Jeff+Probst+surviving+Survivors/1447783/story.html
Ever since he first spoke the fateful words "The tribe has spoken," in the spring of 2000, Survivor host Jeff Probst has played referee, cheerleader, negotiator, peacemaker, father confessor and omnipresent narrator to more than 200 contestants in Survivor's game of outwit/outplay/and outlast. But don't ask him to be a prophet.
In the 17 seasons leading up to Survivor Tocantins: The Brazilian Highlands, no one personality type -- be it the Good Girl, the Schemer, the Hero, the Earth Mother, the Sage or the Annoying Guy -- has earned the title of sole Survivor more than two years running.
"At its heart, Survivor is not about personality types," Jeff Probst said. "Human nature is unpredictable. It's endlessly fascinating -- and it's that unpredictability, I think, that has kept Survivor going as long as it has. I know, speaking for myself, that's what's kept me so involved in the show over the years. Human nature is a constant mystery."
Survivor has endured because of its fundamental recognition of human personalities in conflict. In every season, there has been a sense of good and evil, a dramatic arc that is both simple -- who will win? -- and complex: Why will that person win?
In an exclusive interview with Canwest News Service, Probst said his years hosting Survivor have taught him a lot about himself -- "I have learned I am not the centre of the universe" -- and about human nature in general.
We are who we are, he has come to realize.
"You can try to (suppress) that, but eventually your true nature will win out -- especially when you're deprived of food and energy and you're out in the open, trying to figure out a way to get along with people you don't know if you can trust. We all have our set reactions, and that's hard to (suppress). If I'm a born leader, it's hard for me to take a back seat. If I'm a follower by nature, it's hard for me to lead."
Contestants who do well in the game of Survivor, Probst believes, are those who adapt most quickly to constantly changing social situations. An honourary degree in the art of distraction helps.
Midway through Survivor Tocantins -- the sixth episode, marking the 18-day point in Survivor's 39-day journey, airs Thursday, Apr. 2 after a three-week hiatus -- several life-size characters have emerged.
And none of them have emerged larger -- or louder -- than Benjamin "Coach" Wade, a Steven Seagal look-alike with a weakness for new age aphorisms.
Probst says it was hard to ignore Coach from the first day, when he said, "Let's get rid of the weak players before we even start."
Coach has grated on his fellow contestants' nerves even more since then, by saying things like, "I need to surround myself with integrity," and being quick to boss the others around, while seeming to be tone deaf to their suggestions.
Coach has become an indelible part of Survivor Tocantins' meta-narrative, Probst says.
"I never know what to believe when I'm talking to Coach," Probst said.
At an upcoming, soon-to-air tribal council, Probst says Coach talks about having survived a near-death experience in the Amazon. Something involving being kidnapped by native Indians and almost killed.
"I said, 'Is that really true?'" Probst said, recalling his incredulity at the moment. "He said, 'Yes! I've been almost killed nine times!' Do I believe him? I have no idea. Part of me wants to. That's the appeal of this guy.
"People have this visceral, instant reaction to Coach: They either like him and want to follow him, or they have this instant aversion and want nothing to do with him. There's no in-between with him. Coach is one of the most colourful characters we've ever had on Survivor."
Last question: "Who will win Survivor Tocantins?," I prod Probst over the phone -- thinking to catch him unawares at the end of a long interview.
"I'll tell you," Probst said, without missing a beat. "It'll be -- um, er, pfft, pfft -- what was that? Are you still there? This line isn't very good."
He laughs.
"That was my way of saying I'm not going to answer the question," he said. "I'll tell you this, though: There are a record number of blindsides this season. I'm very happy with the way this one turned out in the end. Nothing turns out the way you might expect."
...............................................................................
I'm sorry if this shouldn't be here, mods.
