Who Will Win Survivor: Samoa?
Find out Who Host Jeff Probst Thinks has What it Takes to Win it All
Sep 11, 2009
In almost ten years of Survivor, host Jeff Probst has spent over 700 days on-location, snuffed over 250 torches, and named 18 sole survivors. But have these experiences helped him to predict how well the 20 players of Survivor: Samoa will fare? Hardly, according to Probst, who admits that his track record of picking winners is extremely low. Still, in interviews on CBS’s official Web site and TV Guide Channel, Probst sized up the new players and offered insights on who he thinks has the best chance of taking home the grand prize.
Who Probst Thinks is Out Early
Probst wouldn’t be surprised if 33 year-old hairstylist Yasmin Giles was the first voted out of Samoa. Although “Sassy Yassy” is athletic, Probst says she’s “used to a softer life” and he questions whether or not she can survive on the island.
Probst confidently states that 62 year-old chef Mike Borassi is “not going to last long in this game.” Still, Probst says that although this huge Survivor fan lost 50 pounds to prepare for the show, he’s “still limited in what he can do” and will be out by episode 5 or 6.
Probst also expects 26 year-old student Marisa Calihan to be out by episode 5 or 6. Although this farm girl has spent time in third world countries, Probst says she lacks the killer instinct to do well. Overall, he fears that “she's not going to end up with the right people and … she's going to be an early target.”
Although Probst calls fitness instructor David Ball “a very interesting guy,” he also fears that the 38 year-old Oklahoma native might easily self-destruct and wind up out of the game early.
Probst very blatantly expresses his dislike for 25 year-old “rocket scientist” John Fincher. According to Probst, this former semi-pro soccer player is a poser who gets by in life by using his good looks. But Probst says Fincher won’t be able to coast in the game of Survivor.
Who Probst is Unsure About
While he’s not sure exactly where 42 year-old lawyer Russell Swan will place, Probst confidently says he will not win the game. Probst believes that, although this Pennsylvania father is savvy and likeable, he’s “not built … for a game that requires so much deception.”
Although he wants 28 year-old mixologist Ben Browning to last long in the game, Probst says that this 6’5” biker is “a time bomb waiting to go off” and he wonders whether Browning will be able to recover from his outbursts.
Probst also has mixed feelings about 26 year-old pharmaceutical representative Natalie White. He says this southern belle is tougher than she looks and even expects her to play a decent social game, but ultimately, he thinks that she’s “not as sophisticated in this game as she would like to think.”
While Probst acknowledges that 33 year-old doctor Mick Trimming is “probably a pretty good player,” he also says that Trimming is in for a big surprise. Ultimately, Probst says that people won’t care that Trimming is a doctor; they’ll just care about using his skills to get to the end.
Probst calls 26 year-old law student Monica Padilla “devious, in the most charmingly delightful way.” But he also claims that this exotic beauty “will have a tougher time playing guys than she thinks.”
23 year-old Brett Clouser is a bit of a dark horse, according to Probst. He fears that this self-proclaimed flirt “get his head handed to him by a hot woman,” although he also wonders whether or not Clouser is merely playing naïve to hide a more strategic side underneath.
Who Probst Thinks Will Last Long
48 year-old policewoman Betsy Bolan is one of Probst’s favorites. He claims that he’d align with this wife and mother immediately and warns that she’d be “a major player if she gets the chance.” Overall, Probst says that Bolan is a threat because “she is really likeable and she will never quit.”
Probst calls 36 year-old oil tanker company owner Russell Hantz “the closest thing to evil that we've had on the show.” Although Probst expects this father of four to go a long way in the show, he says that the jury would never vote for him to win the game.
Probst says that 22 year-old spa saleswoman Ashley Trainer is surprisingly well-prepared. Although she’s the youngest, Probst says that she won’t hesitate to do what needs to be done and “[i]t wouldn't surprise [him] at all for her to go deep in the game.”
Who Probst Thinks Might Win
Another one of Probst’s favorites is 28 year-old law student Jaison Robinson, who Probst says is likeable and smart. He says Robinson won’t be an early target, but once he makes the merge, he will become “a huge physical threat that could [win] every single challenge.” Overall, Probst says “he’d love to give [the million dollar] check to Jaison.”
Probst also says he wouldn’t mind seeing 28 year-old bartender Erik Cardonawin the game. According to Probst, “there's something about Erik that I root for.” Probst says that this proud womanizer is a fighter who would never give up and who wouldn’t hesitate to double-cross others.
He also looks for 33 year-old lawyer Elizabeth Kim to go far. Probst says this Ivy League graduate may come off as pleasant, but underneath, she’s very calculating. He says that Kim may be “a quiet person who … doesn't say a whole lot and before you know it, she's in the final.”
Finally, Probst also thinks that 40 year-old office manager Laura Morett could win the game. He says that this young grandmother is likeable and much more threatening than she appears to be.
Who Probst Hasn’t Predicted
Probst hasn’t specifically commented on how far he expects 25 year-old hairstylist Kelly Sharbaugh or 45 year-old saleswoman Shannon Waters to go in the game.
When to Watch
Survivor: Samoa premieres Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.
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