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Heroes and villains face off on ‘Survivor’
LOS ANGELES — Not even “Boston Rob” Mariano’s newborn baby could stop him from returning to “Survivor.”
Mariano is among 20 former contestants who will compete in CBS’ “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains,” the reality series’ 20th season, premiering Feb. 11 (8 p.m.). He left behind 4-week-old daughter Lucia Rose and wife, Amber Brkich, who bested Mariano to win the “All-Stars” edition in 2004 and accepted his marriage proposal during the finale.
The cutthroat Mariano will be joined on the “villains” tribe by players such as bratty waitress Courtney Yates (“China”); cantankerous videographer Randy Bailey (“Gabon”); sarcastic cyclist Tyson Apostol (“Tocantins”); and pompous soccer coach Benjamin Wade (“Tocantins”).
Mariano’s biggest handicap? Not being familiar with new players such as Wade. “I’m not going to trust anyone, even people I’ve played with before.” Wade said. “I’d like to say that I can trust Tyson because he and I were rock-solid in the last game. Maybe that’s too obvious, and other people will look at that.”
The cast members — except for “Samoa” bad boy Russell Hantz, who was still filming the 19th season — were individually interviewed in secret last August before production on “Heroes vs. Villains” began in Samoa. It will be the third time on “Survivor” for nine of the castaways, many of whom participated in the “All-Stars” and “Fans vs. Favorites” editions.
“I have the opportunity to do something that most people don’t even get to do once in their lifetime,” said Jerri Manthey, “The Australian Outback” and “All-Stars” mean girl. “I’m doing it three times. Just the opportunity itself is enough reason for me to say ‘yes’ to this again. I couldn’t sit at home knowing they were doing this and be OK with that.”
The “heroes” tribe will include lovable mentor Rupert Boneham (“Pearl Islands,” “All-Stars”); emotional pinup model Jessica “Sugar” Kiper (“Gabon”); and Texas hunk Colby Donaldson (“Australian Outback,” “All-Stars”).
Richard Hatch, who was convicted in 2006 of failing to pay taxes on the $1 million he earned for winning the Borneo-set first season of “Survivor” in 2000, asked a judge last July if he could leave home confinement early to compete in the 20th season. He argued that any money he earned from the reality show could be used to pay his tax obligations. His request was denied.
HEROES
Rupert Boneham, 45, Indianapolis; previous seasons: “Pearl Islands,” “All-Stars” James Clement, 32, Lafayette, La.; previous seasons: “China,” “Micronesia” Colby Donaldson, 35, Christoval, Texas; previous seasons: “The Australian Outback,” “All-Stars” Cirie Fields, 39, Jersey City, N.J.; previous seasons: “Panama,” “Micronesia” Amanda Kimmel, 24, Kalispell, Mont.; previous seasons: “China,” “Micronesia” Jessica “Sugar” Kiper, 29, Baton Rouge, La.; previous season: “Gabon” Stephenie LaGrossa, 29, Glenolden, Pa.; previous seasons: “Palau,” “Guatemala” James “J.T.” Thomas Jr., 25, Samson, Ala.; previous season: “Tocantins” Tom Westman, 45, New York; previous season: “Palau”SFlbCandice Woodcock, 27, Fayetteville, N.C.; previous season: “Cook Islands”
VILLAINS
Tyson Apostol, 30, Lindon, Utah; previous season: “Tocantins” Randy Bailey, 50, Austin, Texas; previous season: “Gabon”SFlbDanielle DiLorenzo, 26, Boston; previous season: “Panama” Russell Hantz, 37, Dayton, Texas; previous season: “Samoa” Jerri Manthey, 38, Los Angeles; previous seasons: “The Australian Outback,” “All-Stars” Robert “Boston Rob” Mariano, 33, Boston; previous seasons: “Marquesas,” “All-Stars” Parvati Shallow, 27, Vero Beach, Fla.; previous seasons: “Cook Islands,” “Micronesia” Sandra Diaz-Twine, 34, Stamford, Conn.; previous season: “Pearl Islands” Benjamin “Coach” Wade, 38, Susanville, Calif.; previous season: “Tocantins” Courtney Yates, 28, Boston; previous season: “China”