‘Survivor’ host Jeff Probst says strangers pitch him season 50 ideas

All indications from what Entertainment Weekly has seen and heard about season 48 of Survivor is that the installment premiering Feb. 26 on CBS should be an epic outing. Even so, we can’t help but remain excited about looking ahead three seasons down the road. That’s when Survivor will hit the magic (and once unthinkable) season 50.

Apparently, we’re not the only ones thinking obsessively about a season that will not even air until 2026. Because Jeff Probst tells EW people can’t stop talking to him about it. “What’s been really interesting about Survivor 50 is how many people have approached me to say, ‘Hey, I know 50 is coming up and I have an idea.’”

While one might assume the host is merely referring to colleagues and close associates, it turns out the radius extends well beyond that. “I’m not just talking friends or fellow television producers,” he clarifies. “I just mean strangers on the street!”

He speaks from very recent experience. “It happened to me twice yesterday,” he says, laughing. “Two times in the same day!”

From there, the pitches flow. “Everybody has a different idea,” says Probst. “Every single idea is different, from ‘You should do generations in terms of age,’ or ‘You should break it down by season,’ or ‘You should break it down by who is good in challenges,’ or ‘You should do only runner-ups,’ or ‘You should do all first outs,’ or ‘You should do one person from every season.’ And then I say, ‘Well, 48 players would be an awful lot to try to figure out.’”

All the different concepts illustrate the discussions and debates that have also been taking place within Survivor HQ. “There’s not been a single consistent idea that has been pitched to me, which is exciting on one hand, and on the other hand kind of brings you insight into what we’re dealing with, which is: How best do you celebrate your 50th season?”

For Probst, the word celebrate is key. “That’s the only thing I know for sure, is I want to celebrate. We’re really lucky, and we’re lucky because of our fans, to have this kind of a loyal fan base for this long. So let’s celebrate it! And we’re going to give it our best shot as we always do. We want to make everybody happy. So that’s what’s going through my head and the whole team while we’re editing 48, and we’re casting 49, and we’re thinking about 50. That’s how it’s going.”

Considering that Survivor 50 will begin filming in a few months, we are getting close to the point where decisions will have to be made sooner rather than later. “We don’t have the answers yet,” Probst says. “I’m telling you, we’re working on it still in this moment.”

So to all you strangers on the street out there, better get your pitches in soon!