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 discuss Savannah’s emotional moment and how the concept of uncertainty can be anyone’s biggest downfall or asset in the game. Also, Probst reveals whether he’s ever done any endurance challenges, what’s behind the Dream Team’s drive, and more.
First, Savannah’s highly vulnerable moment in the eighth episode is brought up, and Jeremy shares how impactful emotions are on Survivor. Probst adds that this was why Savannah was cast on the show, as she is willing to share these experiences. He also clarifies that Survivor’s production never wants people to reveal anything they’re uncomfortable with unless they choose to.
Probst raises the subject of uncertainty when asked how it can affect players’ games. He says production always plans every season and will continue to do so in the future by mixing things up for the players. Then, Probst mentions that uncertainty can undoubtedly be an asset for some if they are adaptable to change, or a hindrance if they aren’t able to keep up with Survivor’s fluidity.
Afterwards, Wolfe asks Probst if he’s ever done any endurance challenges, to which Probst responds that, since they didn’t have a Dream Team back in the day, he and other production members tested out challenges themselves. He also discloses that though the Dream Team is a group of highly driven people, they’re also incentivised when competing in challenges, for instance, with a massage, a case of beer, or getting to work later the next day.
In addition, Probst states that the parchment used on the show undergoes an entire process to look like what we see on TV, and he can tell it’s been in a player’s shoes or similar by how it looks when they hand it to him. Jeremy hilariously quips that he has had advantages stuffed ‘where the sun doesn’t shine,’ to which Probst retorts that he’s highly aware of this every time someone gives him an idol.
Lastly, both Probst and Jeremy divulge that some people have to quit their jobs to go on Survivor due to the time it takes to film a season, but others, like Jeremy, are able to manoeuvre their work schedule to accommodate filming dates. Also, production is very tight-lipped about who has been cast in the next season, and they tend to use initials and codes to keep the secret as long as possible.
Plus, if production finds out that a person made contact with another potential player when they’re in the final casting rounds, that person will be banned permanently from the show. Probst advises people to be careful, since production is sometimes made aware of these kinds of scenarios by prospective players as well.
Written by