Three years after he appeared on Survivor: Australian Outback, Crittenden resident Rodger Bingham almost made it onto the cast of Survivor: All Stars, the new Survivor installment premiering Feb. 1 on CBS (Channels 12, 7).

Bingham says he was in a group of 24 castaways from the show's seven seasons before CBS narrowed the final group to 18. That was after he spent the summer bicycling, jogging, doing pushups, swimming and practicing with a slingshot and a bow and arrow.

"I was a little down in the dumps about it," says the 56-year-old former teacher, nicknamed "Kentucky Joe" on the show. "But I'm just thankful I got the one opportunity to do it."

Bingham says he would have loved to be on the show again because so many Tristate residents enjoyed seeing a local person on it.

He was the first of two: Deerfield Township resident Lillian Morris recently finished second on Survivor: Pearl Islands, helping Cincinnati continue its streak as the No. 1 Survivor market. If you're looking for insight into Survivor: All Stars, don't ask Bingham.

Although he's in contact with other castaways, he says he respects their privacy and won't ask anyone how it turns out.

These days, Bingham says he's concentrating on what's really important - spending time with his 20-month-old grandson, and preparing for the arrival of a second grandchild.

"I can't imagine having twice as much fun as I'm having now," he says.

Lauren Bishop