Jeff Probst explains why “Survivor 50” will ‘endlessly change how gamers embrace uncertainty’

Survivor 50 marks the sixth time the franchise has introduced again a full forged of returning all-stars (following the All-Stars, Heroes vs. Villains, Cambodia, Recreation Changers, and Winners at Conflict seasons). However even with these different high-profile installments (together with one stuffed with earlier champions), one thing about Survivor 50 felt totally different to Jeff Probst throughout filming.

“I've by no means had the form of feeling I had in Survivor 50,” the host and showrunner tells Leisure Weekly. “And I've by no means felt the alternate with the gamers that I felt in Survivor 50.”

However whereas the assembly between host and forged was somewhat little bit of a celebratory love-in, Probst additionally believes there has by no means been extra on the road. “It's Survivor 50,” he says. “And when you thought the stakes have been excessive for successful Winners at Conflict or Heroes vs. Villains, everyone desires their identify on that parchment on the closing Tribal Council of Survivor 50. And that exceeded any feeling I've had on another returning participant season.”

Whereas many forged members carry longstanding friendships onto the island, that may really result in a extra brutal recreation with fractured emotions when recreation comes first. “The gameplay was actual,” says the host. “And sure, lots of these gamers know one another. They've performed collectively earlier than. A few of them have identified one another for a really very long time, however there's just one winner. And the nice a part of the format is you’ll be able to have all types of friendships, however two buddies don't win. Only one wins.”

In fact, Survivor 50 additionally carries lots of uncertainty with it because the contestants had no concept how the viewers voted in key classes to form the sport. And it appears like how they react — or don’t — to that thriller may decide the winner of season 50.

“I feel Survivor 50 will endlessly change how gamers embrace uncertainty,” Probst predicts. “As a result of what you see through the season is that the gamers who lean into the unknown are those who take management.”

Probst insists him saying this isn’t simply him encouraging contestants to play aggressively to make higher TV. “That’s one thing you and I’ve joked about for years, while you would all the time get on me saying, ‘Oh, I simply need huge strikes.’ And I’ve by no means modified my tune ever. The best way you win the sport is you play to win. The identical manner Tony performed recklessly. And sure, you're gonna lose most occasions, however if you’d like a shot at successful, that’s what you must do. And that's what you're gonna see in 50. It’s a must to embrace the unknown and covet it, need it, lure it to you. You need to be in management."

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With Probst preaching on the significance of enjoying an aggressive recreation — and indicating that aggressiveness shall be rewarded on Survivor 50 — does that imply the old-school gamers could have bother adapting to the quicker recreation‚ if that’s certainly what the followers voted into the season?

“One of many enjoyable questions going into that is: How will the followers affect the new-era recreation?” Probst asks. “After which an equally huge query is: How will gamers from earlier eras adapt? As a result of when you're a second-time participant and also you performed within the new period, you could possibly argue you’ve a little bit of a bonus as a result of the tempo of 26 days, and you recognize what it's prefer to go perhaps 15, 18, 20 days with none meals.”

Probst states it bluntly: “I feel the onus goes to be on the sooner period gamers. They’ve to fulfill the sport the place it’s and never count on the sport to fulfill them the place they’re. But when we obtained it proper by the gamers we picked, then I feel that can occur.”

However are these even the identical gamers — and folks — from the final time they competed on the island? “I feel Colby is among the gamers who's modified probably the most by way of his angle,” Probst notes of the distinction from his final outing on season 20 of Heroes vs. Villains. “As a result of the final time he performed, he wasn't joyful. He left disgruntled and pissed off and was finished with Survivor. After which through the years he's grown up, he's matured, he's mirrored on it and he got here again with as a lot gratitude as anybody within the recreation.”

The host stated the gratitude is not any act both. “I felt it. It was actual. The primary time we talked, I felt it. The primary time I noticed him at Ponderosa [before the game], I felt it. The primary time I noticed him on the seaside, I felt it. In order that felt very totally different. What hasn't modified a lot about Colby is his appears. He nonetheless appears unbelievable! He's nonetheless a stud. He's nonetheless match. He works at an actual ranch. He does these bodily issues. And it was enjoyable to see him on the market and notice, ‘Yeah, he's aged somewhat bit, however comparatively talking, not very a lot.”

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Colby is just not the one participant who has advanced since his final season. Ozzy Lusth is again for his fifth try on the title, his final outing being season 34’s Recreation Changers.

“Ozzy is one other man I feel who's modified fairly a bit,” Probst notes. “I feel Ozzy's undergone lots of maturity and I feel lots of this got here from being this one-name participant related to such an enormous present and in such constructive methods — you recognize, the unique Jungle Boy who may do something. And I feel that was most likely fairly powerful to handle. Like, how do you keep who you actually are and dwell alongside this picture of what folks suppose you’re, who they suppose you’re or who they need you to be?”

So who’s Ozzy now? “How do you come again into Survivor 50 and merge these two the place it’s, 'I wanna give the followers the Ozzy they're used to, however I'm an older, totally different, extra mature Ozzy.' And I appreciated that throughout the board in the identical manner that Jenna Lewis confirmed up. I imply, first participant, first season, she hasn't performed in endlessly and he or she was an instantaneous sure.”

The host says that was a relentless theme among the many forged: “These gamers introduced of their collective previous from all their seasons, however individually, all of them confirmed up the place they have been of their life at that second. And I feel that provides a layer of depth to what you're gonna get since you're gonna see numerous totally different tales, numerous totally different approaches to gameplay, all with the identical aim. How do I beat this recreation?”

In fact, not each participant modified radically. “I feel the participant who's most likely probably the most constant general is Coach,” Probst says whereas breaking right into a smile. “I really like Coach for many causes, however one of many causes I really like him is that he’s not afraid to embrace who he’s. He’s a man that has many a quote at hand, and he has intention behind these quotes. And when you ask him for one thing that's going to encourage, he's obtained one thing. For those who ask him for one thing to cope with loss, he's obtained one thing. However he’s not placing on only a efficiency, he's performing his reality. And there's a distinction. And it's one of many causes I really like Coach.”

So will we, Jeff. So will we.

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