Survivor host Jeff Probst is himself a 'survivor'

Author: Ricardo F. Lo
Column: Funfare

The 16th season of the hit TV series Survivor premiered on CBS Television Network (also aired on local cable TV) last Feb. 7, with 20 castaways competing in Survivor: Micronesia -- Fans vs. Favorites. In a Survivor "first," 10 ultra-fans of the series take on 10 former castaways to compete as Fans vs. Favorites while the two tribes are marooned amid the Rock Islands in Palau, Micronesia.

According to the Survivor media backgrounder, the skills of the former castaways are being put to the test while the tribe of first-time competitors try to see if their enthusiasm and passion for the game are enough to distinguish them as worthy competitors. The favorites enjoy an advantage because they have played the game before but that could also be their biggest disadvantage. The tribe of fans know how the favorites have played the game. Although the game play of the fans is unknown and could prove to be their advantage, the fans' lack of experience could be their worst enemy and potential downfall. Who will prevail?

Stay tuned.

A few days ago, Funfare did a 15-minute exclusive phone interview with Survivor host Jeff Probst (who was calling from Los Angeles).

You are a game show host, a reporter and a writer-director. Which one are you most at-home in?

"Oh geez, what a question! I like story-telling, so the part I like the most as host of Survivor is being part of the story. That's what appeals to me most. I think the reason why reality-TV is popular in America is that it shows stories about real people. "

How is hosting Survivor different from your other jobs?

"Survivor is different mainly because I am allowed to participate in all aspects of the story-telling as part of the creative team. Actually participating in creating the story is being exciting. "

What preparations do you do for the show -- physically, mentally and emotionally?

"Mainly, it's getting to know the people. That's the main thing in each day when you go out there and try to think about. .. okay, should we go this way, should we go that way, what are we gonna do in this situation or when they say this or that?"

Do you have any hand in choosing the contestants?

"The way we do it is, we have a casting director who narrows the list from thousands of applicants down to maybe a hundred. Then, the creative team (which includes the producer) sits in a hotel room and interviews the applicants. So each of us gets to voice his opinion and marks those who we think must proceed to the CBS Studio. "

The contestants take a lot of risks. Do you do the same?

"I don't really take that many risks. My job is pretty easy. I'm going out having breakfast, lunch or dinner while those guys are out there suffering. I guess they are so frustrated that I always look so well. "

So you don't sustain injuries unlike the contestants?

"You know, I'm kind of uncoordinated sometimes, so I get stung by jellyfish. But for the most part, I used to run the challenges and practise them. Four years ago, they asked me to stop doing that after I broke an ankle. But I try to, well, 'take risks' sometimes just for fun. I can't complain, though. My job is pretty good. "

Are you insured? For how much?

"Yeah, I have an insurance in America but I won't tell you for how much. "

Could you name your most memorable episodes?

"I think the first episode was the most memorable because we didn't know what we were doing. Imagine being in the middle of the South China Sea and not knowing where to go. That was very exciting! I also like the episode done in Palau for Season 10 where we got a very good winner, a fireman. Now, we are back in Palau. "

What about doing an episode in the Philippines?

"Well, we got pretty close to doing one in the Philippines. We were shooting this season but you guys were having a lot of storms, it was raining almost every day, so we decided to move to Palau. One of these days, we might go to the Philippines. "

Can you say something about the writers' strike in Hollywood and its effect on Survivor? (Another journalist asked this question during an earlier tele-conference. )

(Excerpts) "I have two thoughts. One, Survivor doesn't need any help. We haven't lost a regularly scheduled Thursday night since 2003. Last season, we beat Ugly Betty by 50 percent, and My Name is Earl and 30 Rock by almost a hundred percent. I mean, we've been squashing anything that goes against us as we have been doing for years. .. So the writers' strike isn't going to affect us. Having said that, you know I'm a writer myself and I'm heart-broken by the strike. I put myself in their shoes and, you know, there's really no choice; they have to strike. I mean, the way we are distributing content is changing and I just feel for everybody affected by the strike. I live in California and I'm watching people starting to lose their houses, and the dry cleaner who can't stay in business, and the restaurants and all the people who support what the writers create, words that lead to these stories. .. So I just hope that it can get resolved soon. .. "

How long do you think Survivor can go on? (Also asked during the same tele-conference. )

(Excerpts) "I don't know. I'm so impressed and so grateful for our viewers. I feel like Survivor is kind of like X-Files and shows that had an audience. If you like Survivor, you watch it; if you don't like Survivor, you can care less if it's ever on again. But for our fans, you know, I'm still to this day going 16 seasons in. I get approached by people who say, 'I never missed an episode. We watch it every Thursday. ' My kids have to get their homework done by 8 p. m. so we can catch it. That's the rule. .. "

On a lighter note. .. You were chosen one of The 50 Most Beautiful People in 2001 by People magazine. Looking back, how do you look at it now?

"I look at it now the same way I did then -- I kind of laughed. You know why? Because America is fascinated with celebrity; we love to make a list of this and that. When I was on that list, Survivor was very popular so they wanted Survivor to be a part of that list. I'm the host, so they said, 'Okay, we'll put him on. ' But I don't walk around bragging, 'Hey, didn't you know, I was on the list of The 50 Most Beautiful People'. "

On the show, you use a snuffer to, you know, snuff the torches when a contestant is voted out of the game, saying, "The tribe has spoken. It's time for you to go. " What do you do with those snuffers?

"I keep them as souvenirs. So far, I have 16. Anything I have from Survivor I give away to charities but not the snuffers. Don't ask me what I ever do with them. Maybe one day, I'll give some of them away. "

In 2001, you wrote and directed an independent film called Finder's Fee, starring James Earl Jones and Robert Forster. It won the Best Picture and Best Director awards for you at the Seattle Film Festival. Aren't you planning any new film?

"I'm hoping to do one. I'm working on something right. But it's difficult to sell or raise money for a movie project. I really, really want to direct another movie again. I enjoy doing that very much. "

Away from work, how do you "survive" your free time?

"You know, I'm always trying to be a better person so I spend a lot of time with my friends and my family. I like learning new things. Right now, I'm learning how to play the guitar and how to play volleyball. One thing about Survivor is that I've gotten used to being a workaholic. In America, everything is about work, work, work. But I've been fortunate to have free time and to have balance. "

How many members are there in your family?

"I have my father and two brothers, one of whom works on my show. "

No children? (Jeff was married to Shelly Wright for five years until their divorce in 2001. )

"No, I have none. "

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar. net. ph or at entphilstar@yahoo. com)

Source: The Philippine Star