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puddin:
Gregg Carey~

Ashland native takes on 'Survivor: Palau'
By Theresa Edo / News Staff Writer
Friday, January 14, 2005

ASHLAND -- Rumors started swirling a little more than a week ago, and yesterday morning residents confirmed their suspicions that a former hometown football hero will star on the latest season of one of TV's hottest reality shows.
 
     Gregg Carey, 28, an Ashland High School Class of 1995 graduate, will try to outwit, outplay and outlast 19 other contestants to win the $1 million prize on the 10th edition of CBS' "Survivor," set in the Pacific island nation of Palau. Friends say Carey and his family are mum about his stint on the reality television show watched by millions.
 

 
     "His mother kept it a great secret. She was the only one who knew," said family friend and neighbor Robert Thacker. "What he knows he's not telling. I'm not even sure he knows what happened. I think they even try to confuse the contestants."
 
     Carey's mother, Bonnie Carey of Ashland, did not return a phone call yesterday seeking comment.
 
     Thacker said while Carey was away from mid-October until early December filming "Survivor: Palau," he told no one but his mother. Thacker, who spent Christmas Eve with Carey, said he lost 30 pounds during the competition.
 
     "He didn't even know who won the presidential election. They really keep them secluded," said Thacker. "Since he lives in Chicago now, we didn't even know he was gone."
 
     Apparently, in "Survivor: Palau," which premieres Feb. 17, all bets are off. During the live "Vanuatu" finale, host Jeff Probst promised that in Palau, "the game will be changed in a dramatic way. Everything the survivors have come to expect will be wiped out in the first 10 minutes."
 
     Carey's eighth-grade English teacher Marybeth Gallant joked yesterday that she hoped he would draw some of his "survivor" skills from a short story he read in class, "The Most Dangerous Game."
 
     The show's cast is a diverse "tribe," aged 21 to 57 and including a bartender from New Orleans, a firefighter from New York, a dolphin trainer from Florida and a Las Vegas showgirl.
 
     While in high school, Carey was a two-sport captain -- football and baseball -- and played quarterback and shortstop. He earned team MVP and county All-Star honors at both positions.
 
     "He's the perfect one for this, because he's naturally athletic," said Thacker. "You have to be physically able to compete."
 
     Carey's father, James Carey, the former director of health and physical education in the Framingham schools, died unexpectedly in October 2003. Framingham High Principal Ralph Olsen said the School Committee is considering naming the school's sports complex after James Carey.
 
     Olsen, who was principal of Ashland High while Carey was in school, said Carey was one of the first students he met with to discuss "positive, but critical" comments for how to improve the school.
 
     "He was perceptive, but very proactive," said Olsen. "He was reserved but at the same time he was an excellent person, so he drew attention from that."
 
     And Carey was popular with the ladies, friends said yesterday.
 
     "He just had a certain charisma," said Jim Tessier, a former friend.
 
     An apparent Frank Sinatra fan, Carey's senior yearbook quote was from the crooner's hit "My Way." "I grew tall, through it all, and did it my way."
 
     Recreation Director Kelly Rund, who graduated from Ashland High a year after Carey, said the department is considering hosting a "Survivor Kick Off," to view the first episode on a big screen at the Community Center.
 
     "He's a face everyone in town knew," said Rund.
 
     Kevin Johnson, School Department buildings and grounds supervisor, said Carey worked for the department as summer help while he was in high school. "He was a really great kid, from a great family," said Johnson.
 
     In high school, Carey was active in student government and a member of the National Honor Society.
 
     Carey attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied chemical engineering and received a bachelor of science degree in engineering. He also played college football and was a member of a group of campus leaders known as the Friars Senior Society.
 
     Following graduation, Carey moved to Boston, where he worked as a project manager for a business and technology consulting company. In October 2002, he was transferred to Chicago.
 
     Carey's hobbies include photography, music and working out. He has competed in adventure racing and climbed Mount Fuji in Japan in September. Currently single, he has a sister, Jill.
 
     


( (Associated Press material was used in this report. Theresa Edo can be reached at 508-626-3919 or tedo@cnc.com.) )

source~
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=87560

puddin:
Bobby Jon Drinkard~

Drinkard will try to 'survive' Palau

By Jaine Treadwell, The Messenger

 
 
Rumor is now "reality."

Bobby Jon Drinkard of Troy is among the 20 hopefuls competing on the reality television show, Survivor: Palau.

The identities of the new 20 castaways were unveiled Thursday morning on The Early Show and confirmed what an "underground" website had reported earlier -- that one of Troy's favorite sons is one of the hopefuls.

The castaways will begin with a group of 20, with three being sent home in the first episode when the 10th installment of the hit series premiers at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17 on CBS. The show takes place on Palau, an island located just north of the equator in the remote waters of the Pacific

The announcement caused quite a stir around Troy and Pike County but mum's the word for the families of the survivors.

 
Peggy Vargas, a spokesperson for Colleen Sullivan, vice president publicity for CBS Network, said Sullivan prefers to wait until the show premieres on Feb. 17 before loosening the orders on the families.

However, Andy Blair talked openly about his friend and his chance of being the last survivor standing.

"Bobby Jon is an avid outdoorsman. He hunts and fishes," Blair said. "He grew up in Pike County so many of the things the survivors have to do should be second nature to him and put him ahead of the others on the show."

Blair said that he wasn't sure if Drinkard would be the one to get a fire started using only what Mother Nature offered.

"I don't know if Bobby Jon will be able to do that or not," he said, laughing. "That's tough."

 
 
But Blair is sure that his friend has the athletic skills necessary to keep him in the game.

"We've always said that if anybody around here could compete in Survivor, it would be Bobby Jon," he said. "He played football and baseball and has all the skills to compete with any of those on the show. He's a great, outgoing guy and this is right up his alley. He'll do good."

Blair said he has watched several seasons of Survivors and he won't miss a single one this time.

"We should have a Survivor party every time it comes on," he said.

Another friend, Tommy Lucas was equally sure that Drinkard will be among the last to be kicked off the island or maybe the sole survivor.

"People like Bobby Jon. He gets along with everybody. He won't go behind anybody's back to say things or do things. He's just not like that," Lucas said. "He's a team player and he's a good leader. When he makes up his mind to do something, he'll do it and he'll get others to go along with him."

Lucas said Drinkard's background and experiences have prepared him to survive as a castaway on an island with a bunch of strangers.

"Bobby Jon grew up on a farm. He hunted and fished so he's used to being outdoors. That won't be a problem for him at all," Lucas said. "He's an athlete so he will be able to handle the physical challenges."

Drinkard's friend said he also has the spirit of a daredevil and that should be a plus for him.

"He likes to compete and he's head strong, too," Lucas said laughing. "I'm anxious to see him on the show and I believe that he will be one of the last ones standing."

 
 
Lucas' dad, James Lucas, has watched Drinkard grow up. He coached Drinkard in baseball and football since he was knee high and he has no doubt that he will have little difficulty "surviving" anything that he encounters.

"Bobby Jon's an 'old country boy so he'll do fine," James Lucas said. "He's an athlete and has always worked hard at anything he did."

Lucas said he's not surprised that Drinkard would want to be on a show like Survivor.

"He's always been a little daresome and, yeah, I can see that he would want to do something like this," Lucas said. "Bobby Jon has a strong determination and he'll give this everything that he has. I'm not into reality shows, but this is one that I'll watch."

Drinkard's friends believe he has all the qualities and skills necessary to make him a survivor. But the activities coordinator at Charles Henderson High School, Betty Wagoner, might have added the one that will make Drinkard a winner at whatever he does. "He's just a sweet young'un," Wagoner said. "A sweet young'un."


source~
http://www.troymessenger.com/articles/2005/01/14/news/newssss04.txt

puddin:
Ibrehem Rahman ~


Parker grad joining cast of `Survivor' contestants
Friday, January 14, 2005
MARY COLURSO
News staff writer
A Birmingham waiter will join the ranks of Alabama residents who have eaten slugs, sung show tunes, leapt from tall buildings or otherwise graced reality TV.

Ibrehem Rahman, 27, is one of three Alabama contestants on the latest edition of "Survivor," CBS announced Thursday.

 
     
The series will premiere its 10th season Feb. 17 on Palau, an island nation in the South Pacific.

Rahman, a Birmingham native, will try to outwit, outplay and outlast 19 other castaways to win $1 million. Among them are Bobby Jon Drinkard, 27, a waiter and model from Troy, and James Miller, 33, a steelworker who lives in Mobile.

The men are the latest in a line of Alabamians sucked into the reality juggernaut. Over the past few years, state residents have appeared on television shows such as "Fear Factor," "Big Brother," "Trading Spaces" and "The Bachelor." Birmingham produced second-season "American Idol" champion Ruben Studdard.

As is typical, participants on "Survivor: Palau" cannot discuss their experiences until the series ends, a CBS spokesman said. However, background information on the new tribe members is available online, much of it on the "Survivor" Web site.

Rahman attended Parker High School here, where he was chosen Mr. Senior in 1994. He studied mechanical engineering at Tuskegee University and business at the University of Alabama. His jobs have included modeling, acting and working for a telephone company.

Rahman's hobbies include learning history and cooking. He is single, lives in Birmingham and describes himself as "passionate, eclectic and aggressive."

Drinkard lettered in football at Charles Henderson High School in his hometown. He earned a bachelor's degree at Troy State University in 2003, majoring in public relations and journalism. He moved to the Los Angeles area after graduation to pursue a modeling career. Previous jobs include personal trainer, lifeguard and farmer.

In 2003, Drinkard was named Alabama's hottest bachelor by Cosmopolitan magazine. He remains single and describes himself as "determined, bold and righteous."

Miller was born in Tennessee and grew up in Hohenwald, Tenn., and Northlake, Ill. He was a seaman apprentice in the Navy from 1990 to 1992. He attended Southeast College of Technology in Mobile and Faulkner University, studying computer information systems and biology.

He works as a crane operator at a steel company, is married and has four children.

Three castaways will be sent home on the initial episode of "Survivor: Palau." According to executive producer Mark Burnett, two don't even make it to the first challenge.

"They're given very little instruction about what to do, and some of them are genuinely lost," Burnett told Variety. "That's how tough it is. It's very emotional."

E-mail: mcolurso@bhamnews.com

source~
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1105697707144200.xml

puddin:
Ian Rosenberger ~

PSU grad chosen for next 'Survivor'


By Laurie Cataldo and Ainsley Maloney 
Collegian Staff Writers
The tribe has spoken: Ian made the list.

Rumors were confirmed yesterday morning that former Under-graduate Student Government (USG) President Ian Rosenberger will be a contestant on the 10th season of CBS's Survivor.

CBS's The Early Show announced the official cast list of Survivor: Palau yesterday, which included 23-year-old Rosenberger, who is now a dolphin trainer in Key Largo, Fla.

Others contestants include: Janu, a Las Vegas showgirl; Angie, a bartender; Tom, a New York City firefighter; Jennifer, a nanny; Jeff, a personal trainer; Coby, a hairstylist; and Kim, a former Miss Ohio.

The cast, which usually consists of 16 people, has 20 people this season.

During the live Survivor: Vanuatu finale, host Jeff Probst said that for Palau, "the game will be changed in a dramatic way. Everything the survivors have come to expect will be wiped out in the first 10 minutes."

Kim Sartori, a CBS publicist, said the number of episodes this season is still unknown.

"We don't have a finale date set yet," she said.

Due to a contract with CBS, Rosenberger is not allowed to discuss his experience before, during or after the show. However, he said he misses Penn State and is excited his friends from college will be able to watch him on Survivor.

"I am so blessed to be able to have good Penn State friends," Rosenberger said. "Penn State is probably the most important thing in my life next to my family and my friends. It was nice to be able to feel that support while I was there."

Rosenberger, who worked as a dolphin trainer and a dolphin-assisted therapist for children with disabilities in Florida before the show, is currently at home in Ambridge, spending time with his family.

"I'm taking a break [from dolphin training]," Rosenberger said. "It's really nice to be home."

Rosenberger has also worked as a performer at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. He was also an Eagle Scout for the Boy Scouts of America and a member of the Penn State Outing Club.

Kristen Kofmehl (senior-public relations) was a member of USG with Rosenberger last year.

"[Doing Survivor] is completely within his personality," she said. "He likes adventure; I'm sure he is going to do well. His personality will help him out and so will his experience with the different things he did on campus."

Allyson Welsh, who graduated from Penn State in 2004, was a member of Penn State Thespians with Rosenberger and helped him with his USG campaign.

She said that based on Rosenberger's competitive nature, he might have done well on the show.

"Ian is very competitive and passionate," she said. "Everyone falls in love with him. He does well with everything he does, so he probably went far, but I really have no clue. He always has a plan of how he's going to do things."

Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said that although he rarely watched Survivor in the past, he will now have a reason to tune in.

"Given the fact that he has survived many of the challenges of organizing student government at Penn State, I'm sure he can handle anything," Kendig said jokingly.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

source~
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2005/01/01-14-05tdc/01-14-05dnews-11.asp

puddin:
Willard Smith ~

Bellevue lawyer makes cut for latest `Survivor'
2005-01-14
Associated Press

The 10th edition of CBS' ``Survivor,'' set in the Pacific island nation of Palau, includes a Bellevue lawyer who, at 57, is the oldest of the contestants.

Willard Smith will be among the 20 castaways who try to outwit, outplay and outlast each other to win the $1 million prize.

According to the TV show's Web site, Smith is a Connecticut native who joined the Marines at the age of 17 and served two years in Vietnam as a scout/sniper.

He graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1984. He and his wife, Pamela, then moved to Washington where they live in Bellevue and he has a private practice.

The Web site also notes that his favorite television shows are ``The Daily Show'' and ``Civil War Journal.''

The ``Palau'' cast, announced Thursday, includes a bartender from New Orleans, a firefighter from New York, a dolphin trainer from Florida and a Las Vegas showgirl.

During the live ``Vanuatu'' finale, host Jeff Probst promised that in Palau, ``the game will be changed in a dramatic way. Everything the survivors have come to expect will be wiped out in the first 10 minutes.''

One hint: The press statement says three castaways are sent home in the first episode.

``Survivor: Palau'' premieres Feb. 17.

source~
http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/183266
and
http://www.sirlinksalot.net/survivorpalau.html

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