Cue the drums, begin the chanting, sharpen the knives — “Survivor” is again.
Season 43 of the unique torch-snuffing competitors, the place the lone survivor will get $1 million and bragging rights, kicks off in a two-hour opener at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 on CBS.
A solid of 18 hopefuls will as soon as once more be battling the weather and one another on Fiji, which has turn into the defacto “Survivor” island. Listed below are brief profiles of the gamers and our prediction on how they’ll do.
Vesi tribe (crimson)
Cody Assenmacher, 35
Hometown: Preston, Iowa; now lives in Honolulu, Hawaii
Occupation: Elevator gross sales
Assenmacher, who plans to take a mullet-like method to recreation play — relationship constructing within the entrance, wild technique within the again — likes going out with buddies, touring and being outside. His pet peeves are lazy individuals, social media addicts and individuals who clip their nails in public.
Survivability: We predict he’ll have ups and downs, however will finally discover himself within the Loser Lodge foyer, ready for the elevator to the basement.
Jesse Lopez, 30
Hometown: Venice, California; now lives in Durham, North Carolina
Occupation: Political science Ph.D.
Lopez has turned his life round, going from a gang member to a well-educated father of two. He, like all the remainder, is an enormous fan of “Survivor,” however he’s seemingly the one one who has studied voting conduct as a part of a Ph.D. His favourite hobbies are taking part in chess together with his son, dancing together with his daughter and binge-watching TV together with his spouse. His pet peeves are quitters, individuals who complain about issues however aren’t keen to vary, and personalised license plates.
Survivability: Lopez ought to go far, perhaps even to the ultimate three.
Dwight Moore, 22
Hometown: Palo Alto, now lives in Collierville, Tennessee
Occupation: Graduate Scholar
Moore presents a weighty resume that features boasts a few journalism profession that features many star-studded interviews and years of expertise, regardless of his younger age. When not being a veteran journalist and sumptuous scholar, Moore enjoys snowboarding, videogames and tutoring. His dislikes are “somebody making a reference to ‘The Workplace’ inside two seconds of studying his first identify, vanity and individuals who refuse to make use of flip alerts whereas driving.”
Survivability: Moore is little question good, however does he know what bear is probably the most fierce, or easy methods to develop beets? We predict he's going to get a fast lesson in humility, having his torch snuffed inside seconds of getting it lighted. That’s what she mentioned.
Nneka Ejere, 43
Hometown: Weatherford, Texas
Occupation: Pharmacist
Because the oldest girl of the season, Ejere plans to do some neighborhood constructing and killing with kindness. Ejere is aware of a factor about taking dangers having immigrated from Nigeria with two youngsters whereas pregnant with a 3rd. Her hobbies embrace touring, biking and cooking, and her pet peeves are mediocrity and laziness.
Survivability: Ejere faces a frightening job of proving her relevance whereas avoiding the “let’s do away with the ‘previous’ girl” technique that has permeated “Survivor” because the first season. We hope she goes far, however we’re reserving her a room at Loser Lodge simply in case.
Justine Brennan, 29
Hometown: Sunnyvale; now lives in Marina Del Rey
Occupation: Cyber safety gross sales
Brennan is pleased with her bargaining expertise and problem-solving, declaring that when she banged up the passenger door on her dad and mom’ 20-year-old Lexus, she was capable of get a good worth on a brand new door and get it put in in order that it’s hardly noticeable. Her hobbies are cooking, oil portray and golfing, and he or she dislikes individuals strolling slowly in entrance of her, individuals who don’t say thanks if you open the door for them, and passive-aggressive individuals.
Survivability: Brennan’s gross sales pitch would possibly get her to the merge, however then she’ll be promoting cyber safety packages at Loser Lodge. We’re positive she’ll keep in mind to say thanks when her torch is snuffed.
Noelle Lambert, 25
Hometown: Londonderry, New Hampshire; now lives in Manchester, New Hampshire
Occupation: U.S. Paralympian
Lambert had her leg amputated after an accident in 2016, however she shortly returned to taking part in lacrosse and in 2018, competed in observe and subject on the Tokyo Paralympic Video games. Her technique going into “Survivor” will probably be to encompass herself with bodily threats till she will place herself on the prime. Her hobbies are snowboarding, touring and hanging with buddies; pet peeves embrace lazy and phony individuals and sluggish drivers.
Survivability: Lambert is a wild card. She’s more likely to be fashionable, however her tribemates will see her as too harmful to let her make it into the finals.
Baka tribe (Yellow)
Mike Gabler, 52
Hometown: Houston, Texas; now lives in Meridian, Idaho
Occupation: Coronary heart valve specialist
Gabler has been a fan of “Survivor” because the first season, but when he has a recreation technique in thoughts, he’s holding it to himself. When requested why he believes he can win, his reply was a confused “Sure.” His favourite hobbies are tenting, looking, fishing and snowboarding; pet peeves are unfairness and males in skinny denims.
Survivability: We expect Gabler will probably be looking for dad denims on the Loser Lodge Boutique earlier than lengthy.
Owen Knight, 30
Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland; now lives in New Orleans, Louisiana
Occupation: Faculty admissions director
Knight considers himself a triple-threat in “Survivor,” capable of play a superb social recreation, be bodily with out being a significant risk, and have a successful technique. His hobbies are backpacking, mountaineering, video video games and taking and training health courses, whereas his pet peeves embrace entitled individuals and people who don’t know what to do at a four-way cease.
Survivability: Knight views himself as a cross between a bro and nerd, however we expect he’ll nonetheless handle to get on the improper aspect of issues. Excellent news, although. There are not any four-way stops at Loser Lodge.
Sami Layadi, 19
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Occupation: Pet cremator
Layadi is the youngest participant this season, and he plans to make the most of that by endearing himself to his fellow gamers, all of the whereas ensuring he is aware of precisely what's going on with everybody each second of the day. His hobbies embrace sports activities, health, and journaling, and he dislikes excuses, laziness and being woke up earlier than midday on weekends.
Survivability: Whereas Layadi intends to turn into everybody’s little brother, everyone knows how annoying these will be. Layadi will probably be despatched to his room fairly shortly.
Elie Scott, 31
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia; now lives in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah
Occupation: Medical psychologist
Scott believes her coaching as a psychologist, specializing in PTSD, will assist her perceive her tribemates and switch them to her perspective. And if that doesn’t work, then she plans to turn into an “benefit queen.” Her hobbies are mountaineering, snowboarding and karaoke at dive bars, whereas her pet peeves embrace people who find themselves thoughtless or deliberately hurtful to others. “Social injustice and discrimination make my blood boil. I'll at all times communicate up after I observe it, even when it will get me into bother.”
Survivability: We at all times suppose understanding motivations is an enormous help in forming technique, however we additionally know that individuals who get too emotionally labored up on “Survivor” achieve this at their very own peril.
Morriah Younger, 28
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Instructor
Younger describes herself as colourful, energetic and joyful — three issues that are likely to get tossed on the aspect of the path when issues get unhealthy on “Survivor.” Younger, nevertheless, believes in herself and that she has what it takes to make it to the winner’s circle. Her hobbies are purchasing, touring and creating content material, and he or she very a lot doesn’t like Unfavorable Nancys, Debbie Downers and bullies.
Survivability: Oh, honey, “Survivor” is stuffed with Unfavorable Nancys, Debbie Downers and bullies. We’ve bought a pleasant room for you at Loser Lodge, the place you'll be able to create all of the content material you need.
Jeanine Zheng, 24
Hometown: South Hamilton, Massachusetts; now dwelling in San Francisco
Occupation: UX Designer
Zheng believes she has the flexibility to take a seat between a number of belief clusters, juggling the various nuances of her alliances whereas being athletic, good and strategic. Her hobbies are backpacking, particularly if it means sleeping below the celebrities, images and working. Pet peeves are being mansplained to and other people on their telephones whereas she’s hanging out.
Survivability: We wish to help the house staff, however Zheng bought on our improper aspect after we needed to Google what a UX designer is. We nonetheless don’t get it, however we suspect Zheng may have loads of time to clarify it to us whereas cooling her heels at Loser Lodge.
Coco tribe (blue)
James Jones, 37
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
Occupation: Occasion Planner
Jones says he thrives on chaos, and as an occasion planner, he has loads of expertise. He plans to parlay that into getting individuals to love and belief him — and whereas they’re all having a superb time, he’ll be strolling away with the million. Hobbies for Jones embrace curating occasions, discovering the very best cocktails within the metropolis, and studying and writing. Pet peeves embrace actually unhealthy customer support and pushy gross sales individuals.
Survivability: Women and gents, now we have a entrance runner. However keep in mind, the fates will be merciless.
Ryan Medrano, 25
Hometown: Savannah, Georgia; now lives in El Paso, Texas
Occupation: Warehouse affiliate
Medrano was born 3 months untimely with delicate cerebral palsy. Medical doctors mentioned he’d by no means stroll, however he did, and he did far more. These early experiences, he says, have given him insights that can assist him anticipate the strikes of his tribe. He likes to fish, hike and do carpentry, and he dislikes bullies, laziness and self-entitlement.
Survivability: Medrano feels like a pleasant man, so do we actually have to inform you the place good guys sometimes end on “Survivor?”
Geo Bustamante, 36
Hometown: Miami, Florida; now dwelling in Honolulu, Hawaii
Occupation: Mission supervisor
Bustamante needed to be on “Survivor” so badly that he stop his job with a purpose to play, which supplies him additional motivation. It’s not the primary time he’s skilled danger, nevertheless, rising up in a tricky neighborhood and experiencing homelessness. His hobbies are mountaineering, touring and diving, and he has a robust dislike for laziness and individuals who lack frequent courtesy.
Survivability: There’s little question that Bustamante has the motivation and drive to go far, however his tribe will probably be equally motivated to vote him off.
Lindsay Carmine, 42
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina; now dwelling in Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Pediatric nurse
Carmine says she intentionally comes throughout as non-threatening, however she has a deep and rising aggressive spirit that can shock lots of people, together with her tribe. Her hobbies are volunteering, touring, studying, exercising, gardening and dealing on tasks on her household’s homestead, and her pet peeves are individuals who lower in line, smack their gum or don’t mute their telephones after they play video games on them.
Survivability: Carmine is an incredible, caring and hard-working nurse, and we expect she’ll do properly, however simply miss the mark.
Karla Cruz Godoy, 28
Hometown: San Diego; now lives in Newark, Delaware
Occupation: Instructional undertaking supervisor
Godoy’s dad and mom had been Mexican immigrants who had her after they had been simply 16, a background that she says provides her resilience. Moreover, she says her skill to adapt, and be gregarious will get her the win. Her hobbies are touring, brunching and karaoke, and he or she has a dislike for tardiness, pessimism and sluggish drivers.
Survivability: We hear Loser Lodge has a wonderful karaoke evening, each evening.
Cassidy Clark, 26
Hometown: Plano, Texas; now lives in Austin, Texas
Occupation: Designer
Clark was chosen to play in season 41 and was simply days from departure, when COVID shut down the world in 2020. These two idle years, she says, have given her extra alternative to organize. Her hobbies are trend design and most types of artwork, thrifting her grandparent’s previous garments and knickknacks, skating, boxing and underwater exploring. Her pet peeves are narrow-minded, judgmental individuals, and people who haven't any reverence for Mom Nature.
Survivability: We’re going to strive actually exhausting to love Clark, however we expect her reverence for Mom Nature is for a distinct Mom Nature, not the one which hangs out on “Survivor” and slaps you round.
Joan Morris has watched each season of “Survivor,” after initially espousing the notion that it represented the top of civilization as we knew it. Regardless of all these hours of viewing, each season comes as a shock to her.