Survivor Announces Heroes and Villains. Can You Tell the Difference?

Speaking of the People’s Choice Awards, CBS used them last night to give us a sneak peek of the two tribes that were chosen for Survivor’s 10th-anniversary “Heroes vs. Villains” installment. After the jump, the list from CBS’s release, and a few thoughts:

* Leaving aside the handful of people I could not remember without looking them up (and I’ve watched every season), there are a few seemingly random assignments by category. I don’t remember anything especially villainous about Sandra, nor can I remember much of anything about Candice. And I’m sorry: “villain” Courtney (from Survivor: China)? Loved her!

* Meanwhile, I have not exactly had time to develop Russell nostalgia yet, but those of you who felt he was ripped off last season will get to enjoy him again.

* Boston Rob, is—once again!—back, on the villains team, but there was a real missed opportunity to cast Amber on the opposing team, not for her heroism but just for giggles.

* I don’t know the circumstances behind any of the casting; still, it’s hard not to see a list as an implicit assessment of which former Survivor contestants now have something better to do and which do not. Back in 2003 I was writing about Jerri Manthey’s attempt to parlay her Outback notoriety into acting gigs; now here she is again. Conversely, though I didn’t care for him at all, I’d put Yul on any all-time list of Survivor heroes, I would automatically assume he wouldn’t want to mess with the show again. But what kept Thailand’s Brian off the list? [Update: I mean besides the porn history and reported legal troubles?]

* Oh, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck! Ah, we can only dream!

The list:

Castaways competing on
SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS (in alphabetical order):

	HEROES	VILLAINS
Name: Age: Hometown: Current Residence: Previous Finishes:	RUPERT BONEHAM 45 Indianapolis, Ind Indianapolis, Ind Pearl Islands, 8th Out	TYSON APOSTOL 30 Lindon, Utah Heber City, Utah Tocantins, 8th Out All-Stars, 15th Out, 6th Jury Member
Name: Age: Hometown: Current Residence: Previous Finishes:	JAMES CLEMENT 32 Lafayette, La Malibu, Calif./Lafayette, La China, 10th Out	RANDY BAILEY 50 Austin, Texas Austin, Texas Gabon, 11th Out Micronesia, Injured, Jury Member
Name: Age: Hometown: Current Residence: Previous Finishes:	COLBY DONALDSON 35 Christoval, Texas Los Angeles, Calif. Australia, Runner-Up	DANIELLE DILORENZO 26 Boston, Mass. Los Angeles, Calif. Panama, Runner-Up All-Stars, 5th Out
Name: Age: Hometown: Current Residence: Previous Finishes:	CIRIE FIELDS 39 Jersey City, N.J. Norwalk, Conn. Panama, 12th Out	RUSSELL HANTZ 37 Dayton, Texas Dayton, Texas Samoa, Runner-Up Micronesia, 15th Out
Name: Age: Hometown: Current Residence: Previous Finishes:	AMANDA KIMMEL 24 Kalispell, Mont. Los Angeles, Calif. China, 2nd Runner Up	JERRI MANTHEY 38 Los Angeles, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. Australia, 8th Out Micronesia, Runner Up All-Stars, 7th Out
Name: Age: Hometown: Current Residence: Previous Finishes:	JESSICA “Sugar” KIPER 29 Baton Rouge, La. Los Angeles, Calif. Gabon, 2nd Runner-Up	ROBERT MARIANO 33 Boston, Mass. Pensacola, Fla. Marquesas, 7th Out, All-Stars: Runner-Up
Name: Age: Hometown: Current Residence: Previous Finishes:	STEPHENIE LAGROSSA 29 Braircliff, Glenolden, Pa. Philadelphia, Pa. Palau, 10th Out	PARVATI SHALLOW 27 Atlanta, Ga. Los Angeles, Calif. Cook Islands, 15th Out, Guatemala: Runner-Up Micronesia: Winner
Name: Age: Hometown: Current Residence: Previous Finishes:	JAMES “JT” THOMAS JR. 25 Samson, Ala. Mobile, Ala. Tocantins, Winner	SANDRA DIAZ-TWINE 34 Stamford, Conn. Fayetteville, N.C. Pearl Islands, Winner
Name: Age: Hometown: Current Residence: Previous Finishes:	TOM WESTMAN 45 New York, N.Y. New York, N.Y. Palau, Winner	BENJAMIN “Coach” WADE 38 Susanville, Calif. Susanville, Calif. Tocantins, 11th Out
Name: Age: Hometown: Current Residence: Previous Finishes:	CANDICE WOODCOCK 27 Fayetteville, N.C. Washington, D.C. Cook Islands, 13th Out	COURTNEY YATES 28 Boston, Mass. New York, N.Y China, Runner-Up