It was over 20 years ago when Total Drama Island first aired to the masses and quickly became one of the most successful reality TV franchises to hit Canadian networks. Millions of viewers were enthralled with the wacky cast of teens and the thrilling challenges presented by veteran day-time television star, Chris McLean. Fans have been desperately waiting for a revival and finally, the new season is here! Twenty fresh faces arrived at camp this spring, each one playing for the honor of their parents who slept in the same cabins all those years ago.
In this special edition feature, the Celebrity Manhunt news team, with the help of former Total Drama contestants, Trent and Courtney, caught up with the five teens that were cut short from the competition. In these exclusive interviews, Aiden, Callum, Sara, Liam, and Nora shed some light on their time at Camp Wawanakwa as well as give more insight into their personal lives.
Aiden came into the competition with a smile on his face, a determination to win, and his brother as a companion by his side. But despite being seen as relatively likable by his team, his time at camp didn't last very long. Aiden's big personality made him a threat to no one else but his own twin brother, Landon. It was Landon who convinced the other Gophers to vote out Aiden, making him the first person to ride the loser boat.
Trent: Aiden, it's good to see you again!
Aiden: It's an honor being here.
Trent: Sorry you got voted out first, man, how are you taking it?
Aiden: Well, you never really expect it to be you. I was surprised, sure but it had to be someone. I'm sad I had to leave so soon but I've been enjoying making friends here on the loser island as well. Trying to make the best of a bad situation, ya know.
Courtney: What about finding out your brother was the one that told the others to vote you out? How are you dealing with that?
Aiden: I won't lie, it hurt. I was excited to play the game with him; I thought the two of us would make it far if we worked together. But I love my brother and I forgive him. I just want him to know I'm rooting for him
Courtney: Really? You're not mad anymore?
Aiden: No way! Besides, Landon and I settle all of our disputes over a game of laser tag, so when we get back home, I hope he's ready for that.
Trent: Must be interesting watching your brother play from the sidelines now.
Aiden: Yeah, Landon's not a super sociable person so I'm not surprised to see him sticking with Addison. With him being the loudest person on the team, it probably makes him feel safe to stay buddies with him.
Courtney: Is that how he is at home?
Aiden: Sometimes. Landon usually keeps to himself but especially in crowds, he'll usually try to stick with me or our mom. Maybe he likes having someone else do all the talking for him.
Trent: Speaking of your mom, did you ever find out how your parents met?
Aiden: Umm… through you and the guys from some concerts or parties or something like that.
Trent: Yeah, kinda. She was a friend of mine from back in high school. She'd come jam with us from time to time.
Aiden: Interesting. I didn't know that.
Courtney: Well, if that's the case then where was Justin for all that time?
Aiden: No, it wasn't his fault. My mom lived with her sister in La Ronge for most of my childhood. And that's about a 30-hour drive you wouldn't want to make. It was after we moved back in with my grandparents when I met my dad so I think it was just bad timing on my mom's part.
Trent: Well, thank goodness she decided to move back, right?
Aiden: Yeah. Sometimes I feel like I missed out on a lot growing up, but I try not to think about the 'what ifs'. That's why I'm still trying to keep a positive attitude about getting kicked off. I'm just happy I'm here in the first place.
Trent: It's a good attitude to keep. Besides, I think a lot of the sorer losers from past seasons could learn a thing or two from you.
Aiden: Next time I get to be on a reality show I'll come back even stronger.
Courtney: Well, to wrap things up, what's one challenge you were looking forward to?
Aiden: Hmm… I guess the paintball challenge. That's kinda like laser tag but a lot messier. But I'm sure it'll be fun to watch from here as well.
Trent: Well, thanks for chatting with us Aiden.
Aiden: Anytime.
Callum made a jaw-dropping entrance into the competition, proving that he was truly the one to fear. And despite some disagreements he had with his cabinmates, Callum was always working on his craft and plotting his next scare tactic. And while Callum may not have been able to make anyone faint, it was him who would be knocked to the floor thanks to Addison's killer reflex. Unfortunately, this left an uneasy feeling with the rest of the Bass team, causing Callum to board the boat of losers.
Trent: So, Callum, were you surprised to leave so soon?
Callum: Honestly, I wouldn't have been surprised if the Bass eliminated me sooner.
Courtney: But you were the first person they eliminated.
Callum: That's true. Someone could've sniped me from the top of the cliff though.
Trent: Okay… Callum, what do you think kept you apart from your team?
Callum: I think most of them thought I was annoying or something. I mean, I don't blame them. I think Zarra's is like five or six years older than me. That and people take the game way too seriously.
Courtney: Well, a hundred thousand dollars is on the line. What were your priorities going into the competition if not for the money?
Callum: I never cared about the money. I was mostly in it for the fun of it. But I guess that doesn't make you the best teammate.
Trent: Your team felt like you were more interested in trying to scare them than actually playing the game.
Callum: They'd be correct in thinking that. I'd rather go out doing what I do, playing my shtick than biting my tongue and pretending to care about the competition.
Courtney: Why are you so determined to scare your peers anyway?
Callum: Think about it… tv executives are gonna see this show. I am a master of my skill. I need to be discovered for the next horror movie. Or maybe some director will be so impressed that they'd franchise me. If I play my cards right, we could have a Freddy vs Jason vs Callum.
Courtney: No executive is going to hire a 14-year-old for a horror movie franchise.
Trent: Wait, let the boy dream. Callum, what got you so hooked on horror?
Callum: One night I stayed up a little too late and the Twilight Zone came on. It was the one where the girl wanted to get plastic surgery to look normal, but in the end, it turns out she's normal and everyone else is disfigured. It freaked me out and fascinated me at the same time, it was brilliant.
Trent: And this is something you're very interested in. What does DJ think about it?
Callum: I mean, it isn't something he likes but he doesn't mind that I like it. Though, I probably get on his nerves. I'm sure it's a lot quieter in the house now that I'm here.
Courtney: Well, all kids get on their parents' nerves to an extent, but I'm sure he'd rather have you home than on this crappy set.
Callum: Yeah. I do kinda miss being home as well. It can be hard to juggle fame and family but being famous won't guarantee you a warm bed and a tasty breakfast.
Courtney: Callum, one more thing, of the 15 contestants remaining, who do you want to see win the cash prize?
Callum: I'm rooting for Addison.
Trent: Even after he kicked you in the jaw?
Callum: He was able to knock me out cold with just his foot. I'm impressed.
Trent: Well Callum, it was great chatting with you and good luck landing that horror movie gig.
Callum: Next time you interview me, it'll be on the red carpet!
Being the youngest contestant on the island, Sara had a lot to prove to her fellow teammates, even if her motivations to play the game were non-existent. But still, Sara proved her worth to the team during the second challenge as she was the longest-lasting Bass in the awake-a-thon. She even managed to get in a few crowbar swings too, making her a potential powerhouse for her team. However, it would be her reckless dodgeball skills that would be her downfall in the competition and ultimately leave her packing.
Trent: Sara, it's great to see you. Sucks you had to leave so soon.
Sara: A pleasure. I'm not disappointed in leaving early. This contest turned out to be a good endurance test for me overall.
Trent: What do you mean?
Sara: Sharing a common room with the other girls, working in a large group with a bunch of annoying kids, you know things I wouldn't normally have the patience for. I worked through it and I'm proud of that.
Courtney: You're not upset about losing at all?
Sara: I don't need to sacrifice my dignity for the crew's pity coins. One of the other children will be happier with blindly accepting it.
Trent: It's interesting that you refer to them as 'children' when all 19 of your colleagues are your senior.
Sara: Well, I'm 13 and I can't speak for the others but it just goes to show that maturity isn't dictated by your rotations around the sun.
Courtney: I mean, sure, getting a large group of teens together like this isn't going to leave the best impressions, but you weren't necessarily a stand-out in the group, Sara.
Trent: Yeah, you did play a little rough in the dodgeball game. What happened there?
Sara: Any game where you get to pelt projectiles at your enemies is enjoyable. I think my teammates took the game a little too seriously. That and Cameron was actively trying to get me to play so he could see me get hit in the face. So, I had to show off to him a little bit.
Trent: Speaking of Cameron, what did you think about going into the game with your brother?
Sara: It was nice having him around for a while. But Cameron is an idiot and I know he's gonna fumble one of these days. I'm hoping he doesn't win.
Courtney: That's kinda harsh to actively root against your brother.
Sara: I don't care. If he wins all that money, he's gonna rub it in my face and try to bribe me to do all his chores. I love my brother but I have my issues with him as well.
Trent: Really? What sort of issues?
Sara: Well, he tries to make me wash the dishes, he blasts music at all hours of the day, and he's always been the favorite so he gets to do essentially whatever he wants. But the worst thing is when he goes over to his best friend, Antoine's, house and I'm always forced to go with him and I hate Antoine so much.
Courtney: It just sounds like a fairly normal brother-sister relationship.
Sara: Maybe. But I like Cameron. He's pretty boring but in a charming way
Courtney: One last question to wrap up, out of the 15 contestants left, who do you think is going to win?
Sara: Well, the winner has to be shameless but also likable so they won't get booted. I'd say Mordecai but he's only the former of those things. I feel like the big guy on the gopher team could be likable enough. I'm not sure though.
Trent: Well, hey thanks for taking the time out of your day to chat with us.
Sara: Likewise
Liam very quickly made a name for himself among the Gopher team. Not only did he claim the team's first victory, but he also gave some of his teammates quite a fluster. While Liam spent a lot of time helping the girls on his team, the one girl he couldn't get through to was Rosie who had her suspicions of him since day one. It was Rosie who convinced her teammates to vote off Liam following their loss in the talent contest, giving Liam a shockingly early departure.
Trent: Liam, how's life been since you left?
Liam: Mostly the same. It's quieter here and I like having a room to myself. But catering has been light on the gluten-free snacks and I haven't eaten since this morning.
Courtney: You seriously would rather have those pre-made lunch bags at camp than the food served here?
Liam: Well, when my mom was making my lunch bags, I at least knew that all the snacks were gluten-free. I'm not eating something if I don't know what it is.
Trent: How come you want Beth to make your lunches for you, but you wouldn't sit with her up in the bleachers?
Liam: Hmm… well, before I got here, I got into an argument with my step-dad. I just felt like it would've been awkward if she asked me about it.
Courtney: How come you keep calling your dad your step-dad? Cause he isn't your step-dad at all, right?
Liam: No, he is my dad, and I call him 'dad' to his face. But since I sometimes stay with my biological dad it's just easier for me to differentiate them to others that way. I've never seen my dad as a step-dad.
Trent: Isn't your dad also related to…
Liam: I'm not supposed to disclose that… can we talk about something else?
Trent: Sure… we got a bit sidetracked anyway. Going back to the game, what happened with you and Rosie?
Liam: Well, Rosie is extremely insecure and she took it out on me. I knew it was gonna happen eventually since she's been hounding me since the beginning. She's never gonna win with her strategy, I can guarantee that. She's also very fickle and kinda annoying.
Courtney: Why did you kiss her then?
Liam: I don't know. Mess with her emotions a little bit.
Trent: I'm not sure about that Liam. This little skater girl with the French braids and the beanie laying with you in the grass; I think you liked her a bit.
Liam: Just because I'm the guy with the tattoos doesn't mean I have to like the girl with the skateboard. The most attractive traits are confidence and self-love and I don't think Rosie has much of either.
Courtney: Speaking of the tattoos, what do your parents think of them?
Liam: I mean the first tattoo I got was a gift for my 16th birthday which was like 9 months ago. I'd say out of the five, the three they've seen have gone over well.
Trent: Five tattoos in 9 months? What got you so hooked on getting them?
Liam: I'd like to be a tattoo artist one day. I've been interested in them since I was like 10. I used to watch a lot of Ink Master and it really helped me clean up my art. But my parents said I had to wait until I was at least 16 to get one, and here we are now. Though, I think I'm gonna wait a few more years for another one.
Courtney: One more thing to wrap up: last week, the teams participated in the phobia factor challenge. If you were still in the game what would've been the challenge picked for you?
Liam: Maybe something to do with amusement parks. I don't trust those deathtrap rides.
Trent: Well, thanks for chatting with us, and hopefully you can find something to eat.
Liam: Here's to hoping.
Nora may not have been the loudest player in the game, but she still had a lot to offer to her team. Her time at camp started out particularly rough, with Sara indirectly giving her a black eye by the end of the dodgeball challenge. But it would be in the talent contest where Nora would have a moment to shine, showing off her black belt skills and helping her team win the challenge. But this wasn't enough for Mordecai who saw her as more of a liability and convinced his team to vote her off.
Trent: Nora, it's a pleasure to chat with you. How are you holding up after being eliminated?
Nora: Thank you. Uhh... I've been doing alright. It's a lot calmer here than being in the game.
Courtney: I'm sure it'd be even calmer if Callum wasn't running around trying to scare everyone.
Nora: He's not as scary as he wants you to believe. As long as they're serving cookies at the buffet, he's pretty laid-back.
Trent: Getting into the game, what do you think happened between you and your team.
Nora: Well, Mordecai's been worried about Jacey, Zarra, and me getting our advantages after the merge. I think I was just an easy target since I kept to myself for the most part. That and I saw Mordecai stealing CJ's duffle bag earlier that morning.
Trent: Sounds like Mordecai's been playing a little dirty, eh Courtney?
Courtney: Mordecai's strategy definitely isn't as rock-solid as he thinks it is. He still has a lot to learn from playing the game.
Nora: Mordecai seems like a good leader overall, despite playing some tricks. I wouldn't say I had a problem with Mordecai or anyone on the team, to be honest.
Trent: Even Sara after she gave you a black eye in the dodgeball challenge?
Nora: Sara's young and wasn't really thinking. Besides, it was an accident.
Courtney: Sara's really young to you considering you just turned 18.
Nora: Yeah, it's kinda funny how it all works out. I think even my little brother is older than Liam, Sara, Callum, and Aiden.
Trent: Speaking of your little brother, you were having some quarrels with him before coming here?
Nora: He was upset that he couldn't come along too. He stuck a piece of gum in my hair, mostly by accident, but I was pretty mad that I had my hair chopped off because of it. And right before I was gonna be on TV.
Courtney: You'd think he'd be a little more hesitant to mess with you given you have a black belt.
Trent: You really surprised everyone by showing off your belt. Do you feel like if you had more time in the competition, we would've gotten to see more of who Nora is?
Nora: I mean, I didn't really think much about the karate stuff until the talent show. I've been doing it since I was 7. My friends encouraged me to sign up with them. I don't think I would've otherwise.
Courtney: So, it isn't an active interest for you?
Nora: Not really. When I think of interests, I think of like reading or photography. Going to karate class is something I like, but it mostly just keeps me active and social and nothing more.
Trent: In regards to your photography, you've garnered quite the following online. What kind of pictures are you taking?
Nora: Yeah, last I checked I had around 14k. I mostly take pictures of old buildings or whatever looks aesthetically pleasing. I always liked vintage-looking photographs and I enjoy trying to recreate that.
Courtney: One last question, who do predict will be the next person voted off?
Nora: Maybe Malik or Addison. Malik's been causing some issues for Cameron and especially Mavis. And Addison's just a bit loud so maybe his team is getting tired of that.
Trent: Well, Nora, thanks for joining us.
Nora: Thank you for having me.
Thank you to Aiden, Callum, Sara, Liam, and Nora for allowing our team to chat with them. We look forward to seeing them reunite with the rest of the campers in the finale.
Lots of exciting challenges await the remaining contestants. As the world tunes in to see what sort of drama unfolds in the coming weeks, Celebrity Manhunt will continue to report on updates, rumors and behind the scene content. Join us in our next exclusive as we invite former Total Drama stars, Geoff and Gwen, to interview another round of teens that didn't quite make the cut. Stay tuned for more exciting challenges and captivating drama!