As Survivor continues to air on the 2025 TV schedule, it is onerous to not take discover of the success that the long-running CBS competitors actuality sequence has discovered. It is now in its 48th season and is inching nearer to its milestone 50th. Some could not assume that surprises can occur in the best way of contestants, at this level. Nevertheless, one Survivor 48 competitor didn’t know who longtime host Jeff Probst was when signing on, and I recognize that.
Season 48 star David Kinne grew up watching the primary season of Survivor and a few of the different earlier ones together with his household however by no means actually watched it once more till after he utilized. He famous that he instructed himself he ought to in all probability watch the present after exhibiting curiosity within the software. He then recalled to Parade what went down when he bought a name from casting and was admittedly clueless:
It is actually a shaggy dog story. I bought a name from one of many casting producers. She’s like, ‘Oh, hey, nice. Love your resume. You may have a one-on-one with Jeff.’ And I used to be like, ‘Nice. What’s his final identify?’ I swear to God. And she or he’s like, ‘…Probst.’ And I am on my pc, speaking, like, ‘Okay, how do you spell that?’ ‘P-R-O-B-S-T.’ And I can hear her hesitation on the telephone.
Since Survivor has been on the air for therefore lengthy and is arguably top-of-the-line actuality exhibits, its not unusual for potential contestants to already be followers are a minimum of considerably acquainted with the sport. I can’t say I blame them, given my fandom. So it is undoubtedly one thing of a novelty when somebody with little-to-no prior data of the proceedings is added to a forged. I recognize when a fan makes it on the present, however I discover it refreshing when somebody who’s not too near the sport joins.
I’m unsure what’s higher: the truth that Kinne thought it was fully regular to ask for Probst’s final identify or the casting producer being hesitant on the opposite line. She will not be used to clarifying herself to contestants when she mentions the identify “Jeff” or simply not often has to take action. Nonetheless, I simply love what got here subsequent when the belief lastly hit Kinne:
So she hesitates and says one thing else. So I kind into Google ‘Jeff Probst,’ and I am like, ‘Oh, that is the host!’ His face pops up, and I clearly acknowledge him. She’s like, ‘Sure, that is the host, you f–king fool! What do you imply?! What are you doing making use of on Survivor?!; And so subsequent factor , love/hate relationship she wished me on the present.
Fortunately, his lack of Survivor data didn’t damage his possibilities of being on the present, regardless of the producer’s blunt responses. David Kinne did perform a little little bit of prep, although. He finally watched a few of the older seasons and a few of the newer installments as properly. Kinne additionally says that he doesn’t have “an entire lot of Survivor beneath his belt,” however that is likely to be a superb factor.
I would argue that when you could have a actuality TV present that is been on so long as Survivor, it’s onerous to seek out contestants who genuinely need to be on the present due to what it’s about, not due to what it’s. Clearly, Jeff Probst’s present continues to be as entertaining, and every season brings on nice castaways. However, it seems uncommon that any of them genuinely aren’t all that acquainted with the present.
As of proper now, David Kinne continues to be staying robust and proving that he deserves to be on Survivor regardless of his lack of information. I am excited how lengthy he’s in a position to final, and I am additionally glad he is acquainted with Jeff Probst now. Take a look at new episodes on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, and stream them the following day with a Paramount+ subscription.