One of Survivor‘s many challenges? Making friends.
After all, host Jeff Probst revealed the extraordinary steps the competition series takes to ensure none of its contestants know one another before the games begin.
“We go to great lengths to learn as much as we can about every player,” he shared on the Sept. 24 episode of his On Fire with Jeff Probst podcast. “Our background checks and our deep dives into your history and your social media, they’re pretty thorough.”
Although the intensive check is necessary for the authenticity of the series—which premiered its 49th installment Sept. 24—it’s not easy.
“It still doesn’t mean we will catch everything,” Jeff, who also serves as an executive producer on the series, explained. “We do still miss stuff and we’re often surprised that somebody didn’t tell us. We find out about it later.”
But it’s imperative, nonetheless. He added, “It is all about the integrity of the game. We just wanted the game to be fair so that every player has a shot.”
It doesn’t make the process any less awkward at times, however.
“One of the hardest parts for us as producers is the relationship with the players when it comes to things like the intrusive background checks,” he explained, “or telling them to be quiet when our cameras aren’t rolling.”
As he put it, “We’re all adults and it is this weird relationship.”
One of those uncomfortable moments came during a first in the show’s history. Just hours before season 49 began filming, two unnamed players were removed after breaking rules in the days leading up to the game.
“In the days leading up to the beginning of the game, all the players are together,” he explained. “So you have all of your competitors, but you’re not allowed to talk.”
“The rules are you cannot talk to each other, for obvious reasons,” he continued. “And in this season, season 49, we had two players who were disrespecting that rule. They just kept talking.”
After the two contestants ignored a “stern warning” about their behavior, Jeff met with the executive team about the concern.
“I went and met with our executive team and said, ‘Look, we might have a situation,'” he shared. “Before we could even finish our discussion, I got a second phone call saying that the level of disrespect had reached an even more blatant level.'”
“That was all it took,” he added. “Candidly, the decision was made in that moment to immediately remove those two players from the game and replace them with our alternates.”
In addition to those new players,Jason Treul and Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu, keep reading to see more of the Survivor 49 cast members…
Kimberly “Annie” Davis
Age: 49
Hometown: Portland, Ore.
Current Residence: Austin, Texas
Occupation: Musician
Steven Ramm
Age: 35
Hometown: Littleton, Colo.
Current Residence: Denver, Colo.
Occupation: Rocket scientist
Kristina Mills
Age: 36
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Current Residence: Edmond, Okla.
Occupation: MBA career coach
Nicole Mazullo
Age: 26
Hometown: Long Island, N.Y.
Current Residence: Philadelphia, Pa.
Occupation: Financial crime consultant
Jawan Pitts
Age: 28
Hometown: Salem, N.J.
Current Residence: Los Angeles, Calif.
Occupation: Video editor
Sophie Segreti
Age: 31
Hometown: Darnestown, Md.
Current Residence: New York City, N.Y.
Occupation: Strategy associate
Jeremiah Ing
Age: 39
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
Current Residence: Toronto, Ontario
Occupation: Global events manager
Matt Williams
Age: 52
Hometown: Farmington, Utah
Current Residence: St. George, Utah
Occupation: Airport ramp agent
Shannon Fairweather
Age: 28
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.
Current Residence: Boston, Mass.
Occupation: Wellness specialist
Jake Latimer
Age: 36
Hometown: Regina, Saskatchewan
Current Residence: St. Albert, Alberta
Occupation: Correctional officer
Jason Treul
Age: 32
Hometown: Anaheim, Calif.
Current Residence: Santa Ana, Calif.
Occupation: Law clerk
Savannah Louie
Age: 31
Hometown: Walnut Creek, Calif.
Current Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Occupation: Former reporter
Nate Moore
Age: 47
Hometown: Clovis, Calif.
Current Residence: Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Occupation: Film producer
Sophi Balerdi
Age: 27
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Current Residence: Miami, Fla.
Occupation: Entrepreneur
Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu
Age: 29
Hometown: Sachse, Texas
Current Residence: San Diego, Calif.
Occupation: Fitness trainer
Sage Ahrens-Nichols
Age: 30
Hometown: Roxboro, N.C.
Current Residence: Olympia, Wash.
Occupation: Clinical social worker
Alex Moore
Age: 27
Hometown: Evanston, Ill.
Current Residence: Washington, D.C.
Occupation: Political comms director
Rizo Velovic
Age: 25
Hometown: Yonkers, N.Y.
Current Residence: Yonkers, N.Y.
Occupation: Tech sales
