TCA: Jeff Probst Tells Us His Pick for the Reality Host Emmy (In Case He Ever Loses)

Jeff Probst has won the Emmy for Best Reality Competition Host both years since the category's inception in 2008, and he's very likely to win again this year, but at the TCA after-party in Beverly Hills last night, Movieline challenged Probst to pick the best candidate for a replacement winner (between Tom Bergeron, Phil Keoghan, Heidi Klum, and Ryan Seacrest) in case he finally goes home empty-handed.

The tribe that is Jeff Probst has spoken. And he selects... Ryan Seacrest (with special kudos paid to Tom Bergeron).

"I think Seacrest -- is really, really good. I think sometimes when you watch Ryan and Tom [Bergeron], if they're underrated, it's because they make it look so easy. Like, what are they doing? They're running a show, they're timing a show, they're pacing it. -- they're doing so many things. So when I watch Ryan and Tom in particular, I marvel at how easily they handle a live show where you don't have a chance to be wrong."

And because I'm a game show zealot, I asked Probst if he ever missed his days hosting Rock & Roll Jeopardy on VH1. It doesn't sound like he's going to ditch island warfare for quiz shows anytime soon.

"There's something fun about that in terms of the pace and the way you talk and the way the show is structured -- it's a completely different thing. I much prefer Survivor in that it's a little more organic and things are unfolding and it's unscripted. A game show is sort of the same thing each week, the same beats. So I think I prefer Survivor, but I had a blast doing Rock and Roll Jeopardy because of the music and the guests. I don't think you talk differently on purpose, but just the rhythm of the show is 'You're right,' 'You're wrong,' 'Next question.' There's just that whole pitter-patter, and the next thing you know, you're channeling Alex Trebek. And you can't help it. You're saying smart-ass things like, 'Noooo. It was the Rolling Stones. Not the Beatles.' That attitude."