Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS
Each week, Survivor host Jeff Probst answers a few questions about the most recent episode of Redemption Island.
So, how many donuts would it take for you to give Phillip a massage?
Start diggin my plot as I will soon be dead from starvation.
Part of what you try to do when you ask players questions is to draw them out in the hope that their comments will create drama with other players, but Rob never, ever takes the bait. Like at Redemption Island, when you asked him about Matt, “Why’d you vote him out, Rob?” When he answers that “It doesn’t take one person to vote someone out, Jeff, you know that,” are you simultaneously impressed by his ability to stay above the fray while frustrated that he won’t bite on the fishing line you’ve just reeled out?
I always tell contestants if you want to keep me off your back just give me an answer to my question. Any answer. I don’t care if you tell the truth or lie. Give me something usable. It’s when they give me answers like “I dunno” that I get frustrated and often that frustration leads me right back to them with an even more pressing question. Rob has become a master of the “no-answer answer.” When you’re that good at tribal, it does make my job much harder, but that’s my problem, not theirs. I never get frustrated with good game play.
When I spoke to Russell last week, he made mention of Steve not being able to do much physically, and then last night Steve sat out the challenge and Stephanie alluded to the fact that he was a physical liability. This is a former NFL offensive lineman who looks to be in great shape. What is it about him that these players are talking about but we’re not seeing?
I never fully understood the criticism but what I gathered is that he was more of a “lumbering” type and not really a fast twitch kind of guy. So maybe they felt he was just too slow out of the gate? If we had more “push the other guy off the platform” challenges they might feel differently.
David vs. Rob in the puzzle: Who’s your money on?
That’s a tough one. They’re both very bright. Day in day out I will always bet on Rob. Always. Against any Survivor player. Doesn’t matter that he has never won, he’s still the best overall player we’ve ever had.
Tease us up for next week, Probst!
Watch out girls… Phillip has had enough of your laziness.
For more from Jeff on last night’s episode, check out jeffprobst.com. To read Dalton’s recap, click right here. To watch an exclusive deleted scene from last night’s episode as well as our pre-game interview with Kristina, simply watch the video player below. And for more Survivor scoop, follow Dalton on Twitter @EWDaltonRoss.
Suddenly Rob is thebest player they’ve ever had? Changing your tune Probst for hte past two years you’ve been talking about how awesome Russell is, clearly that Kool-Aid you drank has worn off now that Russell is gone.
Probst has ALWAYS said Rob was the best player in challenges. Rob Mariano has is always brought up when questions of individual challenges and wit come into play. As someone who watches just for the awesomeness of Rob, I’ve keep my eyes open, and the love & respect from Probst is consistent.
Russell has always been over rated as an “all Star” he is a one hit wonder who got a chance to play Survivor for the first time twice. His second all star game was played before his first season aired.. so none of the “Heros & Villians” had seen his play. Russel played a game he could never win because of his scorched earth tactics and now he is a known bad apple who can’t be trusted so out he went. He made for good TV twice because of he was the only “All Star” who was an unknown to his cast. he is no longer good TV because he will be the troll that gets sent home every time now. Rob on the other hand is smart, heroic, devious, brash, subtle, and evil at times. He is as good as it gets for TV. We just need another player good enough to go against him. He has a target because of who he is, but his play has adapted well. Go Rob he may not win. but he is fun to watch.
To Russell (from one of my favorite movies)
You have been weighed.
You have been measured.
And you have absolutely…
Been found wanting.
Welcome to New World. God save you, if it is right that he should do so
WIIIIIIIIIIILIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAMMMM!!!
Rob is not, and will never be the best. He has not changed his game at all. He always goes after the “strong” players, the ones who actually contribute to camp and on challenges. He did the exact same thing in Marquesas, his original season. He got rid of Hunter. He likes to have his ego stroked, just like Russell. But don’t forget that just like Russell he got blasted when he made it all the way to the end. His wife Amber, has always been one of my favorites since Australia. She is good at challenges, helps around camp and gets along with everyone. Rob on the other hand burns bridges and forgets that the jury is part of the game. He plays a very nasty game just like Russell. On Heroes-vs-Villains, he got so obsessed with taking Russell out that it cost him. Rob is good at challenges but his social game sucks as well. Right now everyone is star struck by him, that’s whats keeping him in the game. I think he is one of the best players, but not the best. Sandra is the best in my opinion. I’ve been watching since the first season and I remember Jeff saying that the point of the game was to avoid getting voted off to make it to the end. Sandra can avoid the vote for herself and others like its no one’s business. Remember in Pearl Islands after Rupert got voted off, it was going to be either her or Christa. Then Sandra created all that drama with Tijuana and got Tijuana voted off instead. She also said that on Heroes, they were aiming for Parvati from the get go because Parvati was a previous winner, but Sandra went after Randy instead. Oh yeah, and she also bought Courtney an extra 3 days and got Coach out instead. Sandra is also lovable.
Don’t forget, she is the ONLY player to win sole survivor twice. That alone makes her the undisputable best.
Rob lost by one vote. How is that getting blasted? Getting blasted is not getting ANY votes like hobbit boy!
Im sorry Jeff, I should have been more specific. The jury blasted him with their comments at the final council.
Rob , is this best.
Rob is the best! I love his schemes. He’s great.
Rob is indeed the best there’s ever been. He is the best package. Russell only mastered strategic game.
Not even close. It pains me to say it, but Richard Hatch is the best Survivor player ever. He was able to go in, not knowing anything about the show and how it’s played, figure it out and win the game.
That’s because he kept everyone off balance with his nakedness.
And why won’t Rob do that?
Hatch had the benefit of being first. Everything was still new and there’s no saying whether Rob wouldn’t have been able to achieve the same result had he been first. If you can compare the two side by side you end up realizing that Rob is multi faceted while the only two things Hatch has going for him is fathering the concept of the alliance and nudity as a repellant.
It also bears mentioning that Hatch went back to jail this week because he STILL hasn’t filed his income taxes. It takes the truly delusional to think you’re going to go up against the I.R.S. and come out on the winning end. After that, well, I don’t know whether it stubborness or stupidity that makes him keep thumbing his nose at the judicial system. Every time an opportunity for another kick at the Survivor can comes around Hatch has to decline. Why? Because he always happens to be in jail at the time. Totally not brilliant.
wasn’t Richard Hatch, through his own ommission, completely bamboozled in all stars?
It’s Hatch’s colossal ego that makes him think he can take on the IRS and win. It’s what made him say “I’m going to win – you may as well go ahead and write me the million-dollar check right now” before Jeff ever yelled out his first “Survivors ready?” People say Russell has an ego, but his does not even BEGIN to approach Hatch’s. Hatch had the advantage of playing when everyone else was still thinking it was actually a game about outdoors survival. If he had played any other season besides the first one, he’d be a free man out of jail now, because he’d never have had any taxes to owe. He wouldn’t have won a dime.
What about Parvati?
She has crabs
Agree completely. Rob is by far the best player ever. In every aspect.
Hey Jeff, why has Survivor stopped “customizing” the theme song these past 2 seasons in Nicaragua and just used the original Borneo theme?
Rob has been able to change his game everytime he’s played. Russell on the other hand tried to play the same game for the third time and this time he was bitten in the a**.
Dumbest girls in the world to not have joined together for one single tribal to vote out Rob…they could have carried it all the way to the end
huh??????
I disagree. The difference between Rob and Russell is that Rob is an actual leader. It would have been very foolish to vote him out in the beginning because he KNOWS how to make shelter, how to play the game and he works hard around camp.
It is clear that there is NO leadership in that tribe without him. They would have been eaten alive by Zapatera by now without him.
Plus which, he and Grant and the only able bodied men on the team.
wrong. flat out wrong….you vote out rob for one reason, he gets votes at the end…you KEEEEEEP RUSSELL FOR two reasons…hes a target for everyone else, and quite frankly he is ZERO threat to win the game…he could never have the run like he had in the first 2…so why not keep him around?
I think its hilarious to see people get rid of russ, or say they MUST get rid of phillip….WHY? the best plan would have been to hit merge, and TEAM UP with russ and phil…..why? in a final 3, you win no matter who you are…
I’m really digging the idea of Redemption Island. But when does Matt (or whoever wins) get to get bk in the game? Also, do they have cameras over there on RI?-We don’t see much of what happens over there, so I’m just curious about how it works & if they’re completely alone (no crew, etc).
& Rob definately rules! Would LOVE to see him play against the Mrs again tho. I think it’d be great to bring bk the ‘Survivor couples’ to play against each other.
Are there enough couples for that?
Not even close.
Not only is Rob entertaining…he’s so friggin HOT!! Ambuh, you are a lucky lady!
I think he trained for this season. He seems more fit than he was in Heroes vs. Villains.
If you like white trash
I bet Boston Rob has more education than Jane ^
People seem to forget that he has a Psychology degree from a prestigious university.
Rob has a psychology degree? Wow. I would have bet he couldn’t even spell “psychology”. Or “degree”.
graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Boston University.
Probably coming back as soon as the merge happens. I think that would be a good time – when people are forming new alliances.
I’ve noticed they are reserving the right to decide when they want to let the RI person back in.
I am hoping that they will be brought back at the very end as part of the final 3. That would be an interesting twist.
If not, then they’ll probably do it at the merge.
@Roberta: you do realize this season was filmed months ago and the game is long over, right? They already know when the RI person re-entered the game, they are just not revealing it to us yet (for whatever reason).
That would be interesting but I’d say the odds of that happening are at least a 1000 to 1.
Didn’t Probst tease last week about a blindside from an unlikely source? What happened with that?
Steve was a back up quarterback not a lineman. He played for the Cowboys.
steve wright played 2 seasons in the nfl as an offensive lineman
Can’t believe how lazy these 20+ year old girls are. next time when people audition, perhaps follow them around for a few days & actually see if there interesting before putting them in my living room!
Agreed!
I like that Andrea is both gorgeous AND a hard worker.
We did. They filled out a bikini. We signed them up.
Unfortunately they don’t cast people based on their work ethic.
Ok, Jeff, that was a pretty lame tease, because we could see that in the preview. I really miss your full write-ups.
He does recaps on his website jeffprobst.com
I adore Rob, always think he’s welcome to play the game (he and Amber were awesome in the Amazing Race as well). He should go on The Mole next, I heard they are bringing it back.
That said, Jeff you must be thanking the tribal Gods for the trainwreck that is Phillip! He’s Coach plus baggy underwear. Priceless.
Love Matt and Rob. I hope either one to these two win, and Jeff your are still eye candy. peace out.
I hate the whole redemption island thing. The whole point of Survivor is once your out your out. Now it’s completely different
I agree. I dislike the redemption island thing (although I hate it less than exile island).