The On Fire podcast is back for Survivor 49, with Survivor host Jeff Probst, producer Jeff Wolfe, and Survivor: Cambodia winner Jeremy Collins. In the latest episode, they comment about the tribe swap, the food reward, and more. Plus, Probst answers some fan questions.
Firstly, Probst confirms there was a plan to have a tribe swap when 14 players were left. Due to Jake’s medevac, the swap happened one episode earlier than anticipated. The show’s host also revealed 99% of all swaps in Survivor are pre-planned, and there would only be an unexpected one in unforeseen circumstances, such as a tribe going down to one member.
When discussing why contestants would sleep next to an ocean during high tide, Jeremy revealed that the ocean breeze helps keep mosquitoes away. Also, there aren’t any rats or insects running around in that area, unlike the area shelter without a fire.
Later, the food reward involving fruit comes up, especially Sophie’s upset reaction. When asked what his response was to the situation, Probst responds, “Yeah, I get it. 100% I get it…everybody would love a pizza right now, but rewards are strategically designed based on where we are on the show. First, you have the tribe stage, then it’s the individual portion. When you’re in the tribe stage, it’s more necessity-based.”
Probst clarifies Rizo’s situation regarding the beware advantage he found back on the Uli beach. Rizo could only look for the advantage after losing a challenge, and since Uli never lost, Rizo was unable to look for his advantage at his original camp. With the tribe swap, Rizo’s advantage was moved to the Hina beach, and after losing, he was allowed to start looking. Probst adds that if, for instance, two or more players were under the same circumstances, the same rules would apply.
Afterward, Jeremy gives his advice to players at the bottom of the totem pole, especially after a tribe swap. Jeremy says it’s imperative to find the new tribe’s hierarchy and as well as the cracks, to gain the trust of people who are at the bottom, to try to flip the game. While Jeremy admits it’s hard because players have a short amount of time between a swap and Tribal Council, it is also doable.
Lastly, Probst is asked some fan questions, including if there has ever been a consideration from the production team to do a Golden Survivor season (similar to The Golden Bahcelor, where contestants are older than in regular seasons). Probst replies that it would be a complicated process from a casting perspective, and in short, it is unlikely that Survivor will do a Golden season.
Written by