Santa Monica Resident to Return for New Season of 'Survivor'

By City News Service

The next season of Survivor will feature 10 former contestants, including past winners Aras Baskauskas of Santa Monica and Tina Wesson, competing against 10 loved ones, CBS announced today.

Baskauskas, a 31-year-old musician who was the champion of Survivor: Exile Island in spring 2006, will be joined by his brother Vytas, a 33-year- old yoga instructor and math professor, among the contestants.

Wesson, a 52-year-old motivational speaker from Robbinsville, N.C. and the champion of Survivor: Australia in spring 2001, will compete against her 25-year-old daughter, Katie Collins, who lives in New York City and works for a hedge fund.

Other contestants in the season themed ‘Blood vs. Water’ include Brad Culpepper, a defensive tackle for three NFL teams from 1992-2000, and his wife, Monica, who competed on Survivor: One World in spring 2012, and Colton

Cumbie, who was medically evacuated during Survivor: One World, and his fiance, Caleb Bankston.

Survivor: Blood vs. Water will include the return of Redemption Island, where castaways who have been eliminated can seek redemption and return to compete for the $1 million prize. In this edition, the loved ones will be forced to choose whether to “save” their partner on Redemption Island and switch places with them, or leave them in exile.

The 27th edition of the Emmy-winning series is scheduled to premiere Sept. 18 with a 90-minute episode.