'Survivor' host Jeff Probst on why players no longer get drunk

Survivor type TV Show network CBS genre Reality Where to watch Close Streaming Options

Each week Jeff Probst will answer a few questions about the latest episode of Survivor: Worlds Apart.

EW: What is your take from a production standpoint when members of a tribe decide to throw a challenge? On one hand, that can give you great story to play with, as it did this week. On the other hand, it can also potentially sap the drama out of an immunity challenge, as we have seen occasionally in the past.

JEFF PROBST: There is a theme to the answers I’ve been giving you to questions like this one and the uneven tribe swap— and that theme is “whatever will be will be.” There have been thrown immunity challenges that produce great drama and those that fall flat. There is simply no sense in worrying about it because we can’t control it. The players decide what they want to do and often their decision is impacted by a bigger “group think” that happens within an alliance. I have learned to really enjoy letting them play the game on their terms. We set the scenario—the players decide the action—we tell the story.

Here’s a random question, but one I’ve wondered about and did again after seeing this latest reward feast: How come contestants no longer get drunk? I remember Jan in Thailand, Fairplay in Pearl Islands, and even Tom Westman in Palau getting good and hammered. Do you all generally give the contestants less booze than you used to on rewards, are they more responsible (which I find hard to believe), or is this stuff just not making final cut?

Great question and I think the answer is we just haven’t had the right combination of player/s and alcohol. We definitely would show it if it happened. There is so much strategy now that people are more aware and as a result less likely to “lose control.”

Okay, we saw the tease for the merge coming next, which means a whole new game and absolutely anything can happen. With that in mind, give me your award—which from here on out we will call The Probsty—for which contestant played the best PRE-MERGE game.

Love this idea! Okay for the first annual Probsty—I nominate Mike, Carolyn, Joe and Tyler. For various reasons I think those four have done a good job at positioning themselves. They each have a strength and they’re utilizing it to their advantage. And the Probsty goes to…. Joe! I think he has handled himself really well, tried to stay flexible with the tribe dynamics, he comes across as empathetic and physically is definitely a threat.

Okay, don’t leave us hanging, mister. Tease us one good thing about next week’s merge episode.

Oh it’s ON. It’s a GREAT episode. Everything and everyone is up for grabs and they have to start over… literally!

To watch an exclusive deleted scene from last night’s episode featuring an extended version of the conversation between Hali and Shirin, just click on the video player below. Also make sure to read Dalton’s full ‘Survivor: Worlds Apart’ recap. And for more ‘Survivor’ scoop, follow Dalton on Twitter @DaltonRoss.