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'Survivor' brings back 'Sole Survivors' for 40th edition, themed 'Winners at War'

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Tue, Jan 21st 2020 12:20 pm

Premieres with special 2-hour episode Feb. 12, hosted by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst

‘Sole Survivor’ will receive record-breaking $2 million, biggest prize in reality show history

Click here to watch Probst explain “Winners at War”

Click here to watch the teaser trailer for “Winners at War”

CBS recently announced the 20 legendary winners of “Survivor” who will return to compete against each other on the 40th season of the Emmy Award-winning series. The special two-hour premiere airs Wednesday, Feb. 12 (8 p.m., ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst hosts.

The 20th anniversary edition of the groundbreaking series, themed “Winners at War,” unites the most memorable, heroic and celebrated champions from the past two decades in the biggest battle in the show’s history, as the series’ best strategists of all time fight to earn the title of “Sole Survivor” again.

These returning masterminds will compete in epic challenges, face the return of “Edge of Extinction,” which gives voted-out players a second shot to win, and tackle a brand-new layer of the game with the introduction of fire tokens. Fire tokens will serve as currency on the island and add more complexity to the already intense battle. The new twist allows players to use the tokens to buy advantages to help players stay in the game or get themselves back in the game.

Additionally, the winner of this historic season will be awarded $2 million, the largest prize in reality show history.

“To celebrate and honor this momentous 20-year milestone, we created the biggest battle in ‘Survivor’ history!” said executive producer and host Probst. “For the first time ever, 20 winners, who have masterfully proven they can outwit, outplay and outlast in this game, will face off to determine who is the greatest player of all time!”

“Survivor” premiered May 31, 2000, and ultimately changed the television landscape. Since the first group of castaways were marooned on the beaches of Borneo 20 years ago, the game has evolved and adapted. Almost 600 castaways have played the game, with only 38 crowned with the title of “Sole Survivor.” Sandra Diaz-Twine is the lone castaway to earn the title on two separate seasons.

The winners from the early seasons will need to adjust their strategy to use new elements, such as immunity idols and rewards that didn’t exist when they first played.

The series films in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji.

The following are the 20 returning winners competing in “Winners at War”:

•Adam Klein (28), winner of “Millennials vs. Gen-X” (2016)

Hometown: Burlingame, California

Current Residence: Los Angeles

Occupation: Keynote speaker and host

•Amber Mariano (40), winner of “All-Stars” (2004)

Hometown: Beaver, Pennsylvania

Current Residence: Pensacola, Florida

Occupation: Director of marketing and communications

•Ben Driebergen (36), winner of “Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers” (2017)

Hometown: Boise, Idaho

Current Residence: Boise

Occupation: Real estate/stay0at-home dad

•Danni Boatwright (43), winner of “Guatemala” (2005)

Hometown: Tonganoxie, Kansas

Current Residence: Shawnee, Kansas

Occupation: Owner of Sideline Chic

•Denise Stapley (48), winner of “Philippines” (2012)

Hometown: Marion, Iowa

Current Residence: Marion

Occupation: LMHC, AASECT-certified sex therapist

•Ethan Zohn (45), winner of “Africa” (2001)

Hometown: Lexington, Massachusetts

Current Residence: Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Occupation: Social entrepreneur and keynote speaker

•Jeremy Collins (41), winner of “Second Chance” (2015)

Hometown: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Current Residence: Foxboro, Massachusetts

Occupation: Firefighter

•Kim Spradlin-Wolfe (36), winner of “One World” (2012)

Hometown: San Antonio

Current Residence: San Antonio

Occupation: Interior Designer

•Michele Fitzgerald (29), winner of “Kaôh Rōng” (2016)

Hometown: Freehold, New Jersey

Current Residence: Hoboken, New Jersey

Occupation: Business development manager

•Natalie Anderson (33), winner of “San Juan del Sur” (2014)

Hometown: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Current Residence: Edgewater, New Jersey

Occupation: CrossFit trainer

•Nick Wilson (28), winner of “David vs. Goliath” (2018)

Hometown: Williamsburg, Kentucky

Current Residence: Williamsburg

Occupation: Attorney

•Parvati Shallow (36), winner of “Fans vs. Favorites” (2008)

Hometown: Atlanta

Current Residence: Los Angeles

Occupation: Yoga teacher, life coach and speaker

•Rob Mariano (43), winner of “Redemption Island” (2011)

Hometown: Boston

Current Residence: Pensacola, Florida

Occupation: Construction

•Sandra Diaz-Twine (44), winner of “Pearl Islands” (2003) & “Heroes vs. Villains” (2010)

Hometown: Stamford, Connecticut

Current Residence: Riverview, Florida

Occupation: Case Manager at a law firm

•Sarah Lacina (34), winner of “Game Changers” (2017)

Hometown: Muscatine, Iowa

Current Residence: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Occupation: Police officer

•Sophie Georgina Clarke (29), winner of “South Pacific” (2011)

Hometown: Willsboro, New York

Current Residence: Santa Monica, California

Occupation: Healthcare Consultant

•Anthony “Tony” Vlachos (45), winner of “Cagayan” (2014)

Hometown: Jersey City, New Jersey

Current Residence: Allendale, New Jersey

Occupation: Police Officer

•Tyson Apostol (39), winner of “Blood vs. Water” (2013)

Hometown: Lindon, Utah

Current Residence: Mesa, Arizona

Occupation: Son, husband, father, friend.

•Wendell Holland (35), winner of “Ghost Island” (2018)

Hometown: Philadelphia

Current Residence: Philadelphia

Occupation: Furniture designer

•Yul Kwon (44), winner of “Cook Islands” (2006)

Hometown: Concord, California

Current Residence: Los Altos, California

Occupation: Product management

Mark Burnett, Jeff Probst and Matt Van Wagenen are executive producers.

As previously announced, one week prior to the “Survivor” premiere, a one-hour retrospective special, “Survivor at 40: Greatest Moments and Players,” will air Wednesday, Feb. 5 (8 p.m.), on the CBS Television Network. The special will revisit some of the greatest moments and memorable players in “Survivor” history, feature new interviews with favorite castaways and reveal a sneak peek at “Survivor: Winners at War.”

The 40th installment of the groundbreaking series coincides with its 20-year anniversary. For more information on the previous seasons of “Survivor,” log on to www.cbs.com/survivor.

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