January 12, 2007 - CBS has announced the cast for the upcoming Survivor: Fiji. The latest installment in the popular reality series features 19 new castaways; a notable number, since the show has never begun with an odd number of participants. Considering the cast has always been split into even numbered tribes, this begs the question of how that will work with 19 people.
A couple of new twists have been announced for this season. The tribe that wins the first immunity challenge will, "return to the camp of copious resources, while the losing tribe must relocate to a new island with only a pot, a machete and a water source."
Exile Island will once again be a factor, but unlike previous seasons, there is not an immunity idol hidden there. Instead, there will be a hidden immunity idol located somewhere around each tribe's camp, and those sent to Exile Island will get clues on how to find it. Of course this means that two contestants have the potential to have hidden immunity at the same time.
Like the most recent season, Survivor: Cook Islands, the contestants on Survivor: Fiji are a very racially diverse group; much more than in previous years. However, it doesn't appear as though producer Mark Burnett will once again begin the season in the controversial manner that Survivor: Cook Islands did, where the tribes where split up by racial group.
Survivor: Fiji premieres Thursday, February 8th at 8:00 pm ET/PT on CBS.
The contestants are:
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28
Los Angeles (originally from Colombia)
Attorney
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34
Lafayette, La.
Construction Worker
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54
Martinez, Calif. (born in Hong Kong, raised in Borneo, Malaysia)
Computer Engineer
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35
Santa Monica, Calif. (originally from Kansas City, Kan.)
Advertising Executive
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27
Los Angeles (originally from New Orleans)
Fashion Stylist
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27
Lake Charles, La.
Non-Profit Fundraiser
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42
Los Angeles
Civil Engineer Manager
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25
Oxnard, Calif.
Loan Officer
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25
Wilmington, N. C.
Cheerleading Coach
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27
Boulder, Colo. (originally from Montpelier, Vt.)
Interactive Internet Producer
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52
Ross, Calif. (born in Hong Kong)
Architect
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25
Wheeling, Ill. (born in Seoul, Korea)
Loan Manager
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36
Los Angeles (originally from Miami)
Customer Service Representative
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28
Los Angeles (originally from Boston)
Bartender
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28
Miami Beach, Fla. (originally from Puerto Rico)
Advertising Executive
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32
Compton, Calif.
Expert Witness Locator
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55
Ramsey, Minn.
School Bus Driver
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38
San Antonio, Texas (originally from Venezuela)
Single Mom
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23
Cincinnati, Ohio
Student
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