QUICK NOTE:The good folks at XFINITY sent me deep into the Fijian wilderness to bring you an exclusive look at “Survivor: Game Changers.” While I was there I conducted interviews with “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and the entire 20-person cast. I also captured exclusive photos and other behind-the-scenes tidbits. So, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) for up-to-the-minute updates.
The cast for the 34th season of “Survivor” was revealed by CBS on Wednesday afternoon, and they certainly are a familiar bunch. The group of returning players includes three former winners, six people who have played in the last two seasons, and four “Survivor” Hall of Famers.
Name: Aubry Bracco Age: 30 Hometown: Cambridge, MA Previously Played On: “Survivor: Kaoh Rong” – Runner Up Best Known For: Almost quitting early, then rallying to make it to the end.
Name: Caleb Reynolds Age: 28 Hometown: Hopkinsville, KY Previously Played On: “Survivor: Kaoh Rong” – Medically Evacuated Best Known For: The first person to play a second time who didn’t attend Tribal Council his first time.
Name: Ciera Eastin Age: 27 Hometown: Salem, OR Previously Played On: “Survivor: Blood vs. Water” – Finished 5th and Jury Member “Survivor: Second Chance” – Finished 10th and Jury Member Best Known For: Voting out someone. I don’t remember who.
Name: Hali Ford Age: 26 Hometown: San Francisco, CA Previously Played On: “Survivor: Worlds Apart” – Finished 11th and Jury Member Best Known For: Loving nature.
Name: Jeff Varner Age: 50 Hometown: High Point, NC Previously Played On: “Survivor: The Australian Outback” – Finished 10th “Survivor: Second Chance” – Finished 17th Best Known For: Trying to make Tina Wesson vomit.
Name: Malcolm Freberg Age: 29 Hometown: Hermosa Beach, CA Previously Played On: “Survivor: Philippines” – Finished 4th and Jury Member “Survivor: Caramoan” – Finished 9th & Jury Member Best Known For: Asking a bro to, “Hold up.” Then using two idols to eliminate Philip Sheppard.
Name: Michaela Bradshaw Age: 25 Hometown: Fort Worth, TX Previously Played On: “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X” – Finished 14th Best Known For: Not letting a wardrobe malfunction keep her from dominating a challenge.
Name: Sandra Diaz-Twine Age: 41 Hometown: Fayetteville, N.C. Previously Played On: “Survivor: Pearl Islands” – Winner “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” – Winner Best Known For: Being “Survivor’s” only two-time winner, burning hats.
Name: Tony Vlachos Age: 42 Hometown: Jersey City, NJ Previously Played On: “Survivor: Cagayan” – Winner Best Known For: Spy shacks, llama calls, and finding approximately 40 immunity idols.
Name: Troy “Troyzan” Robertson Age: 54 Hometown: Miami, FL Previously Played On: “Survivor: One World” – Finished 8th and Jury Member Best Known For: The only player to own the island he was competing on.
Name: Andrea Boehlke Age: 27 Hometown: New York, NY Previously Played On: “Survivor: Redemption Island” – Finished 5th and Jury Member “Survivor: Caramoan” – Finished 7th and Jury Member Best Known For: Being the first woman to come back from Redemption Island.
Name: Brad Culpepper Age: 47 Hometown: Tampa, FL Previously Played On: “Survivor: Blood vs. Water” – Finished 15th Best Known For: Being cursed out by Marissa Peterson
Name: Cirie Fields Age: 45 Hometown: Norwalk, CT Previously Played On: “Survivor: Panama” – Finished 4th and Jury member “Survivor: Micronesia” – Finished 3rd and Jury member “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” – Finished 17th Best Known For: Convincing Erik Reichenbach to give up his immunity idol.
Name: Debbie Wanner Age: 51 Hometown: Reading, PA Previously Played On: “Survivor: Kaoh Rong” – Finished 9th and Jury Member Best Known For: Nursing Aubry back to health.
Name: James “JT” Thomas Jr. Age: 31 Hometown: Mobile, AL Previously Played On: “Survivor: Tocantins” – Winner “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” – Finished 10th and Jury Member Best Known For: Receiving Every Vote at Final Tribal Council. Giving Russell Hantz more ammunition.
Name: Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth Age: 34 Hometown: Venice, CA Previously Played On: “Survivor: Cook Islands” – Runner-up “Survivor: Micronesia” – Finished 9th and Jury Member “Survivor: South Pacific” – Finished 4th and Jury Member Best Known For: Being one of the most dominant challenge competitors ever.
Name: Sarah Lacina Age: 32 Hometown: Marion, Iowa Previously Played On: “Survivor: Cagayan” – Finished 11th and Jury Member Best Known For: Figuring out that Tony was a police officer before they had ever spoken.
Name: Sierra Thomas Age: 29 Hometown: Roy, UT Previously Played On: “Survivor: Worlds Apart” – Finished 5th and Jury Member Best Known For: Receiving the worst apology ever from Dan Foley.
Name: Tai Trang Age: 52 Hometown: San Francisco Previously Played On: “Survivor: Kaoh Rong” – 2nd Runner-up Best Known For: Being rewarded for befriending a chicken by singing star Sia.
Name: Zeke Smith Age: 28 Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Previously Played On “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X” – Finished 9th and Jury Member Best Known For: Having the greatest cast introduction video ever.