“Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X” (CBS)
It’ll be young people vs. slightly-less young people when the legendary reality competition “Survivor” returns for its 33rd (33rd?!) season this fall. The timely twist which pits people who grew up without the internet against people who inherited a rocky job market isn’t the first time the show has divided the tribes by age, but it is the first time the tribes will represent a specific generation.
I was able to chat with each of the 20 new contestants before they traveled to Fiji. So, follow me on Twitter (@gordonholmes) in the days leading up to the premiere for exclusive interviews.
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Name (Age): Adam Klein (25)
Current Residence: San Francisco, CA Occupation: Homeless Shelter Manager Hobbies: Board games, poker, browsing the “Survivor” subreddit and travel. Pet Peeves: Bullies, long lines and smokers. Three Words to Describe You: Intelligent, confident and personable. |
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Name (Age): Hannah Shapiro (24)
Current Residence: West Hollywood, CA via Brookline, MA Occupation: Barista Hobbies: Skiing, scuba diving, eating. I can hula-hoop and walk at the same time. Pet Peeves: A pet peeve of mine is someone who likes to kill people. Not sure why, that’s just such a pet peeve of mine! Also people who stick their gum on public benches or fart in small elevators. Three Words to Describe You: Nerdy, competitive, and weird. |
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Name (Age): Jessica “Figgy” Figueroa (23)
Current Residence: Nashville, TN Occupation: Bartender Hobbies: Kayaking, videography, and watching football. Pet Peeves: When people are lazy and expect things to just happen. That’s not what life is about. Get up and fight. Three Words to Describe You: Adventurous, free spirit, and crowd pleaser. |
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Name (Age): Justin “Jay” Starrett (27)
Current Residence: Fort Lauderdale, FL. Occupation: Real Estate Agent Hobbies: Skimboarding, fishing, and pretty much any sport. Pet Peeves: I don’t like when people make plans or say they are going to do something and they don’t deliver. Three Words to Describe You: Determined, intelligent and funny.
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Name (Age): Mari Takahashi (31)
Current Residence: Los Angeles, CA via San Francisco Occupation: Professional Gamer Hobbies: Video games, rock climbing, and traveling Pet Peeves: Stagnation and laziness Three Words to Describe You: Courageous, adaptable, and calculating |
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Name (Age): Michaela Bradshaw (25)
Current Residence: Fort Worth, TX Occupation: Vacation Club Sales Hobbies: Traveling, eating, and cuddling. Pet Peeves: When incompetent people try to instruct me. When people do things inefficiently or wrong. When I lose. When other people make me lose. Three Words to Describe You: Intelligent, fun, and competitive. |
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Name (Age): Michelle Schubert (28)
Current Residence: Yakima, WA Occupation: Missionary Recruiter Hobbies: I love learning and reading and dancing. I seek beauty, adventure and adrenaline. I like nature, exploring, rock climbing, slacklining, and CATAN expansions. I also study dragons and the stars. Pet Peeves: Windshield wipers on a dry window! Three Words to Describe You: Hungry, hungry, hippo. |
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Name (Age): Taylor Lee Stocker (24)
Current Residence: Postfalls, ID Occupation: Ski Instructor Hobbies: Playing music, brewing beer, and snowboarding. Pet Peeves: Wobbly tables, people not cleaning up their dog’s poop, loud chewing, slow walkers, selfies, forms without enough space for answers. Three Words to Describe You: Spontaneous, inventive, and thinker.
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Name (Age): Will Wahl (18)
Current Residence: Long Valley, NJ Occupation: High School Student Hobbies: Watching TV (mostly “Survivor”), camping/fishing, and reading news articles. Pet Peeves: People who are fake and/or stuck-up. Three Words to Describe You: Cunning, adaptable, and dynamic. |
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Name (Age): Zeke Smith (28)
Current Residence: Brooklyn, NY Occupation: Asset Manager Hobbies: Writing, improv, gym and cooking. Pet Peeves: Sniffling. Chewing with one’s mouth open. Black shoes with brown belts. Children who don’t listen to their mothers. Three Words to Describe You: Sharp, devilish, and unstoppable. |
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Name (Age): Bret LaBelle (42)
Current Residence: Dedham, MA Occupation: Police Sergeant Hobbies: Going to the gym, golf, improve, and bicycling. Pet Peeves: Couples who sit on the same side of the booth, people who talk politics and religion at Thanksgiving dinner, and bullies. Three Words to Describe You: Gregarious, funny/hilarious and caring. |
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Name (Age): Chris Hammons (38)
Current Residence: Moore, OK Occupation: Trial Lawyer Hobbies: Working out to relive stress, strategizing to be successful, and challenging myself to be the best. Pet Peeves: Smacking gum. I hate it. I would do away with all gum on Earth if I could. Three Words to Describe You: Super competitive! I don’t lose. Tenacious; I never give up. Fighter; I don’t lose fights.
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Name (Age): Ciandre “CeCe” Taylor (39)
Current Residence: Granada Hills, CA via Buffalo, NY Occupation: Insurance Adjuster Hobbies: Writing, hiking/working out, and watching reality shows. Pet Peeves: People who can’t drive in traffic and people who cough and sneeze without covering their mouths. Three Words to Describe You: Outgoing, strong minded, and goal setter. |
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Name (Age): David Wright (42)
Current Residence: Sherman Oaks, CA via Philadelphia, PA Occupation: Television Writer Hobbies: 3D printing puzzles. Pet Peeves: Sudden, loud noises; people who don’t use a turn signal; people who believe in ghosts and psychics; people who are late for dinner; people who incorrectly use the word “nonplussed;” people. Three Words to Describe You: OCD, nervous, and paranoid.
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Name (Age): Jessica Lewis (37) Current Residence: Voorheesville, NY Occupation: Assistant District Attorney Hobbies: Painting, baking, and photography. Pet Peeves: People who blame others for their own misery. Three Words to Describe You: Unique, unconventional, and intriguing.
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Name (Age): Ken McNickle (33)
Current Residence: Denver, CO via Hana, Maui Occupation: Model Hobbies: Anything outdoors (hiking, camping and fishing), music (playing and watching) and dancing. Pet Peeves: Superficial connections and communication. Three Words to Describe You: Driven, mindful, and perceptive. |
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Name (Age): Lucy Huang (42)
Current Residence: Diamond Bar, CA Occupation: Dietician Hobbies: Lifting weights, cooking with my kids, and watching food shows to find new restaurants. Pet Peeves: Lazy people, people with no common sense, and whiners. Three Words to Describe You: Stubborn, hardworking, and controlling. |
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Name (Age): Paul Wachter (52)
Current Residence: Sugarloaf Key, FL via Long Island, NY Occupation: Boat Mechanic Hobbies: Singing in a rock band, treasure hunting, and spear fishing. Pet Peeves: Whiners and slackers. Three Words to Describe You: Intimidating, methodical, confident |
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Name (Age): Rachel Ako (37)
Current Residence: Los Angeles, CA Occupation: Recruiting Director Hobbies: Dancing, traveling and high ropes/high adventure activities. Pet Peeves: I guess I would say bad manners. Three Words to Describe You: Energetic, authentic, and fun! |
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Name (Age): Sunday Burquest (45)
Current Residence: Otsego, MN Occupation: Youth Pastor Hobbies: Repurposing and painting furniture. Interior design and thrift shopping (love the thrill of the hunt for a good deal). Pet Peeves: Arrogant people: those who think they are God’s gift to the human race. Catty women: the ones that make the snide comments, back-handed compliments and make other girls in the room feel like they don’t measure up. People that are late drive me nuts. Three Words to Describe You: Bossy, compassionate, and tenacious. |
Don’t miss the season premiere of “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X,” Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 8pm ET.
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