Whether’s he poking fun at castaways’ lack-luster performances in high-stakes challenges, commenting on their unpleasant odors after weeks stranded in the jungles of Fiji, or laughing at their hunger-induced ramblings, longtime “Survivor” host Jeff Probst’s comedic quips have become a fan-favorite asset of the often intensely serious reality competition series over the last 25 years.
That being said, while it’s easy for Probst, well-rested, well-fed and well-washed, to come up with witty one-liners on the spot during challenges or at Tribal Council, what happens when the players clap back with their own jokes at the host’s expense?
Probst Actually Prefers Players Who Aren’t Afraid to Have Fun
According to Probst, he actually enjoys castaways who are able to throw his light-hearted slights back in his direction.
CBS/Getty“One of the most enjoyable parts of being the host of ‘Survivor’ right not for me is that I’ve been around so long that I think the players trust they can have fun with me, they can make fun of me, or they can use me as a somebody to bounce off as an improv partner,” Probst told Entertainment Weekly. “And I really like that.”
While vintage seasons of “Survivor” certainly featured a handful of players who didn’t shy away from poking fun at the host, like Jonathan Penner and Parvati Shallow, more recent seasons oftentimes feature players who have spent the entirety of their lives watching “Survivor” – and Jeff – on TV over the course of the show’s 25-year history.
‘Survivor 49’ to Give Players More Chances to Show Their ‘Character’
According to the host, who doubles as “Survivor’s” executive producer, the series’ upcoming 49th season will actively try to incorporate more moments for contestants who engage in back-and-forth conversations with the host.
“You’re going to see more of that this season,” he said. “There will be more of these conversations that happen before a challenge starts or after a challenge ends. They’re the kind of conversations we don’t always show, but when those conversations reveal character about the players, then we try to find time to include them in the episode.”
After first-look interviews with the “Survivor 49” castaways were revealed ahead of the season’s highly anticipated two-hour premiere on Wednesday, September 24, it’s certain that “character” is the last thing this new batch of 18 castaways is lacking.
From a NASA rocket scientist to a former Marvel Studios executive, the Season 49 cast similarly includes a contestant who was hit by a car just days before jetting off to Fiji, a professional hockey player who missed the birth of his own son to compete on the show, and a two castaways who joined the cast as alternates just 12 hours before filming began.
As a showrunner, Probst hopes that offering contestants more time to banter back-and-forth with their host will allow their personalities to shine through, even if it results in him being on the receiving end of their jokes and jabs.
“I think the impact it’s having is it’s making the audience and the players realize we really are this weird family, and I am that uncle you can make fun of or have fun alongside,” Probst continued.
Be sure to catch this season’s cast of characters when “Survivor 49” makes its grand CBS debut with an epic two-hour premiere episode on Wednesday, September 24 at 8:00pm ET. New episodes will be available to stream the following day on Paramount+.
