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Rob Mariano will return for "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains"

GOOD VERSUS EVIL: CBS's "Survivor" has had a rather interesting life. Since its launch in 2000, the show has grown up fast, becoming a trendsetter in a now reality-saturated TV market, and has made the grade with remarkable ratings.

In its teen years, the reality sensation experimented with new twists such as Exile Island, kidnapped contestants and hidden treasures, which have only fed fans' addiction.

Now, "Survivor" is entering its twenties with a family reunion of sorts. CBS recently announced that the 20th installment of the series, called "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains," will see the two tribes of 10 contestants made up of some of the most memorable former castaways in the show's lifetime.

These returning contestants -- a mix of heroic players remembered for their integrity, courage and honor, and scheming bad guys who deceived and manipulated others to get ahead in the game -- will head to the Samoan Islands to compete for the title of Sole Survivor.

The tribe of heroes will be composed of Rupert Boneham (Seasons 7 and 8), James Clement (Seasons 15 and 16), Colby Donaldson (Seasons 2 and 8), Cirie Fields (Seasons 12 and 16), Amanda Kimmel (Seasons 15 and 16) Jessica Kiper (Season 17), Stephenie LaGrossa (Seasons 10 and 11), James Thomas Jr. (Season 18), Tom Westman (Season 10) and Candice Woodcock (Season 13).

The other tribe will include villains Tyson Apostol (Season 18), Randy Bailey (Season 17), Danielle DiLorenzo (Season 12), Russell Hantz (Season 19), Jerri Manthey (Seasons 2 and 8), Rob Mariano (Seasons 4 and 8), Parvati Shallow (Seasons 13 and 16), Sandra Diaz-Twine (Season 7), Benjamin Wade (Season 18) and Courtney Yates (Season 15).

Just as in previous seasons, alliances will be made and then broken and egos will flare as these two tribes choose to either work as a team or seek their own means to an end. The new season will launch with a two-hour season premiere on Thursday, Feb. 11.

ROMANCING THE CAST: In NBC's "30 Rock," creator and star Tina Fey has developed a winning contrast between her hilarious but often stressed protagonist Liz Lemon and her array of crazy coworkers.

Now, two guest stars will bring even more laughs with them when the cast welcomes another funny lady to the stage and also adds to its group of mad men.

On Thursday, Feb. 11, blockbuster-comedy queen Elizabeth Banks will appear on the series for the first time as a CNBC reporter who swoons for the suave and charismatic Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Baldwin), and the two begin dating.

That same episode will mark the return of Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm (AMC's "Mad Men"), who previously guest starred on "30 Rock" in three episodes that aired a year ago. Hamm will reprise his Emmy-nominated role as Liz's ex-boyfriend, Dr. Drew Baird, with whom she reunites.

Banks is best known for her roles in such big-screen comedy hits as "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" (2005), "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" (2008) and "Role Models" (2008). She's done multiple guest turns on small-screen laughers as well, including the role of Catherine in a third-season episode of "Sex and the City," a 15-episode arc as Dr. Kim Briggs on "Scrubs," and, most recently, as Sal in "Modern Family."

Although Hamm got his start on film with a bit role in 2000's "Space Cowboys," he has since evolved into a highly respected television star. He guest starred on such shows as "Providence," "Gilmore Girls," "CSI: Miami," "Numb3rs" and "The Unit" before landing his most famous role, as advertising executive Don Draper in "Mad Men." His performance as Don has earned him Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations every year since the show's debut in 2007.

POLITICAL PLAYTIME: "All My Children" is marking its move to the City of Angels by blurring the lines between fantasy and reality.

In two episodes airing next week, a couple of the soap opera's most popular and powerful characters will rub shoulders with two of the city's real top politicos when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Council President Eric Garcetti visit the show's new set at Andrita Studios.

Garcetti's episode will air first, on Tuesday, Feb. 16, when he'll appear in a scene with Adam Chandler (played by David Canary). The councilman will meet with Adam to discuss how they can work together to make Chandler Enterprises' initiatives more environmentally friendly.

While the scene is still set in the show's fictional home of Pine Valley, its studio is actually located within Garcetti's district, making it the perfect, albeit subtle, tie-in.

The next day's episode will mark the mayor's debut on the ABC sudser. Villaraigosa will share the screen with daytime-TV queen Susan Lucci, who plays the legendary character Erica Kane. The mayor will also portray himself in his scene, which will take place at Pine Valley's local nightspot, Confusion.

But in this instance, the writers give Erica and the mayor a bit of a history. The script will allude them meeting at a charity event in Los Angeles the previous year. Here, they will cross paths at the club and enjoy a brief reunion.

The long-running soap opera recently celebrated its 40th anniversary on Jan. 5. Lucci has been with "All My Children" since its inception, while Canary debuted in his role in 1983. A year later, the show added another role for Canary -- that of Adam's identical twin brother Stuart -- which he played until May 2009 when the character was killed off.