‘Survivor: Game Changers' Host Jeff Probst Says There Was A Battle For The Shows Casting, Network Wants Younger Cast

When it came to casting people for "Survivor: Game Changers," host Jeff Probst said it was a "battle" between the network and the producers. CBS wanted younger cast, such as Ozzy, while the producers wanted someone older, those with more life experience.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Probst revealed the negotiations that they have to do with CBS when it comes to the cast for this season's "Survivor." He said that they had to negotiate with the network as to who should be part of this season's show.

"And it's sometimes a battle with the network," Probst said. "Because they want youth, and I'm often in the office saying, 'But, this is a better player. I don't care if they're 30, 40, 50, or 60. Who's the best player?'"

Probst adds that they wanted to have "100 percent unity" when it comes to this season's casts, so there were a lot of discussions and back and forth going on. The producers had to convince the network why a certain person should be part of the show, and the same goes for CBS when they want someone in the show.

Entertainment Weekly adds that younger people of both sexes are more likely to be part of the cast because they look good in swimsuits. The older generation would be chosen due to their personality.

Andy Dehnart of reality blurred said that the "Survivor" show is actually a good example of how diverse casting could help a TV show achieve success in terms of consistently high ratings. The show features a diverse set of people in terms of age, race, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, education, and so on.

Yet what Probst revealed shows that achieving that kind of diversity is not that easy to do with all the back-and-forth negotiations happening. It also shows that some convincing has to be done to persuade TV networks to allow diversity in a show such as this one.

"Survivor: Game Changers" is set to premiere on March 8, 2017, with a two-hour episode. Check out the intro for the show, as well as the casts that will be participating.