Watching Survivor

That’s right, it’s time to start gearing up once again for a new Survivor! Season 18, Survivor: Tocantins (which I still can’t say…) starts on February 12th, and I m SO ready for it! The interviews are trickling in, as well as the first pictures and spoilers and new names to learn. Who’s going to be the first to go? Who will make it all away? Who’s grand plans will work, who will be forced to change? Don’t you just love the tingle of anticipation?

So here’s what we know so far:

On the Red Jalapão Tribe we have Sandy Burgin, Stephen Fishbach, James Thomas, Spencer Duhm, Sydney Wheeler, Carolina Eastwood, Taj Johnson-George, and Joe Dowdle.

On the Black Timbira Tribe we have Jerry Sims, Candace Smith, Tyson Apostol, Sierra Reed, Erinn Lobdell, Ben Wade, Debra Beebe, and Brendan Synnott.

When they disembark from the truck, the Castaways will be divided into the two tribes from the very beginning, and begin their game based solely on the first impression of each other. Before there is a formal introduction, before they even speak to each other, one person from each tribe will be chosen to remain behind and won’t continue with the group on the journey that lies ahead. What we don’t know is what exactly that means for those two individuals - will it be the end for them, or do they get a second chance at a first impression?

Some of the names that have come up as vulnerable straight out of the gate are Sandy, Stephen and Taj for the Jalapao Tribe, and Candace and Erinn on the Timbira Tribe.

Of course, we’ll have to wait another couple of weeks until we find out just how their personalities combine and clash and how close the speculation to date is! Guess we’ll have to be happy with the pictures until then.

Is it February yet?

That’s right, it’s already that time! With Survivor Tocantins starting next month on February 12th, it’s time for the reveal of the cast, so we can start to get to know them. It’s quite an eclectic cast, once again. The official site is up and they have clips to meet the cast loaded and ready for everyone to check out too! (I’ll grab them as soon as someone has them on youtube!)

Here’s a clip of Jeff talking on the first episode, as well as the casts first impressions of their castmates!

And here’s the cast list as revealed in the upcoming TV Guide:

Benjamin Wade, 37, is a soccer coach and part-time orchestra conductor from Bolivar, Montana. He’s no stranger to the wilderness, having kayaked all 6,132 miles from Baja, California to Colombia by himself. “I’m in this game because I want to change it,” he said. “It’s become survival of the weakest. I want the strongest to survive.”

Brendan Synnott, 30, is an entrepreneur from New York City. He sees his experience with Bear Naked Granola—which he sold to Kellogg’s for $122 million—as a good character-building experience. “I think it’s healthy to have everything taken from you and then have to rebuild,” he said.

Candace Smith, 31, is a former lawyer—and current actress and events planner—from Los Angeles, California. She says she’d be willing to eat anything to win the show. “Having to eat something [weird] for a chance to win a million dollars is nothing to me,” she said. “I grew up eating chitlins.”

Carolina Eastwood, 26, is a bartender from Los Angeles, California. The half-Panamanian prepared for the show in the most offbeat of ways: have her body hair removed. “I got lasered from head to toe because I’m ethnic in the hairiest sense of the word,” she said. “And I did not want to scare people with my overgrown armpits.”

Debra Beebe, 46, is a middle school principal from Auburn, Alabama. The self-described adventure seeker still cringes at what the competition could offer. “Digging a hole and going Big Bathroom in the middle of nowhere … having to wipe with your hands … Is my body going to shut down because I can’t do it?” she said.

Erinn Lobdell, 26, is a hairstylist from Waukesha, Wisconsin. She believes that her gift to get a stranger to trust her in five minutes will help her a lot on the show. “I work at a nice salon, so if this works out for me, I’ll be the new owner when I get home,” she quipped.

James Thomas Jr., 24, is a cattle rancher from Samson, Alabama. The self-described country boy believes his experience in the field will help him and his tribe throughout. “Deer, turkey, wild hog, coyote—everything you’re allowed to hunt in Alabama, I’ve hunted,” he said.

Jerry Sims, 49, is a US Army sergeant from Rock Hill, South Carolina. He plans to take and do things differently on Survivor, as opposed to the way he leads his company of a hundred Army reserves. “I don’t want to be the boss,” he said. “The leader gets axed too early.”

Joe Dowdle, 26, is a commercial real estate broker from Austin, Texas. His strategy is simple: to persuade people to side with him, or get away when things get tough. “If it works, I will have pulled off something miraculous,” he said. “If not, I’ll get pretty far anyway.”

Sandy Burgin, 53, is a bus driver from Louisville, Kentucky. The tattooed grandmother was one of the first to audition, and thinks she can endure all the conditions that Tocantins has to offer. “My willpower is phenomenal,” she claimed. “On a scale of one to 10, it’s a 12.”

Sierra Reed, 23, is a model from Los Angeles, California. She didn’t have to try out for Survivor, claiming that producers approached her with an offer. She also claims to not need the million-dollar prize. “Money comes and goes,” she said. “If I’d saved when I was just starting out, I’d be a multimillionaire by now.”

Spencer Duhm, 19, is a college sophomore from Lakeland, Florida. He’s been closely studying the game since he was 11, and is now the youngest Survivor contestant in history. His tip to win: “You have to assume they’re going to screw you before you screw them over.”

Stephen Fishbach, 29, is a corporate consultant from New York City. He goes by many names, but isn’t willing to be called by his nickname at home—“Fish”—while in the Brazilian rainforests. “I can’t [use it] here because when I can’t fish, I’m going to look like an idiot,” he said.

Sydney Wheeler, 24, is a model and interior designer from San Diego, California. She’s not afraid to use her looks and appeal to get the upper hand in the competition. “I plan to make alliances with the athletic guys,” she said. “If I’ve gotta flirt, I’m gonna flirt. Work with what you’ve got. Right?”

Taj Johnson-George, 37, was formerly part of Grammy-nominated singing group SWV, and is now based in Nashville, Tennessee. Despite being married to NFL star Eddie George, she is out to prove she isn’t pampered. “I’m a 5′9”, 190-pound tomboy,” she said. “I’m gon’ tear ‘em up when I get out there.”

Tyson Apostol, 29, is a bike shop manager from Lindon, Utah. The former professional cyclist thinks he’d win Survivor because he’d be good at it. “May as well go and win,” the 31-mph biker said. “And $1 million in two months isn’t a bad paycheck.” His strategy: push other people’s buttons.

Mr. Dimples breaks down the cast and HIS first impressions for us below!