Steven Prusakowski
There are few people in television who have worked the same job for 25 years. I would venture to say there is no one who has the relentless passion and enthusiasm of Jeff Probst as he starts his 26th year as host of Survivor. and for those who are counting, and you should, that’s 48 seasons of challenges, betrayals alliances, immunity idols and tribal councils with a 49th season right around the corner.
Few have worked the same job in television for 25 years. I venture to say, for those who have, no one matches Jeff Probst’s relentless passion and enthusiasm for his work. He is starting his 26th year hosting Survivor, for those counting – and you should – that’s 48 seasons of grueling challenges, shocking betrayals, strategic alliances, coveted immunity idols, and intense tribal councils, with a 49th season right around the corner.
Jeff joined me on TV Topics podcast to discuss the iconic competition series and more than two decades after it first premiered, what makes it stand out from the imitators as well as the endless list of reality series that followed. As a day-one fan, it was an honor to explore the game’s inner workings with Jeff, including a profoundly touching moment that may be the show’s most memorable ever.
Our conversation reveals the heart of Survivor’s success, much of which- though he may humbly disagree – is Jeff himself, his unmatched passion and respect for the show. When we discussed the series, he did not simply answer my questions, his eyes lit up with excitement as if he was talking about his first year on the job instead of heading towards his 50th season. And even after all those years, I asked a question of him that he had never had heard phrased in the way I did – a game changing question that put him in the shoes of a contestant. Fans will love his answer.
Unlike most interviews, our conversation went beyond the island and straight to Jeff’s living room as talked television as he answered my TV Topics questions. He did so with undeniable energy, discussing an array of television shows that left their impact on him; from Johnny Carson and NYPD Blue to Schitt’s Creek and The Shield (one of my all-time favorites which has been painfully under-represented on the podcast. Those are just a few shows that Jeff brought up – he has great taste in television.
As always TV Topics provides a one-of-a-kind perspective on some talented guests. Jeff was no exception, by the time our conversation concluded, this man who we have invited into our living rooms for a quarter of a century. Probst takes his television seriously and conveyed that and its influence on him through his answers.
Below are some highlights from our conversation, but be sure to listen to the full interview because this is just a fraction of it:
On the authenticity of Survivor:
“Survivor is an unscripted, very messy, unpredictable, real raw show shot in the jungle. No second takes. We don’t ever encourage people what to say or what to do. So when people say, ‘Oh, it’s a reality show,’ If you watched it, you would say it’s a study of human behavior. It’s a lot of things. That moment, the reason that moment got to me is the same as when you’re a parent. You see the world in a certain way, and I’m watching this young woman thinking, oh, my gosh! Her parents are going to be so worried about her knowing this happened.
I just saw myself in that situation. And there was never a question of whether we should leave it in the show.It’s not the prettiest cry. You know, it’s hard for me to watch it because I sound drunk. But that’s my that was my real true Jeff Probst feeling. And I think sometimes people get confused because I’m not playing a character on Survivor. That’s me. That’s how I feel.”
On the raw experience of Survivor:
“The storm is coming. You’re going to get wet. There will be bugs all over you in the morning, and you’ll have bites you didn’t know where they came from. There isn’t a bag of food we don’t tell people about. There is no food. The water you’ve got to go get from the well, and while you’re gone, these people are going to conspire against you and try to vote you out. That’s Survivor. And that’s why people, when they get out there say, ‘Oh, my gosh! It’s more than I thought.’”
On preserving Survivor’s format:
“One of the things we’ve done right is we’ve never messed with the format. We never nudge a story. We never nudge a player, ‘Don’t you really think this? Or wouldn’t you rather do that?’ We stay out of the way. We set up the show ahead of time. Here are the advantages or the twists, but then we turn it over to the players, and that trust is what makes it work because it’s their show. It’s their decisions that you’re going to watch. That’s what makes you say, what would I do in the same situation?”
On the universal appeal of the series:
“We have one of the widest ranging audiences of any show on TV, from 7 to 77. We just lost a beautiful woman, Sueta, who was 104, never missed Survivor. That means she started watching when she was 80. A young 5th grader discovers Survivor and says, ‘You’re telling me I could go live in a jungle, run challenges, and lie to each other?’ There are so many elements about Survivor, and it’s so easy to get into, because every season is a standalone. You don’t have to know any history. It’s always new, so just pick any season.”
On season 48’s very emotional moment:
“There was a monumental moment in Survivor 48 between this young woman, Eva, and this firefighter Joe, that transcends any show or game. If you’ve not seen that scene, you’ve got to go find it and watch it, because it will change you as a human. It will remind you we’ve got to take care of each other. When somebody’s in need, get over your crap and just say, ‘I’m here for you. How can I help you?’ That’s what happened, and I was lucky enough to be a witness to it, and smart enough to stay out of the way.”
Watch all of season 48 as well as many of the previous seasons of Survivor on Paramount+. And watch for season 49 coming to CBS in the coming weeks.
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