Hatch may return to 'Survivor' for 'heroes vs. villains'

UPDATED: A federal judge has shot down Richard Hatch's request to join the 20th season of "Survivor." Guess asking the court, "Can I go on 'Survivor' while being punished for not paying taxes from winning 'Survivor'" didn't work.

PREVIOUS: Reality TV's original villain Richard Hatch may return to the show that made him famous.

Court documents filed Friday show that Hatch has been invited to participate in the 20th cycle of CBS' "Survivor." Hatch is petitioning a federal court for permission to leave the country and participate in the show. The season will film for seven weeks in Samoa, just like the upcoming 19th round. Hatch is currently confined to his home, having been convicted on tax evasion charges.

But before fans get too excited, Hatch recently asked a judge to release him from his final 90 days of confinement to travel to Argentina and get married, but was turned down.

The government is trying to block Hatch's request, saying the former corporate consultant should not be allowed to leave since he has not yet paid $400,000 in back taxes -- from winning the first season of "Survivor."

“Judge Torres found that Hatch was in need of supervision, including mental health counseling and that Hatch perjured himself extensively during the trial," the government wrote in a filing.

Hatch points out that participating in the show will help him pay the taxes, and that has demonstrated he's not a flight risk by returning from outside the country to face charges previously.

The news of Hatch's request has essentially confirmed that the 20th cycle will be another All Stars edition of the show, but there might be an added twist: Former cast member Coby Archa wrote on a blog the show will be organized into "heroes vs. villains." Archa said he was not invited on the show, though knows of other former cast members who were. The "heroes vs. villains" concept is something fan blogs have been speculating about for a while, but the format has not been confirmed by the network.

Hatch and CBS have had a rocky history, with the contestant at one point accusing producers of allowing cheating on the show (in the form of contestants sneaking food onto the island).

His petition is somewhat similar to former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich asking a judge in April to let him travel to Costa Rica to participate on NBC's "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!" but with a key difference: Blagojevich was requesting to cross the border before a trial that could result in a prison term; Hatch is merely asking for some weeks to be shaved off the conclusion of his house arrest.

CBS declined comment.