'Survivor: Panama' Cast Unveiled

(CBS)  In about three weeks, you'll get to visit the tropical islands off the coast of Panama as 16 new castaways battle each other and Mother Nature for the $1 million top prize in the 12th edition of the reality show "Survivor."

This one is titled, aptly, "Survivor: Panama."

Among this season's new twists is Exile Island, a small, desolate outpost where at least one castaway will be banished each week to fend for his or herself for an undetermined period of time.

Another "Survivor" first: The contestants will begin the competition split up into four tribes of four members each, divided along age and gender lines.

The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith gave viewers a sneak peek at the 16 on Monday.

First, the mature men. Bruce Kanegai is a karate instructor from Simi Valley, Calif. At 58, he's the show's oldest participant.

"I want to be Mr. Miyagi, a survivor," Kanegai says.

Shane Powers is a marketing executive from Los Angeles.

Terry Deitz, from Simsbury, Conn., is a former fighter pilot. He's 46.

And 52-year-old Dan Barry is a retired astronaut from South Hadley, Mass.

"I've had the opportunity to fly on three space shuttle missions, two to the international space station and, along the way, do four space walks," Barry says.

Representing the women is, among others, Cirie Fields, from Walterboro, S.C. She's 35 and a registered nurse.

"I want to be like the hot mama," she says. "I want to be the hot nurse. I want to be the hot cook. I just want to be hot, really."

Also representing South Carolina is 48-year-old shopping center developer Ruth Marie Milliman. She's from Greenville.

Tina Scheer, 45, is a logging sports promoter and performer from Hayward, Wis. She's a lumberjack who likes to call herself a "lumberjill."

"I'm a female in a male-dominated business," says Scheer. "And I have had to struggle a lot."

And Melinda Hyder, 32, is a professional singer from Sevierville, Tenn.

As for the younger men: Austin Carty is a 24-year-old author from High Point, N.C.

Nick Stanbury is a financial salesman from Tempe, Ariz. He's 25.

Aras Baskauskas, 24, of Santa Monica, Calif., earns his living as a yoga instructor.

And 32-year-old Bobby Mason is an attorney in Los Angeles.

"I'm not like some pretty boy — soft, mushy, sensitive, caring, considerate dude. I'm basically a modern day caveman," Mason says.

And on Team Younger Women: Danielle DiLorenzo is 24 and a medical sales representative in Pompano Beach, Fla.

Sally Schumann is a social worker in Chicago. She's 27.

Misty Giles, 24, is an engineer from Dallas.

And 31-year-old Courtney Marit is a fire dancer in Los Angeles.

"When America sees me," she says, "they may wonder what's up with my hair. But they are just dreadlocks. It is clean, by the way!"

Which one of the castaways will be able to outwit, outplay and outlast the others in the quest for the $1 million and chance to named "Sole Survivor"?

You can catch the premiere of "Survivor: Panama — Exile Island" on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. eastern, on CBS.