On Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 10:11:54 AM UTC-7, Rick wrote:
> "Brian Smith" wrote in message
> news:01f7b732-5e1f-4a81...@googlegroups.com...
> >
> >On Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 11:19:53 PM UTC-7, Rick wrote:
> >> "Brian Smith" wrote in message
> >> news:48316ed0-856c-4374...@googlegroups.com...
> >> >
> >> >On Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 7:46:54 PM UTC-7, Rick wrote:
> >> >> "Brian Smith" wrote in message
> >> >> news:ca30cb27-456a-4376...@googlegroups.com...
> >> >> >
> >> >> >On Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 3:19:54 PM UTC-7, Rick wrote:
> >> >> >> "Brian Smith" wrote in message
> >> >> >> news:018b96e5-275c-49b5...@googlegroups.com...
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >On Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 9:08:57 AM UTC-7, Rick wrote:
> >> >> >> >> "Brian Smith" wrote in message
> >> >> >> >> news:a6d8b3e7-64a8-4a25...@googlegroups.com...
> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> >On Monday, December 25, 2023 at 10:37:44 PM UTC-7, Rick wrote:
> >> >> >> >> >> "Brian Smith" wrote in message
> >> >> >> >> >> news:53d8cc37-1114-4122...@googlegroups.com...
> >> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> >> >On Monday, December 25, 2023 at 9:49:10 PM UTC-7, Emanuel
> >> >> >> >> >> >Berg
> >> >> >> >> >> >wrote:
> >> >> >> >> >> >> I accept the neurotic, very articulated nerd type of
> >> >> >> >> >> >> personality is by now very common in modern society, and
> >> >> >> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> >> >> >> Survivor casts should reflect that, but were are the
> >> >> >> >> >> >> old-school hardliner and adventure guys? Surely they exist
> >> >> >> >> >> >> in
> >> >> >> >> >> >> society as well and since island life one would think
> >> >> >> >> >> >> would
> >> >> >> >> >> >> be
> >> >> >> >> >> >> right up their alley, there should be a couple of those as
> >> >> >> >> >> >> well every time IMO.
> >> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> >> --
> >> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> >> >I wonder if someone like Boston Rob would even get cast in
> >> >> >> >> >> >the
> >> >> >> >> >> >New
> >> >> >> >> >> >Era?
> >> >> >> >> >> >Last week Katurah posted some clips to her IG Stories of her
> >> >> >> >> >> >doing
> >> >> >> >> >> >a
> >> >> >> >> >> >Zoom
> >> >> >> >> >> >or Microsoft Teams call with one of the casting producers..
> >> >> >> >> >> >Katurah
> >> >> >> >> >> >was
> >> >> >> >> >> >mentioning her sob stories and then added "And I'm gay as
> >> >> >> >> >> >fucking
> >> >> >> >> >> >hell!
> >> >> >> >> >> >I
> >> >> >> >> >> >check off all the boxes." For better or worse, checking the
> >> >> >> >> >> >right
> >> >> >> >> >> >boxes
> >> >> >> >> >> >is
> >> >> >> >> >> >pretty key to getting cast nowadays. Emily must have
> >> >> >> >> >> >submitted
> >> >> >> >> >> >one
> >> >> >> >> >> >hell
> >> >> >> >> >> >of
> >> >> >> >> >> >an audition video to get cast.
> >> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> >> >--
> >> >> >> >> >> >Brian
> >> >> >> >> >> Well even with diversity, you still need at least one token
> >> >> >> >> >> straight
> >> >> >> >> >> smart
> >> >> >> >> >> white girl, and they got that with Emily.
> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> Course they also got the token ADHD-ish goofy white guy with
> >> >> >> >> >> Jake.
> >> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> >> --
> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> >Thank God Emily got cast. She saved the season for me early on.
> >> >> >> >> >Hopefully
> >> >> >> >> >in the future they see through people like Hannah and don't
> >> >> >> >> >cast
> >> >> >> >> >them.
> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> >--
> >> >> >> >> >Brian
> >> >> >> >> Emily was definitely a find, and she's a lock to return if they
> >> >> >> >> ever
> >> >> >> >> do
> >> >> >> >> returning players again. Last I heard was that they want to
> >> >> >> >> focus
> >> >> >> >> on
> >> >> >> >> new
> >> >> >> >> players in the "new era" so it will probably be a while before
> >> >> >> >> they
> >> >> >> >> do
> >> >> >> >> another all-stars or second chances or something like that.
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> --
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >Dalton thought S46 was going to have returning players but that
> >> >> >> >clearly
> >> >> >> >didn't happen. Jeff was asked about returning players about a year
> >> >> >> >or
> >> >> >> >so
> >> >> >> >ago and said there wasn't enough compelling players to bring back
> >> >> >> >yet.
> >> >> >> >My
> >> >> >> >guess is S48 will have a few returning players and S50 will be all
> >> >> >> >returning but not necessarily just from the New Era. Hopefully
> >> >> >> >Emily
> >> >> >> >is
> >> >> >> >willing to play again.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >--
> >> >> >> She said in one of her interviews she would come back in a
> >> >> >> heartbeat,
> >> >> >> but
> >> >> >> who knows how she will feel in another few years. When they kicked
> >> >> >> off
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> new era a few years ago one of their mantras was the elimination of
> >> >> >> "themes"
> >> >> >> and simpIy designating each season as Survivor 41, Survivor 42
> >> >> >> etc.,
> >> >> >> which
> >> >> >> could make a returning player season problematic.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Good to hear Emily is gung-ho about playing again but you're right
> >> >> >that
> >> >> >things can change down the road.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> I do like your optimism that the show will still be around for S50.
> >> >> >> Hard
> >> >> >> to believe, but Jeff will be 65 by that point with no obvious
> >> >> >> replacement
> >> >> >> in
> >> >> >> site. If he ever decides to call it a day, I'm not sure who would
> >> >> >> or
> >> >> >> could
> >> >> >> replace him. Jonathan LaPaglia, who does the Australian franchise,
> >> >> >> would
> >> >> >> be
> >> >> >> an interesting choice since he's a dual citizen and spends a lot of
> >> >> >> time
> >> >> >> in
> >> >> >> the US anyway. I suppose Rob C or Dalton would be possibilities,
> >> >> >> though
> >> >> >> neither has ever lead a network series like this. They used to
> >> >> >> often
> >> >> >> mention Phil Keoghan as a possible replacement, but TAR is hanging
> >> >> >> in
> >> >> >> there
> >> >> >> and keeps coming back, and he also has "Tough as Nails" now. I hate
> >> >> >> to
> >> >> >> say
> >> >> >> the show would have trouble surviving (pun intended) without Jeff,
> >> >> >> but
> >> >> >> it's
> >> >> >> hard to imagine someone else other than maybe JLP in the lead role.
> >> >> >> --
> >> >> >
> >> >> >65 isn't that old and Jeff's in good shape. Phil originally applied
> >> >> >to
> >> >> >be
> >> >> >the host of Survivor, but Jeff got the job and Phil ended up getting
> >> >> >TAR.
> >> >> >With 90-minute episodes appearing to become permanent, I don't see
> >> >> >TAR
> >> >> >going anywhere. I also can't see anyone else hosting either show.
> >> >> >Dalton
> >> >> >probably has more knowledge about the show than anyone but I don't
> >> >> >see
> >> >> >that
> >> >> >necessarily translating into him being a good host. Rob would be an
> >> >> >interesting host but would he give up his podcasting empire?
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> Rob makes enough from podcasting to earn a small profit, but it's a
> >> >> drop
> >> >> in
> >> >> the bucket compared to what he could make as the host of a network TV
> >> >> show.
> >> >> Very few podcasters make enough to be independently wealthy, and Rob
> >> >> is
> >> >> certainly not that. In contrast, Jeff is a multi-millionaire many
> >> >> times
> >> >> over and could have walked away from the show in its early years and
> >> >> been
> >> >> set for life (in fact, he almost did that till they made him
> >> >> showrunner).
> >> >> So I have no doubt Rob would jump at the chance to host the show. But
> >> >> would
> >> >> CBS offer him the job? I kind of doubt it. The only comparable
> >> >> situation
> >> >> I
> >> >> can think of was the Jeopardy producers awarding Ken Jennings the
> >> >> hosting
> >> >> job after Alex Trebek's death, but that was a different situation
> >> >> since
> >> >> Jennings was widely regarded as the greatest Jeopardy player ever, and
> >> >> he
> >> >> had played in many all-star and celebrity versions of the show, as
> >> >> well
> >> >> as
> >> >> hosting a TV trivia series.. Rob is undeniably one of the great
> >> >> Survivor
> >> >> players, but he's been out of the general public eye for a good 20
> >> >> years,
> >> >> would probably not be recognized by most Survivor viewers, and has no
> >> >> TV
> >> >> hosting experience, as far as I know. I think I might still give the
> >> >> edge
> >> >> to LaPaglia.
> >> >
> >> >Rob could take the job and have people like Fishbach and Mike Bloom host
> >> >the Survivor podcasts for him. I don't think being out of the public eye
> >> >would be a huge problem. He's very well-known in the Survivor community
> >> >and
> >> >reintroducing him to the general public wouldn't be that hard. The
> >> >problem
> >> >would that his hosting style would likely be very different than Jeff's.
> >> >If
> >> >they go with a past player, it would likely be Boston Rob. He's got the
> >> >name recognition, hosting experience, he's a past winner, part of the
> >> >CBS
> >> >family, and his hosting style would likely be very close to Jeff's.
> >> >
> >> Boston Rob could probably do it, but I'm not sure he'd want it at this
> >> stage
> >> in his life with four teenage and pre-teen girls still living at home.
> >> That's a tough age to be separated from one of your parents for that many
> >> months a year. He's also pretty set financially with his reality show and
> >> poker winnings, etc. so he probably literally doesn't need the money.
> >> Another problem is that Boston Rob is kind of a polarizing figure among
> >> certain segments of the fandom, and I'm not sure the powers that be would
> >> want someone who would take attention away from the players as he might
> >> do.
> >> If they really want a former player, maybe they'd go with someone like
> >> Rick
> >> Devens, who is an actual professional TV host.
> >
> >Doesn't Cesternino have a couple of young kids?
> >
> >I saw a tweet tonight from Kim reminding people that the second season of
> >her show on HGTV starts tonight. Kim would be an interesting choice to host
> >Survivor. She's got hosting experience, she's recognizable to viewers, and
> >she's likable. But would she give up everything she has now? She's also got
> >three young kids. We know from Winners at War that she and Boston Rob can
> >be separated from their kids for over a month so the kid aspect might not
> >be an issue.
> >
> >Do you think Rick Devans could overcome being associated with such a
> >controversial season? A lot of people hate that season for various reasons.
> >
> >--
> >Brian
> Yes, Rob C. does have two young boys at home, but I think his situation is
> radically different from Boston Rob’s. It’s not for nothing that Rob C.
> always refers to himself as the “Rob that sucks” when comparing himself to
> Rob Mariano. He said it originally as a joke, but I think it has evolved to
> highlight a big difference between them. Boston Rob is literally set for
> life – he has a great wife, four beautiful daughters, he is famous, he is
> more than financially secure. He can write his own ticket and pick and
> choose what he wants to do in life. Yes, he and Amber did go back to do
> Survivor Winners at War (how could they possibly refuse that?) and he did
> that silly gig with Sandra the season before (which pretty much flowed into
> Winners at War), but I just don’t think he’d want the commitment of having
> to be in Fiji for half the year every year at this stage in his life.

I'm pretty sure that Jeff isn't in Fiji for half the year. I'd say three months tops with a long enough break between shooting the two seasons to go home. I don't see that being an issue for any of them, especially if they're paid well. You'd think Boston Rob is set for live but having four girls could bring big wedding costs plus there's college to think about. I also don't see him turning the gig down if it was ever offered to him.
> Rob C. is different. Unlike the Rob that doesn’t suck, Survivor is really
> Rob C’s big passion in life, and he has been living it for literally half
> his life. He’s not exactly struggling at podcasting, but I don’t think he
> feels he has completely made it yet. His downloads are decent but not great
> for someone who wants to do podcasting as a full-time career. You'll notice
> that everyone else who podcasts on the RHAP network has a full-time job
> outside of the podcast. I’m pretty sure his wife Nicole still works
> full-time, and it’s noteworthy that he and his family left LA a few years
> back because of the high cost of living. Bottom line is that I’m pretty
> sure Rob C. would jump at the chance for a network hosting role, but I’m
> just not sure he would get the offer. Jeff certainly knows Rob C. and
> refers to him from time to time, but he’s never really been one of Jeff’s
> faves.

Didn't Jeff do Rob's podcast once? They were also on a panel together with Parv in an excellent but not very well-known event to promote the start of Game Changers. The event was at a school in NYC and the moderator was excellent. The big problem with Cesternino is would he be able to stop himself from making wisecracks during challenges and TCs?

> Kim S would do a great job hosting Survivor, and it would be great to have a
> female hosting the show. Women have hosted other reality shows, of course,
> notably Julie on Big Brother and more recently Alex on The Mole, but I'm
> pretty sure no woman has ever hosted any English-language Survivor season..
> I think there are probably many other former contestants who could do the
> job. Adam Klein is another name that comes to mind, though he's had his own
> issues with Jeff and the show recently. He has a strategic mind and I think
> he would do a pretty good job as host. But I still kind of think the powers
> that be will want a professional broadcaster in the role (remember that Jeff
> himself had experience as a game show host before Survivor), which is why I
> mentioned Rick Devens. And sure, Devens was associated with a mildly
> controversial season, but he was more of a victim of the twist that enabled
> Chris to win, so I don't think it will hurt him that much. And besides,
> much of the controversy over Survivor 38 got more than overshadowed by the
> absolute train wreck that was Survivor 39.
>
> --

Is Devens still doing TV or has he moved onto something else? Not saying he wouldn't be good, but I think he would be a shocking choice. No way in hell Adam would get the job if Jeff has anything to say about.

Kim would be an excellent choice. She would probably be my choice to be host if Jeff ever packs it in.

--
Brian