Is Jeff Probst nearing the end? Retirement rumors raise big questions about his future on Survivor and Whether he could really last until Season 100

Is Jeff Probst Nearing the End? Retirement Rumors Raise Big Questions About His Future on Survivor and Who Could Take Over

CBS is just weeks away from premiering the milestone 50th season of “Survivor,” an Emmy-winning reality competition series that first took the world by storm in the summer of 2000.

A lot since the show’s first batch of castaways landed in Borneo to compete for $1 million in the ultimate game of adventure. Over the last 25 years, more than 750 new players, copious new twists, and plenty of new technology – like camera drones – have dramatically altered the look, feel, and reception of “Survivor.”

Now, as “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” prepares to make its grand debut on Wednesday, February 25, showrunners – including longtime host Jeff Probst – are once more looking toward the future and asking a very important question: Could fans ever witness a 100th season of “Survivor”?

CBS

While Probst himself has previously commented on “Survivor”s capability to reach future milestones like Season 60, the host, now 64, has never dared to imagine a world where he’d still be snuffing torches 100 seasons after joining the series at just 38 years old.

“I don’t know that everybody loves it,” said executive producer Matt Van Wagenen in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. “But I do sometimes bring up Season 60.”

He added that the show’s longevity, while obviously dependent on ratings, viewer interest and funding, primarily hinges on Probst’s interest in continuing to reprise his hosting role season after season.

According to Probst himself, he’s currently still “very” engaged and interested in seeing the series through for as long as possible, telling EW, “I love where the show is. I love our crew. I love the type of people that are applying.”

‘Survivor’ Creator Thinks a 100th Season Could Become a Reality

CBS

With Jeff seemingly on board for the long haul, “Survivor” creator Mark Burnett thinks that it’s possible the show could go on forever, crediting the show’s availability on Netflix during the COVID-19 lockdowns with creating a whole new generation of “Survivor” fans.

“Ten years ago, if you asked me how long this show could go on, I’d be like, ‘I don’t know, a couple more years.’ I wasn’t sure,” Burnett told EW. “But now. I wouldn’t ever predict its end.”

But how long can producers like Burnett and Van Wagenen convince Probst to continue to serve as the face of the long-running franchise?

According to Burnett, “I think Jeff’s got another 25 years in him.”

The creator then uttered – potentially for the first time ever – the words every “Survivor” fan thought they’d never hear: “Season 100.”

“Survivor” already has more seasons than any other long-running reality competition series, including franchises like “American Idol” (24 seasons), “Big Brother” (27 seasons), “Dancing with the Stars” (34 seasons), “The Amazing Race” (38 seasons), and “The Challenge” (41 seasons).

Reaching a potential 100th season could hypothetically see “Survivor” go down in history as the longest-running reality competition series in history – a feat that may never be replicated given the rise of ever-shifting streaming culture.

Can Probst continue to helm the series until 2050? If so, he’d be an impressive 89 years old at the time if “Survivor” continues its current two-seasons-per-year airing schedule.