Tina Wesson, a former “Survivor” champ, was the first to get banished when the hit CBS reality-game returned for its “All-Stars” rematch Sunday night.
The 42-year-old former nurse was voted off by her fellow Saboga Tribe mates at a rainy tribal council, from which all the rival players were excused after winning an immunity challenge.
Wesson went all the way on “Survivor: The Australian Outback” in Spring 2001. Her strong showing then may have worked against her this time among wary teammates.
Unlike the seven editions that have gone before, “Survivor: All-Stars” is being waged by 18 veteran castaways, including old favorites like Ethan Zohn (“Survivor: Africa” champ two years ago) and Richard Hatch (winner of the original series in 2000), who, true to his flabby form, wasted no time stripping naked. (His privates were digitally blurred for most of the hour.)
“Have they learned from the past, or are they doomed to make the same mistakes again?” host Jeff Probst posed at the top of the hour.
Taped during 39 days last November and December, this competition took place on the Pearl Islands off Panama, where the previous “Survivor,” airing fall fall, was also set.
“It’s weird,” said Alicia Calaway (who first competed on “Survivor: Outback”) at her arrival, “because we know each other. We know who to be careful of, who not to be careful of; who are friends, who are not friends.”
Rather than the usual two rival tribes, the “All-Stars” players are split into three tribes bearing the evocative names Chapera and Mogo Mogo as well as Saboga.
As always, the game’s sole survivor wins $1 million.
Though the premiere episode aired after Sunday’s Super Bowl telecast, “Survivor: All-Stars” moves to its regular time slot Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.