From CBS Cast Announcement Press Release
From Reality Blurred (full article here)
edited only to add episode title - VG 09/14
From the start of the game, Survivor embraces this Samoan culture by incorporating an ancient tradition of electing an individual leader of the village. Without speaking, both tribes must immediately choose one member of their group to become their sole decision maker, their chief. How important will the role of tribal chief be in determining the fate of each tribe?
From Reality Blurred (full article here)
The 18 turned into 20 at the last-minute, as I learned in Samoa when I interviewed the new cast earlier this summer. I talked to 18 cast members, and then an alternate in case he was added to the game. We returned the next day to interview the final alternate, Ashley. (Since they were pulled out for fake interviews the day of the press interviews, their fellow competitors didn't know they were alternates. This is significant because they know they're alternates, which for at least one of them seemed to make a huge difference.) Although I prefer smaller casts, I am glad they gave us Erik and Ashley, both of whom appear to be far better cast members than some of the others who weren't alternates.
One contestant was actually someone I'd met previously: Mike Borassi was the first contestant I interviewed in Brazil, but he was removed from the game for medical reasons and replaced by Spencer Duhm the day before the game started.
edited only to add episode title - VG 09/14
