Jeff Probst Sizes Up Survivor 49 Cast, Including One Castaway He's 'Enamored' By
When Survivor host Jeff Probst is asked for audition tips, his No. 1 recommendation: "You just have to be yourself."
While he admits that may be a "frustrating" answer to some, the host of CBS' still-thrilling competition series says those who receive an instant "yes" to be on the show are those who are "very comfortable in their skin. They're not manufacturing an answer. They don't have notes in front of them. We're just talking," he tells TVLine.
All of that can be said about the show's upcoming crop of 18 Sole Survivor hopefuls who will brave the elements (and each other) when the show returns with its two-hour premiere Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 8/7c on CBS. Judging by the looks of the cast (get a full rundown of the new participants here), the stage is set for an absolute showdown.
One player Probst confesses to being "enamored by" is 25-year-old Rizo Velovic, a tech sales employee from Yonkers, N.Y. You saw him briefly in the preview for 49 that aired as part of the Season 48 finale. You know the one — he lovingly referred to himself as "the man, the myth, the legend, R-I-Z-G-O-D, RizGod, baby!" But before you judge him, hear Probst out.
"Rizo is such a delight," says the host. "He doesn't shy away from his enthusiasm. What I like about Rizo is he's full of life. He has a vernacular that is fantastic. And in fact, there's a great moment where he is trying to teach Nate [Moore] some of the language that is being used by Rizo's generation. You now have a situation where Nate has to work hard to not be the guy saying, 'Wait, tell me again. The word cinema means what?' It's a really fun thing because it encapsulates what Survivor's really about: taking a cross section of people that have to live together and get along on some level. But while they're doing that, they're conspiring against each other. And Rizo is somebody that I think people will latch on to very early, and I think if they're willing to take a ride with him for a moment, they might see that there's a lot to this confident, boastful kid that's really appealing."
Speaking of Nate, the former producer for the Marvel Cinematic Universe checks one of the show's major boxes: He's a storyteller.
"With Nate, he's not only a big time producer, he's also a very savvy student of the game," says Probst. "He is a superfan, and I'm always intrigued with a player over 40 (which is considered old on our show) because there is this generational divide that seems to have always existed. That is, the younger person believes they have all the skills required to win the game. As we've seen in the new era, they often do. What they don't have is the years of experience of just being on the planet. So I'm always curious, how will the guy like Nate bond with some of the people on his tribe, who could be his kids, because you have to be able to meet people where they are. And I think the younger generation is more dominant right now in terms of vernacular and what's happening in our culture. If you're that old guy that says, 'Hey, back in my day,' you're not long for the game. So I think that's going to be really fun to watch. We were struck by Nate instantly because he's very calm and very measured, but very astute."
Probst also highlights Jawan Pitts, a 28-year-old video editor from L.A. who loves horror movies and Pokémon. "In the premiere, Jawan talks about Survivor as it relates to a horror movie," Probst says. "It's a perfect theme because he's able to let you see how he views the game, and it also tells you who he is." (Again, future Survivor applicants — storytelling is key!)
Also impressing Jeff this time around are former reporter Savannah Louie, who he says is "very confident — lots of Rs in the spelling of 'very' — with her ability to read people," and Kristina Mills, a young mom and MBA career coach who told casting, "I need this adventure for me... and by the way, I've never spent an hour in a jungle." What could go wrong, right?
But regardless of one's survival skills, the ability to adapt and build on social capital can go a long way for someone hoping to walk away with that $1 million bag. So who do you have your eyes on this season? Weigh in with your early predictions by dropping some comments below!