Probst vows 'Survivor' season of firsts
Derrik J. Lang
Associated Press Writer
Feb. 16, 2005 04:49 PM
NEW YORK - Jeff Probst compares discovering the latest batch of scheming "Survivor" castaways to "waking up on Christmas morning." Hopefully, that means good tidings for viewers who've come to expect deceit and malnourishment on the CBS reality show, which lands at season 10 this Thursday.
"This time around, we have 20 people," host Probst told The Associated Press. "We wanted to change things off the bat. We tried to find a simple little way to throw people off balance."
In past seasons, either 16 or 18 people have outplayed, outwitted and outlasted each other. The increase in population isn't the only unbalancing act. When the contestants first arrive in Palau, the Pacific island nation where this season is set, they won't be given instructions.
No tribes. No challenges. No clue on what to do.
This isn't the first "Survivor" season premiere twist. Most have involved withholding a necessity: food on "Marquesas," supplies on "Pearl Islands," water on "All-Stars." And sometimes the switcheroos involve the way in which the tribes are chosen: men versus women on "The Amazon" and "Vanuatu" and elders picking kickball-style on "Thailand."
"With the `Palau' group, this was the first group that are truly individuals," said Probst. "In `Marquesas,' there was a group of fun people. In `Thailand,' the group was mean-spirited. This time, everybody is on their own terms."
Probst promises more firsts in challenges, at tribal council and socially throughout this season of "Survivor." Viewers will have to wait — or break into Probst's diary — to see what happens.
"During shooting, I keep a little journal, and I kept going back to it and thinking, `Wow! Another first,'" said Probst.
Here's another possible first: a cold edition of "Survivor" set in Canada.
"One day we were gonna run out of beaches," said Probst. "It would be a lot more bleaker. You're not gonna have any sexy water challenges. I think we'll have to seriously think about it. Creatively, it offers something totally new. Our audience is loyal so I think our audience would stay with us."
Viewers will have until a 12th edition of "Survivor" to stick around. CBS has ordered two more seasons following Palau. How very merry.
Source~
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/tv/articles/0217survivor.htmland
SNN~
http://survivornews.net/