CBS is marking the upcoming 25th season of its “Survivor” franchise with a number of twists, including having two celebrities join the contestants, TVLine.com reports.
Actress Lisa Whelchel, who grew up in the public eye on the long-running NBC sitcom “The Facts of Life,” where she played rich kid Blair Warner, has been announced as a participant, along with Jeff Kent, former San Francisco Giants first baseman and National League MVP.
Also on tap, the return of three former contestants — as yet unnamed — who were all medically evacuated from the show during previous seasons.
The report adds: “For the the first time in eight years, ‘Survivor: Philippines’ will split the contestants into three tribes, which will be named after animals in the region: Kalabaw (‘Water Buffalo’), Tandang (‘Rooster’) and Matsing (‘Monkey’), according to a CBS release. Immunity challenges will include plenty of water-based battles, in which the three tribes will battle for first and second place in order to be granted immunity, with the third-place tribe heading to Tribal Council to eliminate a team member.”
The new season bows with a 90-minute episode Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET.
Lisa Whelchel … my first “celebrity” crush. 1970s, The New Mickey Mouse Club. Third or fourth grade, maybe.
The term ‘celebrity’ is seemingly now used for anybody who is breathing.