Reality TV has an element of unpredictability, and a recent episode of Survivor 48 showed what can go wrong. The problem was that longtime host Jeff Probst announced the wrong contestant as the immunity challenge winner.
After having the job for 48 seasons, Probst understands that things can go wrong, but he quickly resolved his mistake. "In a moment like that, when I make the wrong call, the only thing on my mind is immediately correcting the call," Probst said in a recent episode of the On Fire podcast. He refers to the moment he declared Joe Hunter the winner of the puzzle challenge, without noticing that he had a block out of place. He then corrected himself and announced Kamilla Karthigesu as the winner.
Jeff Probst Comments On The Mistake He Made During An Episode Of 'Survivor'
There is a silver lining: blunders like this can give the show a more authentic feel as the audience realizes mistakes can happen. It also shows how challenging Probst's job is, as he makes judgment calls and commentary in real-time. "It's not the first time I've been wrong. I'm sure it will not be the last," Probst said. "And I do think it’s important for the audience to know that these things do happen."
Probst also spoke about the timed challenge and how easy it is to announce the incorrect winner (Joe completed the puzzle the fastest, but because it was not perfect, Kamilla ultimately won the challenge). These challenges require Probst to pay close attention, and with no earpiece, he doesn't have feedback from producers. This is how he prefers to host the show, but it does come with a significant disadvantage.
"You have to be able to tell the story in real time of who is actually close and could win," he said. "But you also have to tell the same story for somebody who thinks they're close, but isn't, because the audience can see there's a letter that's wrong."
How Does Jeff Probst Feel About His Future With 'Survivor?'
Probst is loved as a host and has held the job title for 25 years, but is he considering retiring soon? It crossed his mind before, and he almost left in 2005 after filming Survivor: Panama (Season 12), but over 35 seasons later, he is still here. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2022, he addressed his future with the show. He revealed that he got a break during the COVID pandemic and realized how exhausted he was, but working as a host on Survivor is more than a job.
"It's impossible to describe what Survivor represents to me. Impossible. It goes beyond creative expression or professional recognition," he shared. "It's much deeper. It's right in line with the ideas I try to impress on our players. It's about pushing myself further than I think I can go, about trying to stay in the moment and adapt to my surroundings, about being a good 'tribe member,' about being open to new ideas and new people. The same opportunities Survivor offers the players, it offers me. I love Survivor and I still need Survivor."
This is a powerful statement from a man who many would argue is an important part of the show's success. For more Survivor 48 coverage, it airs on CBS on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET.
