'Survivor' castaways cash in as series ends

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) -- Regardless of who takes home $1 million from the Malaysian islet of Pulau Tiga, several of the 16 "Survivor" castaways are already cashing in on their sudden celebrity.

Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of instant fame so far has been Dr. Sean Kenniff, the neurologist with the nipple ring who recently signed on with the syndicated magazine show "Extra" as a medical correspondent, a spokeswoman for that show said Tuesday.

Kenniff, aka "Alphabet Boy," who was the most recent contestant to be booted off the wildly popular CBS TV show, also was reported to have landed a role playing a doctor on daytime drama "Guiding Light."

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And the four finalists -- ex-Navy SEAL Rudy Boesch, truck driver Susan Hawk, river guide Kelly Wiglesworth and corporate trainer Richard Hatch -- teamed up for a milk mustache print advertisement in the long-running "Got Milk?" campaign sponsored by a dairy farmer industry group.

Presumably, the finalist who goes all the way on the two-hour last episode of the 13-part series that airs Wednesday night will have a lot more endorsement deals to look forward to.

Among others catching the "Survivor" gravy train were Gervase, the youth basketball coach, who snagged an appearance on the UPN sitcom "The Hughleys," while Stacey the attorney and B.B., the bossy retired CEO, each landed Reebok sports shoes commercials, "Survivor" publicist Colleen Sullivan said.

Gervase also has done some work for the MTV cable network, as have Jenna and Ramona, Sullivan said. And that's not to mention guest spots each castaway has made on the CBS morning program "The Early Show" after being booted off the island, plus appearances by most of them on the CBS show, "Late Show with David Letterman."

Offers by Playboy magazine for a different kind of exposure were rejected by both Colleen and Jenna, Sullivan said, though trucker Sue told Newsweek magazine in an exclusive interview that she hasn't ruled out posing nude elsewhere.

"Me and Kelly don't belong in Playboy 'cause we've got tattoos," Sue was quoted as telling Newsweek. "We belong in Hustler -- and I heard Larry Flynt pays more!"

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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