The ordeal begins: The Dragon Slayer takes ‘em all on again in Survivor 50

And so, at long, long last, it finally begins — a three-hour premiere at 8 p.m. tonight on CBS launches the much-anticipated Survivor 50 “In the Hands of the Fans” featuring Susanville’s Ben Wade — our favorite Coach aka The Dragon Slayer.

Survivor 50 promises to be an epic reality show shakedown for the ages as 24 players from the previous seasons are divided into three tribes of eight — Cila, Kalo and Vatu.

Survivor 50 marks Wade’s fourth appearance on the show. The last time he played, he finished in second place, one spot away from being the sole survivor and picking up a cool $1 million prize.

“One more round!” said Wade. “I’m humbled and blessed to have been asked and to accept the gauntlet laid down by CBS and all of Survivor production to participate on this most legendary of seasons — Survivor 50.”

How crazed are the true Survivor fans?
Here’s an edited version of a My Turn column I wrote in January 2010 • Doing lunch with the Dragon Slayer
Last week I had the pleasure of casually strolling into a Main Street eatery and sliding into a booth across a freshly bleached table from the mighty Ben Wade — famous for his work with the college soccer teams, the Susanville Symphony, his world-record-breaking kayak trip, his daring escape from famished, spear-toting natives on the Amazon River, a book based on his journals, another in his own write, his starring role in a rock and roll movie and, of course, his participation in the Survivor reality television show.

Ah, yes, it was just little old me and Coach — that gnarly, long-haired, tattoo-wearin’, back-stabbin’, alliance-bustin’, traitor-turnin’, Russell-fightin’ Dragon Slayer — spitting small talk back and forth between big juicy bites of chicken molé enchiladas, steaming chili rellenos, tamales, beans, rice, chips and spicy, spicy salsa.

In between my sips of root beer, an excited teenage girl from San Jose passing through Susanville suddenly appears at the end of our table with a crumpled piece of pink notebook paper asking Ben for an autograph, interrupting our private conversation about his parents’ recent move to Southern California, untellable Survivor secrets, symphony sounds and compositions, movie post production schemes and future soccer team plans.

“You’re Coach from Survivor, aren’t you?” the girl stammered, tripping over her tongue, rapidly bouncing up and down with an odd mixture of excitement and anxiety. “My dad thinks you’re the greatest Survivor player ever, and he’d love to have your autograph. Could you sign this, please?”

She continued to praise Coach, and then as Ben handed the ragged, folded piece of paper back to her, she said, “Oh, my God, I don’t believe I got to meet you and get your autograph!”

After she left with a personalized message to her dad, Ben said he can always tell the difference between the Susanville people (who don’t pay any undue attention to him) and the out-of-towners (who go all wild and crazy).

Hey, Ben, I’ll twist tortillas and crumble tacos with you any time. Just don’t forget you promised to call me when Survivor’s super-flippin’, tribe-bustin’ John Cochran comes to town.

I mean, Cochran! Cochran! Cochran! OMG! It’s Cochran!