Jeff Probst has revealed why he panicked during the Tribal Council in the most recent episode of ‘Survivor’ when he was handed an immunity idol.
Jeff Probst Explains Panic Moment at Tribal Council
You might think that with more than 25 years of experience hosting “Survivor” over the course of 49 seasons, very little would surprise Jeff Probst. Yet, some things can even shock him and one moment in the latest episode of the reality show did just that — inducing a moment of panic that Probst has explained in a podcast appearance.
Jeff Probst Reveals the Reason Behind His Panic
During the most recent episode of the “On Fire With Jeff Probst” podcast, Probst once again spoke with former winner Jeremy Collins to discuss the latest episode of “Survivor” and dig into some of the behind-the-scenes of the series. One particular event that was discussed had to do with Rizo playing a fake immunity idol during the Tribal Council.
“Let’s have a little bit of fun here,” said Rizo during the show’s conclusion as he handed the idol to Probst. “I feel like a lot has happened and I feel like this vote is truly going to show who’s with me or who’s not. And I have to do what’s best to protect myself in this game. And for that very reason, I’m playing it for Savannah.”
It was at this moment that Probst realized that the immunity idol was not genuine and was actually a fake. This prompted him to announce to the rest of the cast, “This is not a hidden immunity idol.”
It was the uncertainty around whether Rizo actually had an immunity idol that caused Probst to panic as the host couldn’t tell its authenticity until it was in his hand.
“Here’s the thing you’ve got to remember,” Probst said on the podcast. “In that moment, I don’t have any idea what Rizo’s going to do. I don’t know what he’s going to present to me or for whom he might play whatever he presents to me.”
He continued, “Our idols today are so basic that it is very easy to fake one. And that’s by design. That’s why we make them basic so that players can create fake ones… So I am slightly panicked going, ‘I wanna see in his hand. I’m looking for a clue. What’s in his hand? Is that the real idol or is this a fake one?’ Because I don’t know!”
“It’s not like there is any clue on the idol. I have to know exactly what the idol looks like. And that’s not quite as easy as you think it should be. But it’s electrifying for me because I am very much alive going, ‘Rizo, can you at least just open your palm a little so I can get a peek at what you got going on in there?’”
Jeff Probst Names His Mount Rushmore of ‘Survivor’ Players
In last week’s podcast episode, Probst detailed who he believes are the best players in the history of “Survivor.” Calling them his Mount Rushmore of contestants from the series, the longtime host detailed the four names and what makes them stand out.
“My opinion is I have a Mount Rushmore of Survivor players from the U.S. Just my own opinion. And I’m going to tell you who they are: Boston Rob, Sandra, Tony, and Parvati. Those are the only four people on my Mount Rushmore. Parvati is one of the most dominant players to ever play. Incredibly charming, mischievous, devious, duplicitous — all the things that Tony is, and Rob is, and Sandra.”
