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Was Local 'Survivor' Contestant Voted Off?

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By WALT BELCHER wbelcher

@tampatrib.com

Published: January 15, 2009

About the only thing Spencer Duhm can say about being on the next "Survivor" is that he was excited to get picked for the CBS reality show.

And as the youngest contestant in the history of the show, he's pleased to earn that little footnote in "Survivor" lore.

Duhm, 19, a Lakeland native and University of Florida student, is one of the 16 castaways on "Survivor Tocantins: The Brazilian Highlands," the 18th season of the CBS reality series, which debuts Feb. 12.

A member of UF's rowing crew, he became the first teen to compete after CBS lowered the show's minimum age requirement last year from 21 to 18.

The telecommunications major had to take part of last semester off for the taping which took place in central Brazil (described by host Jeff Probst as "one of the most rugged locations yet").

Sworn to secrecy about what happened, Duhm (produced "Doom") says it was the adventure of a lifetime. "It was what I expected it to be," he said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

A fan since he was about age 11, Duhm says his favorite season was in the Amazon jungle (the sixth season that aired in 2003).

"And my two favorite players of all time are Rob (Cesternino) from the Amazon episodes and Todd (Herzog) who won 'Survivor: China'" he says.

Duhm's philosophy in playing the game: "You have to assume they're going to screw you before you screw them over."

Duhm attended the International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High School. He says he is interested in a career in sports broadcasting. "I am a big sports fan," he says, noting that he follows the Tampa Bay Bucs, the Miami Heat and, of course, the Gators.

"It was tough to miss seeing some of the Florida games this season because I was in Brazil," he says. "But it was a great opportunity to travel to a place I had never been."

He says his parents and younger brother knew where he was. But he had to fib to his friends and classmates. "I said I was taking time off for an internship," he says. "Now I'm glad it's out." But he has to be careful not to give anything away about the show.

The castaways - eight men and eight women - include a cattle rancher, a U.S. Army sergeant, two multimillionaires and three female models, according to CBS.

The oldest is a 53-year-old bus driver from Louisville, Ky. Two of the castaways could be considered minor celebrities. Brenden Synnott co-founded Bear Naked Granola, a company that was sold to Kellogg's in a $122 million deal in 2007.

Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George, 37, was a founding member of SWV, a Grammy-nominated R&B trio and is married to retired NFL star Eddie George.

VIDBITS: Fox has decided to end "Prison Break" with a short run in April and May. With the economy so bad, the inmates probably would rather stay behind bars. But seriously, Fox officials say that after four years, "Break" has exhausted its creative potential.

•Fox also has set Feb. 12 as the debut for the much-anticipated "Dollhouse" sci-fi series from "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon. It stars Eliza Dushku as a "doll," a spy with an erasable memory and reprogrammable personality.

•Don't forget "Treasure Quest," a new 11-part Discovery Channel series that debuts at 10 tonight. It follows the shipwreck salvage work of Tampa-based Marine Odyssey Explorations as it explores the English Channel.

•Auditions for the next season of "So You Think You Can Dance" will be held Feb. 3 in Miami at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. For information go to fox.com/dance. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 9 p.m., CBS

This marks William Petersen's departure from the most-watched drama on TV. How will his Gil Grissom character exit? With a bang or with a whimper?

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