CBS announces 16 of 18 castaways for 'Survivor: South Pacific'

Two former castaways (to be announced later this week) return to seek redemption

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CBS today announced 16 of 18 castaways who will compete against each other on "Survivor: South Pacific," when the Emmy-winning series returns for its 23rd season with a special 90-minute edition, Wednesday, Sept. 14 (8-9:30 p.m.), on the CBS Television Network. Two of the 18 castaways, to be revealed later this week, are former players who will return to seek redemption.

The 18 castaways will be divided into two tribes of nine: the Savaii Tribe and the Upolu Tribe, named after the two islands of Samoa. The tribes are comprised of individuals from all different backgrounds with the same ultimate goal: to be the sole survivor. While 16 of the contestants are new to the competition, two are former castaways who will be given another chance to compete for the million-dollar prize.

The "Redemption Island" twist returns in "Survivor: South Pacific" in which castaways who have been eliminated from the game will have an opportunity to return for a chance to win the top prize. Each week at Tribal Council, when a castaway is voted off, they will be sent to live alone on Redemption Island and, in order to stay in the game, will need to compete in a duel against the next person eliminated at Tribal Council. The winner of each duel earns the right to continue fighting for an opportunity to return to the game and the chance to compete for the title of sole survivor, while the loser is sent home.

For more detailed information about "Survivor: South Pacific" and the castaways, visit www.cbs.com/survivor. Follow the show on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Survivor) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/Survivor_Tweet).