Jeff Probst Changes Course: No More Torch Snuffing for ‘Survivor’ Quitters
Jeff Probst changes the rules on 'Survivor' as he declares he will no longer extinguish torches of contestants who quit the show, emphasizing the importance of gameplay
Robert Voets/CBS
Jeff Probst is cracking down on how he handles future quitters on Survivor.
“I want to make a declaration right here on your show. Starting now, if you are a Survivor player and you choose to quit, your torch will no longer be ceremoniously extinguished,” shared Probst, 62, during a recent episode of Live With Kelly and Mark. “That tradition is ending. To have your torch extinguished, you must actively participate in the game.”
Probst’s heartfelt response stems from the recent departure of two players, Hannah Rose and Sean Edwards, from Survivor 45. Despite the shorter time frame due to COVID-19 protocols, these contestants decided to quit before reaching the halfway point. In the past, castaways would endure 39 days of challenges, but the new format implemented in 2020 shortened the game to 26 days.
Probst theorized that the environment of the Fijian jungle plays a significant role in why certain individuals choose to relinquish their opportunity to win the million-dollar prize and the title of Sole Survivor. According to him, the psychological tests cannot account for the actual factors present in the jungle, such as rain, bamboo, snakes, and more.
Since its premiere in 2000, the reality show has witnessed only a few contestants willingly leaving the game.
Explaining the statistics to hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, he stated, "In over 45 seasons, less than one percent decide to quit. It's truly remarkable that some individuals actually take this step."
Robert Voets/CBS
In the seventh season of Survivor, titled Survivor: Pearl Islands, the show experienced its first quitter. Osten Taylor made the decision to ask his tribe to vote him out, citing the physical toll the game had taken on his body. During the tribal council, host Jeff Probst confronted Taylor and noted that his request seemed more like a quit rather than a sacrifice for his team.
"Interpret it as you wish. Whether you choose to refer to it as quitting or stopping. "Yeah, I'm quitting," Taylor stated at that moment. "To me, my health holds greater value than a million dollars, I suppose."
Probst was furious with Taylor's choice at the time and as he extinguished his torch, the host sarcastically commented: "Osten, as per your desire, please leave," instead of his usual phrase, "The tribe has spoken."
Probst later confessed that he was deeply bothered by the first-ever quit and took time to reflect on how he handled the situation.
"I was really upset about it," Probst admitted in a January 2013 interview with the Television Academy Foundation. "I didn't want to say 'the Tribe has spoken' without it being earned! And [creator Mark Burnett] said, 'Okay, then don't say it.' So I responded, 'As you wish, go home!' I remember going home afterwards and feeling quite pleased with myself."
