'Survivor' host and EP Jeff Probst says Mike White "should never" put him on 'The White Lotus'

Many fans of Survivor and The White Lotus are excited to see Mike White, who previously played in season 37, DAVID VS. GOLIATH, return for the 50th season. However, before the show comes back for season 49 in the fall, host and executive producer Jeff Probst is sharing his thoughts on White's involvement.

"The thing that’s most interesting about Mike playing for the second time is there is no hiding that he is the biggest writer, director, show creator in the world right now, and he wanted to come back and play Survivor," he explains to The Hollywood Reporter. "So I can understand why people had a reaction."

He continues to reflect on White's choice to compete for a second time, saying, "I’m surprised people aren’t asking, 'Why is one of the greatest writers in the history of Hollywood so interested in Survivor?' What is it that Mike is learning about humans and behavior and situational ethics that he applies to his craft? Because I think that’s part of why he does it — he’s out there in a real incubator of human behavior where you never know what’s going to happen, but what you do know is that if you show up to play Survivor, you can study it. And when you watch White Lotus, what are you watching? You’re watching human behavior all day. I think that’s part of the reason Mike is back, and if you don’t understand that, maybe you’re asking the wrong question." 

The rest of the season 50 lineup includes Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Colby Donaldson, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth, Benjamin “Coach” Wade, Aubry Bracco, Chrissy Hofbeck, Christian Hubicki, Angelina Keeley, Rick Devens, Jonathan Young, Dee Valladares, Emily Flippen, Q Burdette, Tiffany Ervin, Charlie Davis, Genevieve Mushaluk, Kamilla Karthigesu, Kyle Fraser, Joseph Hunter, and two mystery players from season 49.