Jeff Probst Says the Wild Gameplay of 'Survivor 47' is 'Here to Stay' (Exclusive)

It’s not a hot take to say that Survivor 47 is the most strategy-forward season of the new era. For the past 13 weeks, we’ve seen players craft shocking blindsides, use idols and advantages to their fullest extent, and turn the tide of the game in one vote. It’s resulted in a postmerge where loyalty is all over the place, as everyone left in the endgame had spent time both in the driver’s seat and dragged behind the metaphoric car, left out of the vote. It’s made for an intensely exciting season, one that some are calling the best since the show returned from hiatus in 2021. And, according to Jeff Probst, this high-caliber, fluid gameplay will become the rule, not the exception, moving forward.

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“I think the fluid nature of Survivor is here to stay,” the host and executive producer tells Parade in an exclusive interview. “I think it’s a direct reflection of the type of people we are putting on the show. Today’s player wants to win. And to win you have to play to win. Playing to win means taking risks that could end your game. That’s the conundrum you face. But taking a cautious approach and just hoping you don’t get voted out will never get the respect of the jury. So it’s a no-win proposition. In order for you to win, every other player must lose, including your closest ally.”

Read on for our full interview with Jeff Probst, including how the show prepared its first-ever two-week finale, and his response both in the moment and to the fan reaction of the high-stakes “Operation: Italy” move. Survivor 47 concludes with a two-hour episode on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Related: Everything to Know About Survivor 47

Season 47 makes Survivor history in being the first finale broadcast across four hours and two episodes. When in the process was that choice made? How did it affect the production and editing decisions made around the endgame?
CBS asked us if we could do one extra episode this season due to a scheduling situation. Once we looked at restructuring our finale, we realized that by expanding it, we would have time to share some stories that we typically don’t have enough time! So it worked out very well and didn’t require us to change anything about how the players experienced the game.

The first part of the finale saw Andy and Genevieve leave, both big players and characters who hit strategic highs and emotional lows. How do you look at the very different roller coaster journeys they had in the game?
I think the most interesting thing is what you asked in your question. They both had very different roller coaster journeys. Andy and Genevieve exemplify what Survivor is all about. Two players who both went deep in the same season but had completely different experiences. Andy started in a massive hole, and because he had nothing left to lose, it opened him up to playing a very free and risky game. Genevieve took a very different approach in terms of how she handled her social relationships and initially played a very low-key, stealth game as she patiently waited for the moment to make her move. And had either of them got to the end, they both had a strong case to make as to why they would deserve to win.

Survivor 47 was full of surprising flips, moves, and decisions. Was there one in particular that shocked you the most in the moment?
Well, my favorite move of the season has to be “Operation: Italy.” Every single part of it, from the inception of the idea, to the execution of the idea to the way we presented it in the episode was absolutely magical. I know that’s me bragging on the players and on our team, but it’s the truth of how I feel. That’s as good as Survivor gets!

You mentioned before and during the season the theme of “ever-changing power.” Do you think the fluidity of this postmerge came from anything specifically, like this particular cast, or the players being able to incorporate new era elements into their gameplay?
I think the fluid nature of Survivor is here to stay. I think it’s a direct reflection of the type of people we are putting on the show. Today’s player wants to win. And to win you have to play to win. Playing to win means taking risks that could end your game. That’s the conundrum you face. But taking a cautious approach and just hoping you don’t get voted out will never get the respect of the jury. So it’s a no-win proposition. So if you come into the game wanting to win, it’s imperative that you never forget one thing: Every other player is doing the same thing. That’s why it’s very difficult to trust even the most loyal alliance partner, because Survivor is a zero sum game. There can only be one winner. So in order for you to win, every other player must lose, including your closest ally.

Related: ‘Survivor 47’s Andy Rueda Says He Doesn’t Regret Carrying Out ‘Operation: Italy’

Speaking of twists and turns, you chose to bring in the new “Block-a-Vote” advantage late into the game, allowing it to play out at the Final Six. Talk to me about how you decide to implement advantages at times when the numbers are so small. Will we see more of these new late-game advantages in the future?
It’s not the most exciting answer, but it’s all centered around math. There are certain advantages that work at different points in the game and some that don’t based on how many players are left in the game. We know what advantages are going into a season before we even have the players cast for a season. We’re lucky that we now have so many different types of game-changing advantages that we can mix and match to keep the players off balance.

“Operation: Italy” has been hailed by some fans as not only one of the best moves of the new era, but also one of the best episodes of the series. What’s been your response to the fan reaction to that episode?
I loved how much fans loved this episode! It truly is satisfying because the fans are who we do it all for. So when you think you have a special episode and the fans respond enthusiastically, it’s incredibly rewarding and ultimately strengthens that bond between the producers and the fans. And that’s what we are always striving for.

From a gameplay perspective, what do you think contestants on Survivor 49 and beyond will take from the moves they saw on Survivor 47?
The one constant theme of the new era seems to be players learning to play a loose game. You can’t have your strategy laid out before day one. You first have to get a lay of the land, and then use your own specific skill set to navigate every moment of every day. The single most difficult thing to accept is that the only way to win is to not worry about losing. Most players will lose, that includes you. So if you can emotionally accept that fact, then it really frees you up to play a game that might just allow you to actually win!

Is there anything big we can expect to see from the final two hours of the season, including the aftershow?
I think this two-hour final is a great finish to a fantastic episode. And I loved the Survivor 47 After Show. It has a great combination of humor and emotion.

Speaking of the future, I’d be remiss not to ask for a casting update on Survivor 50. Where are you at in the process, both literally and mentally, as you look ahead to 2025?
All I can say at this point is we’re very excited for Survivor 50 and still considering lots of fun ideas.

Related: ‘Survivor 47’s Genevieve Mushaluk Says She ‘Hurt Her Own Feelings’ With Her Gameplay