Jeff Probst explains why he ate the communal food of the surviving participants
Jeff Probst
Robert Voets/CBSSurvivor host Jeff Probst likes to tell participants that they must “dig deep” to succeed in the game, pushing their bodies further than they thought possible. And it turns out he’s doing the same, including risking foodborne illness to encourage would-be players to sign up.
The famous one Survivor the auction returned for season 47 on the Wednesday, November 6, episode and Probst, 63, took the opportunity to film a casting promo that aired during the episode. In the promo, he dipped his pinky finger into a bowl of chocolate and peanut butter that three players had just scoured themselves.
In the episode of “On Fire with Jeff Probst‘podcast that accompanied the episode, its cohost, Jay Wolffasked if it was the same bowl that the players – who had not washed in weeks – had just eaten from.
“Thanks for noticing,” Probst replied. “Yes, that was it. I made that casting call less than a minute after the players left. That’s it Jada [DeVincent]‘s idea. She produces them.”
Since Survivor premiered in the US in May 2000, the reality competition has continued to be a huge success for CBS. However, there have been many controversies about the show along the way. The ruckus started right from the start, when Richard Hatch walked around the camp completely naked for much of the first season of Survivor: […]
It wasn’t the most sanitary moment in the show’s history, but Probst didn’t care. As he explained, he is willing to risk everything to bring the next big player to Fiji.
“I just want it to be noticed, I’m giving everything for this show,” he said. “I am willing to take the risk of bacterial infections, viral infections, parasites or just general illness just to encourage future players to sign up for Survivor.”
He wasn’t exaggerating. Survivor 46 second Charlie Davis joins Probst and Wolff on each episode to give the player’s perspective and he confirmed exactly how unsanitary Probst’s promo was.
“Yes, I can guarantee how dirty our hands get,” he said, before Probst interrupted.
‘I don’t even want to hear it. I don’t even want to be reminded of it!” he replied.
This moment, as Probst pointed out, was the perfect time to call up new players. The Survivor auction has become a staple of the series, occurring every few seasons as players bid on tempting food items denied them on the island.
The auction made its new era debut in Survivor 45 with an added twist, as the show sent players into the jungle to find money they could use to bid. The same idea returned this season, along with the twist that the player with the most money at the end of the auction would lose their vote at the next tribal council.
Sam was the unlucky bidder, ending the auction with the most money remaining and losing his vote. The tribe has voted out its ally, Sierrawho tied with Sam in the first round of voting.
Survivor 47 airs on CBS Wednesdays at 8pm ET. It’s also available to stream the next day on Paramount+.
