The chosen 18, representing all seven of CBS' past "Survivor" seasons, were
announced Monday during the network's "Early Show." They face off when the hit
reality-challenge series returns for its new edition after the Super Bowl
telecast on Feb. 1.
The contestants are:
_ Richard Hatch (news),
winner of the original "Survivor: Pulau Tiga," along with Rudy Boesch, Sue
Hawk and Jenna Lewis.
_ Tina Wesson, winner of "Survivor: The Australian Outback," as well as her
runner-up, Colby Donaldson, and Amber Brkich, Jerri Manthey (news)
and Alicia Calaway.
_ Ethan Zohn, winner of "Survivor: Africa," plus Lex van den Berghe and Tom
Buchanan.
_ From "Survivor: Marquesas," Kathy Vavrick-O'Brien and Rob Mariano.
_ From "Survivor: Thailand," Shii Ann Huang.
_ Jenna Morasca, winner of "Survivor: The Amazon," and Rob Cesternino.
_ Rupert Boneham, from "Survivor: Pearl Islands."
Breaking with tradition, the 18 contestants will be broken into three
tribes, not the usual two.
For "Survivor" handicappers, the invited contestants represented little
surprise. Indeed, the roster had been posted for weeks on at least one fan Web
site.
"Survivor: All-Stars" will represent another return: to the Pearl Islands
off Panama, where the most recent "Survivor" was set.
Host Jeff Probst, of course, returns.
The first "Survivor" premiered in May 2000, and became a surprise hit, then
a national phenomenon, before Hatch took the title in the finale that aired
that August. Subsequent editions have continued to attract a strong audience.