August 2004

SURVIVOR: VANUATU -- ISLANDS OF FIRE

MARK BURNETT

(Executive Producer, SURVIVOR: VANUATU -- ISLANDS OF FIRE)

Mark Burnett has a long history of producing Emmy Award-winning adventure television in international locations. Burnett's entrepreneurial spirit has helped pioneer the success of the "unscripted" reality drama series and bring it to mainstream television.

Among his many awards and acknowledgements, Burnett most recently received the Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Reality Cares Foundation in May, 2004. Also in 2004, SURVIVOR won the award for Favorite Reality-Based Television Program at the 30th Annual People's Choice Awards, marking its fourth consecutive victory. In 2003, SURVIVOR was crowned the Number One Reality Show and the Number Seven Favorite Show on Television in TV Week's Annual Critics Poll. It was also nominated at the 2003 Teen Choice Awards as Choice TV Reality Show and for Favorite Reality Host (Jeff Probst).

Also in 2003, SURVIVOR received four Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, as well as for editing, camera work and art direction. In 2002, SURVIVOR also received four Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Non-Fiction Programming (Special Class). In September 2001, Burnett received six Emmy Award nominations for SURVIVOR, taking the honors for Outstanding Nonfiction Programming (Special Class) and Outstanding Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Programming (Single or Multi-camera). SURVIVOR also received a Special Recognition Award from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Also in 2001, the series received the Family Television Award for Reality/Alternative Programming and took honors at the 9th Annual Diversity Awards for Most Diverse Television Ensemble Cast.

Burnett began his career in unscripted drama-adventures series when he created "Eco-Challenge." He has since served as executive producer on nine "Eco-Challenge" events and programs. "Eco-Challenge: British Columbia" earned him a 1996 Sports Emmy Award nomination and a 1997 International Documentary Association Award nomination. In 2000, Burnett received a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Program Achievement for "Eco-Challenge: Morocco," and was awarded the prestigious Banff Rockie Award in the Sports Program Category at the 2000 Banff Rockie Awards Festival. He received an Emmy Award nomination for "Eco-Challenge: Borneo" in September 2001.

Burnett was the executive producer of the unscripted drama series "Combat Missions" and "North Shore." In addition to SURVIVOR, he is currently executive producer of "The Apprentice," "The Casino," "The Restaurant," "The Contender" and "Commando Nanny."

Burnett has written three books, Survivor: The Official Companion Book to the CBS Television Series, Survivor II: The Official Companion Book to the CBS Television Series and Dare to Succeed: How to Survive and Thrive in the Games of Life. He is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, sits on the board of directors of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and served two elected terms on the board of directors of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in Los Angeles. He is also a member of the Producers Guild.

Burnett is a former member of the famed British Army Parachute Regiment, with active service medals in both the Northern Ireland and Falklands conflicts. He is an open-water certified scuba diver and a Level A certified skydiver, has completed a whitewater guide course and is Advanced Wilderness First Aid certified.

Burnett lives in Los Angeles, Calif. His birth date is July 17.

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JEFF PROBST
(Host, SURVIVOR: VANUATU -- ISLANDS OF FIRE)

Emmy Award-winning host Jeff Probst returns for his ninth installment of SURVIVOR.

In October 2003, his feature film debut, "Finder's Fee," was released on DVD/video. In 2001, it premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Picture and earned him a directing award. The film also won the Best Screenplay Award at the Method Fest in Los Angeles and the Breakout Director Award at the Sonoma Film Festival, and was the closing-night film at the Sarasota Film Festival. He was also nominated at the 2003 Teen Choice Awards for Favorite Reality Host.

Probst previously served as host of VH1's "Rock and Roll Jeopardy" and was the voice of Raycliff in the animated television show "Filmore." He also hosted several programs for FX and traveled over 300,000 miles around the world as a correspondent for "Access Hollywood." Prior to that, he hosted a variety of shows for KIRO-TV, the CBS affiliate in Seattle.

Probst is the Collegiate Spokesperson for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF). During "Survivor: Africa," he was instrumental in initiating a very successful relationship between SURVIVOR and Wamba Hospital in Kenya, with the result that Wamba Hospital is now an official Call-to-Action Site and receives ongoing support from EGPAF, including HIV test kits, HIV transmission drugs, hospital supplies, counseling and education. SURVIVOR continues to support EGPAF by donating props and memorabilia from each installment for auction on eBay immediately following each series' finale. To date, the auctions have raised more than $1 million for the organization.

A native of Wichita, Kan., Probst lives in Los Angeles when not traveling the world. His birth date is Nov. 4.

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