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ARTICLE
Lost and Delirious: Survivor: Thailand - Season Preview
by Jim Van Nest Published: August 21, 2002
Hello good people and welcome back for the 3rd season of Lost and Delirious. As many of you may know, CBS and Mark Burnett recently officially announced the 16 cast members for the 5th season of the reality ratings giant, Survivor. Before I really get into anything, let me say that while my column is fun to write and relatively informative, you really should keep an eye on the official Survivor site at CBS.com. This year, we're heading to Thailand for some fun in the sun (and monsoons.) More specifically Koh Tarutao. Once again, there appears to be a shake-up in the format of the show. Where every other season the contestants have been broken down into their tribes prior to arrival, it appears this time around, they are simply broken down into the 8 male players, and 8 female players. It's looking as though the tribes will be guys vs. girls. Or will they simply select tribes after they arrive? Either way, this is shaking up to be the first of many changes to the game of Survivor.
So, if Survivor feels they can shake things up, I see no reason why I can't shake up Lost and Delirious a little bit. I'd say now is as good a time as any to introduce two co-writers on this season's L&D. Over the course of following the show and writing these articles, I've had the fortune to meet (well, as much as you can online anyway) several fellow Survivor fans. I've met most of these folks at the MSN group called Survivor-The CBS Television Series. Well, this season I've chosen two members of this community to assist me with some predictions. As any of you who've read my columns knows, I can't predict worth a darn. I'd like everyone to extend a nice virtual welcome to Jakey and Becca. Becca will be breaking down the guys of Survivor 5, while Jakey will be handling the ladies. And thrown in for good measure, I'll chime in on everyone. Why? Cause I have no shame. (Or I could just be hoping to save face after my horrid predictions last season.) I'd like to point out here that these predictions are not based on anything other than the pictures and bios listed at the CBS website. We've read no spoilers on the season and will continue to avoid them for the course of the season. Also, these predictions and odds are just for fun, so please, no wagering. So, without further ado, I bring to you your cast for Survivor: Thailand.
THE LADIES
Background: Erin is the first of six contestants with ties to the great state of Texas. She's a senior at the University of Texas-Austin majoring in nutrition, but keeps herself busy as a bar manager and licensed real estate agent. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, wakeboarding and shopping. Currently, she lives in Austin with her two dogs.
Jakey: I love the name Erin. Good Irish name, don't ya know? She also likes lobster! That's as far as it goes I'm afraid. Erin strikes me as more of a leisure queen who will not long withstand the rigors of Thailand. Look for her to exit before the merge. Hopefully not before we can see her reason for bringing body paint! She will probably ally herself with Robb, the surfer dude, who seems to have more holes in his head than nature intended.
Jim: So I'm reading this bio and absolutely nothing jumps out at me. There's nothing here to suggest that she'll go far, but nothing suggests she'll annoy people to the point of being gone early. My guess on her is she'll fly under the radar for the first couple weeks while they bounce the most annoying folks. I have a feeling she won't be one of the harder workers in camp, but will somehow squeak through to the merge.
Jim's odds of winning: 30-1 Could be merge member who misses jury.
Background: Ghandia was born in San Francisco and has spent time in LA, Nashville and currently resides in Denver. She's a legal secretary and co-owns a beauty salon with her husband, Sylvester. She enjoys karate, kickboxing and long distance running. She loves Latin music and considers the perfect day to be hanging on a Caribbean beach with her husband and two children.
Jakey: There is nothing in her bio that stands out to either discount her or vault her to the top of the list. I think the lackluster look in her eyes in the bio picture will reflect her performance in the game. Her experience around lawyers will be a big plus. She could very well be a sleeper who goes far-----though my gut says, "No."
Jim: Hopefully for Ghandia's sake, the daily grind of hanging around lawyers hasn't made her as argumentative as lawyers have to be. If so, she could be out the door before she even gets a seat. She's got the stamina and the athleticism to make it for 39 days, but (and this is just going by her picture) I have a feeling she's not going to get along with the rest of the folks and will make an early exit.
Jim's odds of winning: 50-1 Gone before the merge.
Background: Helen is a Navy brat who lived all over the country as a child. She is now a water survival instructor for the US Navy. She enjoys cooking, swimming and traveling. She and her husband, Jim, have an 18-year-old daughter and she has a 28-year-old son and a 30-year-old stepdaughter. She now resides in Rhode Island with her husband, daughter and tabby cat named Oscar.
Jakey: YIKES!!!! Very interesting history-------er----- How does one go from waitress/caterer/lifeguard to US Navy water survival instructor? She scares me!! I don't think she will mix well with the others and will have her ticket punched in the first 2 weeks. I think her self-proclaimed assertiveness will be her downfall.
Jim: Ok, she's a swim instructor in the navy. She's used to being large and in charge and taking no crap from anyone. Well, honey, Survivor ain't the Navy and that won't fly with these folks. Perhaps it's a bad picture, but even her pic makes her look rough. While she might be instrumental in setting up camp (especially if it's guys against girls), she'll be gone in the first couple weeks, perhaps even #1.
Jim's odds of winning: 100-1 First lady voted out.
Background: Our second native Texan is first grade school teacher, Jan. Her hobbies include triathlons, fishing, golfing and playing tennis (a hobby she picked up while working as Martina Navratilova's secretary). A self-described "people person," Jan is the most proud of her five children ages 18 to 26. Jan and her husband, Bill, no longer reside in Texas, but in Tampa, FL with a host of animals, including a fish named Jake.
Jakey: She could be the loose cannon or X-factor so to speak. Her bio reminds me a bit of Zoe (Ms. Personality of S4). She survived working with Martina Navratilova! She certainly sounds as if she has stamina to spare. I think she will make the merge. Her picture is certainly not flattering and leads me to suspect she has the ability to strike terror into her students' hearts and perhaps the hearts of her tribe members.
Jim: I get the feeling I'm going to like Jan. The little pigtails make her seem like a down to Earth fun person. In and of itself, that should signal she'll be gone quickly. (Every other player I like gets the boot early.) But for some reason I think she'll stick around. I think she'll work hard and keep quiet. I think she'll have opinions, but we'll only see those in the 1-on-1's. I think she'll definitely make the merge and jury, where she'll need a touch of luck to make the final 4.
Jim's odds of winning: 15-1 Hate to say it, but she won't make Final 4.
Background: Our third Texan is 27-year old Penny. She was born in Texas, and after stops in New Jersey (high school), Knoxville, TN (college) and Maryland (where she graduated from college) she has settled down in Plano, TX where she is currently a pharmaceutical sales rep. She was a cheerleader at the U. of Maryland and is still a member of the Maryland Athletic Club. She lives with her two Boston Terriers and is engaged to a man known simply as Matt.
Jakey: Penny is certainly very intelligent and her experience in a high-pressure sales field may help her. Her cheerleading credentials and looks make her S5's version of Colleen/Elizabeth/Neleh. I think she has what it takes to reach the final four. The only question is, "Who will be her Pappy/Roger?"
Jim: On the surface, Penny seems like this season's Neleh, however, her occupation makes me think that's incorrect. I think you'll see Penny do some of her best sales work on this show as she tries to sell herself to the rest of her tribe. Something tells me she'll succeed, for a while. I see her lasting a little while, but for some reason falling outside of the main alliance that we know is going to form. I'd wager that when she gets the boot, everyone will be sad...including those who voted her off.
Jim's odds of winning: 20-1 Sadly, it will just be her time.
Background: Shii Ann was born in Taiwan and immigrated to New Jersey when she was 8-years old. While in high school in Arizona, she became a champion speech and debate competitor. She completed her Masters Degree in New York City and lives there still. She is currently working as an executive recruiter after stints as a web producer and advertising account executive. She enjoys meeting and organizing people and in her spare time likes to cook, snowboard and sing karaoke. She is single and lives with her overweight cat, Simon.
Jakey: Shii Ann has a very impressive list of accomplishments. She appears to be well rounded and her experience in the manipulative side of executive recruitment will certainly be a plus. I think she'll make the merge and perhaps final four.
Jim One thing in Shii Ann's bio scares me. "She enjoys...organizing people." If she comes in and tries to be the one to organize everything, she better tread lightly. We all know that this is not a tactic that goes over well on Survivor Island. Never has. Not since Hatch won. Her resume is as solid as anyone's but I'm afraid she is going to be the overbearing type and that will be cause for a relatively early demise. Not one of the first to go, but likely in the second wave of boot-ees.
Jim's odds of winning: 75-1 Won't make it to the merge.
Background: Our next competitor is Stephanie, a 29-year old firefighter from Arkansas. She's proud to be the first female fire fighter in the history of the Fayetteville Fire Department. She attended the University of Arkansas, and despite taking time away to complete her schooling to become a firefighter/EMT, she is planning on completing her original degree in biology. She likes running, mountain biking and rock climbing and hopes to one day compete in adventure races and triathlons. She describes herself as athletic, adventurous and romantic and currently lives in Ozark, AR with her two dogs and two horses.
Jakey: WOW!!!! Do you hear those alarm bells? Certainly she is the strongest candidate on paper! Stephanie is sooo doomed!! She will be tossed before the merge, as she presents too much of a threat to both the men and the women. What's with the fuzzy slippers??
Jim: Now we're talking. When I look at the resumes, until now, no one jumps out at me as a legitimate contender. For some reason she reminds me a lot of Gina from Marquesas or even a little of Gretchen from Survivor 1. Sure, we know what happened to Gina, but her idiot tribe is more to blame for her demise than she is. And Gretchen...well, good ole Rich Hatch was smart enough to recognize her as a threat right away. And I doubt we'll ever see anyone as smart as he was on this show again. I can see Stephanie being a take-charge kind of person that can do it without pissing people off. I'd say the merge is a lock and the final 4 is about a 50-50 shot for her. Definite potential to win it all.
Jim's odds of winning: 8-1 Final four potential, perhaps final two.
Background: Hailing from the great state of Tennessee is the 27-year old social worker, Tanya. She has the truly inspiring job of working with sexually and physically abused children. Through high school she was recognized multiple times for her performances on her high school track and field team. Obviously, she enjoys running, but she also likes kayaking, rock climbing and shopping. Certified in CPR, Tanya also considers herself a huge fan of the Tennessee Volunteers football program and is currently living alone in Gray, TN.
Jakey: Tanya is another very strong candidate. She is athletic but with work experience in a field that may allow her to tap into the other peoples' feelings with a great degree of empathy. I don't think she will be perceived as big a threat as Stephanie. She will make the merge and may have a shot at the final four.
Jim: Tanya and Stephanie represent the ladies' best shot at winning the whole thing, in my opinion. Tanya deals with an incredibly sensitive subject matter in her every day life. Handling these other Survivors should be a piece of cake for her. She's a runner so you can bet she'll be physically able to handle the game, as well as perform well in the challenges. As long as she's willing to work hard and not stand out right off the bat. I look for her and Stephanie to hook up and form what could be THE alliance of the game. Another sure bet for the merge and likely member of the final four.
Jim's odds of winning: 10-1 Final 4 potential, but will fall just short.
THE GENTLEMEN
Background: Some of you may recognize our first male competitor from his stint as Tim Rollins on Days of Our Lives. Brian also had guest roles on Baywatch Nights and Doogie Howser, MD. A former Division 1 college quarterback, Brian is currently working as a used car salesman in California. He's done time as a stockbroker, writer, and of course, actor. He enjoys playing guitar, hunting and dirt bike riding. He lives in Quartz Hill, CA with his wife, CC and son, Logan.
Becca: He has some major Harry Hamlin and Chris Isaak going on in the photo. That observation won't help Brian in the game nor will much else. He'll be a tough competitor, yet a tougher person to deal with due to what may be a very alive and kicking ego - I read his resume. I actually planned to cheer him on since I live in CA, but I have no idea where Quartz Hill is and neither does anyone else I asked. That fact lowers his chances even more and therefore, Brian may not last for jury duty as there isn't a shortage of strong young guys on this show.
Jim: Well, Brian certainly has been causing a stir on the internet. His little soft-core Cinemax background has been revealed and I'm sure Mr. Burnett is LOVING it. Unfortunately, I don't think they'll be able to cash in on Brian too much as he doesn't seem to be the type of person that will make it far on this game. I mean, he's an actor AND a used car salesman? Like people will really want to hang with him 24-7 for 6 weeks. He may have enough to make the merge, but not a whole lot more. Jim's odds of winning: 30-1 Could make the merge and miss jury.
Background: Texan number four is Clay, a restaurateur who was born in Texas, but lives in Louisiana. Clay spent a lot of time as a child hunting and camping and amazingly enough, met his future wife at the tender age of 14. He spent time as a cotton picker, cafeteria manager and a printer before opening his own restaurant in Monroe, LA. He enjoys video editing and production, photography and golfing. Clay and wife, Linda, live in Monroe with their two children (ages 17 and 23.)
Becca: A big hello back at ya, Clay! He just might have the most easygoing and polite demeanor of anyone we've seen on Survivor. Considering the friendly service he dishes up at his restaurant, he has good people skills and is likely to be very comfortable in the company of most individuals. This will work for him. I feel his staying power will mostly depend on the women, who'll protect him as long as they can. Clay has much in his favor, including that his peers, Peter and Patricia from S4, were voted off very early. I don't imagine that happening again and in all likelihood, he'll go far.
Jim: Clay is hard for me to peg. His picture and bio sure make him sound like a really swell guy that you'd like to hang out with. However, I always wonder about people who own their own businesses. They like things their way and generally feel their way is best. While they're usually right, that doesn't endear them to people in a situation like Survivor. I think Clay will do fine, but not great. He'll make it out of the first couple weeks and if he manages to form an alliance, could go far, but I don't think that'll happen. I see him leaving prior to the merge, perhaps even the last one to go before the merge.
Jim's odds of winning: 50-1 Just don't think he'll make the cut.
Background: The oldest of our Survivors is also the fifth member of Club Texas, 61-year old Jake. He's a land broker that has been working in the field of commercial real estate for some thirty years. He spent some time in Colorado running his deceased son-in-law's business, a hunting, fishing, horseback riding adventure company in the San Juan Mountains. He enjoys writing, camping, hunting, backpacking and videography/photography. Jake and his wife, Jeni reside in McKinney, TX and he has 2 children, 3 step-children and 9 grandchildren.
Becca: I can almost see it already. Most of us will be in awe of his incredible strength and stamina for someone who is 61years old. Yawn. Not much else comes to mind about him. Oh, he does not last too long in the game. Jake will luckily coast along fine for a while until a few decide to pay more attention to him. Fortunately, those people soon become bored and cranky. Jake's fate soon follows. If his name were Jakey, however, I'd be writing a different prediction.
Jim: So, will Jake take the role of Rudy/Pappy or will he be more of a BB? I'd guess he falls somewhere in the middle. No one will actively hate the guy, but no one will really buddy up to him either. Due to his age, I anticipate him having a problem with the younger folks in his tribe and if he decides to mouth off about it, he'll get the vote early. I wouldn't be surprised to see him gone before the merge.
Jim's odds of winning: 75-1 No merge for you.
Background: Rounding out our sextet of Texans is 26-year old Jed, a dental student at Baylor College of Dentistry. A world traveler, Jed has administered dental care in remote places such as Cambodia, small villages in India and interestingly enough, Thailand. He likes wakeboarding, dirt bike riding, scuba diving, kayaking and sand volleyball. He lives in Dallas and aside from his two dentist brothers, he also has one sister.
Becca: Unlike Gabriel, whose impressive athleticism, brains, looks, and adventurous spirit didn't go far in the game, Jed's will. The similarities between the two of them hit me right away, but I'm certain I won't have a crush on Jed. I immediately thought that this time, the golden-boy has more airtime. Jed has done some good in the world and I believe that his empathetic nature will help him as much as his athletic ability will on S5. He's a player to watch out for.
Jim: This guy could do some damage on this game. He has the work ethic and the strength/athleticism to be successful on this show, plus he seems to be a genuinely nice guy that people will gravitate toward. I'd expect him to end up a silent leader of his tribe, and possibly an alliance. He will succeed where Gabe failed because everyone will genuinely like him and want to join him, in my opinion. Definitely a jury member, definite final four potential.
Jim's odds of winning: 8-1 Could be your winner.
Background: Next up is Executive Pastor, John. He has quite a resume. His church in Slidell, LA has some 2700 members and he is a member of Promise Keepers, the Adult Chapter of Christian Athletes (Founder and President) and the Nashville Songwriters Association. He enjoys scuba diving, spear fishing, deer hunting, playing guitar and, of course, writing country songs. A former financial planner, John is very proud of the way he transformed his body through the Body-For-Life challenge. He resides in Slidell with his wife, Elizabeth and 3 children ages 2-12.
Becca: My goodness, he just might be the first one voted off! If not, his chances of lasting much longer are dim. First of all, his profile made my head spin with overwhelm for some reason. How much can one person do? Besides, considering the length of his profile, he must be a braggart. With all this in mind, I imagine that he's quite the taskmaster; very much unlike my boss here, Jim. Secondly, the flag man (Pappy and his American flag) already went far in S4 and there won't be as much reference to a higher being this time around. See you at the reunion, John.
Jim: John will be the guy you want to see voted off, I think. Judging by his extensive bio, I figure him to be a "my way or the highway" kinda guy, because to him his way is always correct. I see him definitely getting upset at anyone taking a breather or not working as hard as he is. As we all know, this guy is usually gone quickly. I expect more of the same in Thailand. I'd say John may be the first guy voted out, perhaps even the first person.
Jim's odds of winning: 100-1 First guy tossed out of camp.
Background: There's not much to say about our next guy, Ken. Mainly because his bio is pretty thin. He's a New York City cop with the 79th Precinct. He's also worked as a fitness professional and construction worker. He enjoys motorcycle riding, mountain biking and fitness training and is most proud of the day he raised his hand to take the oath to protect and serve. Ken currently lives in Brooklyn with his 2 American bulldogs.
Becca: I think his chances are great. New Yorkers have a habit of going far in this game and the record won't be broken now. More good news; I know where Brooklyn is and so do the people I just asked. He's a strong guy: mentally, physically, emotionally, and it doesn't mean he isn't sensitive - he is. I can't help but liken him to Hunter, but because Ken is a NYC officer, he will play the game masterfully. So much so, that others may not even consider him the biggest threat out there. That would be quite amazing to see and I'm cheering him on already.
Jim: Of the 16 contestants, Ken is who I'd like to see win. With that in mind, my perception may be cloudy. An NYC cop, who is obviously proud of his job (and was even before 9/11), Ken definitely will have the physical and mental toughness to make it far in this game. The key is whether he'll bond with people enough to get them to trust him and hang with him til the end. I think he just might be able to do that. I'd call him a lock for the merger, but if he proves himself to be one of the strongest, he could find himself the Gabe/Gretchen of this cast (tossed as the biggest threat.) I think he has an outside shot for the final four.
Jim's odds of winning: 15-1 Want him to win, but he won't.
Background: Get ready ladies, here comes the man Cosmo declared the most eligible bachelor in Arizona in 1998, Robb. He's the obligatory bartender of the cast and I'm altogether surprised to see that his one true passion is snowboarding. He doesn't eat red meat or dairy and practically lives on sushi. He cliff dives, bungee jumps, sky dives and is obviously a real adventure seeker. On the soft side, he also writes poetry. Snatch him up, ladies, he's still single and living in Scottsdale, AZ.
Becca: Honestly, my sister just gave a suggestion that I didn't ask for. She told me to rule out all Virgos since she is one herself. I do understand her point, though. If there is a jury, Robb will be on it. Virgos really prefer to criticize and judge people, anyway. He looks tough in the photo, but I'm running the other way. He's probably a real sweetie who wants to please everyone and shows off because he's quite adept at so much. I'm also guessing that his actions may end up reflecting that he is the baby of S5 and it could be his downfall. Besides, I don't like the name Robb spelled that way.
Jim: Robb is another guy who has a decent chance I think. One thing we see on Survivor all the time is people having trouble coping with the food on the island. For goodness sake, this guy will love the food. It's what he eats anyway. No meat, no dairy...so he won't miss any of that. Raw fish and seaweed? I mean, what else will there be? Seriously though, this guy is tough and willing to try anything. It all depends on his work ethic and personality. He works hard and doesn't stand out as "the lazy one," he'll do well. I'd look for Robb, Jed and maybe Ken to form what could be a powerful alliance.
Jim's odds of winning: 10-1 Immunity could decide between Robb and Jed.
Background: Holy cow, I just realized we actually have 7 people with ties to Texas as Ted was a member of the Dallas Cowboys during their 1994 preseason. Ted is now a software development manager for a major computer corporation. He enjoys web page designing, music and motorcycle riding. He's most proud of creating the Big Dog Riders Motorcycle Club. He feels it eliminates the stereotype of riders and can directly affect his community in a positive way (whatever that means.) He currently lives in Durham, NC with his nameless wife and newborn baby, Morgan.
Becca: The first thought I had was, 'Howard Stern was also born and raised in Roosevelt, NY!' I do know where Roosevelt is, but not much else other than it may churn out characters, if you know what I mean. After reading what he's most proud of, I wondered how in the world he's able to use motorcycling as something positive in any community. Methinks he has a bit of recklessness in him, perhaps with people as well, and this may very well prove to be to his disadvantage in the game. Like a motorcycle in a china shop. I'm not making a very subtle point here. He says his farewells early.
Jim: Ted is definitely a smart enough guy. He has the tools to make a run at this thing. How he gets along with people is the key to his success or his demise. I'm thinking he'll do fine enough to make the merge, but will find himself on the outside looking in at the major alliance and he'll be considered a threat, hence booted shortly after the merge. A nice immunity challenge run would suit him well. But I don't see it.
Jim's odds of winning: 20-1 Has the makeup, but will fall short.
THE FINAL FOUR
Oh yes, here it is. The moment we've been waiting for. The time where Jakey, Becca and I reveal our picks for the Final Four and also whom we think will end up being the Ultimate Survivor. Since it sets me up to be last, I think we'll go in alphabetical order. So that brings Becca up to the plate first.
Becca's Final Four: Ken and Clay will make it to the end along with Tanya and Stephanie. I didn't get to study the ladies as much, but the two simply stood out of the line-up at CBS the most to me. I'm going with it. So, my Final Four are: Clay, Ken, Stephanie and Tanya.
Jakey's Final Four: My head is spinning trying to factor all the possibilities. What does MB have up his sleeve? Is he trying to encourage gender-based alliances before the formation of tribes? What other twists lie in wait? I don’t know about his claim that this is the best-looking Cast to date. Certainly it is the most well rounded. Hard Bodies? I’LL TELL YA WHAT I THINK AFTER I SEE THEM IN ACTION! Ok enough stalling----------My Final Four are: Jed, John, Penny and Tanya.
Jim's Final Four: Alrighty, I'm picking my final four the same way I did last year, the people I think will be the strongest, the most mentally tough and the ones that will either be manipulative or likable enough to start/join an alliance. (Keep in mind, I missed on all four last year.) My Final Four are: Jed, Robb, Stephanie and Tanya.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
Again going in alphabetical order, here are our "expert picks" for the Ultimate Survivor from Survivor: Thailand.
Becca: Something else I'm going with is that for the first time, the winning male-female sequence will finally be broken and therefore, a female will win on S5. As much as I'd like to see one of my guys become the champion, Stephaniewins it all.
Jakey: This is just a pure gut feeling based on what I have seen in the biographies. Perhaps this guy will prove you don’t have to be a lying snake to win this game! I think John will form and ride a Christian alliance to the winner’s circle!
Jim: As for me, well, it's a tough decision, but as you can tell from my odds, it comes down to Jed and Stephanie in my eyes and I think when it gets right down to it, Stephanie will be well liked, but not as well liked as Jed.
And there you have it ladies and gentlemen, a first look at your cast for Survivor: Thailand. Looks like all of us are on different pages when it comes to the final four and winners. It should be a lot of fun seeing if any of us turn out to be right. If you'd like to agree with us, bash us for our picks or just have some comments you'd like to share with any of the 3 of us, please feel free to send me an email right here!
A reminder to everyone reading this that doesn't already know, you can find Survivor: Thailand on CBS beginning Thursday, September 19 at 8pm EST/7pm CST. And a further reminder, be sure to check back right here at The Trades for the weekly version of Lost and Delirious, where I'll welcome Becca and Jakey back to assist me in my weekly recaps and some week-to-week predictions. Until then, take care and God bless.
As you're all aware, I generally color my charts to match the colors of the buffs of each tribe. From all the pictures circulating the internet, it seems as though the ladies are all wearing purple, while the men are wearing red. Again, I could be completely off, because we only see what Mark Burnett wants us to see, so for now, I'll leave the chart like this.
The Ladies
Age
Marital Status
Occupation
Hometown
Luxury Item
Jim's Line
Erin Collins
26
Single
Real Estate Agent
Austin, TX
Body Paint
30-1
Ghandia Johnson
33
Married
Legal Secretary
Denver, CO
Lucky Keychain w/ Kids Pic
50-1
Helen Glover
47
Married
Navy Swim Instructor
Middletown, RI
Daughter's Doll
100-1
Jan Gentry
53
Married
Teacher
Tampa, FL
Picture of Her Family
15-1
Penny Ramsey
27
Engaged
Pharmaceutical Sales
Plano, TX
Pajamas
20-1
Shii Ann Huang
28
Single
Executive Recruiter
New York, NY
Lucky Chinese Travelling Bag
75-1
Stephanie Dill
29
Single
Firefighter
Fayetteville, AR
Fuzzy Slippers
8-1
Tanya Vance
27
Single
Social Worker
Kingsport, TN
Brush
10-1
The Gentlemen
Age
Marital Status
Occupation
Hometown
Luxury Item
Jim's Line
Brian Heidik
34
Married
Used Car Sales
Quartz Hill, CA
Guitar and Pick
30-1
Clay Jordan
46
Married
Restauranteur
Monroe, LA
Golf Club and Ball
50-1
Jake Billingsley
61
Married
Land Broker
McKinney, TX
Journal and Pen
75-1
Jed Hildebrand
25
Single
Dental Student
Dallas, TX
Frisbee
8-1
John Raymond
40
Married
Pastor
Slidell, LA
Christian Flag
100-1
Ken Stafford
30
Single
NYC Police Officer
Brooklyn, NY
NYPD Shield
15-1
Robb Zbacnik
23
Single
Bartender
Scottsdale, AZ
Skateboard
10-1
Ted Rogers, Jr.
37
Married
Software Developer
Durham, NC
Shaving Kit
20-1
For all your Survivor News, Links and Interesting Tidbits, please check out these sites:
Background: Erin is the first of six contestants with ties to the great state of Texas. She's a senior at the University of Texas-Austin majoring in nutrition, but keeps herself busy as a bar manager and licensed real estate agent. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, wakeboarding and shopping. Currently, she lives in Austin with her two dogs.
Background: Ghandia was born in San Francisco and has spent time in LA, Nashville and currently resides in Denver. She's a legal secretary and co-owns a beauty salon with her husband, Sylvester. She enjoys karate, kickboxing and long distance running. She loves Latin music and considers the perfect day to be hanging on a Caribbean beach with her husband and two children.
Background: Helen is a Navy brat who lived all over the country as a child. She is now a water survival instructor for the US Navy. She enjoys cooking, swimming and traveling. She and her husband, Jim, have an 18-year-old daughter and she has a 28-year-old son and a 30-year-old stepdaughter. She now resides in Rhode Island with her husband, daughter and tabby cat named Oscar.
Background: Our second native Texan is first grade school teacher, Jan. Her hobbies include triathlons, fishing, golfing and playing tennis (a hobby she picked up while working as Martina Navratilova's secretary). A self-described "people person," Jan is the most proud of her five children ages 18 to 26. Jan and her husband, Bill, no longer reside in Texas, but in Tampa, FL with a host of animals, including a fish named Jake.
Background: Our third Texan is 27-year old Penny. She was born in Texas, and after stops in New Jersey (high school), Knoxville, TN (college) and Maryland (where she graduated from college) she has settled down in Plano, TX where she is currently a pharmaceutical sales rep. She was a cheerleader at the U. of Maryland and is still a member of the Maryland Athletic Club. She lives with her two Boston Terriers and is engaged to a man known simply as Matt.
Background: Shii Ann was born in Taiwan and immigrated to New Jersey when she was 8-years old. While in high school in Arizona, she became a champion speech and debate competitor. She completed her Masters Degree in New York City and lives there still. She is currently working as an executive recruiter after stints as a web producer and advertising account executive. She enjoys meeting and organizing people and in her spare time likes to cook, snowboard and sing karaoke. She is single and lives with her overweight cat, Simon.
Background: Our next competitor is Stephanie, a 29-year old firefighter from Arkansas. She's proud to be the first female fire fighter in the history of the Fayetteville Fire Department. She attended the University of Arkansas, and despite taking time away to complete her schooling to become a firefighter/EMT, she is planning on completing her original degree in biology. She likes running, mountain biking and rock climbing and hopes to one day compete in adventure races and triathlons. She describes herself as athletic, adventurous and romantic and currently lives in Ozark, AR with her two dogs and two horses.
Background: Hailing from the great state of Tennessee is the 27-year old social worker, Tanya. She has the truly inspiring job of working with sexually and physically abused children. Through high school she was recognized multiple times for her performances on her high school track and field team. Obviously, she enjoys running, but she also likes kayaking, rock climbing and shopping. Certified in CPR, Tanya also considers herself a huge fan of the Tennessee Volunteers football program and is currently living alone in Gray, TN.
Background: Some of you may recognize our first male competitor from his stint as Tim Rollins on Days of Our Lives. Brian also had guest roles on Baywatch Nights and Doogie Howser, MD. A former Division 1 college quarterback, Brian is currently working as a used car salesman in California. He's done time as a stockbroker, writer, and of course, actor. He enjoys playing guitar, hunting and dirt bike riding. He lives in Quartz Hill, CA with his wife, CC and son, Logan.
Background: Texan number four is Clay, a restaurateur who was born in Texas, but lives in Louisiana. Clay spent a lot of time as a child hunting and camping and amazingly enough, met his future wife at the tender age of 14. He spent time as a cotton picker, cafeteria manager and a printer before opening his own restaurant in Monroe, LA. He enjoys video editing and production, photography and golfing. Clay and wife, Linda, live in Monroe with their two children (ages 17 and 23.)
Background: The oldest of our Survivors is also the fifth member of Club Texas, 61-year old Jake. He's a land broker that has been working in the field of commercial real estate for some thirty years. He spent some time in Colorado running his deceased son-in-law's business, a hunting, fishing, horseback riding adventure company in the San Juan Mountains. He enjoys writing, camping, hunting, backpacking and videography/photography. Jake and his wife, Jeni reside in McKinney, TX and he has 2 children, 3 step-children and 9 grandchildren.
Background: Rounding out our sextet of Texans is 26-year old Jed, a dental student at Baylor College of Dentistry. A world traveler, Jed has administered dental care in remote places such as Cambodia, small villages in India and interestingly enough, Thailand. He likes wakeboarding, dirt bike riding, scuba diving, kayaking and sand volleyball. He lives in Dallas and aside from his two dentist brothers, he also has one sister.
Background: Next up is Executive Pastor, John. He has quite a resume. His church in Slidell, LA has some 2700 members and he is a member of Promise Keepers, the Adult Chapter of Christian Athletes (Founder and President) and the Nashville Songwriters Association. He enjoys scuba diving, spear fishing, deer hunting, playing guitar and, of course, writing country songs. A former financial planner, John is very proud of the way he transformed his body through the Body-For-Life challenge. He resides in Slidell with his wife, Elizabeth and 3 children ages 2-12.
Background: There's not much to say about our next guy, Ken. Mainly because his bio is pretty thin. He's a New York City cop with the 79th Precinct. He's also worked as a fitness professional and construction worker. He enjoys motorcycle riding, mountain biking and fitness training and is most proud of the day he raised his hand to take the oath to protect and serve. Ken currently lives in Brooklyn with his 2 American bulldogs.
Background: Get ready ladies, here comes the man Cosmo declared the most eligible bachelor in Arizona in 1998, Robb. He's the obligatory bartender of the cast and I'm altogether surprised to see that his one true passion is snowboarding. He doesn't eat red meat or dairy and practically lives on sushi. He cliff dives, bungee jumps, sky dives and is obviously a real adventure seeker. On the soft side, he also writes poetry. Snatch him up, ladies, he's still single and living in Scottsdale, AZ.
Background: Holy cow, I just realized we actually have 7 people with ties to Texas as Ted was a member of the Dallas Cowboys during their 1994 preseason. Ted is now a software development manager for a major computer corporation. He enjoys web page designing, music and motorcycle riding. He's most proud of creating the Big Dog Riders Motorcycle Club. He feels it eliminates the stereotype of riders and can directly affect his community in a positive way (whatever that means.) He currently lives in Durham, NC with his nameless wife and newborn baby, Morgan.