âSurvivorâ is officially back on CBS! The premiere of the longrunning reality competition seriesâs 49th season aired on Wednesday, September 24, giving fans their first look at the seasonâs 18 brand new castaways in action.
While the cast is undoubtedly full of entertaining characters that promise to make âSurvivor 49â a season to remember, one castaway in particular â 25-year-old Rizo Velovic â has already managed to catch the attention of longtime âSurvivorâ host and executive producer Jeff Probst.
Who is Rizo Velovic?
When the cast of âSurvivor 49â was revealed in August, Rizo Velovic emerged as an early fan favorite, thanks in no small part due to his unique nickname: âThe man, the myth, the legend R-I-Z-G-O-D, RizGod, baby.â
Despite being one of the seasonâs youngest castaways at just 25 years old, Velovic reported in pre-season interviews that he had to grow up fast. As the eldest son of two Albanian immigrants living in Yonker, New York, Rizo was managing his familyâs taxes by 14, helping his parents close on their first home by 21, and, in between, looking after his autistic younger brother while his parents worked multiple jobs to keep food on the table.
It was during those long years babysitting his brother that Rizo, who now works in tech sales, first discovered âSurvivor.â
âA lot of my childhood was just like watching TV. So I was at home, raising my younger brother while the TV was babysitting me,â Velovic told Parade. âAnd I rememberâ¦I was scrolling through the channels, and I just see Jeff [Probst] is like, âJT, do you want your tooth back?â And JT is like, âYeah!â And then he just flicks it to the side. And Iâm like âWhat is this? This is insane.â
âSo I was an eight or nine-year-old kid watching âTocantinsâ for the first time, and that episode got me hooked,â he added.
Now, Velovic is a bonafide âSurvivorâ superfan. On Season 49, the castaway is similarly emerging as a new fan favorite player and is even heavily rumored to have been invited back to compete on âSurvivor 50: In the Hands of the Fansâ next year.
If the rumors are true, Velovic likely has Probst to thank, especially after the longtime host and executive producer revealed that he was âimmediately charmedâ by Rizoâs eccentric and unique approach to âSurvivor.â
Why Does Jeff Probst Already Love RizGod?
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Probst opened up about being drawn to Velovic after he entered the game ready to establish himself as the âRizGod.âÂ
While the nickname came off as âcringeyâ to some fans in first looks at the currently airing season, Probst revealed that he thinks it might take a minute for fans to realize that Rizo isnât putting on an act for the cameras.
âI was instantly charmed with him. I found him really fun. Heâs very proud to be Albanian and be the first player from Albania to appear on âSurvivor.ââ said Probst. âHeâs playing for his family. Heâs got this incredible relationship with his younger brother. And even though heâs 25, I think young kids are going to relate to him because he comes off as still a teenager. After all, heâs exuberant and full of fun and wants to play âSurvivor,â and anybody who watches the show knows what that means.â
âItâs funny to say that a young man who calls himself RizGod is the real deal,â Probst continued. âBut Rizo is the real deal in that he sees himself that way. Heâs incredibly charming and he has a lot of personality.â
Despite leading with his exuberant personality, Probst added that RizGod is more than just a character, but a seasoned gamer as well.
âHeâs willing to take risks. He knows he could be out early,â said Probst. âAnd I think thatâs one of the things thatâs really endearing about him.â
Fans can catch Rizo Velovic a.k.a. RizGod when âSurvivor 49â continues on Wedesday, October 1 at 8:00pm ET on CBS.
The post Jeff Probst Reveals the ‘Survivor 49’ Player that ‘Instantly Charmed’ Him appeared first on EntertainmentNow.