'Survivor' renewed, but will Jeff Probst return?

CBS announced today that they have renewed 'Survivor' for two more cycles. Survivor will celebrate its 20th edition Feb. 11 with the much-anticipated Heroes vs. Villains.

The pickup isn't exactly a surprise. 'Survivor's' fall edition, 'Survivor: Samoa,' led its Thursday night 8 p.m. time slot, averaging a 4.3 rating/12 share among adults 18-49.

What's not clear is whether host Jeff Probst will also return. Probst is currently signed through the upcoming edition. Probst has previously indicated some hesitation at returning to the series, which he has helmed since its inception in 2000. But while 'Survivor' no longer commands the same figures it did in its early seasons -- last fall's 'Survivor: Samoa' finale brought in 13.97 million viewers compared to the first year's 51.69 million -- the show still remains a perennial top 20 hit, meaning that whether or not Probst returns, the show is too valuable for the network to let go.

In my opinion, no other reality host is as important to his show as Jeff Probst is. He is an integral part of the show and 'Survivor' being hosted by someone else just wouldn't be the same.