Jeff Probst loves being the host of Survivor, but even he has to admit that sometimes the gig stinks.
Following episode 4 of Survivor 48, Probst, 62, joined producer Jay Wolff and Survivor 47 winner Rachel LaMont to break down what happened and answer a fan’s question on the “On Fire with Jeff Probst” podcast. That fan, named Nicole, took the opportunity to present Probst with a question that no one was asking.
“My burning question is, when players ask for a hug and you’re taking the [immunity] necklace off of them, do you hold your breath so you don’t have to smell them?” she wrote into the show.
“Yeah, it’s a funny thought and it makes total sense,” Probst responded on the Thursday, March 20, podcast episode, “but it actually never enters my mind.”
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It’s a surprising answer considering this is Probst’s 48th go-around with a cast that mostly has no access to such luxuries as soap and shampoo for weeks on end. One would think that, after a few pungent surprises, he would have adjusted.
“We talked about improv earlier,” he continued. “I’m in an improv the entire 26 days I’m on Survivor. I just go wherever it is. So I stay focused.”
That’s not to say Probst doesn’t notice when some player’s stench starts to take over. He explained to Lamont, 35, exactly what it smells like.
“We describe it as a combination of campfire, which is kind of nice, and then an old gym locker that hasn’t been opened in months, and that’s not quite as nice,” he said. “So it becomes a kind of pungent, but very recognizable, eau of Survivor.”
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Probst did not mention any castaways, past or present, by name, though that question is sure to hit the “On Fire” inbox soon.
Always quick to jump on an opportunity, LaMont, 35, who is currently Probst’s podcast cohost, responded with an idea.
“I think you should make a candle and put that in the CBS shop, Jeff,” she said.
Of course, “On Fire” is more than a weekly discussion about players’ hygiene (though the topic comes up often). This week, Probst also explained what goes into major twists in the season, spurred by the tribe swap that fans saw in episode 4. LaMont, meanwhile, broke down the mental calculus that goes into determining when to lie to your tribemates and the risks involved.
Survivor airs Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on CBS with the corresponding episode of “On Fire” dropping immediately after the episode.
