Some viewers didn't understand why longtime host Jeff Probst talked about altering his famous "come on in, guys" catchphrase during the Jeff has been hosting Survivor since the show premiered on CBS back in 2000. Over the years, Jeff established many iconic catchphrases while hosting the show. From 2008 to 2011, Jeff won four consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program.
Alas, Jeff hasn't always been perfect while hosting Survivor on TV. For instance, fans have been critical of Jeff's treatment of certain female players over the years. Viewers felt like the host would often give male players a lot more credit in the competition, which sometimes helped those men build on their track records. Thankfully, Jeff and the other producers have made a lot of changes over time to try to make the game of Survivor more inclusive and fair to all.
During the Survivor 41 premiere on Wednesday, September 22, Jeff asked the new lineup of castaways if they felt like his long-running catchphrase "come on in, guys" should be changed to accommodate for players who don't identify as men. Speaking as a self-identified queer woman, Evvie Jagoda explained that she didn't feel excluded by the word "guys" within Jeff's catchphrase. However, Ricard Foye spoke up the next day and agreed with Jeff that this felt like the right time to alter the catchphrase to "come on in." This conversation - including Jeff's question and Ricard's request - might've felt jarring to a few casual viewers, but Survivor wants to be a more inclusive competition to all. Therefore, this change to Jeff's catchphrase is meant to show that the franchise is listening to the fans. You can watch Jeff's entire interaction with Ricard below.
At the end of the day, this exchange is not simply about determining whether the word "guys" can be exclusionary to certain players that don't identify as men. Instead, this conversation is about people in positions of power listening to and making incremental changes that create more welcoming spaces. As such, dropping "guys" from "come on in, guys" is a small but significant sign that Jeff and the production team behind him have good intentions in mind and aren't bothered by the ever-changing nature of this series. Survivor has many female and LGBTQIA+ fans from around the world, so making them feel even more welcomed into this universe is not a bad thing at all.
There are always going to be reality TV viewers who resist any changes that are made to their favorite series. But there are also many fans who love competitions like Survivor and just wish that these shows could be a little more inclusive to minorities. Thankfully, Jeff is showing that he isn't afraid to adapt to new circumstances, which is what Survivor is all about, anyway.
Survivor season 41 airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.