Survivor: Island of the Idols began with 20 new castaways divided between the Lairo and Vokai tribes. The 2019 season also brought back Boston Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine—not as competitors, but as mentors on the titular island. Here are the contestants and the original tribe assignments announced by CBS.
What was the Island of the Idols twist?
Season 39 premiered on September 25, 2019, with a special 90-minute episode. The castaways competed for a stated $1 million prize and the title of Sole Survivor in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands. Boston Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine, both returning winners, served as mentors rather than competing for the prize. CBS said selected players could visit the island to learn game skills and strategy; a visit could offer a chance at an advantage, with risk attached. It was not a visit or an advantage guaranteed to every castaway.
Executive producer and host Jeff Probst described the idea as “a SURVIVOR boot camp where each week, players will be instructed on a different facet of the game and then have a chance to test what they’ve learned for a shot at an advantage.” CBS’s September 9, 2019 cast announcement introduced the twist and the players.
Who was on the Lairo tribe?
These were Lairo’s 10 original members. Ages, occupations, hometowns, and residences are presented as CBS announced them in 2019; they are not current-age or present-day residence claims.
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- Ronnie Bardah, 35 — Pro poker player; hometown: Brockton, Massachusetts; residence: Henderson, Nevada.
- Elizabeth Beisel, 26 — Olympic medalist; hometown and residence: Saunderstown, Rhode Island.
- Missy Byrd, 24 — Air Force veteran; hometown: Decatur, Georgia; residence: Tacoma, Washington.
- Dean Kowalski, 28 — Tech sales; hometown: Westfield, New Jersey; residence: New York, New York.
- Tom Laidlaw, 60 — Former NHL player; hometown: Brampton, Ontario, Canada; residence: Greenwich, Connecticut.
- Aaron Meredith, 36 — Gym owner; hometown: Uncasville, Connecticut; residence: Warwick, Rhode Island.
- Vince Moua, 27 — Admissions counselor; hometown and residence: Merced, California and Palo Alto, California, respectively.
- Karishma Patel, 37 — Personal injury lawyer; hometown: Philadelphia; residence: Houston.
- Elaine Stott, 41 — Factory worker; hometown and residence: Woodbine and Rockholds, Kentucky, respectively.
- Chelsea Walker, 26 — Digital content creator; hometown: Marlton, New Jersey; residence: Los Angeles.
Who was on the Vokai tribe?
Vokai’s original 10 members were:
- Lauren Beck, 28 — Nanny; hometowns: Bakersfield, California, and Rochester Hills, Michigan; residence: Glendale, California.
- Molly Byman, 27 — Law student; hometown: Boston; residence: Durham, North Carolina.
- Janet Carbin, 59 — Chief lifeguard; hometown: Neptune, New Jersey; residence: Palm Bay, Florida.
- Kellee Kim, 29 — MBA student; hometown: Costa Mesa, California; residence: Philadelphia.
- Jason Linden, 32 — Personal injury lawyer; hometown and residence: New York, New York.
- Jack Nichting, 23 — Graduate student; hometown: Newport News, Virginia; residence: Harrisonburg, Virginia.
- Noura Salman, 36 — Entrepreneur; hometowns: London, UK, and Bethesda, Maryland; residence: North Potomac, Maryland.
- Tommy Sheehan, 26 — Fourth-grade teacher; hometown: Bayville, New York; residence: Long Beach, New York.
- Jamal Shipman, 33 — K–12 admissions counselor; hometown: Jersey City, New Jersey; residence: Providence, Rhode Island.
- Dan Spilo, 48 — Talent manager; hometown: New York, New York; residence: Los Angeles.
When did the season air?
The season opened on September 25, 2019. CBS’s Season 39 episode guide lists 13 regular episodes and a reunion special; it gives December 18, 2019, as the date for both the finale and reunion.
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