As a Santa Clara County firefighter, Livermore resident Eric Hafemann undoubtedly has been in the middle of many intense situations. But is he ready for the bickering, back-stabbing and blind-siding that happens on “Survivor”?
Hafemann, 34, is a member of 18-member cast on “Survivor: Edge of Extinction,” as recently announced by CBS. The reality series kicks off its 38th season at 8 p.m. Feb. 20.
In an interview for “Entertainment Tonight,” Hafemann said he went into the season determined to have fun and not take things too seriously.
“It’s a chance to live out a million boyhood fantasies of mine,” he said. “To be a jungle kid.”
As for his game-playing strategy, the East Bay resident said he simply wants to “focus on the things I’m good at — connecting with people, finding areas of commonality and developing relationships quickly.”
In his CBS bio, Hafemann says his biggest pet peeve is people who take themselves too seriously.
“I try to remember that 99.9 percent of the time I am NOT the smartest, coolest, most interesting, deserving, or important person in the room,” he says.
On the newest season of “Survivor,” the castaways will be divided into two equal tribes, the Manu Tribe and the Kama Tribe (Hafemann plays for the latter).
Four returning players will join the 14 newbies. The returning castaways are Joe Anglim (“Worlds Apart,” “Second Chance”), Aubry Bracco (“Kaoh Rong,” “Game Changers”), Kelley Wentworth (“Second Chance,” “San Juan del Sur”) and David Wright (“Millennials vs. Gen-X”).
Per CBS, this season presents a new layer to the game with the introduction of the island known as “Edge of Extinction,” which severely tests the will of the castaways to be the Sole Survivor and what they are willing to endure to make that happen. Those who can withstand the “emotionally and physically difficult challenge” will be afforded a shot for one of them to get back in the game and continue their quest for $1 million.
After being voted out, players will be faced with a decision to either go home or go to the “Edge of Extinction,” where they will be pushed further than ever before for a chance to get back in the game.
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