Tom Cruise’s daring Olympics stunt brings back memories of Jeff Probst’s wild Survivor vote reveals and epic montages.

What is Survivor without Jeff Probst? Fans have long wondered about this question and how impactful the host has been for the competitive reality show. Not only that but in the past his action-packed stunts in Survivor were also being compared to Tom Cruise. The Mission: Impossible actor is known as one of the most influential action heroes of Hollywood.

Jeff Probst in a still from Survivor | Credits: CBS Broadcasting

And a stunt he pulled during the Paris Olympics has Survivor fans making comparisons. Things escalated to a whole new level when the host himself added to this conversation in his usual humorous self.

Jeff Probst Reacts to Being Compared to Tom Cruise

In Tom Cruise‘s world, no stunt is ordinary as the actor is popularly known for his death-defying stunts which he does himself without any stunt double. He did the same thing when he showcased a spectacular stunt during the closing ceremony of The Paris Olympics in 2024. The actor jumped from the top of the Stade de France, landing exactly in the middle of the stadium.

Tom Cruise in a still from Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 | Credits: Paramount Pictures

After which he took the Olympic flag from Simone Biles and LA Mayor Karen Bass, hopping back on his motorcycle. Things get more interesting from here as he boards a plane, and skydives onto the Hollywood sign, making some changes to it and turning it into the Olympic Rings.

For obvious reasons, this stunt went viral and quickly grabbed the attention of Survivor fans as well and brought back some similar feelings. Throughout the history of Survivor, Jeff Probst is known for his fun and hilarious montages. At the end of every season, the jury votes for the winner, and the host used to travel to several exotic locations to read those votes.

I did love the comparisons. I had a lot of people text me and say, ‘Probst, Tom Cruise is doing a Survivor! Tom Cruise is doing his version of bringing the votes back from the island!’ And the first question I had was: Wait a minute, is he imitating me or have I been imitating him all these years?

He continued:

Man, I’m no Tom Cruise. That dude jumped on his motorcycle and rode through the streets, and then jumped out of a helicopter. I’m surprised he didn’t catch a bad guy in the progress! That was super fun.

One the most famous stunts of Probst came in Season 6 of the show titled Survivor: Amazon. In this, he grabbed the votes jumped on a jet ski and pretended to travel 3,000 miles from Brazil to New York City. Interestingly, he ended this montage by riding the subway to the Ed Sullivan Theatre for the reunion. While he has done his fair share of stunts on the show, even Probst added that he was no Tom Cruise.

Jeff Probst Reflects on the Challenges of Hosting Survivor as Well as Tackling Criticisms

Jeff Probst in a still from Survivor | Credits: CBS

Jeff Probst has been the host of Survivor for over two decades now, but everything is not as easy as it looks. During a recent episode of his On Fire podcast, the showrunner shared his thoughts on being the host of the show as well as the challenges that come with it.

He also detailed the power dynamics that exist between him and the participants, especially when the show airs and their edited portrayals don’t reflect how they picture themselves in the game. He added:

I often feel like there’s a power dynamic at play on Survivor involving me, and things can get a little confusing for the players because I represent the authority of the game. I know that at times players can get frustrated with me during the game or when a season is over if they’re not happy with how they did.

He continued:

I know that I’m often the person they want to blame and I understand that. And I’ve heard a lot of former players talking a lot of trash about me after they play. Like Teeny and Genevieve, I get my feelings hurt as well.

Despite feeling hurt on some occasions, Probst emphasized that the show’s creators work around the clock to ensure fairness in the game. While it’s something that even fans miss, sometimes for the show it’s one of the most instrumental aspects that has made it possible to continue for almost 25 years.

You can watch Survivor on Hulu.