CBS ANNOUNCES 16 OF THE 18 CASTAWAYS FOR "SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC"

Two Former Castaways (to Be Announced Later this Week) Will Return to Seek Redemption

Hit Television Series, Hosted by Emmy Award Winner Jeff Probst, Premieres with Special 90-Minute Edition

CBS today announced 16 of 18 castaways who will compete against each other on SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC, when the Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 23rd season with a special 90-minute edition, Wednesday, Sept. 14 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Two of the 18 castaways, to be revealed later this week, are former castaways 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 million dollar 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; and the loser is sent home.

Castaways competing on SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC (in alphabetical order):

SAVAII: UPOLU:

Mark Caruso Sophie Clarke
Age: 48 Age: 22
Current Residence: Forest Hills, N.Y. Current Residence: Willsboro, N.Y.
Occupation: Retired NYPD Detective Occupation: Medical Student

John Cochran Albert Destrade
Age: 24 Age: 26
Current Residence: Washington D.C. Current Residence: Plantation, Fla.
Occupation: Harvard Law Student Occupation: Baseball/Dating Coach

Whitney Duncan Brandon Hantz
Age: 27 Age: 19
Current Residence: Nashville, Tenn. Current Residence: Katy, Texas
Occupation: Country Music Singer Occupation: Oil Tanker Crewman

Dawn Meehan Edna Ma
Age: 41 Age: 35
Current Residence: South Jordan, Utah Current Residence: Los Angeles
Occupation: English Professor Occupation: Anesthesiologist

Jim Rice Christine Shields Markoski
Age: 35 Age: 39
Current Residence: Denver Current Residence: Merrick, N.Y.
Occupation: Medical Marijuana Dispenser Occupation: Teacher

Semhar Tadesse Rick Nelson
Age: 24 Age: 51
Current Residence: Los Angeles Current Residence: Aurora, Utah
Occupation: Spoken Word Artist Occupation: Rancher

Keith Tollefson Stacey Powell
Age: 26 Age: 44
Current Residence: Edina, Minn. Current Residence: Dallas
Occupation: Water Treatment Tech Occupation: Mortician

Elyse Umemoto Mikayla Wingle
Age: 27 Age: 22
Current Residence: Las Vegas Current Residence: Tampa, Fla.
Occupation: Dance Team Manager Occupation: Lingerie Football Player

Former Castaway (TBA) Former Castaway (TBA)
Age: ?? Age: ??
Current Residence: ?? Current Residence: ??
Occupation: ?? Occupation: ??

SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC is hosted by Emmy Award-winning host Jeff Probst and produced by SEG, Inc. Mark Burnett, Jeff Probst and David Burris are executive producers and Leisa Francis is co-executive producer.

For more detailed information about SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC and the castaways, log on to www.cbs.com/survivor.