Survivor 51 Begins With 21 New Players and Open Era

Survivor 51 is scheduled to premiere on CBS on September 23, with 21 new castaways competing for a $1 million prize in a season the show describes as the start of its Open Era. The two-hour broadcast is set for 8 p.m. ET/PT. Episodes are scheduled to move to a weekly 90-minute format beginning September 30. The announced Open Era format allows game elements from the series’ past to return, including twists, advantages and idols. Host Jeff Probst has described the format as permitting elements from any previous season to reappear unpredictably. The announcement does not specify which, if any, past mechanics will feature this season, so the castaways’ actual challenges and gameplay remain unknown ahead of the episodes. All 21 contestants are new to the show. They are competing for the prize and the title of Sole Survivor. The season follows the milestone 50th edition, which featured returning players, and begins with a new group of first-time competitors. The cast includes people from a range of professions, including a professional wrestler, an actor, a medical student and a farmer. The first episode is scheduled to run from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.