Who would've thought a show about strangers stranded on an island would not only survive but thrive for 25 years? This show has redefined reality TV and kept fans on the edge of their seats season after season. With even the oldest shows getting the boot, Survivor has proven its staying power, continually reinventing itself with clever twists, unforgettable moments, and the legendary host Jeff Probst guiding the adventure every step of the way.
But just imagine if Probst ever decided to step away? Would the popular CBS series even be Survivor anymore? Probst has become synonymous with Survivor itself, and while the game could go on without him, his energy, insight, and passion are what have made the show an enduring cultural phenomenon. In other words, there's no Survivor without him and if it ever came to that, CBS might as well wrap up the island, extinguish the torches, and call it a day. That's just our own personal opinion!
Well, the good news is that Probst seems far from stepping away anytime soon. The Survivor host made that much clear in a new interview with TVLine. When asked about how he's feeling heading into the next seasons, Probst didn’t hold back. He shared that he's extremely dedicated to Survivor, stating he thinks about it constantly and is deeply connected to the show. In other words, hosting isn’t just a job for him. It’s a major part of his life.
He also acknowledged that there may come a time when he can no longer contribute creatively. When that happens, he hopes it will be obvious to him so he can step away voluntarily, rather than being “voted out” like contestants on the show. But as of right now, he shared that he doesn’t feel ready to step away. He feels enthusiastic, energized, and excited about the upcoming seasons and the ideas his team is developing.
"I think my personal connection to the show is obvious. I live, breathe, eat, sleep and think about Survivor all day, and I hope that if my time comes to an end and I’ve run out of ideas, that it’ll be obvious to me, so that I don’t have to get voted out of the game. But right now, I don’t feel that. I feel really energetic about our team and our ideas, and we’re already working on 51. We’re really excited about it."
In this same interview, Probst also mentions how he might not know exactly how long the show will last, but believes the game’s structure is “perfect” and could continue indefinitely, regardless of budget size or scale. That said, we could possibly see Probst continuing to host Survivor for many more seasons. People just need to continue to tune in and watch, so that CBS can see there's a demand and keep investing in the series.
Survivor 49 just started airing on CBS on Sept. 24, and it's already off to a great start. A fiftieth season wrapped filming in Fiji back in late June, and will feature a cast of returning favorites. In addition, a Survivor 51 and Survivor 52 are already in the works.