The wait is over! Season 32 of "Survivor," named "Kaoh Rong," finally premieres Wednesday night, and there's a lot in store for the "most grueling" season in the history of "Survivor."
While it's already been made clear that the climate conditions of Cambodia made these 39 days extremely tough and brutal for not only the contestants, but the entire crew, there's a lot more than just injuries, evacuations and dangerous weather that make Season 32 stand out from the rest. There's going to be a new super idol that can be combined with another idol to help save whoever is voted out at Tribal Council, as well as a possible new jury twist, although this has not yet been confirmed. Plus, the well-received "Brain vs. Brawn vs. Beauty" theme from Season 28 is being revisited, as host and producer Jeff Probst immediately realized during casting that it was the perfect opportunity to do so.
"As we started seeing people, it became obvious we had another really clear division of brains, brawn and beauty," he told Entertainment Weekly in December. "For instance, a woman who scored a perfect SAT, a former NBA bruiser, and a Vietnamese gay gardener who loves all living things."
"The division of brains, brawn and beauty once again is really interesting," he said again in January. "Even from the first three days, you see very clear differences within each tribe. And loyalty is a theme this season, but, then again, when isn't it?"
With such a diverse cast, and a special 90-minute premiere, it'll be interesting to see who gets voted off first, and who has what it takes to make it all the way to the end. Probst has shared his thoughts on not only each tribe, but each individual contestant so we know what to expect going into the premiere.
Here's what we know so far about each contestant, and what Probst has to say about them.
The Beauty Tribe, which will be called the Gondol Tribe, is made up of three gorgeous people who are used to getting by on their looks alone, but we will quickly find out that there's a lot more to them than what's on the outside.
Michele: She's a bartender who Probst says has a "magnetic draw" that she is well aware of and uses to her advantage. As a big fan of the show, she knows that looks can get you what you want in certain situations.
Nick: He's a personal trainer that "looks like Superman." Probst describes Nick as cocky and arrogant, but someone who definitely has "an edge" to him. "100 percent villain," Probst explains. "He knows that...He's not a hero. And I think he's gonna stir up chaos and I think he's smart enough to maybe pull it off."
Julia: At just 18 years old, Probst can't believe just how sharp this college student is. As someone people are going to want to get rid of, because of her age, he thinks her knowledge of the game could help her.
Caleb: He's an army veteran who's familiar with reality shows, as he's been on "Big Brother." "If Caleb gets to the end, he's a superstar," Probst admits. "Because to do that on 'Big Brother' then come out and do that on here, that is tough to do."
Anna: This professional poker player clearly belongs on the Beauty Tribe, but she knows how to use her beauty as "an asset," as she does so in the game of poker all the time. She's someone we can probably expect a lot of blindsides from, as she's familiar with bluffing.
Tai: Probst explains that they knew he would be a contestant the second he walked into casting. "He has that energy I wish I had more of," Probst explains. "That's how you should live a life. A proud man. Gay man. Asian American man. Who has this great love of the world and people. And that's as beautiful as it gets." Probst even went as far as saying that he "would be one of the greatest winners ever" if he has what it takes to get that far.
The Brains Tribe, which will be called the Chanloh Tribe, ranges in age from 27-72, so it'll be interesting to see this group of highly intelligent people try and work together from the start.
Neal: Probst describes this ice cream entrepreneur as a "character" who gets the game in a way that Probst isn't even sure he understands. "I could see Neal as winner," Probst admits. "And be very happy."
Debbie: She's being compared to memorable "Survivor" villain Coach, as she's been in the Air Force, has been a model and seems to have really done it all. Probst even admits that she'll "have a hard time winning this game" because of how weird she is.
Peter: As an ER doctor who "thinks he knows everything," Probst can't help but love him. While his doctor instincts will help him succeed, his ego might get in the way.
Liz: Even though it looks like she should be on the Beauty Tribe, this quantitative strategist is no joke. Not only did she get a perfect score on her SATs, but she's the only person in the history of "Survivor" to score perfect on the IQ test. "She likes 'Survivor,' she understands the strategy of 'Survivor,'" Probst explains. "Liz needs to pick the right couple of people out of the gate and she could be in good shape."
Joe: At 72, he's the oldest of the bunch, but he's fit, smart and a former FBI agent that Probst describes as a rare "gem." If the other castaways just give him a chance, and don't judge him because of his age, he has the chance to do good. Joe also recently opened up about how he hopes his participation on the show will help inspire people his age to stay active. "Might be a message to people that, you know what, age isn't a barrier," he told CBS 12. "It's a mental barrier, not a physical one."
Aubrey: Even she has no problem admitting she's a little weird, and Probst straight up describes her as a nerd. "She could just move along, stay in the flow, until she makes her move," he explained.
While the Brawn Tribe, which will be called the Totang Tribe, was picked based on their strength, Probst promises that these castaways are much more than just strong people, as they're smart and good strategizers that have the ability to go far in the game.
Cydney: While her body builder occupation makes her the perfect fit for the Brawn Tribe, Probst explains that her beauty and intelligence could've landed her on any of the three tribes. "And what she loves is, nobody will ever assume that I'm as bright as I am," he added. She's someone that is going to surprise people.
Scot: As a former NBA player who retired in 2008, standing at 6'11" and weighing 310 pounds, he was a clear fit for this tribe. But it's his approach to the game that Probst loves the most. He's not trying to hide anything, especially the fact that he was once a professional basketball player and made a lot of money. He wants to make athlete history by going further than any athlete has ever gone on this show.
Alecia: Probst comes out and describes her as "crazy" right off the bat, and even though she can be a major asset, her craziness could get in the way of her winning.
Darnell: He's been through a lot in his life since he grew up on the streets, which is why Probst can't seem to figure him out and considers him a "major question mark." "Darnell is either going to acclimate quickly to the conditions, in which he'll be fine, or he's going to be completely overwhelmed," Probst admits.
Jennifer: She's also someone with an interesting back story that Probst seems to really enjoy. "She has that thing that nobody else here has, which is, 'I've had a lot of time to think about who I want to be, how I want to behave and how I want to play this game,'" Probst explained. "So don't you ever underestimate Jenni."
Jason: Probst was quickly drawn to his speech about his little girls from the moment he met him. "He's a really sensitive guy, who will kick your ass," he explained. "He's a massive threat."
During the premiere, we'll see these 18 contestants split up into their three respective tribes, frantically try to grab everything they can for their campsite, and start off on this brutal 39-day adventure. Even in the first few days, we'll see some bullying going on.
"And I think it's going to be interesting for parents to talk to their kids," Probst told CBS New York. "It gets really complicated quickly."
Tune into the premiere of "Survivor: Kaoh Rong" Wednesday, Feb. 17 on CBS at 8/7c. Watch what some of the castaways have to say about their fellow contestants below!
