Jeff Probst Robert Voets/CBS
Aside from its basic structure, the Survivor game doesn’t have a ton of stringent rules. Players are allowed to negotiate with host Jeff Probst over supplies, cheat off of each other during puzzle competitions and basically govern themselves at their own camps.
Probst, 63, doesn’t even have a problem with players blatantly lying to him during Tribal Council, as he revealed on the Wednesday, November 13 episode of his “On Fire” podcast. There’s only one place that players cannot lie — and that rule is absolute.
“Here’s how it works: In your private interviews with the producer, you have to answer the questions because that’s how we tell the story, and you have to tell the producer the truth,” Probst explained. “That’s the only person you have to tell the truth.”
Those interviews happen away from camp and out of earshot of other contestants, enabling players to speak their minds to the producer interviewing them. It is also key for viewers at home to know what players are thinking as the game plays out.
Jeff Probst confirmed that Survivor’s milestone 50th season will consist of returning players. The decision came from Probst on Saturday, April 27, during a Survivor Q&A event held at the Ovation Hollywood complex in Los Angeles. “I just got an idea,” the host and showrunner said at the end of the event, per Entertainment Weekly. […]
Probst added that players can answer his questions at Tribal Council however they’d like — as long as they answer them.
“When you’re talking to me at challenges or tribal, you got to answer the questions, but you can lie all you want,” he said. “You can lie directly to me. I might not even know you’re lying. I don’t even care. I just want any story to track. True or false is your call. And as long as that’s happening, we’re all good.”
Caroline YouTube/SurvivorOnCBS
The topic came up following the most recent episode of Survivor 47. Probst’s “On Fire” cohost Jay Wolff asked the longtime face of the franchise if he was frustrated when contestant Andy Rueda told him that he would rather be participating in the live Tribal (one in which the players are still whispering and strategizing before the vote) rather than answer Probst’s questions.
“No. In a situation like this, I’m not frustrated at all,” Probst replied. “I constantly remind the players, this is your game. Do not go to the vote if you’re not ready to vote. But to a bigger picture of the question, that doesn’t mean you can simply choose to ignore my questions. No, it’s situational for sure. In this case, you’re scrambling. Go do your thing. I’ll just wait.”
Robert Voets/CBS Jeff Probst has seen his fair share of tribal councils since Survivor premiered 23 years ago — and it hasn’t gotten old. “There’s a phrase I said to myself years ago that stayed with me — which is one of the things I learned from Survivor — everybody has a story,” Probst, 61, […]
There was a similar incident earlier in the episode. During the immunity challenge, Probst tried to ask contestant Gabe Ortis a question as he was concentrating on keeping his balance during the endurance portion.
“Politely, don’t talk to me,” Gabe said.
Probst obliged, and Gabe won immunity, keeping him safe from the vote at the chaotic Tribal Council where Sol Yi was ultimately voted out.
Survivor airs Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
