Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Each week, Survivor host Jeff Probst answers a few questions about the most recent episode of Redemption Island. Here, he addresses some points from the season finale and reunion show.

What’s this? No Fallen Comrades tribute? I’m still in a state of Survivor shock at its omission! Did you guys not have them do it this season, or did the footage just not fit into the episode due to the time needed for the final Redemption Island duel?
We did shoot the tribute, but we had too much show and had to make a decision. We decided to edit the episode without it and if anybody spoke up during the notes process that they truly missed it, we’d revisit it. Nobody did. The “fallen comrades” has always been a “love it-hate it” part of the show. It used to be more relevant but as the game as evolved to more strategy it feels less pertinent. READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Each week, Survivor host Jeff Probst answers a few questions about the most recent episode of Redemption Island.

To me, the most telling exchange of the entire season was Natalie telling Rob, “I’m scared,” and then him responding, “Don’t be scared. All you have to do is do what I say.” How many alarms would be set off in your head if someone said that to you in this game?
I didn’t even pick up on that moment. Great observation. I think you have to step back and really appreciate the situation. Rob is older and has played this game four times. Natalie is the youngest to ever play and she is learning as she goes. She has attached herself to Rob and as a result I think he is the one person out there she feels she can trust. Rob on the other hand is using her to help him get to the end. It’s a win-win.  Natalie couldn’t do it on her own. She doesn’t have enough game experience or life experience. I can’t imagine myself on a show like this when I was only 19. I would have been a disaster. I’ve been very impressed with Natalie. I’m very impressed with Rob.  Sorry, what was the question? READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Each week, Survivor host Jeff Probst answers a few questions about the most recent episode of Redemption Island.

So after winning the Redemption Island duel, Mike had a choice to spend time with his mom, let his two Redemption Island buddies hang with their loved ones, or let the six people who voted him out be reunited with their family members. Do you believe him when he says that he chose the Ometepe six strictly as a gesture of Christian kindness so that the most people could have that treat, or was there more strategy involved than Mike is letting on? What’s your take? 
So hard to be inside someone’s mind but if I had to guess I’d say it was a bit of both. I believe Mike is a good person with a strong faith. He quoted the bible without hesitation. But I also believe he wants to win the money. He made a great move by choosing the Ometepe six because if he gets to the end he has a lot of good will coming back his way and to give any help to his two competitors on RI would be silly as it might lift them up. READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Each week, Survivor host Jeff Probst answers a few questions about the most recent episode of Redemption Island.

A few weeks back in my recap I wrote how on a double elimination what you guys should do is have a regular challenge and Tribal Council and then surprise them on the spot with another Tribal Council-set immunity challenge and vote right then and there. Admit it, you invented a time machine after reading that to go back and do that for this episode, didn’t you? Seriously, though, how perfect was the timing on your double eliminations in that it allowed you to speed through some pretty obvious vote-offs (Mike and David, and then Ralph and Steve) in half the time? 
That was what we refer to on the island as “Survivor Luck.” We’ve been lucky going back to season one when Richard Hatch won and became the greatest and most notorious spokesperson we could ever hope to have.  It’s amazing how many times it happens on location that things just work out. Not always, but often.  READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Each week, Survivor host Jeff Probst answers a few questions about the most recent episode of Redemption Island.

Very close and tense house of cards duel between Mike, Matt, and David at Redemption Island. Why move from one-on-one duels before the merge to group duels post-merge?
It’s simply a numbers thing. In order to have enough people to get us through the majority of the season we end up having too many at the end, so we have to get rid of them! It made sense to increase the numbers post merge. One of the exciting benefits of having multiple people at Redemption is that it keeps more people in the game, all with a shot at the money. The final episode will have eight people still vying for a shot at winning. READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Each week, Survivor host Jeff Probst answers a few questions about the most recent episode of Redemption Island.

Okay, Jeff, put yourself in Matt’s shoes. Ometepe voted you off early but now you’ve made it back in the game and the other tribe is trying to bring you over to their side. What do you do in that position?
I think I would have made the same choice as Matt. Zapatera just didn’t seem the right way to go. The lesson I learned in watching Matt is sometimes sharing your inner monologue is a really bad idea. The truth is Rob wanted him gone either way, but Matt made it easy by sharing that he considered betraying Rob. Rob used that against him in convincing the tribe to get rid of him.  READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Each week, Survivor host Jeff Probst answers a few questions about the most recent episode of Redemption Island.

You and I both really liked Sarita going into this game, at least as a personality if not a player. What has happened to her out there? I’ve seen none of the quirky spunk that she displayed in my pre-game chat with her.
I think the game overwhelmed Sarita. I don’t think she’ll ever admit it but I think it was more than she anticipated, which happens quite often to players. Survivor requires that you throw yourself headfirst into the game. So far, she hasn’t. She’s in a pickle now… to fight or not to fight at RI. READ FULL STORY »

Image credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Each week, Survivor host Jeff Probst answers a few questions about the most recent episode of Redemption Island.

David made a big argument about how keeping someone who can help in challenges is much more important than keeping someone you can trust, and while I don’t want to minimize the importance of going into a merge with numbers, haven’t we also seen on seasons like Tocantins and Samoa that a united smaller group is often more effective than a splintered larger one? What’s your take?

It depends on the situation. It can go either way.  I think this is more about David trying to improve his place in the alliance.  He is so good at the oral argument he could argue either side.  Sarita is still in trouble.  She’s got to pull up her britches and start getting dirty. READ FULL STORY »