I am – Hercules!!


All the contestants this 20th season are repeats and so are all of the challenges. The first challenge of the season appears to be some manner of tackle madness that inspires Jeff Probst to call in the show’s medical team.

Russell Hantz’ wacky $100,000 bid for title of “sole survivor” after losing season 19 tells me the trollish and untrustworthy Texas oilman did not advance as far in season 20.

Why did Hantz stumble? One reason might Hantz went immediately from season 19 to season 20 last summer, and he had less of his own fat to sustain him. And I suspect producers were a lot more careful about hiding those immunity idols during season 20.

The 20 returnees, arranged chronologically by debut seasons:

Colby Donaldson, 36
'The Australian Outback' (Season 2) (2nd place);
'All-Stars' (Season 8) (12th place)

Jerri Manthey, 38
'The Australian Outback' (Season 2) (8th place);
'All-Stars' (Season 8) (10th place)

Rob Mariano, 34
'Marquesas' (Season 4) (10th place);
'All-Stars' (Season 8) (2nd place)

Rupert Boneham, 45
'Pearl Islands' (Season 7) (8th place);
'All-Stars' (Season 8) (4th place)

Sandra Diaz-Twine, 35
'Pearl Islands' (Season 7) (winner)

Stephenie LaGrossa, 30
'Palau' (Season 10) (7th place);
'Guatemala' (Season 11) (2nd place)

Tom Westman, 45
'Palau' (Season 10) (winner)

Danielle DiLorenzo, 28
'Panama' (Season 12) (2nd place)

Cirie Fields, 39
'Panama' (Season 12) (4th place);
'Micronesia' (Season 16) (3rd place)

Parvati Shallow, 27
'Cook Islands' (Season 13) (6th place);
'Micronesia' (Season 16) (winner)

Candice Woodcock, 27
'Cook Islands' (Season 13) (8th place)

James Clement, 32
'China' (Season 15) (7th place);
'Micronesia' (Season 16) (7th place (injury))

Amanda Kimmel, 25
‘China' (Season 15) (3rd place);
'Micronesia' (Season 16) (2nd place)

Courtney Yates, 28
'China' (Season 15) (2nd place)

Randy Bailey, 50
'Gabon' (Season 17) (8th place)

Jessica "Sugar" Kiper, 30
'Gabon' (Season 17) (3rd place)

James "J.T." Thomas, 25
'Tocantins' (Season 18) (winner)

Tyson Apostol, 29
'Tocantins' (Season 18) (8th place)

Ben "Coach" Wade, 38
'Tocantins' (Season 18) (5th place)

Russell Hantz, 36
'Samoa' (Season 19) (2nd place)

And remember: Sugar used to make out with that Peter Petrelli guy on "Gilmore Girls"!

Learn whether they’re heroes or villains and why we should remember them here.

Find an enviable array of exclusive first-episode footage here.

8 p.m. Thursday. CBS.

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