Jimmy Johnson Cast in 'Survivor: Nicaragua'

Jimmy Johnson will appear on the next season of the reality show staple Survivor, according to reports by USA Today. The upcoming season of Survivor will take place in the central American country of Nicaragua. Little else is known about the upcoming season, so don't expect any substantive departures from the show's well-established format and style.

This is certainly not the first time that a Survivor season has featured a celebrity contestant, though you could make the case that Jimmy Johnson is the highest profile celebrity entrant to date. Back in 2005, Gary Hogeboom, who was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, appeared on Survivor. Hogeboom made a respectable showing on that season, which was set in Guatemala. He finished seventh out of 18 contestants.

But unlike Johnson, Hogeboom was a pretty minor NFL name. Johnson's cherubic face and unnaturally tamed hair have been featured on American TV screens for years on NFL commentary shows. His good-ole-boy personality has been known to rub some people the wrong way, so don't be surprised if a target is painted on Johnson's back relatively early in the season. Plus, at 67 years of age, it's unknown if Johnson can physically hold up to the rigors of the show.

Unlike Dancing with the Stars, Survivor is more known for producing celebrities than for bringing them in as contestants. Who can forget Richard Hatch, the perpetually nude winner from Season 1, who managed to stay in the public eye through, of all things, a tax evasion investigation and subsequent criminal prosecution.

Or what about Romber from Survivor All-Stars, the annoying dyad of Amber Brkich and Rob Mariano, who finished first and second, respectively, during the All-Stars edition. Rob proposed to Amber on the season finale, and the couple went on to be featured as contestants on The Amazing Race, as well as be featured on an ill-advised reality show chronicling Rob's forays into competitive poker.

Survivor is one of America's most-loved reality shows. In many ways, it was the show that gave birth to an entire genre, and celebrity and Survivor now seem to go hand-in-hand. But taking in a high profile, irascible personality like Jimmy Johnson may prove to be a recipe for disaster. Expect a modest ratings jolt, and expect some early fireworks, but expect Johnson to pack his bags for home within the first five or six weeks.

Sources:

USA Today. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2010/07/jimmy-johnson-fox-survivor-dallas-cowboys-miami-/1. Accessed 7/21/2010.

CBS.com Survivor Recap, Season 11. http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/recaps/1112/recaps.php. Accessed 7/21/2010.