I Can't Wait to See Jeff

I Can't Wait to See Jeff
Episode Information
Version	United States
Season	44
Episode Number	1/14 (641)
Original Release	March 1, 2023
Viewership (in Millions)	4.76
Ratings/Share (18-49)	0.7/6
Episode Chronology
Previous	"Aftershow" (previous season)
Next	"Two Dorky Magnets"
Subpages

I Can't Wait to See Jeff is the season premiere of Survivor 44.

Story

“	SURVIVOR launches a new chapter when the Emmy Award-winning series returns on Wednesdays. Stranded in the beautiful islands of Fiji, these 18 determined new castaways will be divided into three tribes of six and forced to form a new society as they adapt to their physical and social surroundings. The mental and physical challenges force players to choose between personal risk and reward, while still navigating the complex social game and attempting to forge alliances to last another day. The individuals competing are from diverse backgrounds with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast and ultimately be crowned Sole Survivor. The show is hosted and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst.	”
—Episode Synopsis

Challenges

• Reward
• Immunity

Challenge: Crate Wide Open
Two at a time, members of each tribe will race out to crawl under an obstacle and retrieve puzzle blocks. Once each tribe member has collected a puzzle piece, two members will piece together the blocks to form a rectangle. Once the puzzle is completed, one tribe member will attempt to release three rings from a tall pole, one ring at a time. The first tribe to finish wins.
Reward: Pot, machete, and flint
Additional Stipulation: The two losing tribes will have to earn their supplies in a penalty challenge waiting for them at camp. Furthermore, the second tribe to finish the challenge will get to choose their preferred task, leaving the last-place tribe with the other task.
Winner: Soka

Challenge: Paradise Lost
The tribes must paddle out to a buoy and then paddle to a pontoon, where they will latch their boat. They will then swim towards a floating ring and retrieve a heavy chest, which they will pull onto shore. They must then carry the chest onto a track, using a rope to drag the chest to the finish. Thereafter, they will untie knots to open the chest and proceed to work on a giant slide puzzle. The first two tribes to complete their puzzle win.
Additional Stipulation: The losing tribe must forfeit their flint, though they can win it back if they win the next Immunity Challenge.
Winners (in order of finish): Soka and Tika

Tribal Council

Day 1

Removed from Camp
EVACUATED: Bruce Perreault

Day 3

Tribal Council 1: Ratu
Voted Against	Voter (Matthew used Shot in the Dark and was not safe; Jaime used Shot in the Dark and was safe; Lauren opted to use voting advantage)
Brandon (used Hidden Immunity Idol)	Kane, Maddy (votes not counted)
Maddy (1 vote)	Brandon
Jaime (Shot in the Dark succeeded)	None
VOTED OUT: Maddy Pomilla

Voting Confessionals

	Lauren	“	(playing voting advantage) I am choosing to just bank my vote.	”

	Jaime	“	(playing Shot in the Dark) Okay, here we go.	”

Final Words

	Maddy	“	I put my money where my mouth is and I just came up short, but it feels good to come out and play really hard. It was a great run, I had a lot of fun doing it the way I did it and I just wish I could've done it for longer, but I know I was walking a balance beam and it went a little topsy-turvy.	”

Still in the Running

Bruce 18th	Maddy 17th	Brandon Ratu	Carolyn Tika	Carson Tika	Claire Soka	Danny Soka	Frannie Soka	Heidi Soka
Helen Tika	Jaime Ratu	Josh Soka	Kane Ratu	Lauren Ratu	Matt Soka	Matthew Ratu	Sarah Tika	Yam Yam Tika

Trivia

Secret Scenes

• Managing Your Threat Level: Claire realizes the importance of not coming on too strong in this game to avoid being voted out.
• (Untitled): Danny talks about how he is perceived by other people. He describes himself as "an extra from American Pie 5".
• I Don't Want to Show Any Weakness: Matthew does not want his tribe to perceive him as weak even in difficult challenges.

On Fire with Jeff Probst

• Getting to Day One: Jeff Probst talks about the production timeline leading up to the start of each season. He also talks to Bruce and announces that Bruce will be the first person from the "New Era" to be invited for a second season.

Other

• Carolyn's opening confessional marks the second time that a producer has talked during a confessional, after "We Made It to the Merge!".
• Bruce's elimination on Day 1 marks the earliest evacuation and consequently, the earliest elimination.
• This episode marks the second appearance of the Extra Vote variant that debuted in Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers where, coincidentally, it was also found by a contestant named Lauren.
• This episode marks the first Tribal Council where multiple contestants played their Shot in the Dark.
• Jaime becomes the first contestant to successfully play her Shot in the Dark.
• Three players did not vote at this episode's Tribal Council, the most of any single Tribal Council.
  • This is also the only Tribal Council where half of the tribe did not vote.
• This episode saw a Hidden Immunity Idol played on Day 3, breaking the previous record for the earliest idol play set in "You Own My Vote" where Kristina Kell played an idol on Day 5.
• This is the first episode since "It All Boils Down to This" where the majority of the votes was negated by a Hidden Immunity Idol.
• The episode is dedicated to Survivor producer Keith Sayres, who passed away on February 1, 2023.
• The episode title is said by Yam Yam.