“Survivor” is shaking things up for Season 41. The game will be shorter than in years past. The food ration system will be completely different. And the show will be more interactive with its audience than ever. As if that wasn’t enough, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst revealed another change recently. The show is going to spend more time on the players’ stories.
For the last 20 years, “Survivor” has been a cornerstone of reality TV. It’s part game show, part survival experience, and all drama. The traditional format has been highly successful over that span. But just because something works isn’t a good enough reason in itself to shut down progress. Who knows? Maybe the new approach to the way they portray the cast proves popular.
Jeff Probst talked about the changes in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.
“There are so many truly interesting and inspiring stories with this group of players that we are going to be taking the occasional deep dive into a player’s backstory. So from time to time within an episode, you’ll learn things like where a player comes from, how they were raised, or hardships they may have overcome. We want fans to know as much as they can about the players they are rooting for and investing in,” said Probst.
The longtime “Survivor” host also adjusted the way he approached the cast on a personal level. In the past, Probst has been known to mark players as early favorites.
“I know I used to highlight certain players. But it really never felt good to me because it meant leaving other players out. So I’m done with that! I like this group a lot, and I root for all of them,” he continued.
The Shooting Delay Caused by the Pandemic Was a Blessing in Disguise for the ‘Survivor’ Host
“Survivor” fans are likely fully aware by now how long it’s been since we had a new episode. Two seasons’ worth of time has passed since the last tribal council. That may be a bad thing for fans. But it gave the show the extra time it needed to develop some of its creative changes and focus on putting together the right cast.
“One of the few positives of the delayed shooting schedule is it allowed us to continue our casting process. And in that time, we found some really amazing people! I was so excited to start shooting Survivor 41 because there are so many great stories from this group of players. I can’t wait for fans to meet them and invest in them the same way we do,” Probst told Entertainment Weekly.
The premiere of Season 41, titled “A New Era,” is set to air on September 22.
