“You’re blowing my mind.
This is the absolute truth: I don’t pay much attention to any of that anymore.”
Robert Voets/CBS
Survivorused to have a mandate when it came to casting their seasons.
Jeff Probst and the cast of “Survivor 48'.Credit:Robert Voets/CBS
And that mandate involved putting lots and lots of people in their twenties on the island.
Even in the new era that began in 2021,Survivorhas continued to trend young.
That includesSurvivor 45, which featured 11 out of 18 contestants being under the age of 30.
Jeff Probst on “Survivor 48'.Robert Voets/CBS
All of which makesthe cast ofSurvivor 48so striking.
Clearly, host and showrunnerJeff Probstgave a directive for the show to age up for season 48, right?
You’re blowing my mind, says Probst.
The cast of ‘Survivor 48’.Robert Voets/CBS
This is the absolute truth: I don’t pay much attention to any of that anymore.
I know Jesse Tannenbaum does
That would beSurvivors casting director.
He’s always big picture saying, We have a pretty good mix, Probst explains.
Jeff Probst, host of ‘Survivor 48’.Robert Voets/CBS
What puzzle piece do you fit?
I clearly could be wrong about who could win.
And if Idothink you might win, would I be happy to see you win?
Are you a likable winner?
Those are really the questions.
For Probst, the keys to determining that answer lie in a simple conversation.
And I venture to say to everyone: kindly don’t venture to be someone you’re not.
That’s not what I’m looking for.
I’m not looking for glib orDrew Basile’s intellect.
I’m looking foryou.
I just want to knowyou.Would I like to talk toyou?
With those determinations being made, things like age have become less of a concern.
So when you give me that stat, I’m laughing, says Probst… well, laughing.
Because I would fail if this were aSurvivortrivia game.
I don’t even know where people are from half the time!
Do I want to talk to your Tribal?
But how might an older cast change the trajectory of what we see on the screen?
For example, does having more seasoned players who might already be in committed relationships mean less showmances?
Showmances are never on my radar, the host says.
It’s not a criticism of a younger player, they’re just younger in life.
They’re more likely to shoot from the hip.
And that’s the merge that can kind of work.
And anyone, regardless of age, can either go early and last long.
We’ve had every throw in of winner.
Could you find a way to run that study and get an answer?
That sounds like a challenge.
