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?!'''

Survivor: Gabon premieres this Thursday night.

But that's way too long for most fans to wait. Check out the opening few minutes of this Survivor season below:

Based on his last name alone, Marcus Lehman will have no success on Survivor: Gabon this year.

But investment banks jokes aside, the competitor is actually afraid that being a doctor won't make him an appealing candidate to fellow castaways.

Jeff Probst doesn't seem to agree, though. The host told Entertainment Weekly:

''Marcus is a physician, as he likes to remind people. And he is a true leader, an extremely bright guy. He's a hero. He is a huge threat to win the game, for sure. He has looks, he's got smarts, he's probably the fittest guy out there, so he's got a lot of things going for him."

As a hairdresser and part-time teacher, it's safe to assume Susie Smith will see her net worth increase tremendously if she conquers all on Survivor: Gabon.

Does host Jeff Probst give this 47-year old mom from Iowa a chance of accomplishing that feat?

''Susie is a mom, and she likes to talk. That's definitely her biggest obstacle to overcome, that she can't shut up. If I went in and played this game and got teamed up with Susie, I would be wary of her hanging in there with me, because she seems to go with the wind and doesn't even seem like she's paying attention at times.''

Sorry, Dan Kay. But you don't exactly look like an intimidating Survivor player.

Perhaps this innocent smile will bode well for you on this season, though.

Jeff Probst has other concerns about Kay:

''He's earnest, but he is his own worst enemy. He means well and does not know when to shut up. He's like a cocker spaniel, charming and annoying at the same time.''

Will Kay become a lovable island pet or one that is let outside, permanently, early on?

Jacque Berg is a 25-year old medical device sales rep from California.

She's also very good looking and knows this could lead to jeaously from other Survivor: Gabon women; Berg has said she has to temper her flirting on the show.

Jeff Probst, meanwhile, thinks this blonde has a decent show at winning it all.

''I think Jacque will be a bit of a dark horse. I don't think she'll be a leader," he said. "I think she'll use her looks and her charm to get in with the right guy and hope that she can ride with that guy as far as she can. If Jacque gets deep into the show, I think she's a legitimate threat at the challenges. She's pretty fit.''

Matty Whitmore is a personal trainer.

The 29-year old California resident believes such physical strength will help him conquer all on Survivor: Gabon, though it will also likely make him a prime candidate for elimination.

''I think Matty will be one of the favorites this season, someone people will absolutely love," host Jeff Probst said. "I find him to be one of the most endearing guys we've ever had on the show to the point where it could work against him because he can't hide anything. If he's confused, he says, 'I'm confused.' If he's happy, he's smiling. If he's sad, he's crying.''

Gillian Larson is a 61-year old retired nurse.

Those facts alone would make this Survivor: Gabon contestant a prime candidate to be voted out first, but Jeff Probst actually says it's her passion for South Africa - where Gillian was raised - that might give her the boot instead:

''Charm is her strength because she's likable in doses, and that's her liability," Probst told Entertainment Weekly. "Does she know when enough is enough? You can only hear someone say, 'I'm from South Africa,' so many times before you want to say, 'Why don't you go back to South Africa!'''

Why will Danny "G.C." Brown win Survivor: Gabon this season?

According to the contestant himself, it's because Danny needs the cash prize more than anyone else out there.

What does Jeff Probst think of Brown's chances?

''G.C. is a fish out of water. Does he have the fortitude to really do this? Because when I talked to him before the show, it seemed like a lot of nervous energy masquerading as confidence. But it was, really, I felt, fear, like 'What am I getting into?' And that's not a good place to be because what you're getting into is a big ol' headache.''