After a long drought, “Survivor” is back with all the intrigue and annoying players we’ve come to expect after 40 seasons of the first and ultimate reality game show.
The season, delayed by a global pandemic, is set in Fiji and will feature new twists and turns. Show host Jeff Probst has already warned the audience that we’re going to hate them — at first, but then we’ll learn to love them.
In a promotional video for the show, Probst said every time they’ve tried something new, whether it’s mixing up tribes or hiding immunity idols around the “island,” viewers complained mightily at first, but then went on to complain if the season didn’t include them.
One major change this season is the length of the stay on Fiji and thus the pace of show. Instead of spending 39 days in the jungle, the competition wraps up in 26. There also will be some interactive elements during broadcasts.
So let’s meet the players and size up their chances of having their torches snuffed before the final vote is in.
Tribe names this season are based on the Fijian words for flood, wave and lightning. They are Luvu, represented by blue; Ua, wearing green; and Yase in yellow.
Brad Reese, 50
- Shawnee, Wyoming
- Rancher
- Ua tribe
Brad is a passionate cattle rancher who says he is a lover of life and ready to play a confident game. He’s also very proud to be the first contestant from Wyoming. He’s got mad skills at herding cattle, but can he herd his fellow survivors? We fear his trail ride will end faster than a jackrabbit looking down the wrong end of a coyote.
Danny McCray, 33
- Frisco, Texas
- Ex-NFL player
- Luvu Tribe
Danny, who played free safety and special teams for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears, says his life experience and willingness to do whatever it takes is what will help him get to the end. Sad to say, everyone thinks all football players made big bucks and are therefore undeserving of the million dollar prize. We think Danny could be signing on to play with the Loser Lodge Lambs, as in sacrificial.
David Voce, 35
- Chicago, Illinois
- Neurosurgeon
- Yase tribe
David says he doesn’t see a place for loyalty in the game of “Survivor.” Dr. David could soon learn that if you aren’t loyal to at least a few people, they will have no compunction about voting your surgeon butt right off the island. Come on, people, it’s not brain surgery.
Deshawn Radden, 26
- Miami, Florida
- Medical student
- Luvu tribe
Deshawn, described as a “charismatic medical student,” plans to use his social charm to further his game. Oh, we just love it when players try to be charming. In fact, we gobble them up at a special banquet back at Loser Lodge.
Eric Abraham, 51
- San Antonio, Texas
- Cyber security analyst
- Yase tribe
Eric’s strategy — prepare yourselves — is to start “day one” getting to know his team. Yeah, no one has ever thought of that one. But at least when his team realizes he’s just pandering to them, trying to get on their good sides, he’ll know all about their hobbies and favorite foods when they vote him off.
Erika Casupanan, 32
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Communications manager
- Luvu tribe
Erika is hoping her positive attitude will make up for her lack of outdoor skills. We know that when we’re struggling to keep warm and dry in a monsoon, because we can’t build a good shelter, and nearly starving to death because we can’t make fire, it’s always great to have someone to sing Kumbaya with.
Evvie Jagoda, 28
- Arlington, Mass.
- Ph.D student
- Yase tribe
Evvie, a student at Harvard, is hoping to find a partner to go far with in the game. Why do we have this image of Evvie wearing a pink suit and carrying a cute Chihuahua in a purse? But we hope, like Elle Woods, she’ll have more skills than she appears to have.
Genie Chen, 46
- Portland, Oregon
- Grocery clerk
- Ua tribe
Genie, described as a “funny grocery store worker,” hopes to be herself and follow her instincts throughout the game. Every season of “Survivor” needs a funny grocery store worker, and when Probst snuffs her torch, which should be quickly, we hope right after saying “Your tribe has spoken,” he adds, “Clean up on aisle 9,” because that would be classic grocery store humor.
Heather Aldret, 52
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Stay-at-home mom
- Luvu tribe
Heather is not only a mom with mad mom skills, she also used to play on a roller derby team. She’s one tough mother that can make us eat our vegetables, do our chores and vote somebody else the heck off the island. Go, Heather.
Jairus “J.D.” Robinson, 20
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- College student
- Ua tribe
J.D. is a college campus tour guide and assistant kindergarten teacher who hopes to be underestimated early on. We think he’ll be so underestimated that he’ll find himself conducting tours at Loser Lodge. And we’re walking, we’re walking.
Liana Wallace, 20
- Washington, D.C.
- College student
- Yase tribe
Liana says she wants to “lead with authenticity but will do whatever it takes” to further her game, which coincidentally is what she said on her college application to get into Georgetown. When players say things like this, it just makes us feel tired all over.
Naseer Muttalif, 37
- Morgan Hill
- Sales manager
- Luvu tribe
The Bay Area will be cheering on Naseer, who believes that growing up in Sri Lanka will give him an edge on his competition. We sincerely hope he has a backup plan because Sri Lanka isn’t Fiji, and he’ll have 17 other players to point that out to him. But we always root for the home team, so go, Naseer.
Ricard Foyé, 31
- Sedro-Woolley, Washington
- Flight attendant
- Ua tribe
Ricard, a gay flight attendant who is hard of hearing, plans to play strong but not come off as a threat. He’s really hoping to be the first “brown, gay, hard of hearing” winner. Well, we all need our dreams, no matter how unlikely they are.
Sara Wilson, 24
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Healthcare consultant
- Ua tribe
Sara, who describes herself as athletic, has a plan to lay low until she finds the right moment to make a move. We imagine her sitting in her room at Loser Lodge, slapping her forehead as she realizes that the right moment was sometime before her torch was snuffed.
Shantel Smith, 34
- Washington, D.C.
- Pastor
- Ua tribe
Shantel plans to “offer authentic relationships,” but knows how to be sneaky when the time comes. We’re not sure we like that strategy for a pastor, but it might work. Probably won’t, but along with unreasonable dreams, you’ve got to have faith, right?
Sydney Segal, 26
- Brooklyn, New York
- Law student
- Luvu tribe
Sydney says she’s a confident law student (aren’t they all?) who is ready to shake things up with her wild personality. And here, ladies and gentlemen, we present the most annoying and irritating player of the season. Of that, we’re confident.
Tiffany Seely, 47
- Plainview, New York
- Teacher
- Yase tribe
Tiffany apparently has been having her students work together like a tribe, which she believes will help her get far in the game. Yes, Tiff, but how many of those students were secretly plotting to vote you out of the teachers’ lounge?
Xander Hastings, 21
- Chicago, Illinois
- App developer
- Yase tribe
Xander says he wants to be “a provider and a good presence” for the rest of the tribe in order to gain their trust. Somehow, we don’t think they’ll be in the market for that, but we sure appreciate his trying.
“Survivor 41” returns with a 2-hour season opener, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, on CBS.
