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I still am having trouble grasping the issue with SEG recruiting. Is there a rational arguement other than "because it means there are less slots for ME" ('me' being the person who is whining about recruiting)?
Does it actually say anywhere in the app/faq that all contestants will be picked from the application pool or something like that? I, for one, am all for recruits if means less boring/ugly/losers on the show. An arguement against recruits woudl be "they are all shitbirds" so I was thinking we could try and quantify that (sorry-I work in finance so I am all about teh numbers). I wonder if there is some sort of list of recruits. I think it would be a fun exercise to sort of go through the list and put "good" / "neutral" / "sucks" next to the names and see how the % fall out. Then do the same with the non recruits and see how those % fall out. Anyone have a comprehensive list of every survivor? I will create a spreadsheet with the results, unless no one cares-but this seems like a hot topic........................

POSSIBLY DESERVING OF A NEW THREAD:


Just to be clear, I am not opposed to recruiting. I'm just providing some interesting data here:

Tocantins --- ALL CONFIRMED
4/16 Applied

CAROLINA --- RECRUITED, indirectly, through a mutual friend with Casting. One of her friends was on the phone with someone from casting, while at the bar that Carolina worked at. Carolina made a joke in the background and the casting person overhead it and asked who said it. The friend then gave Carolina's information, and Carolina got called back, and the rest is history.
CANDACE --- Though she was slippery about it in interviews, RECRUITED through a friend of a friend in Casting (this person referred her to Lynne Spillman)
JERRY --- RECRUITED after an article about him appeared in a South Carolina newspaper
SANDY --- APPLIED at an open casting call in Seattle (previously applied with a traditional tape and didn't hear back)
JOE --- RECRUITED through a friend of a friend in Casting
JT --- APPLIED through an open casting call in Alabama; was then called back and asked to submit a video of himself around the farm (first time applying)
SPENCER --- APPLIED (first time applying obviously)
STEPHEN --- RECRUITED on Facebook the week before finals by someone he knew as a kid, who worked in Casting
SYDNEY --- RECRUITED at a bar in LA for previous seasons, was called back several times and finally her schedule was right for her to be able to do the show
TAJ --- RECRUITED because Casting was looking for an NFL wife; they sent an ad out to football teams & Taj responded
BRENDAN --- RECRUITED through a friend of a friend in Casting who knew they were looking for his type
COACH --- APPLIED (first time applying)
DEBBIE --- RECRUITED through someone who works at Auburn University who was called by Casting and asked if they knew anyone of her type (Debbie had previously applied for Australia)
ERINN --- RECRUITED at the Kentucky Derby
SIERRA --- RECRUITED at a taco stand in LA 3 weeks before filming began
TYSON --- RECRUITED through a friend of a friend in Casting


Gabon --- ALL CONFIRMED
8/18 Applied

MICHELLE --- RECRUITED while working out at Santa Monica pier (also a model boxer & works for the same boxing charity as Parvati did, though she denies there being a connection with her getting cast - however, she also tried to avoid the subject of admitting she was recruited)
GILLIAN --- APPLIED 15 times
PALOMA --- RECRUITED at a pool party in Las Vegas (her friend was initially recruited and told the Casting person to talk to Paloma)
JACQUIE --- APPLIED the day before applications were due (first time applying)
G.C. --- APPLIED in January 2008 (first time applying, fairly close to when apps were due)
KELLY --- RECRUITED on Myspace - her profile was private, so they only went based on a single photo of her
ACE --- APPLIED through traditional video (second time applying, but he had first applied several years ago)
DAN --- RECRUITED at a bar in New York while watching a football game
MARCUS --- RECRUITED after appearing in Cosmo Magazine as Georgia's Hottest Bachelor; he was originally called for China, but didn't make that season and then ended up on Gabon instead.
CHARLIE --- RECRUITED. Eliza from Micronesia recommended him to Casting because she knew him from law school. He then did the application/interviews from there.
RANDY --- APPLIED fifteen times
CORINNE --- RECRUITED through MySpace - like Kelly, her profile was private (she had celebrity connections and at least one mutual friend to Casting, but I don't think it played a part in her being recruited)
CRYSTAL --- APPLIED for Micronesia through an open casting call in North Carolina and was a finalist for Micronesia
KEN --- APPLIED for Gabon and was originally cut, but was then brought back in for another interview later
MATTY --- RECRUITED at a Whole Foods store in Santa Monica (had never seen the show at all)
SUGAR --- RECRUITED for Greatest American Dog (after someone from casting searched up "girl" and "dog" on Google), and then transferred over to Survivor from there
SUSIE --- APPLIED several times (was a finalist for previous season)
BOB --- RECRUITED through a friend of his family who ended up working in Casting. Like Ken, he was originally cut during final interviews, but was then called back and flown out to LA again for another set of final interviews because they needed an old guy for the season (most likely due to the "elders pick the tribes" twist).


Micronesia --- ALL CONFIRMED (though some are questionable)
8/10 Applied*

MARY --- Allegedly APPLIED for Fiji (she says she made it far in the interview process and then was called back for Micronesia)
MIKEY B --- RECRUITED for Micronesia (he was recommended to someone in casting by a friend who knew they were looking for his type); he had previously applied for Africa (season 3) though, and did watch all of the seasons
JOEL --- APPLIED through an open-casting call in Arizona (says this was the first chance he had to apply since getting married, starting his family, and becoming a firefighter)
CHET --- RECRUITED for Micronesia by Erika Shay, he who knew through the pageant circuit and whose family he had known and been acquaintances with since she was a young girl; apparently he had applied for one season a few years earlier
TRACY --- APPLIED through an open-casting call in Fredericksburg, Virginia (her first time applying; the first opportunity she had because the building industry slowed and she had some more time off than usual)
KATHY --- APPLIED five times starting with Vanuatu; was a finalist for Vanuatu; also called Casting twice to let them know she was still interested because the tapes were expensive to make
JASON --- APPLIED through an open-casting call; a friend (unassociated with Casting) told him he should try out so he got up early in the morning and went to the open casting call & was second in line
ALEXIS --- Ambiguous, because she technically APPLIED but not in the same sense as everyone else. She had a friend that worked for Mark Burnett Productions, so she got him to tell her where the office was and she went in there herself, and said she wouldn't leave until someone saw her, she handed in her video on DVD (which wasn't allowed at the time if you look at the application) and it was almost three months after the deadline.
ERIK --- APPLIED through the traditional video, first for China then for Micronesia. [a little bit more to this story though...]
NATALIE --- Claims to have APPLIED more than once, although I have strong suspicions otherwise with sound basis.


China --- ALL CONFIRMED
5/16 Applied* (some are questionable)

CHICKEN --- APPLIED, though this one is a little bit sketchy as Big Tom from Africa is his neighbor and knew about him being on the show, so he may have had some role in it
ASHLEY --- RECRUITED (Casting called up the WWE and asked them to send a wrestler to try out)
LESLIE --- APPLIED for both Survivor and the Amazing Race (11 times for Survivor) ; went to open casting call in South Carolina & was called, asking her to submit another video of her life
DAVE --- RECRUITED for Pirate Master because he was at the same hotel as final interviews for a modeling gig; he didn't get on Pirate Master so they called him for Survivor
AARON --- RECRUITED at his restaurant/bar in Los Angeles (it's a short distance away from the hotel where interviews are held)
SHEREA --- RECRUITED through a friend who worked for CBS, who called her and told her CBS was looking for African-American females to try out
JAIME --- RECRUITED for Pirate Master through friend connections in casting; she was then told to apply for Survivor: Fiji and did her application in October 2007 (filming was later that month); and then she ended up on China
JEAN-ROBERT --- RECRUITED through someone that he had previously known from when he worked in LA bars; Casting wanted a poker player & thought he'd be good for the show
FROSTI --- RECRUITED fairly last-minute (I believe it was after seeing a video of him on YouTube)
JAMES --- RECRUITED through Boo Bernis from Survivor: Fiji, who he was friends with
ERIK --- RECRUITED
PEIH-GEE --- RECRUITED by a friend who worked in Casting (a former co-worker of hers, actually); they were looking for an Asian girl spot
DENISE --- APPLIED for both Pirate Master and Survivor
AMANDA --- The general consensus is that she APPLIED, although she was friends (and had mutual friends) with someone in Casting even before China, so it's very possible that she was recruited or at least told to apply like normal; I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and put her as an applicant though, since we're unlikely to ever get the full story, but if you're keeping track of people who had connections, she definitely did
COURTNEY --- RECRUITED at the restaurant where she worked in New York
TODD --- APPLIED twice


Fiji --- ALL CONFIRMED
1/20 Applied

MELLISA --- RECRUITED through mutual friends with someone in Casting
JESSICA --- RECRUITED through mutual friends at Fashion Week in LA
ERICA --- RECRUITED through MySpace.com
SYLVIA --- RECRUITED while visiting Los Angeles with her family; was approached at a restaurant because Casting was looking for an Asian mother; initially said no but then gave in
GARY --- APPLIED (was a previous finalist)
LILIANA --- RECRUITED - extremely last minute, Casting needed another Latina, they put out an ad for one, one of her friends who was an actor in LA forwarded her the ad, she replied to it with a picture and a few sentences about her & got called
RITA --- RECRUITED by Lynne Spillman at a pageant in LA ("she was fun and outgoing")
ANTHONY --- RECRUITED on Friendster
ROCKY --- RECRUITED through mutual friends in Casting, apparently they were having a hard time finding his spot, the Casting person mentioned something to Rocky's friend (who had been on another CBS reality show), Rocky had just gone through a break-up and his friend hooked him up to the person in Casting who got him an interview, the rest is history as they say
LISI --- RECRUITED on a street in Los Angeles
MICHELLE --- APPLIED for the Amazing Race with her sister and was an alternate for a previous season
EDGARDO --- RECRUITED - one of his friends was considered for the season but they didn't think he had a strong enough personality so they asked him if he knew anyone else, and he suggested Edgardo
MOOKIE --- RECRUITED through MySpace
ALEX --- RECRUITED through MySpace
STACY --- RECRUITED through MySpace
BOO --- RECRUITED at the Big Brother All-Stars finale after sneaking into it with Big Brother 2 Krista (had mutual friends through Big Brother)
YAU-MAN --- RECRUITED because Casting was looking for a table tennis player (not sure exactly why)
CASSANDRA --- RECRUITED by Lynne Spillman because they needed an older black woman and Cassandra was at driving school at the hotel where final interviews were taking place. Lynne happened to encounter her in the hall and asked if she wanted to be on Survivor. Cassandra said no. Lynne gave her her number. Cassandra told her husband about it and he encouraged her to go for it. Cassandra called Lynne back and went in for the interview.
DREAMZ --- RECRUITED through mutual friends in Casting
EARL --- RECRUITED 3 days before they left for Fiji


Cook Islands --- ALL CONFIRMED
7/20 Applied

SEKOU --- RECRUITED (Casting wanting a jazz musician, got his name through an indirect connection and called him the week before they left)
BILLY --- APPLIED through open-casting call in New York
CECILIA --- APPLIED for the Amazing Race & was transferred to Survivor because they needed another Latina
JP --- RECRUITED at a restaurant
STEPHANNIE --- APPLIED through open-casting call in Columbia, SC
CAO BOI --- APPLIED through open-casting call in Virginia
CRISTINA --- RECRUITED by Lynne Spillman in a parking lot in LA
JESSICA --- RECRUITED (Casting wanted someone from roller derby)
BRAD --- RECRUITED in LA (he lives a few blocks away from where interviews were being held)
REBECCA --- APPLIED through open-casting call in New York
JENNY --- RECRUITED through realtor.com
NATHAN --- RECRUITED at a sporting event
CANDICE --- APPLIED with a traditional video (2nd time applying) - however, she was also roommates with one of the Godlewski sisters from TAR8
JONATHAN --- RECRUITED at a party (that he happened to be at with people who work for casting)
PARVATI --- APPLIED for the Amazing Race but transferred to Survivor
ADAM --- RECRUITED - approached by Lynne Spillman at a bar
SUNDRA --- RECRUITED at an airport by a friend of a casting director
BECKY --- RECRUITED on MySpace.com
OZZY --- RECRUITED* (APPLIED directly to a casting director, but only after his roommate (also Hispanic) was unable to go on it, but he didn't just apply on his own)
YUL --- RECRUITED by a "friend of a friend of a friend"


Exile Island --- 15/16 CONFIRMED
10/16 Applied

TINA --- APPLIED for Guatemala but was unable to go due to her son's death, and therefore appeared on Exile Island
MELINDA --- APPLIED after being a fan for years
MISTY --- ??? (Rumors that she applied but connections to pageant industry make it questionable)
RUTH MARIE --- APPLIED through open-casting call in Columbia, SC
BOBBY --- RECRUITED for an earlier season as well, but couldn't go at that time
DAN --- APPLIED
NICK --- RECRUITED in Tempe, Arizona (apparently casting scouts in that area a lot)
AUSTIN --- APPLIED for the Amazing Race Family & was transferred to Survivor
SALLY --- APPLIED five times through the traditional video
BRUCE --- APPLIED
COURTNEY --- RECRUITED for Guatemala, but then pushed back to Exile Island because they thought she fit the theme better
SHANE --- RECRUITED
CIRIE --- APPLIED through open-casting call in Columbia, SC
TERRY --- APPLIED
DANIELLE --- RECRUITED in Las Vegas (fairly last-minute)
ARAS --- RECRUITED - his friend was recruited for Survivor at a restaurant; that friend said he wanted Amazing Race instead; Aras was with him at the time and said "I want to do Survivor"


Guatemala -17/18 CONFIRMED
10/16 Applied (not counting BJ/Steph)

JIM --- APPLIED
MORGAN --- RECRUITED
BRIANNA --- RECRUITED from Myspace.com
BROOKE --- RECRUITED by Lynne Spillman at a clothing store in LA
BLAKE --- RECRUITED
MARGARET --- APPLIED
BRIAN --- APPLIED (2nd time) - applied before even though not old enough
AMY --- APPLIED for Survivor, Big Brother - was later transferred from Big Brother when Tina S. was unable to go
BRANDON --- APPLIED through open-casting call in Kansas
BOBBY JON --- RECRUITED* from Palau, but APPLIED before
JAMIE --- RECRUITED - approached on a street and asked if he wanted to be on Survivor "because he looked like a nice guy"
GARY --- APPLIED for the Amazing Race Family with his sisters & was transferred to Survivor
JUDD --- APPLIED
CINDY --- APPLIED several times through traditional video
LYDIA --- APPLIED through traditional video (1st time)
RAFE --- APPLIED through traditional video
STEPHENIE --- RECRUITED* from Palau, but APPLIED before
DANNI --- ??? (Rumors that she applied, but connections to pageant industry make it questionable) - She had been approached to do other reality shows and said she only wanted to do Survivor, which suggests she was recruited


Palau - 18/20 CONFIRMED
15/20 Applied

JONATHAN --- RECRUITED at a bar in Texas
WANDA --- APPLIED
JOLANDA --- APPLIED
ASHLEE --- RECRUITED at a church
JEFF --- APPLIED? (If Kim is the 7th recruit, then Jeff applied & I have heard that he did apply on his own)
KIM --- ??? (Probably recruited due to connection to pageant industry)
WILLARD --- APPLIED (but really just to prove he could get on the show)
ANGIE --- APPLIED
JAMES --- APPLIED
IBREHEM --- RECRUITED
BOBBY JON --- APPLIED* (Confirmed in a recent interview)
COBY --- APPLIED several times
JANU --- APPLIED
STEPHENIE --- APPLIED
GREGG --- RECRUITED at a bar in Chicago (fairly last-minute, Casting wanted an Ivy League student)
CARYN --- APPLIED
JENN --- APPLIED to the Amazing Race with her sister & transferred to Survivor (fairly last-minute)
IAN --- APPLIED to the Amazing Race with his girlfriend & was transferred to Survivor
KATIE --- APPLIED through open-casting call (was a finalist for Africa)
TOM --- APPLIED

* Wanda said 7 were recruited so with Bobby Jon being an applicant, Kim must be the other one due to the Pageant connections


VANUATU - ALL CONFIRMED
17/18 Applied*

BROOK --- APPLIED
DOLLY --- APPLIED through open-casting call in Pennsylvania
JOHN P. --- RECRUITED for Vanuatu, but had APPLIED for a previous season
MIA --- APPLIED through open-casting call in Texas
BRADY --- APPLIED
TRAVIS --- APPLIED
LISA --- APPLIED (was a finalist for Thailand & happened to be in LA at the time of finals so they asked her to come in for an interview)
JOHN K. --- APPLIED for another CBS reality show & was transferred to Survivor (though often considered to be the only *true* RECRUIT of Vanuatu)
RORY --- APPLIED
SARGE --- APPLIED
CHAD --- APPLIED
LEANN --- APPLIED
AMI --- APPLIED to the Amazing Race with her girlfriend & was transferred to Survivor
JULIE --- APPLIED
ELIZA --- APPLIED
SCOUT --- APPLIED (was originally cast on Pearl Islands but later switched with Lill)
TWILA --- APPLIED through open-casting call in Missouri
CHRIS --- APPLIED

* For this season, everyone applied through traditional audition tapes unless specified

PEARL ISLANDS --- ALL CONFIRMED - Details not as widely known or talked about back then
12/16 Applied (the beginning of the serious recruiting, note that all of the recruits were picked up in Cali)

NICOLE --- RECRUITED on a beach in LA-area California
RYAN S. --- APPLIED
MICHELLE --- APPLIED
TRISH --- APPLIED
OSTEN --- APPLIED
SHAWN --- RECRUITED (it's been so long now, I forget the exact story behind it but it was something related to him bein dubbed the "ultimate salesmen")
ANDREW --- APPLIED
RYAN O. --- APPLIED (was a finalist for Africa)
RUPERT --- APPLIED
TIJUANA --- APPLIED
CHRISTA --- APPLIED
BURTON --- RECRUITED for Pearl Islands (approached on a street in CA by someone from Casting), but had previously APPLIED for Africa
DARRAH --- APPLIED
JONNY FAIRPLAY --- RECRUITED by Lynne Spillman at a gas station/bench (stories vary slightly) because she thought he looked like an interesting character
LILLIAN --- APPLIED (Scout was originally cast over Lill, then they switched them because they thought Lill fit Pearl Islands' theme better)
SANDRA --- APPLIED

More later...