Web only: Survivability

“The Tribe has spoken.”

Everyone knows those four little words, made popular by the Survivor series. Well it’s now time for another adventure with plenty of backstabbing, lying and schemes. The third season takes sixteen strangers to Africa to outlast and get along on the bare necessities: rice, unlimited water and a tarp. Oh, the fun!

In case you’ve been living in a cave these past two years, here’s the very basic concept of what “Survivor” is all about. Sixteen players are split into two tribes who will compete against each other in immunity challenges. The losing team then has to vote out one of their own. One by one, people are eliminated leaving just one to score the million dollar prize.

“Survivor,” which premiered in June of 2000, broke records and critics expectations with its huge popularity. The first season finale brought in approximately 50 million viewers, as big as the Super Bowl. Everyone wanted to tune in to see snaky Richard Hatch win the million dollars. The second season was almost equally popular showing American hero Colby pass up the million so that Tina, a mother and wife, could win. We can only imagine how good “Survivor 3: Africa” will be.

Here’s a brief overview of the new contestants:

• Carl, 46, a dentist from Winter Springs, Fla.
• Clarence, 24, a high school basketball coach from Detroit, Mich.
• Tom, 46, a goat farmer from Rich Valley, Va.
• Jessie, 27, deputy sheriff from Orlando, Fla.
• Teresa, 42, flight attendant from Jackson, Ga.
• Silas, 23, bartender currently living in Los Angeles, Calif.
• Frank, 43, telephone technician from Odessa, N.Y.
• Kelly, 22, recent Duke graduate from Ranchero Sante Fe, Calif.
• Lex, 38, Marketing Manager from Santa Cruz, Calif.
• Kim, 57, retired teacher from Oyster Bay, N.Y.
• Diane Ogden, 42, Post Officer worker from Lincoln, Neb.
• Ethan, 27, Soccer Player from Lexington, Mass.
• Kim, 29,freelance marketer from Conshohocken, Pa.
• Lindsey, 27, in the advertising field, Portland, Ore.
• Brandon, 25 bartender from Dallas, TX
• Linda, 44, career counselor from Cambridge, Mass.

Of the sixteen the only Pennsylvania contestant, Kim, comes with the most interesting information. In her biography she reveals that she was engaged to be married but called it off three weeks shy of the big date. Producers urged Kim to reveal this information so that gossip magazines wouldn’t pick it up.

Sean Kenniff, from the first Survivor called TN from a coffeehouse in New York City about the new season and his thoughts on the shows. Kenniff came in fourth in the first season. He is a practicing neurologist in New York as well as a part time consultant for Extra Health and has a series of videos out on surviving health problems.

“It was amazing being on the first ‘Survivor,'” he said. “First is always the best and I was lucky to get in there. Now I am just riding everything out as far as it goes.”

“I can’t wait for the new season. ‘Survivor’ will always be something to me, I will always be tuning in.” Kenniff said.

“Survivor 3: Africa” airs Thursdays 8 p.m. on KYW, channel 2 in most areas.