Jeff Probst | A Peek Behind the Scenes of Survivor's 20-Year Success | Talks at Google

Jeff Probst, executive producer and host of the Emmy Award-winning CBS show Survivor, visits Talks at Google to discuss the success of Survivor’s 20 year run in celebration of CBS Survivor’s 20th anniversary and its season 40 premiere.
Jeff discusses everything from how he got his start with this “crazy social experiment” to what has made Survivor so successful, as well as what we should expect for Season 40. Jeff even shares publicly for the first time the moment he knew the show was something special.
Survivor 40th Season Teaser: goo.gle/3bQnVvM.
This edition features 20 legendary winners of Survivor who will return to compete against each other. The 20th anniversary edition of the groundbreaking series unites the most memorable, heroic and celebrated champions from the past two decades in the biggest battle in the show's history, as the series' best strategists of all time fight to earn the title of Sole Survivor again. These returning masterminds will compete in epic challenges, face the return of Edge of Extinction, which gives voted-out players a second shot to win, and tackle a brand new layer of the game with the introduction of fire tokens. Fire tokens will serve as currency on the island and add more complexity to the already intense battle. The new twist allows players to use the tokens to buy advantages to help players stay in the game or get themselves back in the game. Additionally, the winner of this historic season will be awarded $2 million, the largest prize in reality show history.
CBS Survivor’s 40th season, "Winners at War," premiered February 12th, 2020. To watch, please visit: goo.gle/2V4c5IG.
To check out the flashback to Season 1, visit: goo.gle/2vJ2v3g.
Moderated by Dean Kowalski, who recently finished 2nd on Survivor’s 39th season.

[@mariecarlson832]

at 19:36 Probst says something to the effect of it is probably the format that has Survivor is still airing. Blows my mind because I love Survivor BECAUSE Probst is such an amazing story teller. He's so insightful and pulls such meaningful stories out of each participant and weaves it all together. LOVE IT!

[@Funexpected]

29:54, favorite Jeffism, "Come on in guys!" My wife and kids try to say it in sync with Jeff as the tribe's enter the challenge area.

[@Fizzlefry9]

I say it every time to my wife when he does.

[@matthewbeck7238]

Not any more! Hahahaha

[@RecordsSam]

Mine is "goodnight" after tribal council

[@sydneyrichardson1823]

@@RecordsSam mine too! I always respond with ‘goodnight Jeff!’

[@bopper172]

​@@matthewbeck7238such a silly change

[@Miumiu0404]

I really could never imagine anyone replacing Jeff. Maybe Penner can do half as good as him. Jeff is just so good in poking and asking the right questions in tribal.

[@jasonfeola2609]

I scrolled past this a few times on my recommendations list before I realized DK Chillin was the host.

[@cbuddys3565]

Jason Feola lol I know

[@crayonkid3832]

Dean!!!!

[@gaoutlaw]

"Survivors ready.....GO!" Jeff has the best job in the world.

[@alwaystamcam8849]

Great interview Dean! How wonderful to see Jeff as a real person. Thanks for this interview #Google!!!

[@Brayzon]

I love how he talked about how kids love it. Showed my nephew one episode and now hes attached

[@sabrinagarcia4238]

That was a great interview Dean! Feel like I got more of your personality during this interview than I did throughout your whole season. Was nice to see another side of you

[@rebelduck9077]

I find it refreshingly awesome that Jeff's net worth is more than any of the Survivor's $1M winnings. He is literally "banking" from the success of the show by making about $2.8 mil each season without having to compete for it!

[@buckbuchanan4902]

He had to compete to get the gig, but now the show needs him. Survivor is synonomous with Jeff Probst! His enthusiasm, knowledge and personality really drive the show. I don't even want to imagine it without him!

[@dowhatiwantc7637]

Seems pretty obvious lol 20 years on a show it would be difficult to imagine he wasn’t

[@mbigras]

Such a great interview! Super fan and past player as the interviewer, well done Dean and Jeff! Speaking of Jeffisms who noticed Jeff didn’t say: “tonight you’re voting for a winner” during final tribal for season 40?! First time I’ve seen a season where Jeff didn’t say that.

[@drewveflin2842]

everyone to jeff: “when you were out for season one, did you think that 20 years later you’d still be...” jeff: “no” y’all, stop asking. he didn’t think it would go for thing long. everyone should know that by now

[@Hockeyhobo89]

Drew Veflin exactly how I feel! 😂 every interview starts with that question

[@theresathompson2784]

I love hearing Jeff imitate Mark!

[@KindabamCrochet]

My Absolute favourite show of all time. I've been watching since season 1. And so happy that Australia has it's own seasons now. Thanks for all the Entertainment 🏆

[@brettstefanishin574]

Kindabam Crochet Too bad Russel was voted off too early in 2018 Survivor Australia! 😭😭

[@DalexUNCO]

All star season is 🔥

[@KindabamCrochet]

@@brettstefanishin574 A Great player, so the Aussies knew to get him out quickly 😇

[@KindabamCrochet]

@@DalexUNCO It certainly is 🙌

[@KindabamCrochet]

@@DalexUNCO And so sad to see Matt voted off last night 😥

[@buckbuchanan4902]

Survivor is the greatest show ever on television. I would sacrifice everything I have to play the game!

[@nilssmith-yt]

Great interview!

[@hotwater1196]

wtf. dean is the third Island of the Idols castaway to have this type of gig after Lauren and Chelsea, it's like they were all auditioning to be interviewers or something. i wonder who is gonna be next

[@federicosaldias1222]

This isn't a gig. He literally works at Google. It makes sense to let him host.

[@brianxyz]

Chelsea was already working for IMDb before she did Survivor.

[@RushandSNLfan]

And Lauren had a hosting reel before applying for Survivor.

[@cbuddys3565]

And dean was tech sales and the tech was google

[@highheartwellness]

I think it's more about the fact that the show has a tendency to cast people who have these types of jobs, these contestants will likely give good confessional interviews

[@brandonlim9374]

Great sit down. Hope you come back DK Chillin!

[@df6148]

I always felt like the guy from Mandalorian who says “I have Spoken” was a survivor homage to “The tribe has spoken”.

[@BogdanHonciuc]

Dean is such a good host.

[@simonrai4327]

he’s great at promoting google whilst interviewing

[@carolinebray82]

That good impression DK chillin

[@caylemfarquhar2192]

I love Jeff

[@xander2cat]

from just 1 episode survivor winners at war inspired my best season of total drama aqua

[@LeslieJordan369]

I added CBS all access just so I could catch what I missed on Survivor. The only reason!

[@elenawhyte9570]

Leslie, great minds think alike!.......I did the same on April 17th 2020. AMAZING SHOW! (for some reason I enjoy watching alone, then discuss with my SOS [Seasons on Survivor] Group).

[@jellyBean-di2ee]

they should do a season with all the people who were voted off first, i think that would be cool.

[@laurenh3343]

The Outcast twist was WAY better than EoE imo. Having to compete against the players that voted them out to get back and coming back before the merge is much better than coming back at the final five competing against the other vote offs.

[@ellahappel3128]

I totally agree- eoe is way more disruptive to the game. I actually liked the outcast twist in pearl islands, because it fit the theme and shook up the game.

[@DrTocan]

I wanted to see how DK Chillin' would approach an interrogative question. Specifically: You arranged for the final four firemaking twist late in the game of HvHvH to keep, then castaway, Ben Driebergen alive. How do you plead?

[@candellathecandle1787]

Omg I can’t believe Jeff forgot Caleb’s name LMAO

[@kan-zee]

*33:17** Survivor *Caleb Reynolds 27yr old* Medically Evacuated ... Season 32/ Day 9 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpm9hINrhK6lfNU

[@masonprov]

How many people (other than Caleb) were yelling it. I was.

[@itsputin5699]

DK CHILLIN

[@jpbproductions3872]

AKA DK VILLAIN

[@jessicasnaplesfl7474]

Edge of Extinction (EOE) is a great idea because it keeps popular players in the game, especially when the best ones are eliminated early by lesser players. I love the anonymous advantages offered to selected players for fire tokens by those on the EOE who are still in the game.

[@trollwayy5981]

I think the problem is how late it stays in the game

[@maxwell8758]

EOE is BS.

[@jessicasnaplesfl7474]

@@maxwell8758 Why do you say that?

[@drewveflin2842]

I was gonna say, if he didn’t put parvati on that mount rushmore, I would’ve had words

[@arjunkishore4080]

I think if you merge the idea is eoe and the outcast twist, you would have a much better product. Bake the reentry a vote in instead of a challenge. Maybe have a challenge before or after the votes that give you a certain number of votes depending on how you do, but there should be some level of social game required to enter the game again

[@SmokeyChipOatley]

I know this is super old and I'm incredibly late to this video but I'm also a superfan and couldn't help but comment. While I like your idea, the biggest issue people had with eoe was that it took too much air time away from the core game. They expanded the runtime of this current season from 60 to 90min because of the writers strike and I could see eoe or a variant of it returning if they keep the 90min format. But given the strike is already over I doubt there'll be room for anything like that. That being said, I totally agree with you that there should have been some social component to that twist for the waw season.

[@Romans8-9]

Ben is on his Survivor Mt Rushmore. Wow he must really love Ben.

[@kevinbrown6593]

On AOL since '99. Still works great...........

[@britbit101]

I would love to see Ozzy get a head on their mount Rushmore because no one would ever let him sit in the final 3

[@TeamPaul17]

Or Cirie, Joe, Kelley, etc.

[@michaeltrees]

Ozzy made final 3 in Cook Islands :) survivingtribal.com/2017/08/05/survivor-cook-islands-finale-yuls-win-close-ozzy/

[@morgandanielmalone]

Ozzy is the best player in my opinion. That's why he gets voted out so quickly every time. It sucks. It'll never happen but I've always wanted to see him win

[@drewveflin2842]

kim tony and cirie need to be there before that fool

[@morgandanielmalone]

@@drewveflin2842 ozzy is a way better player than cirie

[@kathleen4376]

Survivors Ready!

[@graciemac6303]

I would like to know who the manufacturer is of the delivery, extraction, transport boat. You know the one, the white and blue one.

[@nj7902]

I like that Dean's arms are so active as he talks.

[@davidjameson7839]

Why would you like that? And why would you tell the world on youtube that you like that?

[@Sarah-rg5tg]

Tom I think it’s nice to see interviewers seem genuinely engaged and interested in the topic. The real question is, why do you care enough to reply?

[@JackieRom1]

I wanted Dean to win, sad didn't happen!

[@lafingscarecrow]

when jeff was mentioning the mount rushmore and was trying to think of another hero, he should've said kelley wentworth. so it would be sandra, rob, wentworth, and ben

[@danquirke792]

Caleb was from Survivor: Kaoh Rong!

[@freshpillowcase1482]

Been waiting for this episode since Dean posted it on his Instagram story

[@davidjameson7839]

Who the hell is Dean?

[@freshpillowcase1482]

@@davidjameson7839 the show host's name Dean. He played in latest season of Survivor, season 39.

[@liamcarmody4217]

@@davidjameson7839 Dean Kowalski, DK Chillin, DK Villain, Detective Dean

[@grd2797]

Hi Jeff.I'm a big fan of Survivor.I always watch the show,however one or two people have been injured in odd challenges.I know it's called 'Survivor' but I didn't think you meant it literally!I just want to ask if you or your technical team,whoever sets up the challenges could make them a bit safer!at least for the women,so they don't get injured.Perhaps,if for example you see an object or pole that a person could hit due to a fall or slip,then cover it with say thick foam or cushioning to prevent injuries.

[@jessicasnaplesfl7474]

I can't recall any women being evacuated due to injuries. All the evacuees were MEN! I do agree with you though that some of the physical challenges should be modified. An example are those challenges where the competitors make physical contact similar to that made in football. Survivor competitors are almost naked and wear no protection but big burly football players wear all sorts of safety gear to protect them from injury.

[@zayed123]

@@jessicasnaplesfl7474one woman was evacuated, kourtney from s24

[@DrINTJ]

Jeff isn't sure if he'd told the Budweiser story before? Are you serious?

[@DrINTJ]

@@foo3234 He told it on talk shows and series specials already

[@christiancountryboyilovejesus]

Dean works at Google?!

[@pam2858]

@Dumb Freddy 39

[@davidjameson7839]

@Dumb Freddy Thanks for asking. I had no idea who Dean was either

[@uri0606]

Yeah, I know. he'll be probably making his first million in a matter of a year or two, he doesn't need Survivor's money.

[@buckbuchanan4902]

I'm giving a thumbs up for the handle of "ChristianCountryBoy i Love Jesus Christ! As brother in Christ, I salute you putting it out there for the whole world to see!

[@buckbuchanan4902]

@Dumb Freddy He finished 2nd in his season. After a slow start, he really poured it on in the end, and pulled some awesome moves! But he waited too late to play that game, and Tommy won because his game was by far the best social game.

[@jpbproductions3872]

DK Chillin has turned to DK legendary hostin

[@SoulLoveBase]

Jeff loves Ben! No wonder he magically found all those idols on his season and had a fire making twist be introduced out of the blue completely in his favor.

[@DrINTJ]

OR, he won Survivor 40

[@David-uc4hc]

I think Jeff just loves people who are willing to play the game hard.

[@bernardlowe5433]

@@DrINTJ I hope this is not a spoiler.

[@szekesfehervar2230]

Stop with this BS. Ben kicked ass and he totally beat the other 2 finalists (i cannot remember their names) And if you are on Survivor LEARN TO MAKE FIRE

[@lafingscarecrow]

@@szekesfehervar2230 chrissy and ryan were the runner ups on ben's season. and thank you as well. finally someone who knows that ben won because of his own skills

[@caylemfarquhar2192]

I love the Edge of Extinction and all second chances in the game

[@liasohl7314]

i did not know that dean works at google? dang he is making good money and has like a good job

[@brettp.563]

Did Jeff spoil that Ben gets to the end @28:50 ? Jeff states that, “ Ben says I cant believe I’m with rob, at some point he will try to get my information. Paranoia by the end of 39 days, *they* look like they just got out of prison. It seems like he used they to try and catch himself. Plus adding him to a Mount Rushmore? That’s contingent on information we do not know.

[@mindbodyfit111]

Nah that Ben confession happens in the first episode. But stating Ben is one of the all time heroes is a stretch and it may mean he goes far into this season

[@solfege18]

I hope he didn't spoil a Ben win.. OMG. I prefer a Tony or a Kim win. Or even Denise.

[@mindbodyfit111]

@@solfege18 If JP thinks a Ben win = best season ever I won't believe a word he says anymore. If an EOE comes back and wins, one of the old school, then it will be. I'm also good with a Tony or Kim win

[@solfege18]

@@mindbodyfit111 remember when he said fvf 2 was a great season?

[@pikachadd]

Jeff really likes Ben for some reason, he said Ben was his favorite winner.

[@brianhinote2446]

My 10 year old says Rob and Tony should coach two teams of survivor kids!!!! Come on Jeff what a cool idea. Two teams, kids competing, rock star coaches, shorter 14 day stay, over the summer!!!! It would be epic. Also my 10 year old wants to apply lol.

[@mattfossella9580]

Did he say Ben was on his Mount Rushmore?Why would he say that unless Ben won this season, because Ben was not a memorable winner compared to all of the other winners. 26:02

[@Reid.Watson]

I was thinking that too, but In my opinion Jeff has been saying Ben is a legend recently to try and deflect from the fact that they rigged his season for him to win. People still aren’t happy about it to this day lol

[@dudeitsmedweeb]

Ben is a wild card

[@mattfossella9580]

Reid Watson that’s true and on the other hand Jeff is probably too smart to spoil the season on an interview like that

[@casiangray]

In another interview Jeff said that Ben was his favorite winner because he was a vet and that he was showing other vets look, you can do this! (It was a speed interview if you want to look it up)

[@mattfossella9580]

Casian Gray ok, thank you, that makes sense I’ll take your word for it.

[@caylemfarquhar2192]

He is referring to Caleb

[@ringslider]

The only problem that I have with Survivor is that it has been done in island, jungles and desert but never in a cold environment or mountains for that matter. That's what it's missing, cause they use elements from films but nothing with mountains elements like in Wyoming, Montana, Utah...you have locations here to do it. Caleb, that was his name.

[@buckbuchanan4902]

There are very good reasons it isn't hosted in cold environments / mountains. I lived for 9 years in Hawaii, and to survive the coldest nights with minimal shelter and clothing, could be quite miserable. I also lived for 19 years in Colorado, near the foot of Pikes Peak, and to survive the coldest night with minimal shelter and clothing would be extremely hazardous. Even though the show is called Survivor, they are not looking to push people to the edge of death or kill them outright. The logistics of moving to different locations, housing the army of staff that are involved (literally hundreds) and all of the other considerations, would make filming in the mountains much more difficult and expensive. Another reason they are always on an island in Fiji now, is because they have bought the island. The cost of producing the show has skyrocketed over the years, with more crew, higher saleries, more cameras, microphones, etc. Always filming on the island they bought is a very smart way to cut heaps off the production costs. It also enables them to film two seasons, almost back to back, using most of the same infrastructure.

[@joannaeldine8639]

Someone gonna die

[@maxwell8758]

Cold environments would be the dumbest idea ever. No one would ever do anything because it’d be too cold. So everyone would just sit and do nothing. It wouldn’t be survivor.

[@toryheartsdepp]

That medication answer bummed me out. I had a kidney transplant 9 years ago so I take daily medications. But I guess they wouldn't have me on then because of that then.

[@Julie.Canada]

Well, of course you would.

[@emmywillow6599]

definitely I don’t think of Ben as a Top 4 Survivor player, my thoughts for heroic players immediately goes to like Jeremy or JT (tocantins)

[@istrone5885]

Love Jeremy

[@caylemfarquhar2192]

Jeff is so funny

[@msbond522]

Russell hantz vs Richard hatch season please

[@jpbproductions3872]

22:42 umm it was a 4-3-1-1 vote

[@trentpolcyn7257]

caleb was the guy

[@glucasnc]

Detective Dean

[@hmph5359]

my name jeff

[@AmandaWaseUK]

Personally, I think if Jeff quits the show, they must just end it😔

[@trollwayy5981]

Agreed, but doubt it would actually end.

[@Notdickcheney]

When Jeff said Ben was on Mount Rushmore it made me believe even more production helped him out during the game

[@Julie.Canada]

That's because you're ridiculous.

[@MasterMIxedUp]

Ben won fairly. Why does everything people don't like have to be a conspiracy. Survivor is honorable show.

[@lafingscarecrow]

@@MasterMIxedUp because they refuse to except the truth that ben won and chrissy didn't

[@MasterMIxedUp]

@@lafingscarecrow After winner at war I realized Ben was one trick pony and he lack on ability to maintain social relations.

[@lafingscarecrow]

@@MasterMIxedUp in all fairness, ben said he didn't want to play like he did his first season. i bet ben could play a cut throat game if he really tried, but he didn't want to this time around. and i mean i guess in a game like winners at war you gotta be cut throat, but look at what that got ben his first time playing.

[@aldckenz]

26:13 that’s basically 3 villains and a hero 😂

[@soldaten-norbert8520]

Didnt even realize that the host is Dean.

[@TheMurrmursonbottle]

Not Jeff forgetting Caleb’s name 💀 that being said getting evacd is the only notable thing he did on survivor

[@jennylarlham2078]

Edge of extinction had me more emotional than any other season.

[@benholzwarth2235]

Why is audio shite

[@alohaarianna]

I found myself staring at the plant

[@erwinrt6244]

It is so simple to come up with ideas. There should be a final 5 challenge. 1st position gets 3 extra votes. 2nd position gets 2 extra votes and 3rd position get one extra vote. All players get to trade their extra vote for an idol they can play all the way to final 3. If only one person has an idol left at final 3 they get to convert final 3 to final 2 if they feel that improves their chance of winning.

[@hotsauce-ud1by]

Thats extremely uncharasteristic to the show of survivor

[@lijanuxx]

😂😂😂

[@p1xke729]

Oh hey probst

[@pikachadd]

...Reem’s tribe had 9 people.

[@erwinrt6244]

How about Tracy from season 16? She is a game changer but nothing from her?

[@alecrabuse9955]

Why would Jeff say Ben is on the mount Rushmore of Survivor? Makes me feel he might have just spoiled season 40s winner....

[@nikkoj5356]

OMG! You could so be right!!! He is getting a great edit!

[@alecrabuse9955]

@@nikkoj5356 I won't mind if he won but now that I think this I hope Jeff didnt blow that for us. Why else would he say Ben. As good as Ben was in his first season hes not on mount Rushmore

[@nikkoj5356]

@@alecrabuse9955 Concur on all accounts. If it starts getting close to the end and Ben is still around, we might be able to see what's up. At the same time, Jeff has been known to put plenty of false info out there too. Ben did play a great season in my book. And I get the critique, but I really think idols are always out there and people don't try hard enough to find them. Ben obviously busted his but hardest for all that. But the show gets so much flack from fans saying they produced his win. Jeff easily could just be trolling everyone with that Mt Rushmore.

[@solfege18]

Did he said Ben? Is this a spoiler?

[@Romans8-9]

No he's talking about Ben Driebergen. lol

[@solfege18]

Exactly! He’s the only Ben I know who participated in winners at war! This video was a promo for that season right?? I can’t even remember what was the context of my comment!

[@Romans8-9]

@@solfege18 Jeff said Ben was on his Mt Rushmore of Survivor players. Not sure that it was a promo, maybe that Jeff just really loves Ben. lol

[@DrINTJ]

Did Ben reach the final tribal in Survivor 40???? Is that why he chose Ben????

[@quadrupleh4226]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@calebmatheson3857]

@@quadrupleh4226 Probably and later in the interview, Jeff hints at Ben staying for all 39 days. Check 28:40 - 28:58

[@MeNo-fm7ug]

Mohammed Shafei that just makes me not wanna watch s40 man!!! If Ben goes that far up because of a random idol he found, I’m gonna be mad

[@DrINTJ]

@@MeNo-fm7ug Ben is playing a good game so far. It's a fun season. I just wish each episode was two hours.

[@DrINTJ]

@@MeNo-fm7ug I hate idols, advantages, etc. Make for an exciting watch for viewers but over the expense of ruining the core of the game for players. Too many good players were voted off due to idols. It's unfair.

[@TheDizzleHawke]

Dean! He should have won the Creepy Uncle Dan season!

[@mairehoward2949]

You are the only one that mentioned the elephant in the room. That can't be a coincidence!

[@jessicahovey3237]

Did Jeff really just forget Caleb's name? 🤣

[@nikkoj5356]

EoE is a great idea and it needs to keep coming back! Not every season, sure. But much like the fire challenge at 4, it needs to be part of it. I can't wait for the season where the fire challenge goes away. That will throw everyone off.

[@pikachadd]

EoE is incredibly flawed. There’s many ways to improve it. 1: At the first return challenge, have 2nd place stay on the edge, and everyone else gets removed from the edge. They need to encourage people to leave more, because making peoples lives suck clearly didn’t work.

[@xander2cat]

no way thats dean

[@Julie.Canada]

I could do with less Dean and more Jeff but overall this was good.

[@Andrew-tb6xu]

lol Jeff can't remember Beast Mode Cowboy's name.

[@Valencia112]

Andrew I just got to that part and once he started describing it I start yelling at my phone “Caleb!” I can never remember the titles or location but I definitely remember that and him, plus I watched Caleb during his season of BB

[@mindbodyfit111]

He also said he came back to play but he didn't

[@vadosepurple7353]

@@mindbodyfit111 he played in gamechangers

[@DariusMakesContent]

Mind Body Fit he did in game changers

[@CidDwyer]

He couldn't remember Debbie's either. He just called her "this woman." Both Debbie and Caleb have played twice but it's Cydney's name he remembers. I think I know who he's gonna ask back first for the next returnee season.

[@Pensrule8719]

Jeff's arms are way too distracting

[@PokemonPotatoes]

right his biceps are so big...

[@muhammadsyaifurrahman7642]

Dean shouldn't talk a lot about himself, it is about jeff.

[@deepakrec]

Better than TED.

[@mohsenalmekhaizeem2304]

Ben? Really jeff? Wtf. Should’ve been rob, sandra, parv, and tony.

[@tomatoherb]

Uhhhhh....Ben?

[@hansolo1345]

The GOOGLE CUBE ( microphone) is creepy...... ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[@carolbedrosian4650]

Dean is insufferable....had happily forgotten about him prior to clicking on this interview!

[@asianmelb]

Dean Kawasaki has a personality of a ... goose hosting

[@thedeatonshow6475]

Bruh he said Ben? LOL

[@pestoburger]

*the Asian guy*

[@BobbleWorld]

So is Jeff a sadist?

[@khrfx4715]

If Survivor could afford $1M as prize money 20 years ago, they certainly could afford much more now that they have become so popular. I've always thought the shows producers were big cheapskates.

[@michaeltrees]

Prize Is $2M this season :)

[@Dog_will_hunt]

I've been saying that for years. It should be 2mil. One million today after taxes, is not a life changer. Think about what kind of house you could buy then vs. now with that money. Huge difference. I'll be disappointed if they don't continue the 2mil after s40

[@justelleslife507]

Survivor's too much testerone for me, wish they had more challenges towards the end that dealt with critical thinking or brain puzzles bc your physical state is not the only thing to go. Also, why don't they have big prizes to win during challenges like they used to? One last thing, I really don't understand the need for elimination, rather everyone stays in but there would be a pecking order, I enjoy watching the challenges but hate the bickering, MOO.

[@manyue2003]

Unfortunately I hear these days that they don't cast people who apply anymore but instead go out and cast models type

[@manyue2003]

@Dumb Freddy I been watching Rob has a podcast so I think it's probably from them. Recently I also watch a little of Russell and Richard hatch. Might be them. I can't quite remember. Most probably Rob or Taran I think.

[@pikachadd]

The show did have some recruits, but recently Jeff has taken over casting. The only time that was true was season 14, where all but 1 person was recruited. Models being casted only happens if models apply.

[@JayceCalingasan]

Ben? Seriously? 😒

[@pikachadd]

He really likes Ben for some reason. He said Ben was his favorite winner at some point, although we all know rob is easily 2nd for him

[@tonydivaconstructfm4987]

Ben is in Jeff’s mount Rushmore .........im disgusted

[@lafingscarecrow]

well i feel the same about you.

[@atcdude067]

Dean is a terrible, terrible host. Borrrrinnnngggggggggg

[@turkymurky8433]

Wait a minute... he spoiled it... Ben gets to the end? and maybe boston rob gets back in the game from extinction? Sigh Jeff...