Survivor will be showing the latest installment - Survivor Gabon - in High Definition, meaning an even better experience for those with HD TVs out there. The 17th season of Survivor has 18 castaways:

Randy Bailey, 49; wedding videographer
Jacque Berg, 25; medical sales
Danny “GC” Brown, 26; maintenance man
Michelle Chase, 24; music production assistant
Crystal Cox, 29; former Olympic gold medalist
Robert “Bob” Crowley, 58; physics teacher
Kelly Czarnecki, 22; retail sales
Ace Gordon, 27; jewelry sales
Charlie Herschel, 29; lawyer
Ken Hoang, 22; professional gamer
Corinne Kaplan, 29; pharmaceutical sales
Dan Kay, 32; lawyer
Jessica “Sugar” Kiper, 29; pinup model
Gillian Larson, 61; retired nurse
Marcus Lehman, 28; doctor
Susie Smith, 47; hairdresser
Paloma Soto-Castillo, 24; student
Matty Whitmore, 29; personal trainer

Oh man, I can’t wait for Survivor China. Instead of the rumored All-Star edition which would bring back favorite past Survivor contestants, this time they are bringing in celebs to be contestants.

Both World Wrestling Entertainment star Ashley Massaro and professional tournament poker player Jean-Robert Bellande are both contestants for the million dollar prize… which also brings up the question on whether or not the prize will be upped this season as an enticement for celebs to do it. Or if the cash would go to charity (or be split). Hmmmm….

I am looking forward to this edition of Survivor. But boy, what I would pay to see Paris Hilton as a contestant!!!

This is a first in all the seasons of Suvivor… the winner of Survivor: Fiji pulled off the unimaginable and nabbed all 9 of the votes cast by the former castaways.

Earl Cole, a senior advertising executive in Los Angeles, was a unanimous winner in Sunday night’s Survivor: Fiji finale.
The 35-year-old Kansas City, Kan., native beat Los Angeles civil engineer Cassandra Franklin, 42, and Dre “Dreamz” Herd, 25, a cheerleading coach from Wilmington, N.C., in the finals - the reality show’s 14th season.

Host Jeff Probst said the 9-0 vote was the show’s first shutout.

Yau-Man Chan, a 54- year-old computer engineer, made it to the final four before being voted off, despite making a deal with Herd, who reneged.

Kenward “Boo” Bernis, 34, of Lafayette, La., was voted off earlier in the episode.

Guess he is a shoo-in for a future Survivor All-Stars edition!

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Survivor has surprisingly managed to avoid too many scandals, except for the whole Richard Hatch affair and a few sex tapes. But looks like Alex Angarita, from the Survivor Fiji is planning on jumping to the top of the Survivor scandal list after he attacked a peace office who was responding to a 911 call.

“Survivor: Fiji” star Alex Angarita faced off with a judge in Los Angeles County Superior Court today after cops claim he attacked a peace officer who responded to a 911 call on February 9.

According to the felony complaint, Angarita, a Harvard Law grad, “used threats and violence to deter and prevent” two officers from performing their duties. The 28-year-old reality star was charged with two felony counts of resisting arrest, one felony count of battery with injury on a peace officer and one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana. It is unclear why the police were called, but the National Enquirer reports that Angarita was involved in a “brawl” with his girlfriend.

TMZ also has a video posted here.

He spent a mere 3 hours in jail before someone (not sure whether it was his assaulted girlfriend or not) bailed him out for $20,000. He will be back in court on March 14th.

Kristin at E! has some great scoop on Survivor 15, the first of two Survivor editions planned for the 2007-2008 season. And it looks like it will be in China!

From Moxie in New Hampshire: Any word on the next Survivor?
Inside sources confirm to me that it’s for sure gonna be in China! Pretty cool, right?

I am curious where in China they plan on filming it. This could definitely bring some history lessons into Survivor again, which is one part I always enjoy, especially when it involves an immunity or reward challenge that requires the castaways to try and remember those little history tidbits!

Gotta love the teaser CBS press releases.

One castaway explodes with anger and starts throwing things around camp. Gary’s health continues to deteriorate and a surprise twist at the Immunity Challenge could change the course of the game, on SURVIVOR: FIJI, Thursday, March 1 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Well, first of all, the twist could simply be Gary AKA Poppa Smurf bows out at the Immunity Challenge, or that the immunity challenge turns into a reward challenge instead. And it would give them the opportunity to shake things up, especially when there is an immunity challenge when no one actually has to be eliminated in the end.

Guesses on who is going to flip out back at camp? Unfortunately, the promo doesn’t reveal anything.

Jeff Probst has been doing some talking, and we have been doing some listening! In addition to what we have already told you about (which you can read here) we also have some brand new scoop!

• First off, all castaways will spend the first three days at the fancy camp that has all the bells and whistles, then it is on the third day they get split up into the haves and have-nots.

• Survivor, which is taped well in advance, was not aware that the Apprentice was doing the same kind of haves and have-nots stunt as well. However, Probst says the two shows handle them very differently.
• The nicer camp includes things such as a sofa and sewing machine.
• The have-nots have it so bad they lick rainwater from leaves and celebrate finding a lone pineapple to share.
• The hidden immunity idol gets played more than once this season. No more hoarding!
• Nobody is getting it on this season.
• There might be a final three again instead of just a final two.
• The tribes were uneven because a castaway quit just hours before the filming began.

Survivor begins its Survivor Fiji season on February 8th on CBS.

While the latest Survivor hasn’t even started, CBS has already announced that the popular reality show will be back for two editions next 2007-2008 viewing season. Survivor Fiji, the 14th installment of Survivor airs its premiere episode on February 8th.

Its pretty incredible that Survivor will be airing through at least 16 editions of the show. But I do have to wonder if the 15th or 16th edition might be another round of Survivor All Stars. I so would love to see some of the faves brought back, especially if they go over all the previous years, not just the ones since the last All Stars.

CBS has released the list of new castaways for the upcoming season of Survivor! Here they are, in alphabetical order.

Castaways competing in SURVIVOR: FIJI (in alphabetical order) are:

ALEX ANGARITA
28
Los Angeles (originally from Colombia)
Attorney

KENWARD “BOO” BERNIS
34
Lafayette, La.
Construction Worker

YAU-MAN CHAN
54
Martinez, Calif. (born in Hong Kong, raised in Borneo, Malaysia)
Computer Engineer

EARL COLE
35
Santa Monica, Calif. (originally from Kansas City, Kan.)
Advertising Executive

JESSICA deBEN
27
Los Angeles (originally from New Orleans)
Fashion Stylist

ERICA DUROUSSEAU
27
Lake Charles, La.
Non-Profit Fundraiser

CASSANDRA FRANKLIN
42
Los Angeles
Civil Engineer Manager

LILIANA GOMEZ
25
Oxnard, Calif.
Loan Officer

ANDRIA “DRE” HERD
25
Wilmington, N. C.
Cheerleading Coach

STACY KIMBALL
27
Boulder, Colo. (originally from Montpelier, Vt.)
Interactive Internet Producer

SYLVIA KWAN
52
Ross, Calif. (born in Hong Kong)
Architect

MOOKIE LEE
25
Wheeling, Ill. (born in Seoul, Korea)
Loan Manager

LISETTE “LISI” LINARES
36
Los Angeles (originally from Miami)
Customer Service Representative

JAMES REID
28
Los Angeles (originally from Boston)
Bartender

EDGARDO RIVERA
28
Miami Beach, Fla. (originally from Puerto Rico)
Advertising Executive

ANTHONY ROBINSON
32
Compton, Calif.
Expert Witness Locator

GARY STRITESKY
55
Ramsey, Minn.
School Bus Driver

RITA VERREOS
38
San Antonio, Texas (originally from Venezuela)
Single Mom

MICHELLE YI
23
Cincinnati, Ohio
Student

An interesting mix, although I sure notice that California is definitely represented well! There are also three castaways in their 50s, although no one older than that is on the list.

Also, the castaways number 19… could the person chosen to divide the teams also be ousted after doing so?

You can always count on Survivor to mix things up come the start of a new season, whether it is returned castaways, Exile island or dividing the tribes by race. So the new season of Survivor, branded Survivor Fiji, has not one but a few different twists up its sleeve. This season will have two hidden immunity idols - one at each camp - as well as starting off the season with a single tribe.

A single tribe? Yep, you read that right. All 19 castaways will get dropped off at one camp, where they are actually given supplies instead of having to win reward challenges to get them. And the twist? Oh yes, there definitely is one of those.

Actually, the plan for Survivor: Fiji, premiering Feb. 8, is to group the 19 castaways as one tribe equipped with enough supplies and resources to fashion themselves an exceptionally cozy camp. But come Day 3, one player will be called upon to split the one mass into two. The tribe which then wins the first immunity challenge lives large at the existing camp, while the other is relocated to a separate island with only a pot, a machete and a water source. (Think The Apprentice: L.A., but with millions more viewers.)

Yes, Exile Island will exist in Fiji as well, but with a twist. There will not be an idol hidden on Exile Island, but rather those castaways sent there will receive a clue to find the idol back at camp.

Survivor Fiji premieres on Thursday, February 8th on CBS.

Source

Think you have got what it takes to be the Sole Survivor? Well, Survivor is holding open casting calls, presumably for its 15th installment (since the next one just wrapped up filming!)

First, download the application! (PDF)

Then, hit one of the open casting call locations for your personal interview and see if you make the cut for a shot at a million dollars.

WFRV
December 27th, 4-8pm
The 5th Quarter
2101 American Drive
Little Chute, WI
For more information, visit wfrv.com or call Kristin at 920-430-3621.

WLNS
Thursday January 4th
6pm-8:30pm
The Lansing Boat Show
Lansing Center
333 East Michigan Avenue
Lansing Michigan 48933
For More Information go to: wlns.com

WHP-CBS 21
Saturday January 13th
10am - 1:00pm
the Harrisburg Mall
I-83 and Paxton Street
Harrisburg, PA
More information can be found at www.whptv.com WTKR

Norfolk/Virginia Beach
Friday January 19, 2006
4:00pm - 7:00pm
During the HRADA International Auto Show
At the Virginia Beach Convention Center
1000 19th Street,
Virginia Beach, VA 23451

WBBM
Chicago
Saturday, January 20th, 10a-2p
Majestic Star Casino
One Buffington Harbor Drive
Gary, IN 46406
For more information,
please call 312-212-2422.

KLAS Las Vegas
January 20, 2007, 12N - 5P
Planet Nissan
5850 Centennial Center Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89149

January 27th from 10am-1pm
Ala Moana Shopping Center-Center-stage
1450 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814
For more information, email Sheryl at sferido@kgmb9.com.

KUTV
Salt Lake City
January 12th & 13th, 3-8pm
South Towne Expo Center
9575 South State St.
Sandy, UT

WHBF-TV
Quad Cities, IA/IL
Saturday, January 20th, 10a-6p
The Great Escape
2119 Kimberly Road
Bettendorf, IA
For questions, please call Steve Garman at 309-786-5441.

WAFB
Baton Rouge, LA
Gerry Lane Hummer-Saab (I-10 at Siegen)
Saturday, January 20th
10am – Noon
10945 Reiger Road
Baton Rouge, LA
For questions, please call 225-383-9999.

WLTX- TV
Columbia, SC
Saturday, January 20th, 12n-4pm
WLTX-TV
6027 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC
For more information, viewers can call the station
at 803-776-3600 or visit www.wltx.com.

Survivor’s ready

Not only has Yul been named on of the Sexiest Men Alive by People magazine, is known for his brains with degrees from both Stanford and Yale, but he is also now known as the Sole Survivor of Survivor Cook Islands, and is a cool mil richer. And not only that, he had to do it by beating two others in the final vote by the jury, not just one as has been the case in all the previous Survivors.

Kwon beat Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth in a 5-4 vote. The third person in that final vote - Rebekah “Becky” Lee - didn’t even manage to score a single vote from the jury.

And in an interesting note, the season started full of controversy because of the racially divided teams, but at the end it marked the most racially diverse makeup of survivors the game had ever seen. For the first time, a caucasian was not among the final two (or three, in this case). In fact, the final four did not include any of the caucasian members - the four consisted of an African American, Mexican-born man and two Asian-Americans.

You gotta love those days when hottie Jeff Probst drops the bomb on the survivors and tells them win or lose, both tribes will be voting off a member. And tonight’s episode is that day in Cook Island Survivor land.

“Plan Voodoo” — Win or lose, both tribes must vote one of their own off the island, on SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS, Tonight Thursday, Oct. 19 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

After a feast is put on the line for a reward, the castaways are left in shock when host Jeff Probst tells both tribes they’ll be going to Tribal Council that night. Cristina feels alienated from her tribe after Adam says she is annoying.

Meanwhile, one survivor proposes a plan that may expose the hidden Immunity Idol. Will others follow along or will “Plan Voodoo” backfire on the instigator? One tribe member finds it hard to play the game with integrity and honesty and battles with their guilt. And, the sixth and seventh castaways are voted off the island.

I don’t know why, but for some reason I keep expecting to see a few of those who have already been knocked off to come back somehow. Call it a hunch, but I wouldn’t be surprised in the least.

Survivor: Cook Islands will finish its 13th season on December 17th, with its usual three hour extravaganza. The final episode will run a full two hours, including the voting portion of the tribal council, but as usual, the winner won’t be revealed until the third hour, which also features its usual survivors reunion show.

Rumors have been running around the past few days that JP and Brad hook up the Cook Islands edition of Survivor, and are now dating.  It is unsure if any of their budding romantic relationship will be shown during any of the upcoming episodes or simply ignored.  But viewers are seeing hints at the possibility of a hookup already.  If they do show any of it, it could make the whole racial contoversy surrounding this season look tiny in comparison.

And if both JP and Brad make the finals, it could show a very interesting run-up to the final two, if they both remain in contension for the Sole Survivor this long.  And it will be a far more interesting dynamic than even the twosome of Amber and Boston Rob in the final two of Survivor All Stars. 

I can hardly wait.

The CBS press release for Thursday’s episode of Survivor will be controversial once more.  Now that the racially divided teams have merged, it now becomes a battle of the sexes, with males and females on one tribe pitted against one another.

Can the men and women of this tribe find a way to pull it together and work as a team, or will this division be their downfall? When Candice returns from Exile Island, her tribemates want to know why she thinks the other tribe decided to send her, thus keeping her safe from Tribal Council. In a tactical move, she plays dumb and avoids discussing her ties to the other tribe. J.P.’s dominance and controlling demeanor around camp anger some of the women in his tribe. Will this behavior put a target on his back? As the only member left from his original tribe, Ozzy proves his worth by catching a feast of fish but will this be enough to keep him in the game? And, the fourth castaway is voted off the island.

Catch this episode Thursday night at CBS.