Dedham Man Part of Upcoming Survivor Cast

Originally published Aug. 28, 2016

DEDHAM, MA — Dedham residents and local fans of Survivor will have a rooting interest in this fall's season of the long-running reality competition.

Bret LaBelle of Dedham is among the 20 castaways who took part in Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X. The 33rd season of the show was filmed last spring on the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji and will air from Sept. 21 to December.

Like many before him, LaBelle is here as a fan and a man who wants that grant prize.

"I love this game! Who wouldn't want to get the chance to take part in this amazing adventure? My second motivation is the $ 1 million," he told CBS.

As the name implies, this season's theme pits Generation X against the Millennials. The show will start with two tribes with 10 contestants each. Generation X will be in the Takali Tribe, while the Millennials will join the Vanua Tribe. LaBelle, a 42-year-old police sergeant with the Boston Police Department, will start the show in a tribe with his fellow Gen Xers, a generation he is proud to be associated with.

"A Gen-Xer is someone who had to work very hard for everything that they have in life. They actually had to go to school (not just online), ride the bus, and study hard to get good grades. Gen-Xer's take responsibility for their own actions and don’t blame others for their mistakes. Gen-Xer’s remember a time when Saturday morning brought the best cartoons, they know the difference between VHS and Betamax, and they certainly know what it means to drop a dime," he said.

For our younger readers, dropping a dime is a reference to pay phones that cost 10 cents.

As for his chances? LaBelle thinks his ability to telling if someone is lying or being truthful police experience and lead someone without them knowing that they are being led will result in him becoming the third winner from Massachusetts.

Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Image Credit: CBS Entertainment