BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — A public watch party for the season premiere of Survivor was held at The Reel Theatre in Garden City on Wednesday.
For the 40th season of Survivor, they brought back past winners, including Boise's own Ben Driebergen.
"My driving force is to prove to everyone that I can do it again and that I am the champion of champions," Driebergen said.
Driebergen was ultimately awarded the title of Sole Survivor in season 35. He's recently finished competing in the new season that is airing on CBS in 2020.
He currently works as a real estate agent in Boise, where he lives with his wife Kelly, and their two children, Wyatt and Gracie.
"It's just gonna be phenomenal," said Driebergen. "And the kids couldn't be more happy and proud of their dad. Right? So, that's what it's for, is going out and trying to set a good example and be a good man and a good father and a good husband. You know?"
In 2017 Ben participated in Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers. Ben received mixed reception during the final tribal council. He was applauded for finding multiple idols, and his strong strategic play, but was condemned by one player for a weak social game.
Ben's wife and kids are not the only ones who are excited for him, his mother is as well. She said that even though she's sure he's going to have to put up with some hardships on the show, as he's done before, she's not worried about his ability to do very well.
When Ben was asked to explain why he believed he should win, he opened up to the jury about his post-traumatic stress disorder and how he has learned to live with it. He said he hoped to show fellow veterans that while life after the military is difficult, there is reason for hope.
"We learned about this early last year, and so by the time he got done with filming and everything, we had a long time that we had to keep it a secret that he had even done this show," said Ben's mother, Robin Lamarr.
The winner will receive $2 million, making it the largest prize ever given out on the show.
You can watch the new series on CBS at 8 p.m. Monday nights.
ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmpaeTlrlww8CtmqFloJa%2FtcWMoZylnF2bvLN5waigrJ1doq6vedahpmavn6N6tMHRr6Cvp6JiwKat0qilZmtlYq6vsIywnKesXZeupLeMn6arZZGjvLW0xKs%3D