Day 24: Most Annoying Jeff-ism
Survivor 39-Day Challenge
I love Jeff Probst. It will be sad to see him retire and leave the show when that happens. He’s done and is still doing a great job of being a host and more. He’s become counselor of the castaways, instigator of truth at tribal councils, narrator in some sense, and most importantly a host that parallels the energy the game has.
This four-time Emmy winner has made a lot of catchphrases in all of 20 years of the show. One of my favorites is “Survivors ready… go!” I love the challenges, and that mark just makes it more exciting.
Of course, the most popular catchphrase in all of the franchise is also the most dreaded. The tribe has spoken. Followed by a cold-hearted snuffing of your torch, ouch. Like a dagger through the heart.
Alright, the most annoying Jeff-ism is whenever he declares a mundane Survivor moment as “the best in history”. It has different versions like at tribal councils for example, he always says “the craziest tribal we’ve ever had” when a blindside occurs (although probably it isn’t very much of it really) or something unusual happens like the game-changing whispers.
It’s even more annoying when he does it in challenges. You know, when he’s narrating the challenge like a commentator would do watching a sport match. The exact exclamation would be:
This could be / is the biggest comeback in Survivor history!
I mean, it’s probably okay saying it once every five seasons when there’s truly amazing comeback happening in a challenge. But to say it a couple of times in a single season, often at the beginning when it’s only the tribal phase?! To amend a quote from the great Michele Fitzgerald, it sounds just a bunch of malarkey to me.
Anything Jeff says that ends with “in Survivor history” is downright annoying. Point blank. Other than that, I love the guy. He’s awesome.
Runner-up: None