[Marisol]

A modern day caveman, a Mr. Miyagi wannabe and a hot mama.
If their self-proclamations are any indication, this season's batch of Survivor hopefuls may be the most colorful yet.
CBS on Monday unveiled the latest batch of 16 castaways ready to battle it out for a million bucks in the granddaddy of reality TV's 12th edition, Survivor: Panama--Exile Island, set to premiere Feb. 2.
Along with the identities of the Gilligans, the network also announced some tweaks with the show's formula.
Newly reupped host Jeff Probst will kick off the 39-day contest by dividing the competitors into tribes of four, separated into the politically incorrect groupings of Older Men vs. Older Women vs. Younger Men vs. Younger Women. The four tribes will become two in a "schoolyard pick" during the second episode.
This season's most insidious new gimmick, though, has to do with the show's title--Exile Island. Each episode, one castaway from the losing tribe will be banished to a separate island, several miles away from their group's encampment. While the isolation is not necessarily desirable for contestants, who will be forced to fend for themselves until being reunited with their tribe, there will be a hidden immunity idol located on the island. Should the solo castaway find it, they can save themselves from being voted off in a future tribal council.
Among the latest castaways to be vying for immunity this season are some pretty heavy hitters, including 52-year-old retired astronaut Dan Barry from South Hadley, Massachusetts.
"I've had the opportunity to fly on three space shuttle missions, two to the International Space Station and, along the way, do four space walks," Barry said on CBS' Early Show Monday.
In the first episode, he'll be grouped with fellow "mature" tribe member Bruce Kanegai, a karate instructor from Simi Valley, California, who at age 58 is the show's oldest player.
"I want to be Mr. Miyagi," Kanegai said. "A survivor."
As for the young'uns, 32-year-old Bobby Mason, an attorney from Los Angeles, is coming at the game from a slightly less enlightened angle.
"I'm not like some pretty boy--soft, mushy, sensitive, caring, considerate dude," Mason said. "I'm basically a modern day caveman."
As for the women, South Carolina spawns two contestants this season, 35-year-old registered nurse Cirie Fields and 48-year-old shopping developer Ruth Marie Milliman.
Fields, for one, has her game plan in order.
"I want to be like the hot mama," she said. "I want to be the hot nurse. I want to be the hot cook. I just want to be hot, really."
On the opposite end of the women's spectrum is Tina Scheer, 45, a lumberjack who calls herself a "lumberjill."
"I'm a female in a male-dominated business," Scheer said. "And I have had to struggle a lot."
Here's a complete look at the contenders:

• Dan Barry, 52, retired astronaut from South Hadley, Massachusetts
• Aras Baskausas, 24, yoga instructor from Santa Monica
• Austin Carty, 24, author from High Point, North Carolina
• Terry Deitz, 46, retired Navy fighter pilot from Simsbury, Connecticut
• Danielle DiLorenzo, 24, medical sales representative from Pompano Beach, Florida
• Cirie Fields, 35, registered nurse from Waterboro, South Carolina
• Misty Giles, 24, engineer from Dallas
• Melinda Hyder, 32, singer from Sevierville, Texas
• Bruce Kanegai, 58, karate instructor from Simi Valley, California
• Courtney Marit, 31, performance artist from Los Angeles
• Bobby Mason, 32, attorney from Los Angeles
• Ruth Marie Milliman, 48, director of retail leasing from Greenville, South Carolina
• Shane Powers, 35, entertainment marketing company owner from Los Angeles
• Tina Scheer, 45, logging sports promoter/performer from Hayward, Wisconsin
• Sally Schumann, 27, social worker from Chicago
• Nick Stanbury, 25, financial sales rep from Tempe, Arizona

[Zoey]

Oh cool,thanks for the info Marisol!Can't wait for the season to begin Last one was pretty good!

[Marisol]

The new season starts tomorrow. Who will be watching? I know that I will be.

[Marisol]

Wow, that was a great episode. I like how they are mixing things up. The younger men seemed kind of weak. I thought that they would have kicked a$$ in both of the challenges. I am bummed at the person that got kicked out. The one afraid of the leaves should have been the one to go. Its too early in the game to kick off people that will help feed ya.

[Zoey]

Mari I totally agree,they should never have voted Tina out. I am really anxious to see what happens next week

[redrocks]

I LOVED the first show. I'm always amazed how they can make the same simple show "different" each year and keep us interested. I think Exile Island is going to be a great little twist to the game!

[Marisol]

Originally Posted by redrocks

I LOVED the first show. I'm always amazed how they can make the same simple show "different" each year and keep us interested. I think Exile Island is going to be a great little twist to the game!

That is what I like about the show. I always think that I have it figured out and it totally surprises me each and every time. My fave part was the nurse lady on the Golden Girls team saying "I hate leaves". Hello!!! Do you know what show you are on?

[redrocks]

Originally Posted by Marisol

That is what I like about the show. I always think that I have it figured out and it totally surprises me each and every time. My fave part was the nurse lady on the Golden Girls team saying "I hate leaves". Hello!!! Do you know what show you are on?

I know. Ken and I just looked at each other on the couch and started laughing so hard! She's not going to be on the island very long. Wait until a bug comes near her!!! Granted she grew up in Jersey City and she's probably never spent any time outdoors or in a park, but come on!!!!