Entertainment Weekly 9 hours ago

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Chatting with folks, the person who seems to be the early fan favorite this season is Donathan, and obviously we saw a lot more of him this week talking about taking care of his ailing grandmother. What was it you saw from him in casting that led you to put him on the show, and what has been your take on his game so far?
JEFF PROBST: It is not uncommon, at least for me, to know within the first 30 seconds if I think someone should be on the show. I'm just one vote, but I'm often fairly quick to connect. That was the case with Donathan. He was very open and vulnerable in sharing his story. He was instantly engaging. He has a great dialect. Survivor has never had anyone like Donathan.

Our casting process is far from a science. We miss great people all the time for various reasons, so we always encourage people to apply again and again. We want people who love the show, know the game, and can tell a story. You don't have to have an emotional backstory like Donathan. And you don't have to make your audition video in the form of a short film either. Just tell us who you are. People like Donathan are clearly unique but we are always looking at the group of players like a tapestry. We need lots of different fabrics and colors.

As for Donathan thus far, I couldn't be happier for us, or for him. People are really taken by his approach to the game, which I think is heavily influenced by his life experiences. He is simultaneously playing the game while making new — and what I think he hopes will be true — friendships. It's rare to see this happen on our show. It makes me happy. He would make a great winner. People would love that!

Ever since the tribe swap, the tribes can never come up with a consensus in terms of whom to send to Ghost Island, so the other tribe ends up picking rocks. I haven't come up with a good solution to avoid this (because having a majority vote decide it seems maybe too time-consuming and unwieldy). Did you all discuss any other options of how to handle the Ghost Island selection process, or have you since had any ideas on changing it up if something like this (or Exile) comes up in the future?
Well, clearly you don't think the rock draw works! You and I often differ on how to produce the show and I think this is another example. Not right vs wrong, just different. I love the dilemma the tribe has to conquer. You either come together in a unanimous decision… or you leave it to chance. That's the catch. Control vs chance. If you make it a simple majority rules, then whoever has the strong alliance will continue to dictate the game. Naviti would decide and their power would continue to grow.

We like the game to be mixed up, which is why we have tribe switches. When you leave it up to chance, you could end up burning someone on your own alliance or unintentionally giving power to someone on the other tribe. You saw it last week with Kellyn. He didn't want to go, it was her worst fear, but she was forced to draw and she drew the wrong rock. Where you see an issue, I see the Survivor gods walking alongside us!

Stephanie was a player that showed a lot of game right off the bat and then ended up on the wrong side of the numbers after the tribe swap. How would you assess her stay on the island?
I liked her gameplay. I wish she had lasted longer. She had even more game than I thought in casting. She was really good with Jacob in how she handled him, and she was very driven by her kids to do well in the game. I don't think there is much doubt that had she been on the right side of the numbers she would have been a very strong force in her alliance. Unfortunately, Survivor is a zero-sum game and that means almost everybody loses. Stephanie would be great to have back again.

You're not getting out of here until we look ahead a bit. What can you tell us about next week's episode?
We get to know a couple players a bit more, there's a crazy blindfold challenge and another riveting Tribal Council. I will go ahead and say it — this is one of my all-time favorite seasons and I am optimistic it will be for Survivor fans too..

Check out an exclusive deleted scene above and also make sure to read our full episode recap. And for more Survivor scoop, follow Dalton on Twitter @DaltonRoss.

Entertainment Weekly 9 hours ago

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Chatting with folks, the person who seems to be the early fan favorite this season is Donathan, and obviously we saw a lot more of him this week talking about taking care of his ailing grandmother. What was it you saw from him in casting that led you to put him on the show, and what has been your take on his game so far?
JEFF PROBST: It is not uncommon, at least for me, to know within the first 30 seconds if I think someone should be on the show. I'm just one vote, but I'm often fairly quick to connect. That was the case with Donathan. He was very open and vulnerable in sharing his story. He was instantly engaging. He has a great dialect. Survivor has never had anyone like Donathan.

Our casting process is far from a science. We miss great people all the time for various reasons, so we always encourage people to apply again and again. We want people who love the show, know the game, and can tell a story. You don't have to have an emotional backstory like Donathan. And you don't have to make your audition video in the form of a short film either. Just tell us who you are. People like Donathan are clearly unique but we are always looking at the group of players like a tapestry. We need lots of different fabrics and colors.

As for Donathan thus far, I couldn't be happier for us, or for him. People are really taken by his approach to the game, which I think is heavily influenced by his life experiences. He is simultaneously playing the game while making new — and what I think he hopes will be true — friendships. It's rare to see this happen on our show. It makes me happy. He would make a great winner. People would love that!

Ever since the tribe swap, the tribes can never come up with a consensus in terms of whom to send to Ghost Island, so the other tribe ends up picking rocks. I haven't come up with a good solution to avoid this (because having a majority vote decide it seems maybe too time-consuming and unwieldy). Did you all discuss any other options of how to handle the Ghost Island selection process, or have you since had any ideas on changing it up if something like this (or Exile) comes up in the future?
Well, clearly you don't think the rock draw works! You and I often differ on how to produce the show and I think this is another example. Not right vs wrong, just different. I love the dilemma the tribe has to conquer. You either come together in a unanimous decision… or you leave it to chance. That's the catch. Control vs chance. If you make it a simple majority rules, then whoever has the strong alliance will continue to dictate the game. Naviti would decide and their power would continue to grow.

We like the game to be mixed up, which is why we have tribe switches. When you leave it up to chance, you could end up burning someone on your own alliance or unintentionally giving power to someone on the other tribe. You saw it last week with Kellyn. He didn't want to go, it was her worst fear, but she was forced to draw and she drew the wrong rock. Where you see an issue, I see the Survivor gods walking alongside us!

Stephanie was a player that showed a lot of game right off the bat and then ended up on the wrong side of the numbers after the tribe swap. How would you assess her stay on the island?
I liked her gameplay. I wish she had lasted longer. She had even more game than I thought in casting. She was really good with Jacob in how she handled him, and she was very driven by her kids to do well in the game. I don't think there is much doubt that had she been on the right side of the numbers she would have been a very strong force in her alliance. Unfortunately, Survivor is a zero-sum game and that means almost everybody loses. Stephanie would be great to have back again.

You're not getting out of here until we look ahead a bit. What can you tell us about next week's episode?
We get to know a couple players a bit more, there's a crazy blindfold challenge and another riveting Tribal Council. I will go ahead and say it — this is one of my all-time favorite seasons and I am optimistic it will be for Survivor fans too..

Check out an exclusive deleted scene above and also make sure to read our full episode recap. And for more Survivor scoop, follow Dalton on Twitter @DaltonRoss.

Last time on Survivor: Ghost Island, the contestants took part in two challenges, and Kellyn was sent to Ghost Island, where she decided not to risk her vote by playing a game. It was sort of a letdown.

At a tribal council, Brendan, Michael and Stephanie tried their hardest to sway a member of the Naviti Five to their side, and Michael even bluffed that his idol could save two people from being sent home. In the end, Brendan was the fourth person voted out of the game.

This episode of Survivor: Ghost Island, "A Diamond in the Rough," kicks off back at camp after tribal. Bradley rejoices in the fact that he wasn't sent packing, and Michael apologizes for the big, whopping lie that he told about the idol being able to save two people. Some of his tribemates appreciate the fact that Michael played his idol for Stephanie instead of keeping it for himself. Michael also failed to "reverse the curse," but I am not sure that matters at this point. Still, Michael has shown himself to be a strong physical and mental player, and the Naviti Five take notice. 

For this challenge, contestants must climb over a series of tables and move a pile of big sand bags. When they uncover a lever, they will pull it and send down a cascade of smaller sand bags. They must gather them up, transport them to the finish line and then throw them at a spinning target until the target moves down enough to trigger a flag. When a tribe hits all three targets and releases the flags, they win. So what delicious reward will Probst dangle in front of the players this time? Probst goes for an old favorite --coffee and pastries. The winning tribe must then choose a member from the losing tribe to go to Ghost Island.

Those large sand bags are very heavy, and Malolo pulls the lever first. Chris is the first player to throw for the target, giving Naviti a slight lead. Chris is killing it in this challenge! He gets three flags before Sebastian even hits a target. I hope that this impressive win doesn't go to Chris' head. Alas, he composes a rap about his awesomeness, including a "mic drop." Naviti claims the cinnamon rolls and coffee. They decide to have Malolo draw rocks to decide who will trek over to Ghost Island. Stephanie picks the white rock. But never fear, she will be back in time for the next Immunity Challenge.

Stephanie is worried about being away from Michael and Jenna but hopes that she can use Ghost Island to turn her game around. She smashes an urn and looks at her scroll. "Nope. Not today. No game for you." She is upset at first but uses the time to reflect on her life. She left her marriage, and the Mormon religion, all within six months. She is now a single mother and feels ready to focus all her remaining strength on the game. Stephanie wants to show her kids that she is self-reliant and a good role model, and she doesn't want to let them down. I am probably more upset than Stephanie, because I want something to happen on Ghost Island. 

The tribe chows down on the delectable confections that they have won. James is happy to see that Chris has been willing to try and work together with the Malolo Four. Donathan gets homesick and goes to sit on the beach by himself. Laurel follows, and Donathan shares his story. The coffee and pastries remind him of his grandmother. She has had two strokes, and Donathan is her caregiver. He feels guilty that his mother must shoulder his responsibilities while he plays Survivor. Laurel hugs her teary-eyed friend. It is such a simple and emotional reminder of home. 

But Chris sees Donathan being emotional and decides to seize this opportunity and try to talk to Donathan. Chris hopes that he can connect with Donathan and win his trust. Chris tells Donathan about how he helped care for his mother when he was a teenager. His story touches Donathan, and now Donathan is starting to get cold feet about voting Chris out. Will Donathan really go against Laurel, Wendell and Domenick?

Stephanie rejoins her tribe just before the challenge. Contestants must run across a rickety floating bridge while carrying a body board that is fastened to a rope. The challenger must grab a bag while the rest of the tribe will turn a giant wheel to pull them back to shore. Once all three bags are on shore, the teams will use the numbered puzzle pieces on a combination lock to release a key. The key will open a sliding puzzle, and the first tribe to correctly finish the puzzle wins immunity. 

Somehow Desiree, for Malolo, is barely hanging on to her board when she is pulled back to the beach, much to Probst's delight. Chelsea, who goes out twice for Mabolo, falls off the bridge into the water. On her way back to shore, she loses the body board. 

For Naviti, James and Dominick tackle the combination puzzle and are first to work on the slide puzzle. Bradley and Kellyn work on the slide puzzle for Malolo. Naviti finishes first, and clinches immunity while the dejected Malolo tribe looks on. Kellyn is emotional and feels as if she let everyone on her tribe down. Michael admits that it is one of the three remaining original Malolo who could be heading home after a fireside chat with Probst.

Michael, Jenna and Stephanie know that one of them is heading home, and Michael admits that it is now every man for himself. Chelsea and Kellyn would like to vote out Jenna, since she is a weaker player. Jenna decides to flirt herself into Sebastian's good graces and offers to braid his hair. Of course, Sebastian is always in need of good braiders, so this strategy just may work. 

Sebastian decides to switch his vote to Stephanie, and Chelsea and Kellyn agree. Meanwhile, Stephanie begs Bradley (who believes that he is as good as Boston Rob) for a chance to stay in the game. Bradley then decides that Michael is the biggest threat, and Kellyn and Chelsea agree to target Michael. Michael chats with Bradley and explains the virtues of keeping him on the tribe for the physical challenges. He becomes emotional about playing the game that he loves, and he wants to stay. 

The Naviti Five discuss the three-remaining original Malolo members. Desiree decides to go through Stephanie's bag to see if she found any idols or advantages on Ghost Island. Sneaky!

Kellyn admits that the Naviti Five have been debating all day on who to send home. Stephanie adds that she feels anxious because she was away overnight at Ghost Island. Michael again makes a case for keeping him because he is strong in the challenges and could help keep the numbers for the merge. Stephanie makes an impassioned plea to stay in the game, and Jenna explains that she has difficulty being vulnerable and letting her walls down. Desiree tells Probst that the Naviti Five have a good reason for voting out the person that is their target. Oh, the suspense!

Stephanie is the fifth person voted out of Survivor: Ghost Island. Michael turns and whispers, "thank you," to Bradley, who gives him an all-powerful nod of the head. It turns out that Michael and Jenna also voted for Stephanie to prove their loyalty to the Naviti Five.

Do you think that Bradley is in total control of the Naviti Five? Do you think that Donathan will abandon his loyalty to Laurel in favor of Chris? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Survivor: Ghost Island airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on CBS. Want more news? Like our Survivor Facebook page.

Last time on Survivor: Ghost Island, the contestants took part in two challenges, and Kellyn was sent to Ghost Island, where she decided not to risk her vote by playing a game. It was sort of a letdown.

At a tribal council, Brendan, Michael and Stephanie tried their hardest to sway a member of the Naviti Five to their side, and Michael even bluffed that his idol could save two people from being sent home. In the end, Brendan was the fourth person voted out of the game.

This episode of Survivor: Ghost Island, "A Diamond in the Rough," kicks off back at camp after tribal. Bradley rejoices in the fact that he wasn't sent packing, and Michael apologizes for the big, whopping lie that he told about the idol being able to save two people. Some of his tribemates appreciate the fact that Michael played his idol for Stephanie instead of keeping it for himself. Michael also failed to "reverse the curse," but I am not sure that matters at this point. Still, Michael has shown himself to be a strong physical and mental player, and the Naviti Five take notice. 

For this challenge, contestants must climb over a series of tables and move a pile of big sand bags. When they uncover a lever, they will pull it and send down a cascade of smaller sand bags. They must gather them up, transport them to the finish line and then throw them at a spinning target until the target moves down enough to trigger a flag. When a tribe hits all three targets and releases the flags, they win. So what delicious reward will Probst dangle in front of the players this time? Probst goes for an old favorite --coffee and pastries. The winning tribe must then choose a member from the losing tribe to go to Ghost Island.

Those large sand bags are very heavy, and Malolo pulls the lever first. Chris is the first player to throw for the target, giving Naviti a slight lead. Chris is killing it in this challenge! He gets three flags before Sebastian even hits a target. I hope that this impressive win doesn't go to Chris' head. Alas, he composes a rap about his awesomeness, including a "mic drop." Naviti claims the cinnamon rolls and coffee. They decide to have Malolo draw rocks to decide who will trek over to Ghost Island. Stephanie picks the white rock. But never fear, she will be back in time for the next Immunity Challenge.

Stephanie is worried about being away from Michael and Jenna but hopes that she can use Ghost Island to turn her game around. She smashes an urn and looks at her scroll. "Nope. Not today. No game for you." She is upset at first but uses the time to reflect on her life. She left her marriage, and the Mormon religion, all within six months. She is now a single mother and feels ready to focus all her remaining strength on the game. Stephanie wants to show her kids that she is self-reliant and a good role model, and she doesn't want to let them down. I am probably more upset than Stephanie, because I want something to happen on Ghost Island. 

The tribe chows down on the delectable confections that they have won. James is happy to see that Chris has been willing to try and work together with the Malolo Four. Donathan gets homesick and goes to sit on the beach by himself. Laurel follows, and Donathan shares his story. The coffee and pastries remind him of his grandmother. She has had two strokes, and Donathan is her caregiver. He feels guilty that his mother must shoulder his responsibilities while he plays Survivor. Laurel hugs her teary-eyed friend. It is such a simple and emotional reminder of home. 

But Chris sees Donathan being emotional and decides to seize this opportunity and try to talk to Donathan. Chris hopes that he can connect with Donathan and win his trust. Chris tells Donathan about how he helped care for his mother when he was a teenager. His story touches Donathan, and now Donathan is starting to get cold feet about voting Chris out. Will Donathan really go against Laurel, Wendell and Domenick?

Stephanie rejoins her tribe just before the challenge. Contestants must run across a rickety floating bridge while carrying a body board that is fastened to a rope. The challenger must grab a bag while the rest of the tribe will turn a giant wheel to pull them back to shore. Once all three bags are on shore, the teams will use the numbered puzzle pieces on a combination lock to release a key. The key will open a sliding puzzle, and the first tribe to correctly finish the puzzle wins immunity. 

Somehow Desiree, for Malolo, is barely hanging on to her board when she is pulled back to the beach, much to Probst's delight. Chelsea, who goes out twice for Mabolo, falls off the bridge into the water. On her way back to shore, she loses the body board. 

For Naviti, James and Dominick tackle the combination puzzle and are first to work on the slide puzzle. Bradley and Kellyn work on the slide puzzle for Malolo. Naviti finishes first, and clinches immunity while the dejected Malolo tribe looks on. Kellyn is emotional and feels as if she let everyone on her tribe down. Michael admits that it is one of the three remaining original Malolo who could be heading home after a fireside chat with Probst.

Michael, Jenna and Stephanie know that one of them is heading home, and Michael admits that it is now every man for himself. Chelsea and Kellyn would like to vote out Jenna, since she is a weaker player. Jenna decides to flirt herself into Sebastian's good graces and offers to braid his hair. Of course, Sebastian is always in need of good braiders, so this strategy just may work. 

Sebastian decides to switch his vote to Stephanie, and Chelsea and Kellyn agree. Meanwhile, Stephanie begs Bradley (who believes that he is as good as Boston Rob) for a chance to stay in the game. Bradley then decides that Michael is the biggest threat, and Kellyn and Chelsea agree to target Michael. Michael chats with Bradley and explains the virtues of keeping him on the tribe for the physical challenges. He becomes emotional about playing the game that he loves, and he wants to stay. 

The Naviti Five discuss the three-remaining original Malolo members. Desiree decides to go through Stephanie's bag to see if she found any idols or advantages on Ghost Island. Sneaky!

Kellyn admits that the Naviti Five have been debating all day on who to send home. Stephanie adds that she feels anxious because she was away overnight at Ghost Island. Michael again makes a case for keeping him because he is strong in the challenges and could help keep the numbers for the merge. Stephanie makes an impassioned plea to stay in the game, and Jenna explains that she has difficulty being vulnerable and letting her walls down. Desiree tells Probst that the Naviti Five have a good reason for voting out the person that is their target. Oh, the suspense!

Stephanie is the fifth person voted out of Survivor: Ghost Island. Michael turns and whispers, "thank you," to Bradley, who gives him an all-powerful nod of the head. It turns out that Michael and Jenna also voted for Stephanie to prove their loyalty to the Naviti Five.

Do you think that Bradley is in total control of the Naviti Five? Do you think that Donathan will abandon his loyalty to Laurel in favor of Chris? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Survivor: Ghost Island airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on CBS. Want more news? Like our Survivor Facebook page.