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Reality TV is young persons game. There are reasons why reality TV contestants tend to be younger. All of which makesSurvivors upcomingWinners at Waredition so interesting. Not only is it the biggest season the show has ever done, but it is also the oldest. In general, returning player seasons tend to be older than new player ones. That is for two reasons. Plus, there is the somewhat obvious fact that returning players have aged since their first appearance....

At least some key people on the program have starting thinking about what would be a momentous occasion. I dont know, responds Probst. It also does come down to not just our audience, but web link television, says Probst. You look at ratings, weve been super lucky. Our ratings are holding. Our audience is so frickin loyal, man. They hang in there with us. And this is what has happened withSurvivorfor the last decade....

Each week, hostJeff Probstwill answer a few questions about the latest episode ofSurvivor: Winners at War. JEFF PROBST:Its really pretty simple. It complicates the game by mixing up the players. With a group of 20 winners, you have to take every opportunity to make the game more complex. And to their credit, this group of players welcomes any and all twists. They want to play. They like the pressure of having to assess and adapt all day, every day....

There are a lot of big names that returned to playSurvivor: Winners at War. Twenty of them, in fact. Thats what happens when you stage a season of all former champions. But getting them back was not so easy. All had already conquered theSurvivormountain, so why would they want to scale it again? Sure, there was the appeal of appearing on a big anniversary season. Yes, they were offered anice appearance fee....

But the host then took us through the method behind theWinners at Warcasting thought process madness. “We had an idea,” the host says. “And the idea was this: Here’s how we came up with our 20. What do we want?And what we wanted was to taste a little of every era ofSurvivor.” “That’s what you really want, he says. “So when we got Amber and Ethan, you have the founding fathers, those original players....

There are 20 former champions returning to playSurvivor: Winners at War. That means everyone stands a 5% chance of taking home the record $2 million prize. Only, not really. Because two of the contestants in season 40 are married. Because in an otherwise individual game, the Marianos have their own little Blood vs. Water situation happening. I dont know what impact Rob and Amber will have being in the show together, says Probst....

And the two legends of the gameseemed impressed with the playersthat visited them. We asked the host exactly that and were surprised and a bit impressed with his answer. Tell me what you see about me that I dont see. Robert Voets/CBS Talk to me about my ego. Where am I weak? Where are my tendencies? Just give it to me all. And then Ill stiffen up, take it, and go back....

Ive talked enough about how much I love Tony Vlachos. Now its your turn. JEFF PROBST:Okay, yes, we love Tony!! CBS We always start at the end and work backwards. This season has been like no other. The amount of material we have to work with is enormous. We have 20 great storytellers and 20 great players. Weve never had it this good. Okay, back to Tony. It really was quite a display of so many different layers of game play....

Over 600 people have playedSurvivor. But only 38 have ever won the game. Thats what I noticed after speaking with them before the season began. Maybe,like Michele, they feel hurt by online reaction to their win. You vote people out and get them to vote for you as the best player. You always talk about these other people? Why didnt I make your top 3 or your top 5? For these players, beating the competition is not good enough....

So who might be the person everyone is overlooking this time forWinners at War? Danni Boatwright, replied the host. Danni Boatwright is a sleeper. And I dont think she thinks shes a sleeper as much as I think shes a sleeper. And man, thats a mistake. Danni could win this game. She could win it. The host also sees Dannis hidden killer instinct coming out to play. I do think theres a little chip on her shoulder, Probst says....

The host explains that the new wrinkle is one producers plan to be around for a long time. Not all of those twists work out (Medallion of Power, anyone? That currency comes in the form of something the show has dubbed fire tokens. Timothy Kuratek/CBS What the heck are fire tokens and how do they work? And they decide who stays and who goes home. And over time, every society ends up having a currency....

We have this guy from Canada, Tom Laidlaw, says Probst. A former professional hockey player. I think hes 60. Robert Voets/CBS (3) He looks like he could still play hockey. I dont think this is right, but Ill do it. I really like that quality. He was bullied as a kid and he was unpopular and people picked on him, notes Probst. Youre good enough as you are, man. And I know what youre going through, and Im going to help you get through it....

I love this group in 39, says Probst. Its the most diverse cast weve ever had. Theyre lightening, man. Robert Voets/CBS Entertainment Molly is one of the first people that comes to mind, says Probst. Definitely a threat to win. So this is somebody, its the new age player. If Im ever on the show Im gonna play a little like this and a little like that. Probsts second pick could go either way in the game....