CBS ANNOUNCES 18 CASTAWAYS TO COMPETE ON "SURVIVOR: GABON -- EARTH'S LAST EDEN"

17th Installment of the Hit Television Series Premieres for the first time in High-Definition on Thursday, Sept. 25

CBS today announced the 18 castaways who will compete on SURVIVOR: GABON - EARTH'S LAST EDEN, when the 17th installment of the Emmy Award-winning series premieres for the first time in high-definition Thursday, Sept. 25 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Marooned in the wilderness, 18 individuals will embark on an amazing African adventure, battling extreme conditions and interacting with wildlife such as elephants and gorillas, while attempting to forge alliances with strangers from diverse backgrounds. "In a strange coincidence to Earth's Last Eden - good vs. evil emerges as a major theme this season. I think the audience will quickly identify with one group or the other," host Jeff Probst teases. Will the group of deceitful castaways outlast those individuals who play from their heart or will the forces of evil prevail? Will temptations interfere with logical decision-making? More importantly, which side will come out on top?

In a SURVIVOR first, the magnificent landscape, natural elements, and fascinating wildlife featured on Earth's Last Eden will be enjoyed by viewers in high-definition, enhancing the overall experience of the show. Probst claims, "Shooting in HD is like adding another character to the show. The detail is so sharp you can't help but feel as though you are experiencing the adventure yourself."

Castaways competing on SURVIVOR: GABON - EARTH'S LAST EDEN (in alphabetical order) are:

RANDY BAILEY 49 Eagle Rock, Mo. Wedding Videographer

JACQUE BERG 25 Santa Barbara, Calif. Medical Sales

DANNY "GC" BROWN 26 Portland, Ore. Maintenance Man

MICHELLE CHASE 24 Los Angeles Music Production Assistant

CRYSTAL COX 29 Durham, N.C. Former Olympic Gold Medalist

ROBERT "Bob" CROWLEY 58 Portland, Maine Physics Teacher

KELLY CZARNECKI 22 Buffalo Grove, Ill. Retail Sales

ACE GORDON 27 Naples, Fla. Jewelry Sales

CHARLIE HERSCHEL 29 New York Lawyer

KEN HOANG 22 Westminster, Calif. Professional Gamer

CORRINE KAPLAN 29 Los Angeles Pharmaceutical Sales

DAN KAY 32 Boston Lawyer

JESSICA "Sugar" KIPER 29 Brooklyn, N.Y. Pin-up Model

GILLIAN LARSON 61 Temecula, Calif. Retired Nurse

MARCUS LEHMAN 28 Atlanta Doctor

SUSIE SMITH 47 Charles City, Iowa Hairdresser

PALOMA SOTO-CASTILLO 24 Downey, Calif. Student

MATTY WHITMORE 29 Pacific Palisades, Calif. Personal Trainer

SURVIVOR: GABON - EARTH'S LAST EDEN is hosted by Jeff Probst and produced by SEG, Inc. Mark Burnett and Doug McCallie are executive producers.

For more detailed information on SURVIVOR: GABON - EARTH'S LAST EDEN and the 18 castaways, log on to www.cbs.com/survivor.