Ever wonder how Jeff Probst chooses the look for each season of Survivor? Well, now we know!
The On Fire with Jeff Probst podcast is back for Survivor 48, and in the latest new episode, Jeff opened up recently about his iconic Tribal Council look, the thought process, and the ritual that goes into his prep for the season.
That's why we love the pod: Jeff is always willing to the share the secrets that make Survivor the best reality show on TV.
So, about that Tribal Council outfit, Jeff told cohosts Rachel LaMont and Jay Wolff that there's a very delicate process that goes into creating the look, the vibe, and the feeling of becoming the fearless leader of this series.
“Every season before the game begins, I perform a sacred ritual with my black shirt," Jeff said. "First, I take it down to the ocean, where in the glow of the moon, it's bathed in the saltwater. And I soak it just long enough to remind the shirt the challenges it will face. Heat, rain, sweat, sometimes all in the same day. Then, I gently lay the shirt on a bed of palm fronds under the sun to dry while absorbing the essence of the island. And then, the last step is I put the shirt on, and I stand in front of my Survivor mirror.”
I honestly don't know if Jeff is joking about this ritual, but I'm into it! Survivor is all about symbolism and energy, and if that's what the shirt needs to get ready for the season, that's what the shirt needs. It's very similar for the players when Jeff and the gang make them crawl through the mud to start the game. The mud is a baptism of sorts for the players on this journey. The saltwater and sun are that for Jeff's shirt.
And, if you thought that was all Jeff does to prepare his wardrobe for the new season, well, you are very wrong. There's even more to it than then saltwater bath and sundried palm frond experience.
“And then the last thing I do before I walk out to become survivor guy is I repeat the same solemn vow," Jeff continued. "And this is the vow, 'May you survive another season, sans a wrinkle or a stain, may you stay strong, unfazed by sweat and even rain. And like my hair, wild and free in the air, may you always drape my body with effortless flair.' I know that sounds like it's a lot, Jay, but you asked and that's the truth.”
Well, there you have it! That's how Jeff gets his wardrobe ready for Tribal Council, and I don't think we expected anything less, honestly. When I watched Stephanie Berger voted out of Survivor 48 in the season premiere, the last thing on my mind was Jeff's shirt. Now, heading into episode 2, I know what I'll be thinking about during Tribal Council.
If you listen to the episode, which I highly recommend, Rachel also makes a good joke about her Halloween costume last year. This was alsoe Rachel's first episode, and she did a great job sharing her experience and insight about the game.
The next time you'll see Jeff and his iconic black shirt at Tribal Council will be in Survivor 48 episode 2, "Humble Traits," which airs on Wednesday, March 5. We'll see you there!