Yuku free message boards

Jeff Probst's Thoughts on the Survivor Cast

Aaron Reisberger - Survivor: China

Jeff Probst: Aaron's the type of guy who gets along with just about everybody. His personality is very calm and mellow, which I think gets him on good terms with the people around him. He's definitely not pissing anyone off. As far as his game goes, he's got a pretty strong one. In China, he was one of the people in charge and making those decisions. The reason he was voted out wasn't because of his own mistakes. It was something out of his control. Aaron was definitely set to go a long way; it was just that one twist that pretty much ended the game for him. I think if he can get a good alliance going and doesn't make himself a big target, he could go very far into this game. If Aaron were to make it to the end, I think he could win.

Angie Jakusz - Survivor: Palau

Jeff Probst: We were surprised to see how far Angie went in Palau. When the tribes were divided on that second day, we thought for sure that she'd be the first to go on Ulong. She sure proved us wrong, and I'm glad she did. Angie quickly became a fan favorite, because most of us were rooting for that underdog quality in her. One would think that she has a hard time fitting in, but we've seen that she somehow is able to get the job done. She's strong in challenges, so I predict that she'll stay a while. It just all depends on how Angie decides to play. I think she has the capability of being a force to be reckoned with. She's very likable, and I think her personality will do her well.

Anthony Robinson - Survivor: Fiji

Jeff Probst: Anthony can be remembered for being called a girl by Rocky at a tribal council in Fiji. I wouldn't at all consider him a girl, but he definitely has a less aggressive approach than some of the more vocal men, like Rocky, we've had on the show. Anthony is better at staying out of the spotlight and taking things in from a wider perspective. He definitely thinks before he speaks. I couldn't quite figure out what it was that Rocky disliked about Anthony. I think the two were just complete opposites, so it made sense that the two didn't get along. Honestly, had Anthony not ended up on that tribe, I think he would've done much better. With a different group of people, I expect good things from Anthony.

Ashley Massaro - Survivor: China

Jeff Probst: I have to admit, I was a little disappointed with how Ashley did in China. We expected her to go far, but when it turned out she wasn't feeling good, we knew it was only a matter of time until she was voted out. We've had several people go early because they were sick, but Ashley was someone we would've never expected to see leave the way she did. She's definitely capable of being a powerhouse in challenges, and as long as she doesn't get sick again, I think she'll be in it for the long haul. One thing that could get in her way is the relationship with her arch nemesis, Dave Cruser. Dave's also here, so it will be interesting to see how the two interact. If her past comes back to haunt her, Ashley could be done for.

Brian Corridan - Survivor: Guatemala

Jeff Probst: Brian was another one who I think was really hurt by a twist, particularly the tribal swap. Before the shuffle, he had the numbers on his side and was in a comfortable position in his tribe; but after, things just went downhill for Brian. He no longer had his allies, and pretty much lost everything he had worked for in the early stages of the game. I know Brian's incredibly smart, probably one of the smartest contestant's we've seen on the show. He'll be one who has his plan mapped out before the game even starts. Brian failed to win the game before, so I know he'll have the drive to come out on top this time around. Brian's not a quitter; that's for sure, and he'll be doing everything he can to make sure he wins this game.

Brook Geraghty - Survivor: Vanuatu

Jeff Probst: Being voted out first in Survivor: Vanuatu really crushed Brook, and he hasn't let it go since. He was actually picked by a lot of us to win the game back in Vanuatu, due to his knowledge and familiarity with the game. We were shocked when he was the first to go, and that set the pace for the rest of the game. This time, I think Brook will be working very quickly to make sure he isn't voted off first again. He may even end up being a little paranoid, because I know he's nervous about this. He feels like his experience was cut short last time, and now he wants to make it whole by lasting 'til the very end. He's got the determination to go all the way, and I expect to see a very different Brook than what we saw several years ago.

Cao Boi Bui - Survivor: Cook Islands

Jeff Probst: What can I say about Cao Boi? He's one of a kind, for sure. He had several memorable moments in the Cooks. From his controversial jokes, to his home remedies for headaches, to his interesting fire-making skills, Cao Boi was one of the biggest personalities the show's ever seen. I don't think he's even got a shot at winning this thing, but I'd love to see him prove me wrong. You know, he grew up in a similar setting to the area we're in now, so he could use his survival skills to his advantage. It's his social skills that are really going to hurt him. He has the tendency to get on people's nerves, and that could ultimately end his game. Cao Boi was definitely cast to bring some entertainment to the show, and I expect him to make a big impact on the game.

Dave Cruser - Survivor: China

Jeff Probst: His name, "Crazy Dave", says it all. Dave's definitely a complex person. He's got his funny side, his strategic side, and then there's the obnoxious side we saw in China. I think Dave was trying to hard to be the leader and provider for his tribe, and that got a little irritating after a while. Plus, his fighting with Ashley was another strike against him. Even after she was out, Dave was still affected by her because their early bickering really set them apart from the tribe early on. This time around, they could either bury the hatchet and move on, or continue to disagree like in the past. Dave claims he has learned from his mistakes and won't repeat them, so it will be interesting to see if he truly has or not.

Erica Durousseau - Survivor: Fiji

Jeff Probst: We saw in Fiji that Erica is very vocal about her opinion, and can tend to be confrontational with the people around her. But we also saw that Erica had a decent grasp of the game. If Erica can maybe bite her tongue a little bit more, I think she'll do alright. She was on probably one of the worst tribes in history, the Ravu tribe. She was one of the stronger members of the already-weak tribe, and voting her off that early was not a good idea. I think Erica will be kept around for her strength in the early stages of the game, so I could see her making the merge. Beyond that, it's a big question mark. She's definitely one of the physical threats out there, and her personality isn't exactly quiet. After the merge, she could be in for some trouble.

James Miller - Survivor: Palau

Jeff Probst: James is a very popular survivor, and I'm definitely glad to see him return. He was fun to watch in Palau, and I can't wait to see what he's got in store for us this time around. James is another one of those we brought back to bring for the entertainment value. James had the potential to last a while in this game, but I can't picture him winning. I couldn't even imagine what he'd look like in front of a final jury, so his chances of winning are slim. That's not to say he won't do well, because I think James could do well. There's a certain charm about him that make people like him. You can't help but to like James because he tells it like it is. I think that's a great quality about him, and in a game like this, being honest could serve him well. But it could also hurt him a little. Let's put it this way: James is either going to last a long time in this game, or be one of the first few voted out. I don't think there's an in-between for him.

Jeff Wilson - Survivor: Palau

Jeff Probst: I always give this guy a hard time with the whole ankle story. I just can't believe a guy as strong as Jeff would quit because his ankle was bothering him. I know it was a serious deal, and he's had surgeries on it since then, but I still think he could've lasted a lot longer had he put his mind to it. You know Jeff's going to last for a while in this game. No one in there right mind is going to vote this guy off before the merge. That being said, when he makes the merge, I think he's going to have a major target on his back. The most important thing for him will be building those alliances early in the game, so he can get past that obstacle at the merge. If he can do that, he'll have a chance to survive, but otherwise, people are going to vote him off because he's a threat.

Leslie Nease - Survivor: China

Jeff Probst: Back in China, Leslie suffered a similar fate to Ashley in that she was voted out early due to an illness that occurred within the first few days. Towards the end of her game, she was fighting hard to stay in it, but it just goes to show you that those first days are crucial. Leslie's been watching the show for years, so she knows the game well. I think that'll serve her well, because she knows what works and doesn't work. Leslie may appear to be this sweet, little mom, but she's got a pretty competitive side too and I know she'll be fighting to stay in this thing. I could easily see Leslie making it to the end and winning it all. She's very lovable, and in front of a jury, she could give one hell of a performance. I think the others would be pretty stupid to underestimate Leslie. Nonetheless, she's older, so I could see her being an early target.

Misty Giles - Survivor: Exile Island

Jeff Probst: Misty's got the ideal survivor package. Not only is she strong physically, she's also very attractive, and on top of that, she's got the brains to put it all together. She knew what she was doing in Panama, and I don't really know what happened to get her voted out. I guess she played the flirt card a little too much, and she knows she did too. I'm guessing she'll rely a little less on her looks this time around, but if you got it, why not use it? I predict Misty will go very far in this game. She's not at all weak, so I don't see her being voted out early, and she's not one of the most threatening in terms of strength out there, so I think she'll make it past the merge too. Misty has what it takes to go all the way, and I expect a lot from her. I hope she can handle this, because I know she's got a lot of potential.

Tina Scheer - Survivor: Exile Island

Jeff Probst: Tina's story is one of the saddest we've had on the show. You know, she was originally scheduled to be on Survivor: Guatemala, but then the accident happened, so she had to postpone until Panama. We knew it was going to be hard for her, just a couple months after the death of her son, but she really wanted to do it and we wanted to have her. Last time, I think a lot was on her mind, and the game became too much for her to handle. Now it's been three years, which has given Tina some time to clear her head a little. She has a lot of heart and wants to prove to everyone that she can do this. I give her a lot of credit for signing up the first time, and to do it again. I'd like to see Tina do well, because I think it would mean a lot to her.

Tracy Hughes-Wolf - Survivor: Micronesia

Jeff Probst: Tracy was literally a last-minute addition to this season. We had the sixteen we wanted to bring back, and it was just after her boot episode aired on TV when we decided to give her a call and ask her about doing this again. She couldn't have been happier to hear from us, and immediately told us yes. I'm really looking forward to seeing Tracy in action again, because I thought she did well in Micronesia. When you're in the minority, there usually isn't a whole lot you can do, but she did absolutely everything she could and played all her cards to stay in the game, but it was unfortunately not enough. Her season was pretty much dominated by the Favorites, so now that she'll have had the equal experience as everyone else, I think she'll do much better.

Wanda Shirks - Survivor: Palau

Jeff Probst: Wanda never really got to play the game in her original season, so I honestly don't know what to expect from Wanda. I'm familiar with how she acts, but I don't really know if she can play the strategic part. She'll definitely be well-liked, which could benefit her for a while. But eventually, she'll have to start coming up with a plan, and I'm anxious to see her reach that level. Although I'm a supporter of all the twists, I'd have to say hers was one of the cruelest. I mean, we bring her to Palau, and then say she has to go right back home? Wanda was devastated, but at least she was happy to get the chance to be a part of that season. Now that she's given a second chance, and guaranteed at least three days in the game, let's see what things could've been like if she stuck around longer in Palau.

Quick thoughts? I wonder what your longer thoughts are like! Thank you, though, for taking the time to type all that up. It's very interesting, because some is accurate, but other parts are way off. Very fun to read! I can't comment on too much of it without giving it away, but a lot of what you had to say makes sense in terms of character development and such. I can kind of see why you write the way you do in your stories. I definitely feel like less "boring" characters are easier to write with, but I try not to make anyone overly boring. Unfortunately, you can't make everyone stars, so some have to be a little quieter. One time or another, they do eventually get their moment in the spotlight. Some people are just naturally easy to write for, so they tend to get more screentime.

Thanks for filling out the popularity poll. The numbers are finally getting a little more diverse than all averaging at 6 or 7. And it's nice to finally see who your favorites are!