Jeff Probst is emotionally committed to Survivor, but how long can the show last?

Entertainment Weekly

With Season 37, "David vs. Goliath," Survivor is getting closer to its 20th anniversary in 2020 and 40th season overall. Which begs the question: How long can Survivor keep going? "Probst leaving is the only thing I can see in the near future that could potentially bring the show down," says Dalton Ross. But he points out that Survivor could even outlast its longtime host because of its big ratings and Fiji tax breaks. Still, at this point, Probst is too emotionally invested in Survivor, especially now that he's the showrunner. "He’s more than just the face of the franchise, he is the heart and pulse of it as well," says Ross. "When I asked Probst a few months ago whether he would still be hosting Survivor without some form of creative control, he told me flat-out that he would not. And as Probst’s input and power have increased, so has his emotional investment in the job. You watch Probst on location during filming and you see a guy who is tapped into every single aspect of production and the experience. You see the joy on his face when something goes well. You see the anguish when something doesn’t. While years ago Probst may have had one foot out the door as he considered other career options, he’s now thrown all his chips into the middle of the table."

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