CBS Names Thailand 'Survivors'

By Stephen M. Silverman

08/16/2002 at 10:00 AM EDT

Those merry castaways are coming back -- no, not on "Gilligan's Island," but on the fifth edition of "Survivor," set to premiere on Sept. 19 on CBS. Show host Jeff Probst announced on CBS's "Early Show" on Thursday the 16 contestants who will be competing for the $1 million on "Survivor: Thailand." The women are real-estate agent Erin Collins, 26; legal secretary Ghandia Johnson, 33; Navy swim instructor Helen Glover, 47; schoolteacher Jan Gentry, 53; drug saleswoman Penny Ramsey, 27; executive recruiter Shii Ann Huang, 28; firefighter Stephanie Dill, 29; and social worker Tanya Vance, 27. The men: car salesman Brian Heidik, 34; restaurateur Clay Jordan, 46; land broker Jake Billingsley, 60; dental student Jed Hildebrand, 25; pastor John Raymond, 40; Brooklyn police officer Ken Stafford, 28; bartender Robb Zbacnik, 23; and software development manager Ted Rogers, 37. Eight are married, seven are single and one is engaged. Based on their looks, Brian, Jed, Ken, Robb and Ted could vie to be among PEOPLE's Sexiest Men Alive, while Erin, Ghandia, Penny, Shii Ann and Tanya could be among PEOPLE's 50 Most Beautiful. Then again, how good-looking might they still be after spending 39 days on Koh Tarutao, an island off the southern coast of Thailand, during monsoon season? The past four winners were Richard Hatch, Tina Wesson, Ethan Zohn and Vecepia Towery -- all of whom looked just great after cashing their prize money.