Welcome OzNews for June; a summary of the Survivor news you may have missed this past month!
Special Tribute to Caleb Bankston
Leaving the highs of Cagayan’s finale in May, this month we pay tribute to one of the nicest Survivor contestants to ever play the game, Caleb Bankston. The tragic news of Bankston’s passing spread across social media like wildfire and devastated many family, friends and fans of the young man. He was only 26 years old. Blood v Water friends and teammates Ciera and Katie both changed their profile pictures early on which slated the rumours true. Bankston was working on the railroad when the car he was working on derailed. We can’t imagine what Caleb’s family and his fiancé Colton are going through right now, but so much love is currently being sent their way. It breaks my heart that Caleb and Colton were to be married this October and I hope Colton finds peace through this painful journey.
Jeff Probst also issued a statement and his condolences to the Bankston family:
“The entire ‘Survivor’ crew is together in Nicaragua. We are shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of Caleb. He was one of the most humble and likable contestants we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with on the show. A true gentleman. He will be missed by so many. We extend our most sincere condolences to his family and to his fiancée, Colton.”
If you haven’t already, please check out the official Survivor Oz tribute to Caleb here: http://survivoroz.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/remembering-caleb-bankston-1987-2014/#more-23520
Premiere Date for San Juan Del Sur
CBS has announced its fall premiere listing for 2014, with Survivor airing its 29th season at 8pm on Wednesday 24th September (US air date). This season will only have a 1-hour premiere which is a real downer as we have gotten used to at least 1&1/2 hour opening episodes! Hopefully we are properly introduced to the new couples in the first episode and I’m guessing it won’t be as full on as the first BvW, being all newbies. Viewers in Australia will have to wait for an announcement by GO. We can only hope they fast-track this season!
http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/cbs-announces-fall-premiere-dates-including-hourlong-big-bang-theory-on-monday-1201245314/
Wayfaring: Freberg’s Choose Your Own Adventure
But the catch is, WE choose Malcolm’s adventure! In this online docu-series Philippines alumni, Malcolm Freberg, and his personal film crew are travelling around the United States for 20 days with the public deciding where he goes and what he does. Options will be put up on social media and a short episode of his antics will be online for all to watch each day. If you liked Around the World in 80 days or Parvati Shallow’s previous stint in Around the World For Free, you will definitely like this! And with Freberg in the driver’s seat there is sure to be much entertainment to be seen!!
http://www.wayfaringlive.com/
Amazing Race Meets Survivor
We’ve seen a Big Brother cross-over with Survivor (kinda, thanks Hayden Moss), but will we be seeing some Amazing Race contestants on Survivor? Casting spoilers this month revealed that a ‘polarizing’ team from the Amazing Race will be one of the duos on the new San Juan Del Sur, and is slated to be the “Twinnies” Natalie and Nadiya Anderson from Season 21 and the most recent All Stars season.
http://www.enstarz.com/articles/39087/20140605/survivor-2014-cast-controversial-amazing-race-team-competing-on-season-29s-san-juan-del-sur-poll-video.htm
And it is a well-known fact that there are currently 2 Survivors filming the Amazing Race 25. South Pacific sweethearts Whitney Duncan and Keith Tollefson were seen racing from the start line in New York City on May 31. Duncan seems confident on their chances in this game, “I’m smart, physically fit and not afraid of anything… I’m extremely competitive and love to win.” It will be interesting to see how far they make it in the race and hopefully they won’t pull a Jenna & Ethan! That was embarrassing… Season 25 of the Amazing Race doesn’t air til September 26; can we wait that long to see Whitney and Keith? Yes.
http://theboot.com/whitney-duncan-amazing-race/
Survivor’s Still Got It!
Twenty-nine seasons in and CBS’ “Survivor” has received a nomination in this years Television Critics Association Awards in the category of “Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming”. For those who don’t know, the Television Critics Association, or TCA, represents 200+ journalists who cover television for publications throughout the US and Canada. So it’s good to know that people in the industry are still recognising how great Survivor actually is and the work put into producing the show… unlike other reality shows like, Honey Boo Boo?
http://www.cbs.com/shows/2014-finales/news/1002565/
Hearts of Reality 2014
Donations are flying all over the place already for this event coming up in July. This year’s event will be held on Thursday 31st July – Sunday 3rd August, with many big names locked in! Good to see Cagayan contestants attending this year including Tony, Spencer and Tasha. Meet all your favourite reality stars over 3 days and please donate!! You can find the weekend schedule and current listing of stars attending here:
http://celebrationtowncenter.com/events/hearts-of-realitysummer-sidewalk-sale-2014-2/
But Wait, There’s More
I feel like I just wrote about Romber’s last baby, but here goes another post! Survivor power couple Rob and Amber welcomed their fourth child, Adelina Rose, to the world on June 20. Congratulations to the Mariano family on their new addition, and you have to wonder if Rob still wants a boy after having four daughters… Aww! J
http://au.eonline.com/news/553955/survivor-s-rob-and-amber-mariano-welcome-daughter-adelina-rose-see-the-first-pic-of-their-baby-girl
Til next month, Lynda.