The New York Post reports today that a mistake during a 'Survivor: Africa' challenge has cost CBS $200,000 and changed the finishing order. Due to the error, players Lex van den Berghe and Tom Buchanan were paid $100,000 each and designated as "second-place" winners along with contestant Kim Johnson.
The error occurred during a challenge involving family trivia on the final episode of 'Survivor: Africa'. In the second last Immunity Challenge the survivors were asked which female didn't have any part of her body pierced. The answer given at the time by Kim Johnson was Kelly Goldsmith. Lex van den Berghe had selected Lindsey Richter. In the end, Johnson was awarded Immunity from Tribal Council for her answer. In reality, the correct answer was Kelly Goldsmith and Lindsey Richter.
"This was a screw-up not a scandal," a "Survivor" spokesman told Post reporter Don Kaplan. "It was an honest mistake and the producers dealt with it right after they became aware of the situation."
Original second-place finisher Kim Johnson and 'Survivor: Africa' winner Ethan Zohn will not be affected by the decision and will keep their respective prizes.
