Wasn't Surivor host Jeff Probst supposed to leave the show, like, years ago? Well, he's not. Leading up to Sunday's big finale of four gals, Probst, who just signed on for another four years, takes some time to reflect about dangling a million dollars in front of men and women who will eat bat meat for the chance.

"It was a show I was certain would be over after three," he declares, recalling his prediction that Season One "would be good, Two would be better, Three would fail but we'd still get paid."

But season after season, the Nielsen tribe has spoken and pronounced "Survivor" an enduring hit.

How to explain it? Probst theorizes that success has stemmed from starting with a good idea, then sticking with it.

"We go back to the start, every season," he says. There have been variations (like the current "Fans vs. Favorites" format). "But we don't deviate too far from the original premise."

He thinks back to the first season, as the series took the plunge with its distinctive style and pseudo-mythology.

"We wanted to make an impression, and we wanted our own vernacular: 'castaways,' 'survivors,' 'the tribe has spoken.'

"I knew it was corny," he adds with a laugh. But, to his everlasting credit, he never let on. From the premiere — when Sonja (remember her?) made history as the first castaway to be "voted off" and told "it's time for you to go" — Probst nailed his compound role as master of ceremonies, counselor, ringmaster and provocateur.

[AP]

[Photo: CBS]