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Says host Jeff Probst of season 19 - yes, 19! - of Survivor, which will emanate from Samoa:

“[It’s] a return to the kind of Survivor that I certainly enjoy doing, which is beach-based. It's nice to take a detour and go to Africa and Brazil and do something different, but [being on the water] always feels like we're home.”

In an interview with TV Guide Magazine, the top host in the business previewed the season ahead. Here's a look at what he had to say:

On the customs of Samoa: We're going to incorporate the idea of “chiefs” on each tribe because that is something that is a big part of the Samoan culture. We're going to force [the tribe members] right off the bat to choose a leader for their tribe and that leader's going to have to make decisions throughout the game.

On changes to the season: We're gonna have a “do it yourself” challenge where I don't show up and they arrive and there's just a box sitting there. Watching what they think it means and how they decide and when to investigate it and what happens afterwards is pretty interesting.

On villain Russell Hantz: [He is] gonna go down as one of the most notorious villains we've ever had. And that is saying something considering we've been on 19 seasons and 300 and some people have played the game. He, from the get-go, says, “I'm gonna lie, cheat and steal.” I think deep down he's a fairly evil dude.

He's got an awfully charming way about him and he's so up front and honest about his intentions that I found myself thinking, “I think I would align with this guy in spite of the fact he just told me he's going to lie to me.”

Jeff Probst is expanding his resume beyond Survivor.

The fantastic reality TV hot has created — and will host — a new reality program for CBS. The series, Live Like You’re Dying, will feature an individual who has been given a terminal diagnosis with a finite amount of time to live and “take them on the last adventure of their life,” according to Probst.

He talked to Entertainment Weekly about the show, which will include reunions with lost friends or formerly feuding family members, a “legacy moment” that will ensure their name carries on forever, and living out a personal dream.

“It could be playing guitar with Eric Clapton or jumping out of a plane into a volcano,” Probst said. “Whatever it is that you’re still desiring to do in your life — we want to make it happen.”

Jeff Probst is blogging about the current season of Survivor.

Each week, he'll share his thoughts with readers of Entertainment Weekly. Here's an excerpt from his most recent entry:

First we lost Michelle, then Gillian, and now Paloma. Whew. Relief. Three people who will not be missed. I say that with all due respect to the aforementioned, although, as my buddy Lopez reminds me, whenever you say “with all due respect” you’re actually saying without any respect at all.

Yes, I am aware that if I keep up this lippy attitude for the entire season that I may end up buried to my neck in sand at the live reunion show. The problem is I write these in the afternoon, typically when I’m most hungry and therefore a bit cranky. Not an excuse, just a fact.

Jeff Probst - sorry, Emmy Winner Jeff Probst - says that Gabon was an African country far from ready for a reality show.

"It was clear to us, from the moment we set foot there, that this was an untapped, undiscovered part of the world,'' he said in a recent interview. "They've had virtually no tourism, and so nobody's been there."

Moreover, midway through filming, Probst thought he had wandered into a scene from Jurassic Park.

"There's a moment where they encounter an elephant in the camp, and they're all trying to deal with it. And I thought, 'This looks like a Spielberg movie.' And then I realized: 'This is not a zoo; you're in their back yard. You've set up shop to do this dumb game. What are you doing?!'''

The Primetime Emmy Awards are meant to reward the best in television acting and writing.

Therefore, it's more than a bit strange that the event last night was hosted by a quintet of reality TV stars. It's also incredible that another one, Lauren Conrad, actually handed out some hardware on stage.

Still, instead of fighting the spread of reality TV, we can only embrace it. Here are threee moments from the ceremony featuring some of your favorite, supposedly usscripted stars:

Jeff Probst took home the first-ever Emmy given to best reality show host.

Project Runway winner Christian Siriano did his best to look fierce on the red carpet.

Tom Bergeron and Heidi Klum failed to make anyone laugh as hosts.

We might actually watch the Emmys this year.

The five reality TV hosts presiding over the Sunday night ceremony - Ryan Seacrest, Jeff Probst, Heidi Klum, Tom Bergeron and Howie Mandel - were interview by Jimmy Kimmel last night.

It was all going well... until Seacrest and Probst got into a fight over money. It got ugly in a hurry. Take a look:

The 18th season of Survivor, taking place in Gabon, isn't going swimmingly at the moment.

Host Jeff Probst recently said a crane has fallen over and a cargo hold containing about $100,000 worth of food had gone missing. Oops!

Probst said the Survivor: Gabon crew was also having an issue with something that was already present: wildlife.

"We have a danger problem with animals that we're trying to figure out how to handle," he said. "There's so much truly wild life out there, we're not sure what to do. We don't want the animals around for a safety reasons, but we'd love to have a hippo sneak in every so often. I just got a call from our executive producer that we've got hippo tracks at base camp."

Survivor: Gabon will be filmed in high-definition and is slated to premiere in the fall.

Here's a cool clip, courtesy of TV Guide, that shows Jeff Probst talking about his col collection of souvenirs from the show's travels.

Probst also talks about how auctioning off the items from Survivor has helped raise over $2 million for The Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

In a strange turn of events last night, a CBS personality was in charge of an ABC series.

On Dancing with the Stars, host Tom Bergeron turned the gig over to Jeff Probst briefly. As the Survivor leader tol TV Guide, though, he was happy to help.

"My very first job was working with Tom on the FX Network," said Probst. "He was hosting a morning show and he was like the guy. He was the guy everyone else looked to to see how it's done. He's so good. And you can really see it here when he's flying off the cuff."

However, Probst wasn't in the audience for Bergeron: He came as a guest of an old friend, Marlee Matlin. Can he dance?

"No," Probst said "But I try. I take salsa lessons on Wednesday nights with some friends, and I'm so bad. When I watch these guys out here I think it's amazing. How can they remember all the steps, let alone worrying about not making a silly face?"

Jeff Probst recently chatted with TV Guide about the upcoming season of Survivor, which pits fans versus all-time show favorites.

Regarding: Chet Welch
Chet Welch is a 48-year-old Miss America beauty pageant coach. "One of our casting directors was like, 'He sabotaged me as a kid!'" Probst said. "Chet goes, 'Yep, that was me, and yep, I did it.'"

But does either Welch or another evil genius, Jonny Fairplay, have a real shot at the grand prize?

"Chet's gonna last a few episodes at best," Probst said. "And Fairplay has no chance of winning."

On: Michael Bortone
This Los Angeles-based writer/actor is a longtime fan of the series. "Mikey B" was originally passed over by CBS, but Probst went to bat for him and ultimately changed the suits' minds.

"I saw a live wire," Probst said. "He's interesting when he talks. I'm glad he's here."

Read Probst's full preview now.