• Erik's CBS pre-S26 interview (CBS.com)
• CBS Survivor: Caramoan "Meet the Cast" (YouTube)
• Erik's amazing (really) Survivor audition video, prior to Survivor 16: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites (YouTube)

Other links:

• Erik's official CBS bio page for Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites
• Erik's official CBS bio page for Survivor: Micronesia
• Erik's pre-S26 interview with XfinityTV's Gordon Holmes: "It's an Island of Misfit Toys"
• Follow Erik Reichenbach on: facebook; twitter.

Images from the preview, pre-game interviews, and other circa-Ep1 Caramoan footage:

Vidcap gallery: Click on thumbnails to expand; use arrow keys to navigate between enlarged pics.

Who is Erik Reichenbach?

From his official CBS Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites bio page:

"Previous Season: Survivor: Micronesia – 13th castaway voted out/6th Jury Member
Current Residence: Santa Clarita, Calif.
Occupation: Comic Book Artist
Personal Claim to Fame: Survivor: Micronesia
Inspiration in Life: My Dad and my girlfriend, Dana.
Hobbies: Drawing, running and traveling.
Pet Peeves: Quiet or opinion-less people.
3 Words to Describe You: Easy going, humorous and original.
If You Could Have 3 Things on The Island What Would They Be and Why?
1)    Contacts – So I can see. 2)    Acrylic Paint – To paint a “masterpiece” at tribal camp. 3)    A deck of cards - to eliminate any boredom.
Survivor Contestant You Are Most Like:  Ozzy – I am great at challenges too!
Reason for Being on Survivor:  To show everyone that I am really not dumb, and in actuality I am a smart, funny guy who just does things in a different way.
Why You Think You’ll 'Survive' Survivor: I’m physically strong and easily adapt to my surroundings.
Why You Think You Will Be the Sole Survivor: I adapt to working with different personalities easily and I have enough of an understanding of the game to improvise if necessary. "

Summary of evidence for Erik Reichenbach being on Survivor 26.

- In the era of facebook and twitter, returning contestants are reasonably difficult to conceal, as is evident from this Sucks thread. Most were fairly easy to pick out within a week or so of departure. birdseyetoo at Sucks (5/22/12), for example, had a near-complete list, as did matty p (5/23/12), including evidence of absence.

- Redmond (5/26/12) confirmed Francesca was indeed an S26 contestant. (And later, Brenda, Dawn, Cochran, and Andrea).

- beatlebum79 (6/9/12) confirmed the above list (still not sure on Erik R) but added that "Malcolm," a returnee from S25, was also on.

- Redmond (6/18/12) remained adamant that Brandon was indeed a contestant, despite his return to online activity.

Who is Erik Reichenbach?

From his official CBS bio page for Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites:

   "Erik Reichenbach was born and raised in Pinckney, Michigan. He is currently in his senior year of studying art at Eastern Michigan University, and is a member of the college's track team. Reichenbach works at an ice cream parlor called "Screams" in Hell, Michigan, where he also designs t-shirts, hauls canoes and entertains his customers. He previously worked in landscaping, construction and as a freelance graphic designer.
   Reichenbach's hobbies include drawing, writing comic books, rock-climbing and studying philosophy/religion. He describes himself as animated, earnest and familiar. He is very proud of his running accomplishments during his senior year of high school, where he set the school's 400 yard record (49.3 seconds), and being able to run in the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Carolina. Reichenbach is a member of the Eastern Michigan Cross Country and Track team, Pinckney Pirate Track and Field Alumni and a rock climbing club.
   Reichenbach believes he'll go far on SURVIVOR because he is a good listener, entertaining, optimistic, athletic, a creative thinker and can easily be a leader or a follower.
   Reichenbach is currently single and lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan, with his cats, Furrball and Kittyfizzle (K-Fizz for short). His birth date is November 27, 1985."