'Survivor' Back With Another Intense, Exciting Season

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Survivor is back for the premiere for its 29th season. Among the castaways? A former baseball player, a firefighter and a Broadway actor. But they didn't come alone.

Jeff Probst spoke with Linh Bui on what to expect with this season's new twist.

The Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 29th season. This time in San Juan del Sur.

Eighteen castaways competing for the title of sole survivor and a $1 million prize. But this time, they came in pairs. They will work with and against their loved ones.

Bui: "'Blood Versus Water' returns this season. How does that add another level of complexity to the competition?"

Probst: "Survivor is already this complicated game where you take a group of strangers and force them to work together, but vote each other out. And in the end, one wins. Now when you add on top of that the only way I move forward in the game is at the expense of my loved one, it really amps it up."

Relationships and bonds will be tested. Couples, siblings, parents and children.

"It's a really interesting situation when you add a million dollars to that," Probst said. "And now you're looking at this real prize. This is really a million dollars. But to do it, you've got to get past your mom. Or to do it, you've got to vote out the most beautiful thing you ever created--your daughter. Can you do that? It's hard."

We may finally get an answer: which is thicker--blood or water?

This is the second time Survivor is doing the "Blood Versus Water" theme. Also back this season--Exile Island, where some castaways are sent in isolation.

Catch the special 90-minute season premiere of Survivor at 8 p.m. Wednesday on WJZ.

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