Russell Hantz and Boston Rob Get Second Chance to Face Off on "Survivor: Redemption Island"

In a surprise announcement CBS has revealed that Boston Rob and Russell Hantz, two of the biggest players in Survivor history, will go head-to-head in the new season of Survivor: Redemption Island. With so many fans disappointed and bored with the contestants and switching the channel on Survivor: Nicaragua, this could turn out to be a smart move by CBS to boost their ratings. Survivor fans know there is excitement ahead on Redemption Island with these two Survivors going against each other.

Boston Rob and Russell Hantz first met each other on Survivor: Heroes vs Villains and even though they were on the same Villains Tribe (I'm still trying to figure out how Boston Rob was tagged as a villain), they constantly butted heads with each other. (Read about one of their escapades here).

When Rob and Russell exchanged words on the Survivor 20 Reunion Show, and Russell turns to Rob to ask, "You play the game to win and how many times have you won?" Rob acknowledges that he hasn't (we all know the same thing can be said about Russell), but given the opportunity he'd be glad to go back and kick his (Russell's) ass all over the island. Jeff says maybe that's another season - the Rob vs. Russell show, and now here they are on Survivor: Redemption Island.

The two Survivor veterans will join 16 other players on Redemption Island, but it will ultimately be the other players' decisions as to whether they are seen as experienced players and welcomed with open arms or seen as a threat and booted off quickly. My guess is that the new players will be a little star struck with Boston Rob and will welcome someone into their tribe with knowledge of the game. But players that are also fans of the show and have seen Russell in action could, and should, be leery of keeping him around.

Neither of the Survivor veterans have won the game of Survivor. Hantz, 38, was the runner-up of Survivor: Somoa, and second runner-up of Heroes vs. Villains. Mariano, 35, finished 10th in Marquesas, 13th in Heroes vs. Villians, and was the runner-up of All-Stars. Mariano also participated in two seasons of The Amazing Race.

In season 22 of Survivor, there are some new twists and because of the two quitters (I'm not going to give them the satisfaction of writing down their names; if you are a fan of the show you know who I'm talking about) on Survivor: Nicaragua some rule changes will be implemented.

In a new twist, this season when a Survivor gets voted off they will go to Redemption Island where they will wait until the next player gets voted off. The two players will then face off in a head-to-head challenge that will decide which player will get to stay for a second chance in the game and who will go home. Toward the end of the game the last player standing on Redemption Island will be allowed to re-enter the game to compete for a chance at the million dollar prize.

In regards to a rule change, executive producer Mark Burnett states, "It's very unlikely any quitter will be on the jury again. It's an earned position and the only reason those two (from Survivor: Nicaragua) were on the jury is that it might have been unfair and that might have affected the winner. That's why we did it." I'm sure all the slamming that came from writers, bloggers and comments from fans on forum boards when the two quitters were allowed to stay on the jury had nothing to do with this "rule change." I'll admit I was one of the ones who disagreed with the decision made. (Read about it here.)

There is no firm rule in place yet, but it is seen as a necessity. Right now it would be up to the producers' discretion as to whether or not a quitter who is in line to be on the jury would be allowed a final vote or not.

The 22nd season of Survivor was filmed in the vicinity of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, the same place where the previous season was filmed.

The 16 other players joining Boston Rob and Russell Hantz on Survivor: Redemption Island are:

The Ometepe Tribe

Andrea Boehike (21), Student @ University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Random Lake, Wisconsin

Ashley Underwood (25), Nurse, Benton, Maine

Francesca Hogi (36), Attorney, Washington, DC

Grant Mattos (29), Yoga Instructor (previously a wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans), West Hollywood, California

Kristina Kell (46), Law Student - University of La Verne College Law

Matt Elrod (22), Pre-Med Student, Nashville, Tennessee

Natalie Tenerelli (19), Professional Dancer, Acton, California

Phillip Sheppard (52), Technology Executive, Santa Monica, California

The Zapatera Tribe

David Murphy (31), Defense Attorney, West Hollywood, California

Julie Wolfe (50), Firefighter, Oceanside, California

Krista Klumpp (25), Pharmaceutical Rep, Columbia, South Carolina

Mike Chiesl (31), Former Marine, Del Mar, California

Ralph Kiser (45), Farmer, Lebanon, Virginia

Sarita White (36), Visual Effects Producer, Santa Monica, California

Stephanie Valencia (26), Waitress, Long Beach. California

Steve Wright (51), Former NFL Player (Dallas Cowboys), Huntington Beach, California

Tribes TBA

Boston Rob Mariano (33), Veteran Player of Survivor, Pensacola, Florida

Russell Hantz (38), Veteran Player of Survivor, Dayton, Texas

Who do you think will last the longest on Survivor: Redemption Island - Boston Rob or Russell Hantz?

Survivor: Redemption Island premieres Wednesday, February, 16 at 8/7c on CBS.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION

Sources:

CBS/Survivor

Survivor Video, Rob and Russell Exchange Words, CBS/Survivor

Carita Rizzo, Mark Burnett Talks Survivor Quitters, Redemption Island, TV Guide

Alice Clair Gunkee, Quitters Should Not Be Allowed on the Survivor Jury, Gunkee's Entertainment News

Alice Clair Gunkee, Russell Hantz Takes on Boston Rob, Associated Content by Yahoo!

Alice Clair Gunkee, Survivor 20 Reunion: This is (Not) the Russell Hantz Show, Associated Content by Yahoo!