Survivor Returns With Fan Faves & A Twist

MIAMI (CBS4) -- Wednesday night marks the start of the 22nd season of "Survivor", and it features two very familiar faces, along with an intriguing new twist.

The new edition is called "Survivor: Redemption Island" and it's played a little differently. The new season as host Jeff Probst energized.

"We have something fun happening this season." said Probst.

This edition of Survivor features a new twist when, for the first time, castaways who have been eliminated from the game will have an opportunity to seek redemption and return for a chance to win the million dollar prize. Each week at Tribal Council when a castaway is voted off, they will be sent to an isolated island called "Redemption Island," where they will live alone in exile. To stay on Redemption Island, they will need to compete in a duel against the next person eliminated at Tribal Council and sent to the Island. The winner of each duel earns the right to continue fighting for an opportunity to return to the game and the chance to compete for the title of Sole Survivor; the loser is sent home.

"It's gonna be miserable," explained Probst. "You'll be in the rain alone; you'll be in shelter alone. You'll be trying to keep your fire going alone and another person will join you and you will duel."

The winner stays and the loser is out of the game for good. And at a certain point, whoever is at Redemption will get a chance to come back into the game and pursue the money and will be a legitimate player in the game again.

"I think Redemption Island will completely change the way the game is played," said Probst.

Those two familiar faces, by the way, are survivor legends Russell Hantz and Boston Rob Mariano, who show up to battle alongside the newest group of castaways.

"When I step up on the beach it's gonna be survivor history," said Russell. "I'm gonna make their eyes pop out of their head."

"I don't think anyone will be tired of seeing Russell. He's too polarizing and if you hated him the first two times you have to watch so you can enjoy hating him again," said Probst.

"This is it, its Hail Mary time. I either do it or I don't. I'm more ready for this one than I ever have. I'm ready to run someone over if I have to. I will do whatever it takes," said Russell.

Boston Rob, meanwhile, started as a villain but is now considered a hero.

"I know who I am. What you see is what you get. If you don't like it, get out of the way cause its coming," said Mariano.

"I gotta believe for the fans the favorite right now is Boston Rob. They're saying 'Dude this time it's your turn', and how great would it be if Rob and Russell could stay alive in this game, avoid getting voted out early and get to the merge. Could they come together and say, 'listen no one would ever believe it if we made an alliance, let's do it'," said Probst.

"I hate to see other people win," said Mariano. "It's just not my nature to be congratulatory. I'm a competitor. I like to play to win."

Russell says he was born to win. "I'm good at this game. This is what God has made me for."

But the other 16 castaways are no slouches either.

"There are two types of people who are stupid, those who recognize their shortcoming and embrace it and those who are completely oblivious to the fact," said David Murphy, a new survivor castaway.

"I can see some people who have killer instinct and some who definitely don't," said player Francesca Hogi.

Castaway Ralph Kiser has something hidden up his sleeves. "Jeff Probst is gonna laugh his ass off because I have plans but I can't say what they are going to be."

Everyone has a strategy including Kristina Kell. "They're not gonna know what hit them if I do my job right."

"I have a feeling were gonna talk about this season in high regard," said Probst.

The battle unfolds in Nicaragua where the 18 castaways will be divided into two Tribes of nine: the Ometepe Tribe and the Zapatera Tribe. The tribes are comprised of individuals from all different backgrounds with the same ultimate goal: to be the Sole Survivor.

"Survivor: Redemption Island" airs Wednesday night at 8:00 on CBS.