Jeff Probst Reveals Which Twist Isn't Returning for 'Survivor 43' and Addresses Returnee Rumors

The Emmy-winning host and executive producer gets into the process of continuing the "new era" from the perspective of both the creatives and cast.

In the middle of June 2021, Jeff Probst and the Survivor team let out a breath. They had just finished filming two new seasons of the Emmy-winning reality series back-to-back, a welcome return since the show's hiatus due to the pandemic. And the show came back in full force, debuting a "new era" of less food, new twists, and potentially "dangerous" advantages. But after carving the first two tally marks on this proverbial tree in the Survivor jungle, an inevitable question arose: Would the new era go along this same path or continue to reinvent to keep players in the dark?

"The truth is, we had always planned to let this new format play out for a few seasons," Probst tells Parade.com in an exclusive interview. "Beyond that, the mere possibility that there might be another new advantage or small twist is enough to keep players guessing. That uncertainty is all we need to keep players off balance. So, as always, the key to doing well on Survivor is to stay open."

And that openness extends to the creative side as well. Survivor 41 and 42 largely had the same structure and twists due mostly to the fact that the contestants in the latter had not seen the former before playing. But not only have the players in Survivor 43 seen what the new era has to offer, but so have millions of viewers, who were not afraid to be vocal about what they liked.

"One of the perks of having such a loyal audience is they speak up!" Probst says. "So we anticipated lots of opinions regarding the new twists, pace, and difficulty, and we were right!"

Not only that, but the fans can be happy to know that their feedback was also able to exact change behind the scenes. Namely, in the elimination of what Probst calls the "change history" twist, which saw one player get the opportunity to smash an hourglass to reverse the outcome of a group Immunity Challenge. It was a moment that had both the viewers and players up in arms, and production responded and removed both the hourglass and hammer from the table. But Probst did tease, much like that oft-mentioned monster in a horror movie, that it may not be gone forever.

Check out the interview below for more insight from Probst about his approach to season 43, the cast, and his previous comments regarding the future of returning player seasons. Survivor 43 premieres Wednesday, September 21 at 8:00 p.m. with a two-hour episode on CBS.

Related: Everything We Know About Survivor Season 43

You had almost a year between finishing Survivor 42 and beginning 43. From a creative perspective, what was the process like for you to approach this next batch of seasons, having some time to reflect on the previous two seasons?
We were very curious how fans would react to the new 26-day era of Survivor. One of the perks of having such a loyal audience is they speak up! So we anticipated lots of opinions regarding the new twists, pace, and difficulty, and we were right!

The most vocal feedback surrounded the "change history" twist. People either loved it or despised it, but there was no gray. The "change history" twist had been on my personal idea board of "one day, when the time is right…" so I'll shoulder the full responsibility for those who wanted to rip my safari shirt off my back! For S43, we did not bring the "change history" twist back. But I feel the need to remind future players, it doesn't mean it won't return in the future.

Similarly, unlike 41 and 42, the contestants this season were able to see this "new era" before coming out to play. How did you incorporate that knowledge into planning out the season?
This is a great question because that is exactly what we do. We put ourselves in the shoes of the players and try to guess what they anticipate is coming and then design around our assumptions. Sometimes we go in the direction of what we think they are expecting, and sometimes we go in the opposite direction. Our hunch was that because 41 and 42 was such a radical departure, they would be very uncertain about what was going to happen in 43 and would be on edge the entire time.

The truth is, we had always planned to let this new format play out for a few seasons. Twenty-six days, no food, few supplies, penalties for losing, small tribes. Beyond that, the mere possibility that there might be another new advantage or small twist is enough to keep players guessing. That uncertainty is all we need to keep players off balance. So, as always, the key to doing well on Survivor is to stay open. You will never be able to anticipate everything that is going to happen. It's impossible. So the best use of your energy and constantly declining cognitive abilities is to try to stay alert to what is happening, not what you think will happen.

With these contestants having seen what type of gameplay is successful in this new era, how much do you think that will inform their strategies?
I'll counter this question a bit by suggesting that it's too soon to say what type of gameplay is successful. Two seasons is not enough data. Players are still learning this new format and how it changes the game. For instance, one of the biggest changes is the undeniable importance of tribe strength pre-merge. In previous seasons, a tribe might start with ten players, so there was a bit of room to hide in those early Tribal Councils. With only six players, going to Tribal is always terrifying because it could be you that is going home!

So this creates a new dilemma. What do you do if you have formed an early alliance with someone who is loyal to the core but is a physical liability at challenges or isn't pulling their weight around camp? It's not as easy as simply saying, "Gotta vote them out." Survivor is as much about loyalty as anything. If you can truly trust someone, you have a massive advantage. But if that same person is causing your tribe to go to Tribal, that's a problem.

Obviously, there isn't one answer that will always work; it will always be situational. But I think you will see this becoming an increasingly big consideration and strategy for each player.

How are you able to parse out what was "successful" in an advantage or choice from previous seasons, and whether it can continue to be used in future seasons?
Designing a season of Survivor is definitely not a science. So determining whether a twist was successful is really subjective. I'm very aware that lots of fans think we have messed the game up many, many times over the years! But hopefully, just as many people enjoy the ebb and flow of new ideas and experimental twists.

In order to create new twists or advantages that the players love, you have to accept the risk that they may fail. It's the same approach you have to take as a player. In order to win, you have to make moves, and in doing so, you also have to accept the fact that your moves may fail and result in you being voted out.

Ultimately it's about having the confidence to go for it. When we're designing a new season, we always have a point of view. We have a vision for what we want to achieve, and we commit to it. It doesn't mean we're right, but I promise you we're doing our best.

Related: Meet the Cast of Survivor 43

Both seasons 41 and 42 had some very frank and open discussions about topics like race. Do you expect moments like this to be a part of the show moving forward?
Absolutely! This is one of the many benefits of having truly diverse groups of players on Survivor. Sooner or later, real life will collide with the game, and in those moments, you can have some truly beautiful, complicated, and layered cultural moments.

When I talk to Survivor fans, just as many want to talk about these powerful cultural moments as they do about a new twist. And what makes these moments so compelling is, like everything else on Survivor, they are unscripted, unprovoked, and unpredictable.

On the whole, what can you tell us about the castaways of Survivor 43?
I had a lot of fun with this group. There are some players with great underdog stories, some really funny players, and some very, very, savvy players.

You will also see early on that each tribe has a very specific vibe, almost a personality. For example, you might have one tribe that is petrified to even walk into Tribal Council, while another tribe is marveling at how cool their torches look while humming the Tribal Council theme. It's fascinating because both of those tribes are walking into the most dangerous part of the game. That's fun for me because I can explore those different personalities at challenges and tribal.

Equally important is this fact: the personality of a tribe often leads to groupthink, and that groupthink can circle back and influence the gameplay of individuals. It's a bit like brainwashing. It's insanely powerful, and it should be terrifying to players because if you're unaware it's happening, you start making decisions that are not in your best interest.

You've said in previous interviews that you would want to focus exclusively on new player seasons for the time being. But the further you get into this new era, have you revisited the thought of doing a returnee season with some all-stars from the 40s, or even castaways from before the COVID break?
I am so glad you asked this question. I'm definitely not saying we're done with anyone who played in the first 40 seasons. Not at all. Let's be clear; we are premiering our 43rd season on the shoulders of all the great players from the past 42 seasons. That's our Hall Of Fame! We would not still be going without all our great players from past seasons.

I only meant that I think we're wise to let new players explore this new version and see where it leads. It's our best chance at having a pure experience we can all learn from. I know there are so many former players who want to play again, and I truly ache for them because I know they feel it's out of their control. All I can say is that we have no idea where the future will lead us. We are doing the same thing we say to the players…staying open and adapting every day.

Next, begin our preseason interviews with the cast of Survivor 43 with clinical psychologist Elisabeth "Elie" Scott.