That’s right: Survivor is still on the air and going strong! The longest-running Reality TV competition show in America returns to CBS on Wednesday, March 1st, to begin its 44th (!!!) season with a batch of 18 all-new contestants!
The show continues its high ratings as staple “appointment television” viewing for CBS on Wednesdays. Survivor enters its fourth season of the so-called “new era,” with a more diverse cast and a shorter 26-day game. Past seasons were typically 39 days.
Season 44 filmed last summer once again in Fiji. Host Jeff Probst has promised that this is one of the more dangerous and exciting seasons in years. More details on the season to come, and I’m happy to add that I’ll once again be recapping Survivor for Reality Tea!
On that note, be sure to bookmark us, check back and/or follow me on Twitter (@tomsantilli) for Survivor Recaps and news each and every week! Plus, we are incredibly honored and thrilled to be the EXCLUSIVE home and only site that features new Survivor artwork each and every week, courtesy of Survivor Legend, Erik Reichenbach! If you’re not familiar with Erik’s work, we can fix that! Check out his site, www.DabuDoodles.com, and even take home some of his art for yourself!
But for now, let’s take a look at this brand-new cast of 18 players who will be competing for the million dollars and title of Sole Survivor, on the upcoming Survivor 44:
Click on each name to view the castaway’s video.

Name: Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho
Age: 36
Hometown: Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Current Residence: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Occupation: Salon owner

Name: Matt Blankinship
Age: 27
Hometown: Albany, Calif.
Current Residence: San Francisco, Calif.
Occupation: Security software engineer

Name: Brandon Cottom
Age: 30
Hometown: Newtown, Pa.
Current Residence: Newton, Pa.
Occupation: Security specialist

Name: Kane Fritzler
Age: 25
Hometown: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Current Residence: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Occupation: Law student

Name: Carson Garrett
Age: 20
Hometown: Rome, Ga.
Current Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Occupation: NASA engineering student

Name: Matthew Grinstead-Mayle
Age: 43
Hometown: Pickerington, Ohio
Current Residence: Columbus, Ohio
Occupation: Barbershop owner

Name: Lauren Harpe
Age: 31
Hometown: Port Arthur, Texas
Current Residence: Mont Belvieu, Texas
Occupation: Elementary school teacher

Name: Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt
Age: 43
Hometown: Ponce, Puerto Rico
Current Residence: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Occupation: Engineering manager

Name: Helen Li
Age: 29
Hometown: Wayland, Mass.
Current Residence: San Francisco, Calif.
Occupation: Product manager

Name: Frannie Marin
Age: 23
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
Current Residence: Cambridge, Mass.
Occupation: Research coordinator

Name: Danny Massa
Age: 32
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
Current Residence: Bronx, N.Y.
Occupation: N.Y.C. firefighter

Name: Bruce Perreault
Age: 46
Hometown: West Warwick, R.I.
Current Residence: Warwick, R.I.
Occupation: Insurance agent

Name: Maddy Pomilla
Age: 28
Hometown: Huntingtown, Md.
Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Charity projects manager

Name: Claire Rafson
Age: 25
Hometown: Highland Park, Ill.
Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Tech investor

Name: Jaime Lynn Ruiz
Age: 35
Hometown: Mesa, Ariz.
Current Residence: Mesa, Ariz.
Occupation: Yogi

Name: Sarah Wade
Age: 27
Hometown: Rochester, Minn.
Current Residence: Chicago, Ill.
Occupation: Management consultant

Name: Carolyn Wiger
Age: 35
Hometown: North St. Paul, Minn.
Current Residence: Hugo, Minn.
Occupation: Drug counselor

Name: Josh Wilder
Age: 34
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Current Residence: Atlanta, Ga.
Occupation: Surgical podiatrist
Looking forward to the Survivor 44 two-hour Premiere episode coming Wednesday, March 1st on CBS!
TELL US: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW CAST? WILL YOU BE WATCHING SURVIVOR 44? WHO STANDS OUT TO YOU?
[Photo: Robert Voets/CBS Entertainment 2023 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.]