Survivor

I am one of the smartest people you've ever had on Survivor.

And I don't say that to brag.

I say it factually.

But the show is very different than the Ivy League.

There's a level of sophistication

and finesse that's required hee

that you don't learn in the classroom.

I studied this game

and I already know that if you come off

really intelligent or strategic,

you're getting voted out early.

And so I can't tell that I'm a lawyer,

I can't tell that I'm strategic,

until I can, like, show my true colors

and start slicing throats.

There's a lot of people out hee who are just happy to be here,

happy to have the experience.

I don't really care. I'm a goal-driven person.

If I'm not gonna win the game,

I would rather be the first person voted off.

It's a complete waste of time if you're not the Sole Survivo.

Excuse me for being honest.

Aah!

I live in Boston, Massachusett, with my 85-year-old grandmothe.

I sleep on a bed straight out of the '60s.

It's painted bright pink.

So, yeah, if I make a million,

I'm paying off loans, I'm getting a place,

I'm moving out of Grandma's house.

I'm Sifu,

which is S-I-F-U.

It means "master instructor."

I've been doing tai chi for 24 years

and I'm also a traveling musician,

so I'm always doing those really cool licks.

And I do that when I'm doing tai chi, too.

I listen to super heavy metal,

so I can kind of contrast the yin and yang.

Yeah. (Laughs)

These 18 strangers

will be abandoned in the islands of Fiji.

I am here to reclaim lost time, when I was trying to be

someone who I wasn't.

They must learn to adapt or they'll be voted out.

People think nurses are, like, nice ladies,

but you have to be tough.

So, you know, it's like I got a smile on my face,

but then the dagger behind my back.

In the end, only one will remain

to claim the million-dollar prize.

I was made for this, and I'm gonna play like

this is the only chance. And it is the only chance.

Who will have what it takes to outwit,

outplay and outlast all the rest?

This is Survivor 45.

I cannot believe that this is happening.

Right over here.

I want to, like, run around, find idols.

I want to, like, make a fire.

I want to build. I just want to do everything.

I'm so frigging pumped for it.

Right here in the yellow.

Survivor is just like boot camp.

Being in the Marines, I've had to sleep outside.

I've had to be eaten by sand fleas or whatever.

It don't bother me.

So right off the bat, I know

I'm probably one of the strongr people in the tribe.

I am obsessed with my tribe.

I'm a Libra, and that's all about balance.

And I feel like we have one of

the most balanced teams. Like, our girls are

all strong, and, like,

I see Bruce next to me. So, those vibes

are just immaculate, like,

for sure.

All right, welcome to Survivor 45.

I'm gonna mark it down.

I don't know if I've ever seen this much energy.

Wow.

All right, so let's get into this.

We've been doing this for 23 years.

And certainly, over the years, there have been

new advantages and twists and themes.

But at its core, Survivor is essentially

the same game it was in season one.

A group of strangers are forced to rely on each other,

while voting each other out.

And in the end, the people who were voted out

get the final say, 'cause they decide who wins the game.

Guy right here with the long hair, what's your name?

- Brandon. Brandon.

Lot of emotion when you were getting up here.

Yeah, a lot of it. Yeah.

Some... Too much.

Some would say too much. Yeah.

Okay, is that emotion

or is it just energy that's just trying to get out?

It's emotion, baby.

This is my dream since I was 11,

to be on this boat with you, right here.

I am beside myself that I'm here right now,

and I'm with my new family.

What's better than this, man?

This is the best.

Okay, well, there's one face here

that should be familiar to everybody.

- (laughter) - Bruce is back.

Back, back, back, back.

- What's up, baby? - (laughter)

Bruce was here in Survivor 44,

at this exact same moment in the show,

the opening challenge.

Suffered a very serious injury.

Everybody, stop!

Had to be evacuated 12 hours later. So, first of all,

so happy that you are back and healthy.

You come into this game now in a different vantage point,

because people already have an impression of you.

What's the advantage for you

of coming in with everybody knowing that about you?

There are gonna be questions. People are gonna be,

"Oh, Bruce had an advantage. Bruce was already here."

"Bruce, you know, he already had his shot."

And I really didn't.

What I have for an advantage on all of you guys

is essentially done.

We are all on the same beach.

If there's anything I can ever say is whenever you look at me,

I want you to do one thing and one thing only.

Just know that your dream is a frigging reality,

and this is awesome.

- It's absolutely awesome. - (laughter)

Yeah.

Jeff, I'll push back against Bruce a little bit.

You know, I think it's really in his advantage to come out here

and say, "Look, I'm just like you. I'm like everyone."

But we've all been looking at him. We recognize his face.

He's had the experience leading up to this.

He is in some way more mentally prepared... even if he hasn't

physically experienced it... than we are right now.

And, Bruce, you were prepared for that answer?

Oh, of course.

The thing is is that

if there's anything that we need to really, really narrow down

is that any advantage that you bring to the game is you.

And if you can utilize that, utilize it.

If not, it's gonna eat you up...

But-but you see this? He's already talking with authority.

He's already giving us instruction.

And then coming out here and saying,

"Well, I don't have an advantage."

So it's a little contradictory.

Wow. I love it.

- Hey, I do, too. Me, too.

All right, let's get into it. Let's start with tribe names.

Wearing red, you are Reba.

Reba! Reba!

I'm just watching.

Reba!

In yellow, you are Lulu.

- (cheering, whooping) - Lulu!

And wearing blue, Belo.

- Belo! - (cheering)

All right. You are in the first stage

of this game, the tribe stage,

where you don't know each other

and yet you're about to compete against

two other groups who also don't know each other.

So your first challenge is designed to test who should be

in what role, who works together the best.

That's who's gonna win this challenge. Let's get into it.

For today's challenge, two players from each tribe

will race to empty a massive crate

filled with very heavy rope and sandbags.

You'll retrieve a key.

Then the next pair will leap off of this barge...

swim out to a boat, where there is another key.

You'll get in the boat and paddle back.

The remaining pair will take those two keys

and use them to unlock two pols that you will then use

to try to retrieve your flint.

The first tribe to get their hands

on their flint earns their camp supplies.

Not much... pot, machete and the flint.

That's it. The losing tribes

will have to try to earn it another way.

All right, so take a moment and figure out your three pairs.

Who's gonna run which leg?

Here we go. For your marooning challenge.

Survivors ready?