New Season
For its 16th season, the hit reality series Survivor is bringing back favourite past contestants from previous seasons to compete against fans who have idolised them, Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites premieres Thursday, February 14th at 8:30pm on 3.
When the producers of the reality series initially began mapping out season 16 of Survivor, they considered making it their second All-Stars edition.
But then they considered something else. ”None of us felt like a full-on All-Stars was the right choice, because we did it once and since then so many other shows have done it,” Jeff Probst told CBS.com. “It felt like we needed a twist.”
And when has this seminal reality show not embraced a twist? Enter the Fans vs. Favorites concept of Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites, featuring one tribe of former Survivor standouts, and another tribe of newbies who idolised the players they are about to compete against.
The two tribes will be marooned amidst the Rock Islands of Palau, Micronesia. The skills of the former castaways will be put to the test while the tribe of first-time competitors will see if their enthusiasm and passion for the game is enough to distinguish them as worthy competitors.
So who was lucky enough to make the cut?
The Favorites tribe will feature contestants going all the way back to season seven, including two from the recently completed Survivor: China - gravedigger James Clement and the person who engineered his ousting, Amanda Kimmel.
Survivor: Fiji sends its most popular player, 55-year-old Yau-Man Chan, while the Cook Islands season is responsible for three contestants: flirt-tastic Parvati Shallow, triple-crossing Jonathan Penner, and challenge dominator Ozzy Lusth.
Rounding out the tribe is Survivor: Panama’s Cirie Fields, Vanuatu’s Eliza Orlins and Ami Cusack, and Survivor’s biggest villain ever; Pearl Islands‘ Jon Dalton who once famously faked his own grandmother’s death to further himself in the game.
“You can’t do the season and not invite your most notorious person,” Probst said of Dalton returning to the Survivor series.
Dalton competed under the "Jonny Fairplay" moniker during Survivor's pirate-themed seventh instalment in 2003, in which he finished third and failed to live up to his self-appointed nickname when he faked that he had just learned of his grandmother's death to win a Reward Challenge.
The Survivor: Pearl Islands appearance landed Dalton several additional reality television roles that have him come full circle, as he returns to compete as one of the ten returning castaways on Survivor: Fans vs. Favourites.
He is the only Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites castaway from a Survivor edition that pre-dates the show's 2004 All-Stars edition.
Dalton who’s engaged to former America's Next Top Model fourth-season finalist Michelle Deighton, recently welcomed his first child, "it definitely changes the way you go into the game. The last time I went in I was playing for me. Now I'm playing for my little girl," Dalton told People magazine.
"Motivation wise I've got to do the best thing for my little girl, but at the same time I'm still the same scumbag as I was before,” he adds.
Make sure to tune in to the season premiere of Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites, screening Thursday, February 14th at 8:30pm on 3, and find out what tricks Dalton has up his sleeve this time around.
Thursday, February 14th at 8:30pm
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Rikki
Sure I'm not the only one who's been watching this.
And will miss it until ti comes back again later this year in Gabon!!
But as for the final in he Fans v Favourites - was not impressed at all with Parvatti winning! OK she played the game and a lot of it for her was flirting and playing 2 sides at once, so reckon most of those on the panel were people she has flirted with!
Amanda a much more sincere person I thought, and deserved to win, not only through playing well, but by being loyal as much as she could!
Did feel for Cerie - because as she said, she was always an outsider. Not one of the original 4-some or one of the group of girls who got together. So good on her for lasting so long! Would have liked her in the final I decided with Amanda.
My most hated is Natalie!!!!! Can't stand her.
Funny to see Eric still a Survivor fan and as innocent seeming as ever.
And still star-struck.
He'll be remembered fondly.
The best part of all though was Ozzie telling Amanda how he loves her!
That made everything else not matter - as far as I was concerned!
They found each other and love, never mind about the money.
Ahhhh.
Rikki
What an idiot Eric was! Being taken in and giving up his immunity!!!!!
He said he learnt a few lessons about life - yeh don't be taken in and believe what any female tells you.
Though we're not all like that - and guess they are playing the game!
Don't like any of the final 4 females - and especially Natalie!
Don't want any of them to win - though as one has to guess I'd pick Amanda!
Rikki
Felt so sorry for Jason. He seemed like a decent guy - but too trusting. And was taken in 2 weeks in a row!
Hate that woman - can't even remember her name! But just want something to happen to take away that mean over-confident attitude she has now! Playing the game I guess, but just nasty and thinking she's just so smart.
She's got just too cockey with her 'girl-power'!
Her and Parvatti!
Changed my mind from earlier on and now supporting James and Amanda - not much hope for them now though I reckon! Get rid of Parvatti too! Get rid of all those females!!!!!
You can see I get very involved in this show and the people on it.
Rikki
Not much talk about this, this series. But had to come along and say I was how loved seeing Ozzie get voted off! Was clapping and laughing. He was so caught out!!
He got so over-confident and thought he was running everything and everyone there! Good on them for seeing sense!
Liked him the first time he was on - but not this time at all, he so needed to be put in his place, to be shown he wasn't as amazing as he thought he was!!
Loved Eliza's faces she was making on the jury when is was announced, really funny! Wish she was still there.
Go Jason -hope he manages to stay - with all those females ganging up together!
Get rid of Parvati - that's what I'd like to see next!
Rikki
Really sorry to see Yau-man go!
That's the problem with being on a show before I guess, everyone knows your strengths - so they know how smart he is.
From liking Cerie at the beginning and her making me laugh, by the end of the last episode, didn't like her at all any more!
What Jonathan was trying to tell her made sense! He just got so worked up and made it worse for himself!
Yes, wanted them to get rid of Parvati!
Not favouring anyone at all right now too much.
guest
yeah i was pleasantly surprised when the fans won the first challenge! it gave the faves tribe a good smack in the face. can't wait for the next episode, but the parvati-james-amanda-ozzy alliance bugs me. hope yau-man makes it to the end!
Rikki
Really enjoyed this - more than usual even! Loved seeing so many of my past favourites - and but not so happy to see so many of the ones I hated in the past too.
Need a good mix though I guess.
Loved seeing Yau-man again - and James and Ozzie - Jonathan too really, and Cirie.
Ones who were never my favourites, but make up the numbers I guess are Parvati and Ami.
Then of course Johnny Fairplay - my most hated before. What on earth happened to him this time? Was thinking he was just playing his usual games - but then did go! Can't understand it - still think there's a motive behind it - can't believe he's really a nice caring guy.:?
But not impressed with James now, flirting with Pavati - and Ozzie with Amanda - thought all 3 of them were better than getting involved like that. So am now supporting the other group - the Jonathan, Ami,Yau-man, Eliza group.
Fans seem a good bunch of people too - from what we've seen of them.