Fans of the hit CBS show Survivor know its famous motto: "Outwit, Outplay, Outlast" and host Jeff Probst's famous line, "the tribe has spoken" ending every episode. The reality competition television show has gained millions of fans who have watched it since its first season in May 2000.

Now in its 39th season, Survivor: Islands of the Idols, and the series' 40th season premiering in February 2020, insiders are leaking more behind-the-scenes footage and information fans never knew about their beloved show.

Viewers will learn that challenges are actually run through by a team of young crew members at least twice before the actual contestants participate in them, ensuring the camera crew gets the best shots and angles.

Check out these 20 shady things behind the filming of Survivor (CBS wants us to ignore) that'll shock the biggest Survivor fan!

20 The Show Only Casts Models Or Actors

According to Today, casting director Lynne Spillman revealed that the show regularly casts models and actors due to the lack of qualified applicants in a given year. However, these "mactors" still go through the casting process before landing a spot on Survivor. 

19 Producers Select The Clothing Cast Members Wear

Cast members bring their own clothes when they reach their location, but its the producers who select what clothes they take to camp, making sure these contestants are wearing camera-friendly colors, according to Today. Prohibited items include shirts and hats with corporate logos.

18 The Cast Is Thoroughly Searched So They're Not Smuggling Anything On The Island

Before any contestant actually starts competing for the cool $1 million, they must be thoroughly searched by production. Cast members are not only given different clothes to wear than the ones they initially were wearing, but they must also be searched to ensure they are not smuggling food, matches or other items to camp.

17 Contestants Are Actually Given Personal Hygiene Items

Cast members are given items like feminine products, birth control, vital medicines, contact lens solution, and sunscreen. However, if you're wondering how some of these contestants never grow body hair, it may be because they got laser hair removal before going on the show, according to Today.

16 Jeff Probst And The Film Crew Live Large During Production

Depending on the location, crew members are usually put in hotels or even create temporary tent cities where even host Jeff Probst lives in during filming. According to Today, everyone except the contestants eats their meals in a large catering tent, which opens as early as 4 a.m. so the film crew doesn't miss a thing.

15 A Producer Always Stays With A Cast Member Who Is Exiled

Producers don't want to miss anything that'll make for good television, so they are constantly with the cast members. Today reported that at Exile Island, a producer stays with the contestant that has been exiled and is all equipped with a camera and other film gear.

14 Cast Members Are Never Alone

Cast members will never find themselves alone, unless it's to do their business. Film crews don't want to miss anything vital, so they stay on the island all day and night and are also there for the cast's safety. These film crews usually work in camouflaged areas where there is food, cots, and equipment, writes Today.

13 Before Every Challenge, Contestants See A Medic

Minor injuries are part of the game, but before every challenge, contestants visit individually with the show's medics to make sure no one is dealing with serious issues. One medic explained, "they're playing for the game of Survivor for $1 million. So, we try to have as little to do with them as possible."

12 Teams Actually Get To Discuss A Challenge Before They Compete In Them

The team of tribes is able to walk through challenges before competing in them and are even allowed to ask questions and strategize during that time. Accompanying the tribes is someone from CBS' standards and practices division, who makes sure each tribe has the same information so that the challenges are fair, according to Today.

11 Producers Make Contestants Re-Enact Scenes For The Camera

According to Insider, executive producer Mark Burnett admitted to reenacting scenes to get better shots. There also have been body doubles used for the same reason. This doesn't make it quite seem as though the show is the true "reality" show we all thought it was.

10 Contestants Don't Really Walk Miles On Foot To Tribal Council

We are all familiar with the contestants picking up their torches and walking what seems like miles to Tribal Council. According to Today, these images are only for the first and last parts of the trip. In fact, cast members are transported, driven in vehicles with black plastic covering the windows so they don't see where they are.

9 Cast Members Must Wait For Cameras To Roll To Interact With One Another

After arriving to challenges or Tribal Councils, contestants are kept in a waiting area until Jeff Probst calls them, which is the part we see on television. Today also notes that cast members are not allowed to talk to one another until cameras are rolling either at challenges or back at camp, so we don't miss any moments.

8 Tribal Council Can Actually Last Over An Hour

Tribal Council is a lot longer than what viewers see on television. In fact, these meetings can last up to 90 minutes. Thankfully, there are editors who show only the good parts since most of it is actually pretty boring, according to Today.

7 There Is A Team Of Young Crew Members Who Run Through Challenges Twice Before The Cast Does

A group of young crew members, called The Dream Team, actually runs through challenges at least twice before the contestants do them. Production does this so that the film crew can land the best shots while filming. This dress rehearsal is also shown to viewers when Jeff Probst explains the challenges to the contestants, Today reported.

6 Production And Jeff Probst Already Know Who Will Be Voted Out

When Jeff Probst goes to "tally the votes" at Tribal Council, he's actually going to talk to producers who watch the confessional video footage live in a production booth far away from the contestants. So, Probst and the production team pretty much know how the "tribe has spoken."

5 Production Organizes Votes So That It Seems More Dramatic

To give the show more drama, the votes are always organized and certain contestants votes are shown on television to give viewers that shock factor. According to Today, votes that Jeff reads first are usually the ones viewers have already seen.

4 Cast Members Who Make It To The Jury Live At A Special Location On The Island

Contestants who make it to the jury stay at nearby camps or facilities, remaining at an area called Ponderosa. The jury needs to remain on the island since they need to attend Tribal Council every third day. According to Today, the show's fans can even follow life at Ponderosa on an online-only series.

3 Every Contestant Gets A Pay Check

According to Insider, every person who competes on the show gets a paycheck, but it all depends on how long they are in the game. The second-place prize is $100,000, while third place receives $85,000. Obviously, first place gets the whopping $1 million.

2 There Is A Reason Why Cars Aren't Given Out As Prizes Anymore

Many of the seasons featured contestants winning a car, however no Survivor who has ever won the car has gone to win the entire game. According to Reel Rundown, it's become known as the "car curse" and in recent years, there hasn't been a car giveaway.

1 Survivor: Cook Islands Was The Most Uncomfortable Season

Survivor: Cook Islands had a very strange theme when contestants were divided by their race: Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian and African American. According to Reel Rundown, this made the cast members very uncomfortable and even viewers felt odd watching this specific season.