Survivor is one of the best reality shows of all time, and forever changed the genre as a whole. We're deep into Season 49 (which is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription) and while some folks are wondering how much money Survivor contestants make, I've been curious about how Jeff Probst feels about being dubbed "Uncle Jeff" throughout the season. Luckily for me, he recently broke his silence on that subject.
Survivor's New Era has had a villain problem, in the fact that there are so few antagonists in Season 49 and other recent seasons. Things are much more cuddly on the show than in the best Survivor seasons, including the fact that the cast felt comfortable enough to give Probst a nickname. In a recent conversation with THR, the showrunner/host shared his reaction to that ongoing bit, saying:
What I’ll remember most is that somewhere along the way, I became ‘Uncle Jeff.’ I’m not sure when that happened but after 25 years, maybe it was inevitable. And honestly, I love it. Anytime there’s any affection from the players, I take it as a gift. All I want from my role as host is to be a part of their journey. To challenge them when they need it, support them when it matters, and give them the space to discover who they are when stripped of everything. So if ‘Uncle Jeff’ is where we’ve landed, I’ll take it.
There you have it. While I was personally annoyed by the "Uncle J" talk throughout Season 49, the same can't be said from Probst himself. He seems thrilled with the nickname, and the fact that the cast feels so connected to the longtime host of the series. So if you thought he didn't like being given this title, you'd be wrong.
As someone who has watched Survivor since it premiered back in 2000, I was shocked that the cast of Season 49 felt so comfortable around Jeff that they would give him a pet name. I remember the OG seasons where Probst was more of a scary presence, and wasn't above putting contestants in their place. For instance, when Colby Donaldson (who was confirmed for the Survivor 50 cast) threw sass at Jeff in Heroes Vs Villains he totally shut him down. But nowadays the showrunner is softer and more focused on the emotions of each new cast.
Personally I prefer when Survivor has some boundaries between Jeff and the cast, with the contestants having a healthy amount of fear for the host. That was simply not the cast with Season 49, especially with Probst hosting mini therapy sessions whenever someone had an emotional breakdown. He actually likes being referred to as Uncle Jeff, but hopefully this isn't a nickname that sticks for future seasons.
New episodes of Survivor air Wednesday on CBS as part of the 2025 TV schedule, and there's just one more left this season. Next up will be Season 50, which will feature returning players for the first time in years.
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