Probst has entered the fray of the ultra competitive world of daytime talk shows, where he must compete against the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, Anderson Cooper, Maury Povich, Ricki Lake, and fellow newcomers Steve Harvey and Katie Couric.

FORBES: Ratings Don't Reflect The Jeff Probst Show's Potential

And this fall, they're searching for that next bankable personality with shows from daytime veteran Ricki Lake, "Family Feud" host Steve Harvey, "Survivor's" Jeff Probst and Katie Couric.

CNN: Future of daytime? More talk, less drama

But its central idea, that somehow catharsis leads to cure, lives on -- rages on -- in Oprah and Geraldo and Ricki Lake and the whole steaming psychic stew that is our confessional culture.

CNN: Viewpoint: Not Enough Conversation?