Tejal Somvanshi
Former congressman George Santos appeared in the Season 5 premiere of FOX’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test on September 24 — and early in the premiere episode, he needed help getting out of the water.
FOX confirmed Santos is among 15 celebrity recruits in Season 5, which premiered Thursday, September 24, at 9 PM ET and was filmed in Malaysia. In a challenge during the premiere, Santos completed the initial dive but struggled to lift himself onto the wooden platform afterward. Actor Oliver Hudson reached down and assisted Santos out of the water while the show’s directing staff urged the recruits to move. Entertainment reports confirmed Hudson’s assist, noting that directing staff gave vocal instructions throughout the sequence.
Related Karmactive coverage: previous Karmactive coverage and related Karmactive background.
Santos spoke on camera about his legal history during the episode. His federal prison sentence was commuted by President Trump in October 2025 before he appeared on the show. Actor Brandi Glanville was eliminated from the season with an injury in the same premiere.
Unlike standard competition formats, Special Forces has no prize money and no public voting. Recruits generally leave by voluntary withdrawal, injury, or direct dismissal by the directing staff. The show airs Thursdays on FOX. New episodes stream on Hulu the following morning.
The remaining Season 5 episodes air Thursday nights on FOX through the autumn. Whether Santos advances in the selection process will become clear in the coming weeks.
Primary source links: foxflash.com, justice.gov.
