March 7, 2018 update: Here are links to my lengthy March 6 interview, "Angela Perkins Compares 'Survivor' Experience To Army Life," and to my March 7 story from her viewing party at Mason's Buffalo Wings & Rings, "Crowd Cheers Angela's 'Survivor' Narrow Escape."
Both have lots of new photos. The March 7 story also has information about Perkins' viewing parties through the "Survivor: Ghost Island" finale on May 23.
Original post Jan. 31, 2018: Do you know Army veteran Angela Perkins from Mason? She's the first local "Survivor" cast member in many years.
Perkins, 42, was one of 20 contestants announced by CBS Wednesday, Jan. 31 who will be competing for the $1-million prize on "Survivor: Ghost Island." It premieres Wednesday, Feb. 28 (8-10 p.m., Channel 12 CBS).
Near the very end of the show's six-minute promotional video, Perkins describes herself:
"I just recently retired from the military. I was deployed once to Iraq, and once to Afghanistan. I've done amazing things like jump from helicopters and airplanes...."
At my request, CBS asked her for more information. Perkins says she's divorced after 21 years of marriage and more than 21 years in the Army.
"After two long deployments, I came head-to-head with my husband because he had so much resentment from me being gone and in the service! I now am divorced and reside in an apartment after giving up my dream home to my ex and everything we worked for just for the opportunity of being on 'Survivor.' "
Perkins says she did not grow up here. She went to Bedford Senior High School in Erie, Mich. She has two sisters and two brothers.
She's the oldest of a cast dominated – as usual – by 14 people under the age of 30. But "Ghost Island" will have a rare Midwestern flavor, with two contestants from Indiana (New Albany near Louisville and North Manchester west of Fort Wayne), and one each from Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan.
The new "Survivor" twist for the 36th season is that players a players "may be sent to a separate haunted island filled with 'Survivor' relics from the previous 35 seasons of the show…. Showcasing the series’ extensive history, Ghost Island is filled with real idols and advantages from previous seasons…. serving as a haunted graveyard for unfortunate choices made by former players.
Here's the CBS announcement:
CBS announced today the 20 castaways who will compete against each other on SURVIVOR when the Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 36th season with a special two-hour premiere, Wednesday, Feb. 28 (8:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
This edition, themed “Ghost Island,” features 20 new castaways divided into two groups of 10, and centers around the bad decisions of past players. In a new twist, players may be sent to a separate haunted island filled with Survivor relics from the previous 35 seasons of the show. The question is: will these new players be able to learn from the past mistakes of others and “reverse the curse,” or will the past come back to haunt them? Showcasing the series’ extensive history, Ghost Island is filled with real idols and advantages from previous seasons, including from Brazil, China, Africa and Australia, serving as a haunted graveyard for unfortunate choices made by former players.
“SURVIVOR continues to be a complicated game of social politics and everything rests on one’s ability to make the right decision at the right time,” said Executive Producer and Host Jeff Probst. “This season, Ghost Island serves as a constant reminder that one bad decision can haunt a player forever.”
These new castaways will be forced to compete against each other with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast each other in an attempt to become the Sole Survivor. The show is hosted by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst. This season’s castaways include an Army veteran, a social media strategist, an emergency medical technician and a marine animal trainer.
The following are the 20 castaways competing this spring.
“NAVITI” TRIBE (Purple)
Angela Perkins, 42
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Army Veteran
Chelsea Townsend, 24
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
EMT
Desiree Afuye, 21
Hometown: Newark, N.J.
Student
Kellyn Bechtold, 31
Hometown: North Manchester, Ind.
Career Counselor
Morgan Ricke, 29
Hometown: New Albany, Ind.
Marine Animal Trainer
Bradley Kleihege, 26
Hometown: Haslett, Mich.
Law Student
Chris Noble, 27
Hometown: Florida Keys, Fla.
Male Model
Domenick Abbate, 38
Hometown: Nesconset, N.Y.
Construction Supervisor
Sebastian Noel, 22
Hometown: Melbourne, Fla.
Fishing Guide
Wendell Holland, 33
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
Furniture Designer
“MALOLO” TRIBE (Orange)
Jenna Bowman, 23
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Account Executive
Laurel Johnson, 29
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
Financial Consultant
Libby Vincek, 24
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Social Media Strategist
Stephanie Gonzalez, 26
Hometown: Ocala, Fla. via Puerto Rico
Graphic Sales
Stephanie Johnson, 34
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Yoga Instructor
Brendan Shapiro, 41
Hometown: Herndon, Va.
Physical Education Teacher
Donathan Hurley, 26
Hometown: Phelps, Ky.
Caretaker
Jacob Derwin, 22
Hometown: Merrick, N.Y.
Music Teacher
James Lim, 24
Hometown: Los Angeles
Business Analyst
Michael Yerger, 18
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
Real Estate Agent
-30trategist
