Survivor Unveils New “Second Chance” Twist

Rob Moynihan May 6, 2015, 9:00 pm

If at first they didn’t succeed, a handful of former Survivor castaways now have the opportunity to try again.

For the first time in the CBS reality franchise’s 30-season history, the fans will choose which 20 contestants will compete in this fall’s Second Chance installment. Viewers will vote for their favorites from a pool of 32 past players who have never won the game, including Season 1 runner up Kelly Wigelsworth, to give the hopefuls another shot at taking home the $1 million grand prize and title of Sole Survivor.

“The idea of a ‘second chance’ season started brewing during our first season, the moment Kelly Wigelsworth lost to Richard Hatch, in the summer of 2000,” host and executive producer Jeff Probst said in a statement. “Since their respective seasons ended, these players have been begging for another shot, and this is a fun way to allow our loyal fans to be involved in the creative process.”

Other nominees include fan favorites Stephen Fishbach from Tocantins and Vytas Baskauskas, who last competed with his brother, Aras, on Blood vs. Water. While Mike Holloway and Carolyn Rivera from the current Worlds Apart season are also in the running, CBS insists that if one of them were to win this year, he or she would be ineligible to play during Second Chance.

Visit cbs.com/survivorsecondchance to vote between now and May 20. The final cast will be revealed during the Worlds Apart live reunion show, airing Wednesday, May 20 at 10/9c.

Here’s a full rundown of the eligible contestants: