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AsJeff Probststood in front of the"Survivor 50" caston the Mamanuca beaches of Fiji last summer, looking directly at 24 contestants across the show's more than 25-year run, he was mesmerized by what his career has become since he was pitched the series decades ago.

The milestone game brought back players like Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, who played in the debut season in Borneo in 2000, and newer breakouts likeSavannah Louie, who just won the season prior.

"It wasn't my life passing before my eyes. It was a series of turning points in my life," Probst says ahead of the historic three-hour Season 50 premiere on Feb. 25 (8 p.m. ET/PT, CBS and Paramount+ Premium, available to stream the next day with any Paramount+ plan). "I never thought of 'Survivor' as a job or a game show. I thought of it as an adventure of the human spirit, and people still to this day think I'm a little over the top with it. It's never changed."

A year ago, the host and producer still had a short list of 50 former players who could return. Each cut since was excruciating, he says. Ultimately, the team landed on 24 all-stars who will outwit, outplay and outlast each other for the $1 million prize and bragging rights that come with winning the show'smost competitive season to date.

The new season, titled "Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans," is a love letter to all viewers, whether they tuned in just a few seasons ago or have watched every time since Probst first uttered, "The tribe has spoken." Probst spoke with USA TODAY about the grandiosity that only decades of reality‑TV storytelling can create. He reveals a plan for the premiere that didn't end up happening, the first player he personally called to cast and the contestant he's most crushed didn't make it.

This conversation has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Season 20 premiere, which is still my favorite season, opens up with those helicopters, with the hero tribe on one side and the villains on the other. How will the Season 50 premiere compare?

We actually wanted to do helicopters for 50, but we couldn't find enough in Fiji. We even went to the Fiji military to see if we could pull it off, because we wanted to recreate that epic moment. But we were unable to do it.

But "Survivor 50" had the same gravitas that you're talking about. The question was, would the players show up to make it great? And just like in Season 20, they did.

This is the first time we're having three tribes of eight. I'm assuming we'll see two tribes go to tribal council in an episode. How much can you tell us about how this will work with so many players?

We did not initially set out to have 24 players. We thought we were going to have 20 because that's a really good number for us in terms of how the episodes work and the math that comes from eliminating players. Honestly, we were struggling to make cuts. And there was no easy cut. It was really a question of this person or that person.

Suddenly, we went to three tribes of eight. What are we going to do with all of them? How are we going to get rid of them? From a producing standpoint, that is what made it so exhilarating. There were a lot of very fun problems to solve.

We have so many interesting combinations on each tribe, like Q and Aubrey on Vatu. You have Ozzy and Cirie reuniting on Cila. How did you decide who goes on which tribe?

The best way to explain how we approached all of this was to imagine the biggest whiteboard you've ever seen, with every possible idea on it.

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What we really want is just an array of different types of players, different eras, and success or lack of success in the game, so that we can represent as much as possible the entire tapestry of our 25 years. And so in that sense, we just started putting people together.

There's no combination you can look at that doesn't have intrigue. So all of the tribe pairings worked, and ultimately, at one point, we just said, "OK, shall we just stop here?"

There was a lot of speculation that someone from Season 1 would return. How did y'all land on Jenna Lewis specifically, and are there other names that were in the mix?

The first person I called about playing was Jenna Lewis, and I didn't know what she'd say, but everybody agreed.

She kind of embodied everything about the first season: a young mom out there who didn't get a loved one video, who played a very kind of new-era game 25 years ago, and Jenna said, "I couldn't be more honored, yes." And that was the first moment where I thought, this might work.

There are rumors of pre-gaming alliances made before the season was filmed. How does that impact things once it starts?

There's way too much emphasis put on pregame alliances and all that. They really are giving that too much weight because there is one winner, period. And if you stand in my way, it doesn't matter. I'm taking you out.

You're going to see that this season. What may start out as something that appears to be a friendship from 20 years ago might mean everything in a positive way. It might mean everything in an unexpected way. These are players. This is not a picnic.

You're working on Season 51 and possibly Season 52. Is there any chance we'll have another returning player season soon, and maybe some of the people who didn't make the cut for 50 can come back?

One hundred percent. We love returning player seasons. The only reason we waited this many years is that you had to find players you wanted to see come back.

After Season 40, we thought, now we need to go get a new crop of players, and then we'll do a returning player season. I would definitely expect another returning player season before five years. And, yes, there are players we would love to invite back that we would have had in Season 50 if we had room. Hopefully, when we call in the future, their feelings won't be hurt and they'll say yes.

Hopefully, Amanda Kimmel's schedule clears up, because I need her back.

That was a big disappointment, probably my biggest personal disappointment. When she initially said yes, I was ecstatic.

And then we gave her the shoot date, and she said, "I can't make it happen." And she was disappointed. But what I loved about Amanda is that she just called us and said, "Look, I'll tell you right now, it's not going to happen." And so that opened up the spot for somebody.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Survivor 50' – Jeff Probst reveals nostalgic idea that didn't pan out

In 1976,Rockywas the top movie of the year. StarringSylvester Stallone, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, andTalia Shire, the film about scrappy Philadelphia boxerRocky Balboa(Stallone) raked in a box office total of $225 million globally, and became thehighest-grossing filmof 1976, perThe Numbers.

Rocky,which wonAcademy Awardsfor Best Picture, Best Editing, and Best Director, was made on a small $1 million budget—and it made newcomer Stallone a star.

One of themost famous scenesinRockyis a training montage in which the beloved boxer runs through the streets of Philadelphia in preparation for his upcoming boxing match with Apollo Creed (Weathers). The famous scene culminates with Balboa bounding up the 72 steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art as the movie's theme song, Bill Conti's "Gonna Fly Now," plays.

But the scene wasn't originally planned as it was shown. During a 2025 appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,Stallone, 79, admitted he hadn't even thought about shooting a scene at the Philly landmark and didn't have a location permit.

"When I got to Philadelphia and did the movieRocky, I wasn't even thinking about the steps. We didn't have any money to shoot there. We didn't have the license," he told hostJimmy Fallon. "I just got out of the car, I said, 'Let me just run up the steps, get a shot of it, and we'll get out of here before the police come.' "

Stallone noted that his real-life dog, Butkus, who appeared in the film, was almost in the scene. "The first take, I said, 'Let me carry my dog up the steps,'" Stallone recalled. "My dog is a buffalo; it's a 130 lb. bull mastiff. I get halfway up, my knees buckle. We're like, 'Dog, out. Back in the car, pal.'"

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"Anyway, we did it, and it became a very famous scene," the actor added.

Sylvester Stallone was always 'fascinated' by steps

Stallone talked about the significance of the art museum steps scene in a 2021 interview posted byThe Philadelphia Inquirer on YouTube.

"Ever since I was 10 years old, I've always been fascinated with steps," the actor admitted. "I felt like you could see the whole world from up there, which basically you're seeing your own future. It's like look, this is what I have to survive and surpass to make a life. The symbolism on those steps …it's like unbelievable; it's like it's almost a pathway to your life. So that has always been an incredibly monumental image in my eyes. Plus it's so filled with challenges and symbolism, so people come, they're not running theRockysteps, they're running like the steps of their life. Like, this is. If he can do it, I can do it.'"

Fifty years after the firstRockyfilm—there would be five sequels and threeCreedspinoffs—the art museum steps remain a major tourist attraction in Philadelphia.

Per theVisit Phillywebsite, thousands of fans annually recreate the famous scene as they make the trek up the 72 "Rocky Steps" steps leading to the art museum entrance. Stallone also donated a bronze Rocky statue, which was created in 1980 by artist A. Thomas Schomberg for a scene inRocky III,to the City of Philadelphia.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton are trying to keep calm and carry on despite the scandal surrounding thearrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor(formerly Prince Andrew) on suspicion of misconduct in public office, but onthe red carpet at the BAFTAsthis evening, the royal couple was confronted by a heckler. "Is the monarchy in peril?" one attendeeaskedthe Prince and Princess of Wales, which they ignored.

While the Prince and Princess of Walesdid not issue a statement on former Prince Andrew's arrest, it is understood they agree withthe message shared by King Charles. "I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office," King Charles wrote on Thursday. "What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation."

The King continued, "Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all."

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Prince William, Kate, and their three childrenreportedly were at their home Anmer Hall at Sandringhamat the time of Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest. Anmer Hall, their house, is six miles away fromWood Farm, where the disgraced former prince has been living since his eviction fromRoyal Lodge. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.

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MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican army killed the leader of theJalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes,"El Mencho," on Sunday, decapitating what had become Mexico's most powerful cartel and giving the government its biggest prize yet to show the Trump administration its efforts.

APTOPIX Mexico Cartel Death

Oseguera Cervantes was wounded in an operation to capture him Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco about a two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara and he died while being flown to Mexico City, the Defense Department said in a statement. The state is the base of the cartel known for trafficking huge quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to the United States.

During the operation, troops came under fire and killed four people at the location. Three more people, includingOseguera Cervantes,were wounded and later died, the statement said. Two others were arrested and armored vehicles, rocket launchers and other arms were seized. Three members of the armed forces were wounded and receiving medical treatment.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico said on X that the operation was carried out by Mexican special forces "within the framework of bilateral cooperation, with U.S. authorities providing complementary intelligence."

Roadblocks and burning vehicles

The killing of the powerful drug lord set off several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Such tactics are commonly used by the cartels to block military operations. Jalisco canceled school in the state for Monday.

Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state's capital in panic. On Sunday afternoon, Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta "due to an ongoing security situation" and advised customers not to go to their airport.

In Guadalajara, the state capital, burning vehicles blocked roads. Mexico's second-largest city is scheduled tohost matches during this summer's soccer World Cup.

The U.S. State Department warned U.S. citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon states to remain in safe places due to the ongoing security operations. Canada's embassy in Mexico warned its citizens in Puerto Vallarta to shelter in place and generally to keep a low profile in Jalisco.

Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus told residents to stay at home and suspended public transportation.

US had offered up to $15 million for his capture

The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. TheJalisco New Generation Cartel,known as CJNG, is one of the most powerful and fastest growing criminal organizations in Mexico and was born in 2009.

In February, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, like her predecessor, has criticized the "kingpin" strategy of previous administrations that took out cartel leaders only to trigger explosions of violence as cartels fractured. While she has remained popular in Mexico, security is a persistent concern and since U.S. President Donald Trump took office a year ago, she has been under tremendous pressure to show results against drug trafficking.

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On Sunday, Sheinbaum applauded Mexican security forces and called for calm in a post on X.

A Jalisco state official who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly said that a member of the National Guard died in Tapalpa during the operation, a jail guard was killed at a lockup in Puerto Vallarta when prisoners rioted, and an agent from the Jalisco state prosecutor's office was killed in Guadalajara. Details were not immediately available.

Known as an aggressive cartel

The Jalisco cartel has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military — including on helicopters — and is apioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines. In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles in the heart of Mexico City against the then head of the capital's police force and now federal security secretary.

The DEA considers the cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico's most infamous criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 U.S. states. It is one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the U.S. market and, like the Sinaloa cartel, earns billions from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines. Sinaloa, however, has been weakened by infighting after the loss of its leaders Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, both in U.S. custody.

Oseguera Cervantes, 59, was originally from Aguililla in the neighboring state of Michoacan. He had been significantly involved in drug trafficking activities since the 1990s. When he was younger, he migrated to the U.S. where he was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in 1994 and served nearly three years in prison.

Following his release from custody, Oseguera Cervantes returned to Mexico and reengaged in drug trafficking activity with drug lord Ignacio Coronel Villarreal, alias "Nacho Coronel." After Villarreal's death, Oseguera Cervantes and Erik Valencia Salazar, alias "El 85," created the Jalisco New Generation Cartel around 2007.

Initially, they worked for the Sinaloa Cartel, but eventually split and for years the two cartels have battled for territory across Mexico.

Indicted several times in the United States

Since 2017, Oseguera Cervantes has been indicted several times in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

The most recent superseding indictment, filed on April 5, 2022, charges Oseguera Cervantes with conspiracy and distribution of controlled substances (methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl) for the purpose of illegal importation into the United States and use of firearms during and in connection with drug trafficking offenses. Oseguera Cervantes is also charged under the Drug Kingpin Enforcement Act for directing a continuing criminal enterprise.

Last year, people searching formissing relativesfounds piles of shoes and other clothing, as well as bone fragments at what authorities later said was aJalisco cartel recruitment and training site.

Associated Press writer María Verza contributed to this report.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran will hold their next round of nuclear talks Thursday in Geneva, a facilitator said Sunday, as the Islamic Republic faces both the threat of a U.S. military strike and new protests at home.

Iran Daily Life

Oman's foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, confirmed the talks. Oman previously hosted theindirect talkson the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and facilitated the latest round in Geneva last week.

There was no immediate comment from the Trump administration, which has built up thelargest U.S. military presence in the Middle Eastin decades as it pushes its longtime adversary for concessions on its nuclear program and more.

Shortly before Oman's announcement, Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, told CBS in an interview that he expected to meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday, and said a "good chance" remained for a diplomatic solution on the nuclear issue.

Washington awaits a proposed deal that Araghchi has said would be ready to share within days, and the foreign minster told CBS that Iran was still working on the draft proposal.

The nuclear issue, he added, is the only matter being discussed — even though both the United States and Israel also want to address Iran's missile program and its support for armed proxies in the Middle East.

President Donald Trump warned on Friday thatlimited strikes against Iranare possible, and both Iran and the U.S. havesignaled they are prepared for warif the talks on Tehran's nuclear program fail.

Minutes after Oman's confirmation of the talks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on social media that negotiations had involved "the exchange of practical proposals and yielded encouraging signals," but added that Tehran has "made all necessary preparations for any potential scenario."

The U.S. has said Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them and that it cannot enrich uranium. Araghchi, however, told CBS that Iran has the right to enrich uranium.

On Friday, he said his U.S. counterparts had not asked for zero enrichment as part of the latest round of talks, which is not what U.S. officials have said publicly. He also said talks focused on how to ensure that Iran's nuclear program, including enrichment, "will remain peaceful forever." He said that in return, Iran will implement confidence-building measures in exchange for relief oneconomic sanctions.

Tehran has long insisted that any negotiations should onlyfocus on its nuclear program, and has refused to discuss wider U.S. and Israeli demands that it scale back its missile program and sever ties to armed groups.

Although Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, the U.S. and others suspect it is aimed at eventually developing weapons. Iran says it hasn't been enriching uranium sinceU.S. and Israeli strikeson Iranian nuclear sites in June.

At that time, Trump said the strikes had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear sites, but the exact damage is unknown becauseTehran has barred international inspectors.

Meanwhile, Araghchi asserted to CBS that "we have a very good capability of missiles, and now we are even in a better situation" than before the strikes in June.

Nuclear talks had been deadlocked for years after Trump's decision in 2018 to unilaterally withdraw the U.S.from Iran's 2015 nuclear dealwith world powers.

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New protests in Iran

Confirmation of new talks came as new anti-government protests began inIran, according to witnesses, as university students in Tehran and another city demonstrated around memorials for thousands of people killed in acrackdown on previous nationwide demonstrationsabout six weeks ago.

Iran's state news agency said students protested at five universities in the capital, Tehran, and one in the city of Mashhad on Sunday. The scattered protests erupted Saturday at universities following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during anti-government rallies.

Videos posted on social media appeared to show confrontations at two universities between government supporters and anti-government protesters, with some chanting "Death to dictator."

Iran's government has not commented on the latest protests.

Many Iranians have held ceremonies marking the traditional 40-day mourning period in the past week. Most of the protesters are believed to have been killed around Jan. 8 and 9, according to activists tracking the situation.

Iranians across the country are still reeling withshock,griefandfearafter the earlier protests were crushed by the deadliest crackdown ever seen under the rule of 86-year-oldSupreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands are believed to have beenarrested.

Although the crackdown tamped down the largest protests, smaller ones are still occurring, according to protesters and videos shared on social media.

Duringthe 1979 Islamic Revolutionthat toppled the shah andbrought the Islamic Republic to power, 40-day memorials for slain protesters often turned into rallies that security forces tried to crush, causing new deaths. Those were then marked 40 days later, with new protests.

Posts on social media Saturday and Sunday have alleged that security forces tried to restrict people from attending some 40-day ceremonies.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says at least 7,015 people were killed in the previous protests and crackdown, including 214 government forces. The group has been accurate in counting deaths during previous rounds of unrest in Iran and relies on a network of activists there to verify deaths.

The death toll continues to rise as the group crosschecks information despite disrupted communication with those inside the Islamic Republic.

Iran's government offered its only death toll from the previous protests on Jan. 21, saying 3,117 people were killed. Iran's theocracy in the past has undercounted or not reported fatalities from past unrest.

The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the death toll, given authorities have disrupted internet access and international calls in Iran.

Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman contributed from Tel Aviv, Israel.