About
"I was listening to the radio driving on the 405. I hear a British guy being interviewed say, 'I'm going to take 16 people and put them on an island, and they have to work together and then every three days they vote somebody out, and at the end the people come back as the jury and one person gets a million dollars.' Right then I called my agent said, 'There's this new show called 'Survivor' and I've got to get in!'"
In his nearly three-hour interview, Jeff Probst discusses his first hosting gigs for corporate videos. He recalls getting a job as host of the FX cable channel and talks of the failure of the original concept for FX. He describes hosting Access Hollywood and Rock and Roll Jeopardy! before getting tapped to host the reality competition show, Survivor. Probst then details his work on Survivor, outlining how the show is cast, what production is like, how the challenges are created, and how much interaction he has with the cast. He talks of show creator Mark Burnett, and comments on several memorable Survivor "villains." He then speaks of his foray into the talk show genre with his daytime program, The Jeff Probst Show. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on December 10, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Jeff Probst on how he came to host Survivor
Jeff Probst on casting Survivor
Jeff Probst on Mark Burnett's role and involvement in Survivor
Jeff Probst on the impact of 9/11 on Survivor
Jeff Probst on who he hopes is the audience for his talk show, The Jeff Probst Show
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his first job hosting and producing corporate videos; on getting his job as a host on the FX cable channel
On hosting for FX; on his short-lived acting career; on the failure of the original concept for FX
On hosting Access Hollywood; on hosting Rock and Roll Jeopardy!
On appearing as a contestant on Jeopardy!; on how he came to host Survivor
Chapter 2
On how he came to host Survivor; on the early stages of Survivor; on Mark Burnett's role as creator of the show
On his role as showrunner and Executive Producer of Survivor; on what made Survivor work early on; on casting the show
On the logistics of taping Survivor; on the role of the crew members; on bringing his own family to the set of Survivor
On creating and shooting the challenges on Survivor; on Survivor's tribal council and how it has evolved over the years
Chapter 3
On various seasons and contestants of Survivor; on hosting the Emmy Awards and winning an Emmy
On the future of Survivor; on his talk show, The Jeff Probst Show
On then-current (2012) projects; on advice to aspiring hosts and his legacy in television
Shows
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Jeff Probst on hosting the Emmy Awards and winning an Emmy
Jeopardy!
Jeff Probst on being a contestant on Jeopardy!
Jeff Probst on hosting Rock and Roll Jeopardy!
Live with Regis and Kelly
Jeff Probst on the future of Survivor and other projects
Survivor
Jeff Probst on how he came to host Survivor
Jeff Probst on how he came to host Survivor
Jeff Probst on the early stages of Survivor production and his autonomy on set
Jeff Probst on Mark Burnett's role and involvement in Survivor
Jeff Probst on his role as Survivor's showrunner and Executive Producer
Jeff Probst on what made Survivor work early on
Jeff Probst on the impact of 9/11 on Survivor
Jeff Probst on casting Survivor
Jeff Probst on dealing with cast members of Survivor and where they go when they get eliminated
Jeff Probst on keeping the outcome of Survivor secret until it airs
Jeff Probst on where he and the crew live during the production of Survivor and the logistics of filming a season
Jeff Probst on his personal day-to-day involvement and briefings on what is happening with the contestants, and hosting tribal council on Survivor
Jeff Probst on the contestants' interaction with the crew members on Survivor
Jeff Probst on bringing his family on location while shooting Survivor
Jeff Probst on creating, testing, executing, and shooting the challenges for Survivor
Jeff Probst on the "tribal council" segment of Survivor
Jeff Probst on his favorite tribal council segments and his interview style on Survivor
Jeff Probst on season one of Survivor
Jeff Probst on specific contestants from Survivor
Jeff Probst on Survivor villain "Johnny Fairplay"
Jeff Probst on his favorite Survivor seasons
Jeff Probst on the fans of Survivor
Topics
9/11
Jeff Probst on the impact of 9/11 on Survivor
Advice
Jeff Probst on advice to aspiring hosts
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Jeff Probst on hosting The Jeff Probst Show
Emmy Awards
Jeff Probst on hosting the Emmy Awards and winning an Emmy
Historic Events and Social Change
Jeff Probst on the impact of 9/11 on Survivor
Network Creation
Jeff Probst on the FX cable channel
Television Industry
Jeff Probst on the FX cable channel
Jeff Probst on hosting The Jeff Probst Show
Jeff Probst on advice to aspiring hosts
Professions
Hosts
Jeff Probst on hosting Back Chat and Music FX on the FX Network
Jeff Probst on hosting Back Chat and Music FX on the FX Network
Jeff Probst on his favorite tribal council segments and his interview style on Survivor
Jeff Probst on advice to aspiring hosts
Jeff Probst on advice to aspiring hosts
Producers
Jeff Probst on his role as Survivor's showrunner and executive producer
Reality Show Host
Jeff Probst on his favorite tribal council segments and his interview style on Survivor
Genres
Awards Shows
Jeff Probst on hosting the Emmy Awards and winning an Emmy
Game Shows
Jeff Probst on hosting Rock and Roll Jeopardy!
Reality TV
Jeff Probst on hosting Survivor
Jeff Probst on specific contestants from Survivor
Jeff Probst on his favorite Survivor seasons
Talk Shows
Jeff Probst on hosting The Jeff Probst Show
People
Mark Burnett
Jeff Probst on how he came to host Survivor
Jeff Probst on how he came to host Survivor
Jeff Probst on the early stages of Survivor production and his autonomy on set
Jeff Probst on Mark Burnett's role and involvement in Survivor
Leslie Moonves
Jeff Probst on how he came to host Survivor
Howard Stern
Jeff Probst on his favorite Survivor tribal council segments and his interview style on Survivor