Jeff Probst weighs in on Survivor: Edge of Extinction returnees

Jeff Probst has already told us why they mixed returning players with newbies for Survivor: Edge of Extinction after not doing so for 10 straight seasons. And he also addressed the massive statistical advantage returning players have enjoyed in such mixed seasons. But what about the four returning players themselves?

We asked Probst out on location in Fiji right as filming began on season 38 to give his assessment of the four returnees: Aubry Bracco, David Wright, Kelley Wentworth, and Joe Anglim. Here’s what he told us then about the fearsome foursome. “What they represent is, four great players, four different style of play,” says the host. “And a reminder, none of them have won. That’s how hard Survivor is, and what you don’t know is it’s going to be even harder this year.”

Here’s what Probst had to say about each of the players individually.

Aubry Bracco
“Aubry is one of my favorite Survivors ever, and I like how vulnerable she always is. She literally let us watch her cry in the shelter and contemplate if she was made for this game, and then she made it to the final 3. She lasted 76 out of 78 days. Pretty impressive stat for playing twice.”

David Wright
“David is here because he represents this idea that I don’t think I had ever really seen before him. Which is not: Am I capable of doing Survivor? It went deeper. Am I worthy of doing Survivor? But he didn’t give up. And he hung in there. And then you watched this thing bloom. I like him because I like when people see somebody and go, ‘Wow! If he can do it, I can do it.’ And they mean it as a compliment.”

Kelly Wentworth
“I believe Wentworth is destined to win this game. I have since we first met her and it’s why we keep bringing her back. She has all the skills and it has not gone to her head. Every time she shows up, it seems like she’s been sharpening that knife for months going, ‘I’m ready to try again, get me back in, coach.’”

Joe Anglim
“I don’t know, maybe the first few days of his first season he didn’t have a target, but he’s had a target on his back every day he’s been out here. His tribes have won 15 or 16 challenges. He’s won six himself. He went 29 days without being voted out. That’s a legend. And the minute he was vulnerable — Boom! They took him out.”

To watch Probst share his take on the returnees, watch the video above. And for more Survivor scoop, follow me on Twitter @DaltonRoss.

Related posts:

• Survivor‘s Jeff Probst explains the decision to mix old and new players again
• Joe Anglim explains why he turned down Game Changers
• Jeff Probst addresses returning player advantage in the game