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BY BILLY SUTER
THE Emmy Award-winning series, Survivor, returns for its 33rd season to a 7.30pm Monday slot on SABC3 from Monday, September 23.
This edition of the US Survivor, filmed in Fiji, has the subtitle Millennials vs Gen X and will feature 20 castaways . They will be separated by generation and forced to compete against each other with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast each other.
Which generation has what it takes to win the game, be crowned the Sole Survivor and win the million-dollar prize?
Each group of 10 castaways possesses similar characteristics that represent their generation and help unify their tribe. Millennials, the largest living generational group and most diverse in US history (source: PewResearch.org and U.S. Census Bureau), grew up in a time of rapid change and are often described as having priorities that are vastly different from previous generations.
How will this group fare without technology on the island? Will they opt for shortcuts in challenges or go the distance?
Generation X forms the bridge between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials and has been collectively labelled as hard-working and independent people. Will they be able to find some commonalities with the younger castaways or stick to their own group? Will their differences and preconceived beliefs be too much to overcome?
Survivor is hosted by Emmy Award-winning host Jeff Probst who, in the opening episode of the 33rd season, sees a war of generations begin as Millennials battle Gen X, while a massive storm leads to a first in Survivor history, and one castaway snatches a powerful advantage in the game.
Episode two sees one castaway dons his “love goggles” when he’s struck by another’s beauty. Also, heat exhaustion takes the air out of one castaway
This season’s cast includes an assistant district attorney, a youth pastor, a police sergeant, a television writer, a missionary recruiter, professional gamer, the manager of a shelter for the homeless, and the youngest player to ever compete in the game, a high school student.
The contestants are as follows:
Millennials – “Vanua” Tribe
Michaela Bradshaw
Age: 25
Fort Worth, Texas
Vacation Club Sales
Michelle Schubert
Age: 28
Yakima, Wash.
Missionary Recruiter
Jessica “Figgy” Figueroa
Age: 23
Nashville, Tenn.
Bartender
Adam Klein
Age: 25
San Francisco, Calif.
Homeless Shelter Manager
Hannah Shapiro
Age: 24
West Hollywood, Calif.
Barista
Zeke Smith
Age: 28
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Asset Manager
Justin “Jay” Starrett
Age: 27
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Real Estate Agent
Taylor Stocker
Age: 24
Post Falls, Idaho
Ski Instructor
Mari Takahashi
Age: 31
Los Angeles, Calif.
Professional Gamer
Will Wahl
Age: 18
Long Valley, N.J.
High School Student
Gen X – “Takali” Tribe
Rachel Ako
Age: 37
Los Angeles, Calif.
Recruiting Director
Sunday Burquest
Age: 45
Ostego, Minn.
Youth Pastor
Chris Hammons
Age: 38
Moore, Okla.
Trial Lawyer
Lucy Huang
Age: 42
Diamond Bar, Calif.
Dietician
Bret LaBelle
Age: 42
Dedham, Mass.
Police Sergeant
Jessica Lewis
Age: 37
Voorheesville, N.Y.
Asst. District Attorney
Ken McNickle
Age: 33
Denver, Colo.
Model
Ciandre “CeCe” Taylor
Age: 39
Granada Hills, Calif.
Insurance Adjuster
Paul Wachter
Age: 52
Sugarloaf Key, Fla.
Boat Mechanic
David Wright
Age: 42
Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Television Writer
