Five Survivor Seasons That Nearly Broke Jeff Probst

There's only so much one man can take.

Music: Silent Partner - New Tires

[sadieteawalsh]

During the Gabon pre-interviews, Sugar was asked which players she liked the most, and she said, “The older tall gentleman with the bow tie, and the Spanish lady with kids.” She literally brought her favorites to the end.

[maxlolbits]

Gabon really felt like a Total Drama Island season, with its ridiculous personalities, unique setting, and Jeff being genuinely done with everyone. Obviously I'm not going to go and say it's one of my all time favorites, as I will admit it had its faults, but I can't help but enjoy it for being a beautiful trainwreck. There are just trainwrecks, but then there are the glorious ones.

[lachysims]

Gabon will forever be underrated, sometimes its good to get away from the game bots and take in some character moments from messed up individuals

[myjunkdrawer]

I feel like Jeff Probst in real life is either the absolute best, a friend to all or he's the worst man currently on earth and there's no in between.

[loganswhite]

I will forever be a Gabon defender. It’s like a dumpster fire because it’s such a mess but so fun to watch. Its a good break from all the other seasons with serious gameplay. It’s literally the black sheep of all the Survivor seasons and with such a beautiful and unique location how can you not love it?? AHAJAHSJ

[legendsofmichael]

I'm kinda surprised to hear that Gabon was so poorly received. I remember we actually decided to name our puppy Sugar just because of that season of survivor.

[micahlarimer]

I watch Gabon after maybe watching 35 seasons of survivor because I had always heard how bad it was, and boy did it exceed expectations. It has to be, by far, the best season of survivor with no strategy involved. It especially feels good after watching several of the more modern seasons of survivor where they cast 18 gamebots who, despite diverse backgrounds, all more or less think the same.

[simonbrady]

The Jeff Nicaragua montage had me dying.

[briankelley]

Gabon was one of my favorites from the first 20. It was quirky and fresh and it didn't feel as much (to me) like a bunch of aspiring actors trying to get their foot in the Hollywood door like too many other seasons. Bob felt like a natural underdog and ultimately evolved into a fairly decent gameplayer. Reminded me of an older Yul sometimes late in the game. I'm probably alone in my rankings, but I only place Pearl Islands, Palau, and China ahead of Gabon in the pre-HvV era.

[jonathan]

The issue of Thailand compared to other seasons is that there are literally NO redeemable qualities of that season, IOI had a pretty good pre-merge, One world had Kim just flat out dominating, what does Thailand have? The attack zone? (Honestly probably the most positively remembered thing about that season, and for all the wrong reasons).

[thewachannel]

at 1:32 Clearly Purple Kelly had a good reason to quit the game, I would've been fed up myself if the Survivor production treated me like that! As for Naonka, she didn't have any excuse to quit whatsoever, so screw her!

[heatherparisi]

Gabon is my fifth favorite season of survivor because of how much of a trainwreck it is. But like, in the best way possible.

[ethan]

Gabon is definitely very polarizing. I personally love it though because it’s such a train wreck. It’s not great if you’re looking for strategic play, but it’s a gold mine if you’re looking for entertaining characters. Crystal Cox is bring the four B’s baby! Brains, beauty, BLAZIIIING SPEED, and brawn.

[BigMattXXL]

I don't get the hatred of Gabon. It's my absolute favorite season just purely for the personalities of everyone there

[firehammock]

Jeff quitting after filming Gabon only adds to its legendary status. It will forever be a top 5 season for me.

[rallozarx]

At 11 years old, Survivor Gabon was the first season my family and I watched. Every Thursday night, we sat down with a bag of chips and enjoyed ourselves immensely. It got us into the show, at least for a few years before life got busier, and it remains my favourite season. It hurts a bit to see how negatively earlier fans view it, but seeing as I was a bit too young to enjoy the era of Survivor mania, I have no frame of reference for what constitutes a "good" season. All I know is that when a fake idol was played at tribal, that became what I permanently associated Survivor with, and I loved it.

[kimclaussen]

I really didn't like Thailand when it aired, and it's the one season I don't ever go back to rewatching - I think Jeff nailed it in calling it "hostile and mean-spirited". There is no fun or heart in it at all.

Personally, and unpopular opinion I think, but Africa is my all time fav - I understand why others don't love it, but I adore that cast I have such find memories of watching that one for the first time, and it's always the one I go back to rewatch first. ❤ And it's still WILD to me that they actually did a season there, with all the danger (heat and animals). The behind-the-scenes stuff that went on to keep everyone safe is crazy! It's no wonder on any level why they never went back to that location. 😂

[EspeonGaming]

From a producer standpoint, I can see why Gabon isn't really well liked. But as a viewer, I'd have to rate it in my top 3 seasons (Behind HvV (Obviously) and Pearl Islands)

[Vearru]

The fact that Gabon was the first season I saw as a kid and episode 1 literally before the tribes were even formed I had pegged Bob as the winner. I have no idea how or why but something about him just screamed winner to me.

[Ryan_Tiziano]

Loved your video. Shii-Ann was casting gold since day 1. She was the only player ever up until that point to switch alliances during the (fake) merge. It was masterful. She also delivered hugely in the second half of her second season, All Stars, when she won her clutch immunity in the final 7 and created chaos everywhere she went! Loved it.