The hotly anticipated premiere of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” has finally arrived!
Tonight, on Wednesday, February 25, longtime “Survivor” host Jeff Probst will kick off the milestone golden anniversary season by welcoming 24 former castaways back onto the island for another chance at claiming the show’s $1 million grand prize and the coveted title of “Sole Survivor.”
Amongst those joining the record-breaking cast are series legends like Cirie Fields and Ozzy Lusth, both of whom will be returning for their fifth series appearances, and “New Era” champions like Dee Valladares, Kyle Fraser and Savannah Louie, as well as representatives from throughout the entirety of the show’s unprecedented 26-year history on CBS ranging from Season 1’s Jenna Lewis-Dougherty to Season 49’s Rizo Velovic.
While the cast is already the largest the hit reality competition series has ever seen, it seems like the returning castaways may have to make room for one final competitor to join their ranks after Jeff Probst teased that he will also be “competing” on the landmark season.
Jeff Probst Confirms He Will ‘Compete’ on ‘Survivor 50’
The news that Probst would be joining Season 50, not only as its host, executive producer and showrunner, but also as a contestant, dropped during his appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” on Tuesday (Feb. 24).
After confirming that Fallon himself will have a role to play in the “In the Hands of the Fans” season, alongside other celebrity guest stars like country singer Zac Brown, Grammy winner Billie Eilish and YouTube sensation MrBeast (a.k.a. Jimmy Donaldson), Probst teased his updated role for the milestone installment.
While Fallon refused to share details about his contribution to “Survivor 50,” he did reveal that he’d given Probst an ultimatum before signing on for the potentially game-changing cameo.
“I said, ‘If I’m gonna be on, you have to be on,’” Fallon revealed before asking the longtime host, “So, did you?”
“I mean, I am a man of my word. We’ll just leave it at that,” Probst teased in response.
Fallon continued to probe Probst, however, asking leading questions like, “Did you compete this year?” and “Jeff Probst competes in ‘Survivor’?” until the host finally caved under the pressure.
“Yeah, I do [compete], yeah. I do,” Probst admitted, adding, “It was only fitting, [given] that I have talked so much smack for so many years, that I finally compete. And I’m not gonna say how and when, I’m only gonna say, I have a lot of respect for the players now.”
‘Survivor 50’ Premiere Events Take Over New York City
Probst’s appearance on “The Tonight Show” – his final pre-season interview ahead of this evening’s premiere episode – featured several other notable moments, such as a riveting game of Pictionary with “Survivor 50” contestants Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth and Charlie Davis, a closer look at the host’s new book, “Survivor: Forged By Fire,” and a live performance of his original “Survivor”-themed rock anthem, “Survivor 50: Come and Get It.”
The appearance coincided with a number of other premiere events in New York City, including a red carpet and panel discussion event with the cast at the Paley Museum’s new “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast” exhibition and a live Immunity Challenge event at Moynihan Hall co-hosted by “Survivor 50” news anchor castaways Savannah Louie and Rick Devens.
GettyRegardless, Probst’s admission that he will, in some way, be in on the action as a competitor on the landmark season, remains one of the biggest reveals of the night.
While Probst obviously won’t be in the running to win the $1 million grand prize, nor will he be at risk of being eliminated at Tribal Council, the host’s new role as a first-time “competitor” will likely be revealed during tonight’s historic three-hour premiere episode, set to hit CBS screens nationwide at 8:00pm ET.
