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On the set of Survivor, contestants are strictly instructed not to communicate with anyone on the production crew, except when engaging in a confessional with a producer. This rule is intended to maintain the authenticity of the contestants’ experience on the show, as stated by longtime host Jeff Probst in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.
Probst emphasized the importance of limited interaction between contestants and the production crew, explaining that it has been a consistent guideline since the inception of the show. He highlighted that although the crew members are human and may naturally want to be polite to the players, adhering to this rule has been a fundamental part of the show’s approach to maintaining the integrity of the competition. If a contestant were to ask a crew member a question, Probst indicated that they would likely be met with an awkward silence to maintain the show’s integrity.
Despite these instructions, it can be challenging to enforce complete compliance, especially in certain situations such as after contestants consume alcohol. Lauren-Ashley Beck from Survivor: Island Of The Idols mentioned in an interview with Business Insider that the rule was somewhat broken when she and some fellow tribemates brought alcohol from a reward back to camp. This led to them getting intoxicated, and they ended up talking and sharing opinions about the crew members. The situation escalated to the point where the camera crew had to intervene to retrieve their water bottles, realizing that the contestants were inebriated.
While the show attempts to maintain strict boundaries, instances like these demonstrate that sometimes, particularly under unusual circumstances, contestants might inadvertently breach those boundaries.
Survivor fans can access all 45 seasons of the show, including Survivor: Island Of The Idols, for streaming on Paramount Plus.