On this week’s episode of the On Fire podcast, Survivor host Jeff Probst, producer Jeff Wolfe, and Survivor 47 winner Rachel LaMont discuss how the main title sequence is created, the intention behind the current beware advantages, and all the drama of the latest tribal council. Plus, fan questions are back, including a throwback to Survivor: Palau’s infamous Schoolyard Pick and the possibility of Survivor doing it again.
Probst begins by explaining that the main title sequence still gives him goosebumps even after all these years, and the main reason it’s back is that Survivor episodes are now 90-minutes long. He adds that the shots are dramatic because they’re intentionally done from a cinematic point of view.
On the topic of this season’s beware advantages, Wolfe asks Probst if they were designed with the intent to be shared with others. “Well, it depends…” Probst replies. “For us, it’s always going to be form follows function. In other words, what result do we want, and then we will decide how we get there, and it varies with every situation. To your point, sometimes we do force you to enlist another player, maybe by making it so public that you need an accomplice to pull it off.”
In other words, while it’s common knowledge a player should keep the fact they found an advantage a secret, it’s sometimes forced upon them to share, as production wants players to ask themselves who they can trust, who they don’t, and to reveal alliances in the process. These twists are also a tool to reveal the players’ layers; for instance, when Shauhin and the audience saw Thomas suggesting the former lose Star’s clue, as this action revealed how cunningly Thomas is approaching the game.
Tribal council is then brought up, particularly Probst’s intricate talk with the losing tribe and how sometimes tribal is like group therapy. As Probst recalls, he asks a few questions and lets the players take hold of tribal and watches them in real-time how they express something, assesses what others are saying, and heads afterwards towards healing back at their camp. He also says he doesn’t mind if players blame the therapist, or in this case ‘spicy’ Jeff, if it’s what they need to continue playing, as he quips, “Here’s the reason you want to use tribal for therapy. It’s because if you’re one of the players who survives the vote, then you will go back to being a more unified tribe.”
Lastly, Probst is asked about the savage and unforgettable schoolyard pick done back in Survivor: Palau, where neither tribe picked two contestants, and they were instantly eliminated. As to whether this twist could make a comeback, Probst responds that though schoolyard picks are fun, they’re highly risky from a production standpoint, as that season could end up with highly uneven tribes. However, as Probst admits, production sometimes makes mistakes when diving tribes (*cough* like this season *cough*), and he adds there is a chance this twist could make a comeback.
Watch out, future players!
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You mean…production pushes contestants to reveal they have an idol to influence the outcome??? How is that spontaneous or natural? This really nothers me. I always thought Survivor was one of a very few shows that was not scripted in the least!
“In other words, while it’s common knowledge a player should keep the fact they found an advantage a secret, it’s sometimes forced upon them to share”
I have been watching g from the first airing and survivor changed it used to be very clear cut remember fallen tribe mates final two f un to watch new it’s like always a puzzle nothing grabbing though I still watch the early survivor with more reward challenges and not sob stories about people and their family this a game not a talk show great job bringing back survivor for auction survivor should go back to the way it used to be
Please bring back the famous phrase!!
Come on in , Guys! If people are offended, don’t apply.
I do think a non-elimination schoolyard pick could be fun for a returnee season. Everyone will be more aware of the strengths and weaknesses of people so teams should be well divided and it can immediately create some divisions between players (and hopefully break up some pregame alliances?).