survivor would probably be a great player on The Traitors, one would assume. Again, it isn’t always the case, but it makes for some interesting television.
On The Snake, none of the cast are public figures (although some did have some internet fame before joining the show). This means that the viewers can only go based on what is being shown to them in the moment. The viewers would assume, for instance, that the pastor would be an honest person, or that the ex-con would be a suspicious person. But just like on The Traitors, sometimes what we think we know about a person isn’t always the reality.
The Snake airs on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EDT on Fox.
Source: Fox/Instagram
The Snake
- Release Date
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June 10, 2025
- Network
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FOX
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Jim Jefferies
Self – Host
